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SARTORIAL EXCELLENCE NEWS
Color Coordinating Socks & Clothing - The "Rules" ... and More
Vol.6 No.5 - International Edition
Copyright © 2009 Kabbaz-Kelly
. . .
May 1, 2009

Order Soon to Get the $100 Gift Certificate
See my note to the right

Proper Dressing - Color Coordinating Your Socks

Zimmerli On Screen
Wolverine Opens Friday!


 

A Few Examples
of Contemporary Sock
Color Matching

It would be somewhat ridiculous to show you the self-evident black socks with black shoes or charcoal socks with a charcoal suit. Even I can figure that out without pictures!

Following are a few more contemporary color coordination examples which you may find new and useful.

Most Common: Black & Grey
Note the colors of Marcoliani's Black Magica Stripe. The predominant shades are solid black and silver grey. What a perfect, yet succinct, combination to coordinate your medium-light grey Summer suit with your black shoes. The tertiary color, tan, can be used to bring in an ecru or light tan shirt ... all of which can be finished off with a black & silver tie and pocket square. Though virtually monochromatic, if done well this can yield a stunning - and thoughtful - combination of colors.

Here are the perfect pocket square and necktie coordinates:




And Of Course Light Navy:
Here we'll go with Marcoliani's Atlantis Blue Fil d'Ecosse with Dots The predominant shades are blue and pale blue. Nothing better for that lighter navy Summer suit with a pale blue shirt.


I would probably opt to stay with a tie and pocket square in the brighter blue family. But that's me.
You could always tone it down just a notch by electing the navy socks with a more medium blue shirt. In that case I might bring in a bolder tie - still with blue accents - and a well-coordinated but bright pocket square. Perhaps these:





One for the Ladies
Marcoliani's Ocean Blue Magica Fashion Stripe.


Hot! Magica Fashion Stripe
Ocean Blue Shown
Available in Knee-High Length


Ideal for that Navy trouser suit with blue pumps or sophisticated peep-toes. For the blouse you could choose an exciting Royal Blue or a more subtle Sky. Coordinate with a nice scarf - perhaps a blue one with a hint of aqua in the design - or even the reverse - and your look will be stunningly perfect!

NEW & SEXY HOT!
NEW WOMEN'S LINE:
VERTIGO - Available in May!
Zimmerli's Swiss Cotton Vertigo
Tank Top and Hipster Panty in Black
Available Next Week!

MOTHER'S DAY GIFT IDEA:
Zimmerli for Women MicroLyocell
"Zen Dreams" Wrap-Top Pajamas




Greetings!

We're constantly asked ... especially at the beginning of the Summer dressing season ... "which color socks should I wear with which suit, skirt, dress, etc.". In this issue, in short form below, are my thoughts on the matter.

Jon Green is nose-to-the-grindstone, pen in hand, and will return in our next issue with a very special article on what to look for in terms of the proper fitting of your suits. My report on Switzerland and Italy will follow as well.

Of Note: Vertigo, the newest member of the Zimmerli Women's line, will premier next week. And on the subject of Zimmerli for Women, we are right in the middle of a huge photographic project here at our East Hampton studios. In just a couple of months, we shall bring you - for the first time ever - the entire women's line in living color! This is one of the first test shots of Vertigo from just three days ago. Of course, Vertigo supplies will be quite limited at first ... as always with new Zimmerli items.

In Response: Due to the number of requests, we have now made all the Sartorial Excellence News Caveat Emptor articles available on our web site. Click here.

Finally ... don's miss:
The new Heather Grey in the Zimmerli Pureness is just walking out the door. We're having trouble keeping it in stock.

Maybe it's my fault ... I keep taking them because Joelle says that even an old guy like me can look hot in a Heather Grey Pureness V-neck. :-)

Best regards,
Alexander Kabbaz

P.S.: Almost forgot! The $100 Summer Gift Certificate: Place an order of $295 or more by March 8th and we'll send you a $100 Gift Certificate good as cash at checkout for all of July and August. But wait - there's more. Double it ... and we'll double it!. Triple your order? We'll do that too! $300 to use any way you want. And the fine print? You know us better. We're old-fashioned. We don't believe in fine print!


  • Proper Dressing - Color Coordinating Your Socks
  • Conservative and Contemporary
    Styling for Every Occasion
    An often hotly debated topic on the major clothing and fashion forums, which color of socks to wear with which clothing is a personal decision ... but one with rules.

    Here I shall present you with the generally accepted conservative parameters ... and a few of the more adventurous ways in which you can differ while remaining within the boundaries of good taste.

    In this article, I refer only to plain-colored socks. Patterned socks - stripes, argyles, harlequins, and novelty designs - require a further overlay of style coordination which is preliminarily discussed in the article to the left. For these purposes, suffice it to say that conservative dressers will wear only succinct and muted small patterns. Those more contemporary who sport bolder patterns will regard the sock's predominant color as the guiding one.

    To begin, let's focus on four areas:

    • Conservative Color-coordination - Dress Clothing
    • Conservative Color-coordination - Casual Clothing
    • Contemporary Color-coordination - Dress Clothing
    • Contemporary Color-coordination - Casual Clothing
    Conservative Color Coordination:
    Dress Clothing


    Here the debate centers upon whether socks should match shoes or suit/skirt/dress. A few simple caveats cover it:
    For black shoes, there are two equally vehement - and equally justifiable - schools of thought.
    One ordains: When wearing black shoes, wear black socks. In most cases, any other color combined with black can be jarring due to black's harsh aura.
    The other mandates, with equal fervor: When wearing black shoes, match the socks to your trousers.
    Neither is wrong. Go with whichever you feel more comfortable.

    With brown, cordovan, or other non-black shoes you have more freedom. Here the most acceptable and commonly followed course is, again, to match your sock color to your trousers.
    For example, brown suit with brown socks, charcoal suit with charcoal socks, or navy suit with navy socks. Even in more contemporary firms, one can never go wrong with these color combinations.
    Some of the more staid, old-line firms may frown upon any but black shoes ... in which case observe either black socks rule religiously.

    Conservative Color Coordination:
    Casual Clothing


    Widely accepted myth is that traditional casual dressing equates with the "anything-goes-casual-Fridays" outlook. Nothing could be farther from reality. From the top down:

    The Blazer: A navy blazer is most often seen accompanied by grey or khaki trousers. The best course to follow is to match your socks as closely as possible to your trousers. However, better than a non-matching relative from a grey or khaki family member is to wear navy socks as close as possible to the shade of the blazer.

    On the next rung down the ladder comes the "odd jacket" or "sport coat". Again, the safest course is to match socks to trousers or socks to shoes. The truly conservative dresser will not want a divergent third color playing peek-a-boo at the juncture of trousers and shoes.

    Finally, at the least formal end of casual dressing we encounter the sweater or polo shirt. And again, the most common matching ground will be the same as the previous two ... although closely matching the sweater or polo shirt is also acceptable.
    Let this cause confusion, matching your socks to a white polo shirt is not acceptable unless playing active sports. In this instance, match socks to trousers.


    Contemporary Color-coordination:
    Dress Clothing


    Color can be beautifully coordinated and stylish without observance of the "match socks to shoes/trousers/skirt" maxim. Though barristers best not read on ... and members-of-the-boards of old-line banking or investment firms ought do likewise ... sock coordination is one of those areas which can let personality shine through.

    Add a bit of panaché to an otherwise traditional "uniform" and stand out with flair while keeping within the bounds of elegance. Sporting less conservatively colored socks is not like wearing an orange business suit to the weekly vice presidents' strategy session. Granted, it is a bit more "work" and best done after that morning shower has had its waking effect.

    Where to begin? Begin by relegating the color of your suit or skirt to the back of your mind. Don't completely ignore it - blue suit with Kelly green accompaniments can wake the dead. Instead, concentrate on shirt/blouse/tie/scarf/pocket square ... your more colorful items of apparel. The easier two are shirt/blouse and tie/scarf. Locate a particular color - one which stands out such as the blue of your shirt or the base color of your tie. Now to your sock collection. Find one which matches ... or is close enough to coordinate with - your shirt or tie. Here are a couple of examples:

    Pink Pima cotton socks with a pink shirt/grey tie accompanied by a flannel grey pocket square sporting a pink Swiss dot around the border to accompany a charcoal or grey suit.

    Atlantis or Ocean blue cotton socks, light blue shirt with Atlantis pinstripes, plain blue pocket square with light blue ribbon edge and a blue/light blue dotted tie coordinated with a navy suit.

    Think your way through your own shirt and tie wardrobe and you'll undoubtedly come up with at least a few handsome combinations.

    Contemporary Color-coordination:
    Casual Clothing


    This is the most adventuresome of all areas. The basic tenets of Contemporary Color-Coordination for Dress Clothing all apply. However, the scope of your universe is vastly broadened. Colors can now coordinate among not only the standard items of business apparel, but also the sweater, polo shirt, sport jacket, belt ... perhaps even a particularly noticeable lapel pin. Use the color-coordination principles in the foregoing paragraphs and apply them to the greater breadth of the additional articles.

    Feeling a bit more stylish? Consider the possibilities of complimentary color vs. matching color. Yes, orange is in fact the compliment to blue. Why? These colors, as well as Yellow + Violet and Red + Green are direct opposites on the color wheel, the use of which I'll write about in a future issue.


    Color Coordination: The Wrap-Up

    For now, remember that when wearing a business suit, one is neck to ankle in a solitary color/pattern. Some say "proper" ... others opine, "boring". The exceptions include necktie/bowtie/scarf, shirt/blouse, pocket square/handkerchief, socks, shoes, and, secondarily, possibly belt, jewelry, walking stick, boutonierre, lapel pin, winter scarf, coat, hat. There should definitely be a very concerted effort to come to some sort of complimentary and/or coordinating color theme amongst the first furnishings/accessories group. There should also be a strong awareness that the secondary furnishings/accessories group can have a strong impact - good or bad - on the first group.

    Even in a business environment, socks are one of the few places where we can flash a bit o' dash, exhibit a touch of élan, claim the rights to color, confer a modicum of contrast. The possibilities are endless, thought is necessary, the effect one of a person who considers dress carefully. And, as many will undoubtedly register, the opportunity for screw-up is limitless. In short, tastefully executed, socks can be one of the subtle manifestations of your personality and style. Don't bypass the opportunity.

  • Zimmerli On Screen
    Wolverine Opens Friday!
  • Seaward & Stearn Composite

    Did You Know ...

    That the famous shirt worn in the Wolverine movie being released Friday, May 1st in the U.S. is actually our one and only Zimmerli Richelieu tank shirt? What's more ... during the making of the movie, more than 3 dozen of these wonderful shirts were used. Naturally, we're not complaining! Thank you, Western Costume. Thank you, Hugh Jackman. F.I.Y.: Our Zimmerli of Switzerland styles have recently been worn by Harvey Keitel in Life on Mars, by Denzel Washington in American Gangster, Nicole Kidman in Invasion, Will Smith in Seven Pounds, and many more. Zimmerli ... On Screen.

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