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With it being an election year, there are several polarizing debates that plague the workplace and create some rather uncomfortable situations when things begin to truly heat up. Most recently in our office, we’ve heavily debated whether or not sizzling fajitas are the ultimate order when eating at any fine Tex-Mex establishment. You can argue both sides, and I’ll kindly listen to the argument without getting too worked up, but things recently took a turn for the worse during a podcast recording when we brought up the hot-button topic of flashy socks.
“So what do you wear to a wedding?” Dillon Cheverere asked me.
“Oh, I normally don’t wear socks between Memorial Day and September,” I innocently responded, not thinking anything of my casual attire and answer.
The situation erupted when Dillon insisted that I was a “scumbag” for not wearing socks to weddings, and it further escalated when Dave noted that I did not, in fact, wear socks to his wedding in September – a detail that I wasn’t aware he had noticed.
Unfortunately, a technical issue wiped out our podcast recording and we were left with taking the debate to Twitter, where I created a very polarizing poll regarding the topic at hand.
Had an argument with @RogerJDorn. What's more acceptable at weddings – no tie or no socks?
— Will deFries (@WilldeFries) May 18, 2016
The poll, for all practical purposes, is essentially a tie (I could say that Dillon’s much larger Twitter following swayed the vote after we both took public stances, but blaming the voting on that would look desperate and petty on my part).The controlled environment for the experiment is at a country club where you’re expected to wear a suit to the reception. The poll and subsequent banter has brought an array of opinions to the table, none of which I will label as valid or invalid.
Our office, however, is a completely different story. I’m the defined minority in a sea of tie-truthers, with only one other person expressing that it “depends on the wedding” which really wasn’t any help to my staunch stance on not wearing socks.
Given that most of our office is heavily influenced by Texas fashion (which is much different than fashion in general, despite what they’ll tell you), I was given no other option but to reach out to a Amelia Diamond, Deputy Editor and Senior Writer at Man Repeller, a noted fashion website based out of New York. I simply asked, “When a guy is wearing a suit to a country club wedding, is it more acceptable to go no-tie, or no-socks?” I did not sway her in any way, shape, or form, nor did I anticipate that her answer would be in line with my personal interests.
“No socks,” she immediately responded.
I thanked her and clarified that I was getting absolutely killed by the likes of all the writers surrounding me, and she went on – “No, first of all, think of shoes at Country Clubs. I hate socks with loafers and so do dads.” As an advocate of dad fashion, I couldn’t agree more.
“Second of all,” she continued, “At a wedding, guest or not, most photos are waistband and up, so you need a belt and tie.” She also concluded her statements with, “We’re Dillon Panthers,” so her opinions immediately carried a ton of weight.
I was pleased to see that my stance was supported. Where I see a tie as being a must (and something that you take off once you start shuffling on the dance floor with a buzz on), socks are a matter of taste to me. Flashy or not, I don’t think it’s right for me (or anyone) to be ankle-shamed like I have been today.
But then again, I’m just the asshole who decided to not wear socks to his superior’s wedding, so who am I to judge? .
Thoughts, comments, opinions? Comment or tweet to us so we can finish this debate once and for all.
Respond
Will
Will (Twitter / Instagram) is the host of The Sunday Scaries Podcast.
@willdefries
@willdefries
defriewf
will@grandex.co
I’m adding “advocate of dad fashion” to all of my bios immediately.
My Uncle Joseph just got a new yellow Infiniti QX60 Hybrid just by some part-time working online with a macbook.
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I can see how people could get really tied up over this, though I think “no socks” is the shoe in answer here.
Classic dad puns. Quintessential NardDog.
A tie is a must for every wedding unless it’s throwing out the island vibes and everyone is going more relaxed. No socks with a suit is a bit more fashion forward and can be pulled off easily, but looks less than ideal when your pants and subsequently rest of your suit is not a tailored fit. Team #NoSocks
I’ve gone no tie to a wedding twice. And I have to say, it was pretty liberating. But country club wedding is definitely an affair where you wear a tie. Socks are optional.
Going no socks also really depends on the type of shoe being worn.
Do you have to wear underwear at a weeding?
Free Ball Friday, an American past time.
Engineers asking the real questions PGPM
If you’re at a wedding where a suit is expected, you should have on proper dress shoes, not loafers (where no socks could be acceptable). No socks with dress shoes is unacceptable. No tie is more acceptable for that reason.
Agree with this. Dress shoes = wear socks. No loafers with a suit.
I say go traditional socks and tie at the wedding, and ditch them both for the reception if you want to. I personally think wearing a suit with no socks is a weird look, so I leave them on.
Come on now. decent socks, not too flashy, but not just plain blue or black or whatever, and a tie FOR THE WEDDING and maybe dinner, then ditch the tie, go a button down, and wreck that dance floor
If you try to make a fashion statement at my (theoretical) wedding, you’re getting publicly kicked out to start the ceremony. Fuck off.