RetroFedWhy it is that in the USA for most people the default color for a casual sock is white but in most other places the default is black?
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HirohitoNot counting specific fashion trends or saying this applies to 100% of people. but why are those the default for the majority?
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I assume that white socks and undergarments came from bleaching. You can sanitize and sterilize with bleach, but it also removes color. With modern cleaning processes, detergents, and materials that is less common and so color is allowed to thrive.
That said, I’m all black everything because it makes laundry easy.
I went back to white socks because my whites load was otherwise only 1 or 2 items and it felt like a waste.
You’re still doing separate loads based on color? I thought that was a thing of the past…
I was going to say I don’t make my wash too complicated, but maybe I do.
Whites in one pile to keep them white and because my wife’s stuff needs to get bleached now and then.
Her scrubs are black and go in a separate pile to keep them black and so they’re in a separate pile so I don’t need to sort them after they’re washed.
She keeps buying rayon fast fashion clothes that need to get hung to dry, so I started separating them and now I was all our undies with those on the delicate cycle, since rayon loses strength when wet, and then I’ll hang the no dryer items and the bras and toss the undies in the dryer.
And then the rest gets divided between my misc colors and hers, since I konmari fold my stuff and she just leaves her crap in a heap, so again, I don’t have to resort after stuff is clean and I can fold all my stuff between loads.
I worked at a dry cleaner for a while when I was down on my luck, so between that and my general nerdiness, I probably take it more seriously than normal, plus I don’t like clothes shopping and just try to make my stuff last forever.
what do you mean the default color for a casual sock is white? I see tons of casual socks being worn by browns like me and all kinds of colors.
I think the last time I owned white socks in the us was over 40 years ago.
At least 25 years or more for me.
I think this also depends on region. In the Midwest I saw white socks everywhere but on the west coast I’m seeing black.
I’ve lived in the PNW my whole life and I feel like we have no sock rules here. You’re as likely to see a plain white athletic sock as a thin black business sock as you are knee high rainbow socks or colorful patterned socks
for me, it depends on the shoes.
sneakers (including black ones when i had them), get white socks. my black shoes that aren’t sneakers get black socks.
and right now i don’t have any other shoes, or any other socks for that matter.
It’s the weather for me. White crew socks for pants, and black ankle socks for shorts.
Casual in the US used to mean athletic and athletic socks, tube socks especially, were invented in white in the 70s and considered part of youth and sport culture. Before fast fashion options like tube socks most clothes were more formal and expensive reserved for school or work and (I guess this part is related to trends) a black sock would be far less jarring peeking out from a dark suit pant than white. Dark suits go back to the 1800s France I believe, maybe not quite that late. So it’s a combination of established fashion norms for men, the rise of fast fashion and tube socks and of women’s adoption of pants/women entering the work place in jobs that don’t require suits. Prior to that women tended to wear stockings or wool socks which don’t tend to be bright white.
I can’t speak for athletic or casual socks outside the US but in the US this is why. From my experience much of Europe has had very strict fashion rules compared to the US, like my French ex who literally will not wear shorts unless he’s at the beach or pool because it’s a faux pas and only wears black socks on a daily basis.
TIL… Had no idea white socks were not the norm everywhere for casual dress.
Black socks are for formal dress wear in the US. I wear black to work, because I dress in business formal at work. White is for casual wear. When I worked a business casual job, it didn’t matter whether I wore black or white socks.
I wonder why that is. I just wear black socks most of the time. Yes there’s a dress code for formal wear but there’s no such code for casual wear
I’m in the UK and I’d always wear white socks with casual clothes. Black are for when you’re in work clothes or a suit.
The only place I know where they won’t wear white socks is Liverpool.
I’m a black sock guy, but I have heard a myth that white socks help prevent athletes foot, but I’m confident that no extra light is getting in through your shoes and white socks.
You can bleach white socks which may be a factor in reducing athletes foot
I’m not 100% sure the reason, I suspect a lot of people just wore athletic socks as regular socks, so those are just plain white socks, they are a lot more comfortable for working class people on their feet all day. White collar folks tend to wear darker socks more with the suits and all that. I see younger people wearing darker socks more now though, like gen alpha. Personally I have a rainbow of socks and don’t like either ;)
I’m currently wearing my athletic socks and they’re black. They came in a multi pack with blue and grey. My casual socks are grey and blue as well. My formal dress socks are black. I’ve got a few pairs of brown work socks.
Thinking back, I can only remember one time when I had white sports socks (tube socks with the red and blue bands at the top) and that was in the early 1980s.
My guess about the US and white socks is that they were mass produced for football and baseball (and basketball) and they made the migration to casual wear alongside running shoes, because people could pick up both item ms affordably in the same store (K-Mart and the like).
The default is white?? I’m repulsed
You can’t ask a question about fashion trends then specify you’re not looking for answers relating to fashion trends.
My problem with white socks is that they are very easy to stain.
If your cum comes out with blood, you might want to seek a doctor.
I’ll see myself out…
Because of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and systematic racism.
I would challenge your assumption: White socks are not the norm in the US, especially when you’re wearing something with visible socks or are dressing up. For formal wear, black is definitely the norm even in the US.
Maybe it’s just what Americans wear on holiday?
White pulled up socks and shorts that are too long and too wide -> typical American tourist
That’s pretty likely, plus if you’re traveling and forget socks, the cheapest ones to pick up are usually white.
That’s not to say nobody wears white socks, they’re pretty common, but most socks I see aren’t white nor do I usually wear white socks.
The OP specified casual wear and you’re telling them they’re wrong because of how people dress up?
For general casual wear, white socks are pretty normal.
You are mistaken: Read what I wrote again (or not I guess, not super important lol).
I just did. Mind clarifying?
Indicates you think OP is wrong
A characterization that does not match my experience as an American
Not relevant to my comment, but still not true in my American experience
Completely irrelevant to the OP talking about casual wear.
Yeah actually I’m done arguing with a stranger about socks. White socks being the norm hasn’t been my experience. If that upsets you, I guess you’re going to have to find some way to come to terms with that. Sorry.
I don’t care about the socks. I was just pointing out that you based your disagreement at least in part on dressing up when OP said casual wear. And then for some reason I can’t understand you doubled down on it and told me I was wrong about the words you wrote that are still right there. So I broke down my understanding of your very straightforward sentence.
You seem to be pretty focused on this so I would again invite you to re-read what I wrote if you care that much. If it still confuses you, try reading it again because I’m fresh out of additional shits to give today.