Like most folks (particularly parents), left to their own devices, dads aren’t going to totally spoil themselves buying socks. They like basics, or something silly, or they spend a just the tiniest bit more for some classy comfort.

• Authentic Military Bootsocks •
• Tuxedo Midcalf •
• Plasticism Midcalf •

Knowing they probably don’t splurge on themselves gives you free reign to deal up some delights for dad. And you don’t have to break the bank when you pull your pops out of their wheelhouse with some basics that have a little more indulgence, fun, or old-school styling. The three styles below are all under $20!

• Maniche Silk Tweed Bootsock •
• Boot Knife Midcalf •
• Striped Suspender Clip Sock Garters •

Of course, if you can and do want to go a bit overboard, we’re glad to help! Three particularly fabulous Father’s day options after the jump!

Let’s kick things off with one of the most gloriously luxe larger-foot styles we carry! Straight from our Indulgences category, may I present the B.Ella Pantera Jersey Dress Socks. At 85% cashmere they essentially feel like you have somehow made socks out of the softest clouds. Plus, there is a heavy metal fan bonus in the name your dad might enjoy.

Now, with this next suggestion I’m not trying to say all dads love golf. But, since they’re human, they do like quality relaxing. And the ToeToe Sports Golfer is all about cool comfort. They have a really gorgeous hand-knit look and an open-knit top that helps keep feet cool under pressure. Plus, toe socks are great for folks often on their feet, they encourage a better stance and help prevent blisters. If you’ve thought maybe your pops might benefit from toe socks, presenting them as a gift is a good way to introduce them to the style so they can make a healthy habit and reap the benefits. Besides, I’m sure your folks may have used a similar tactic on you, encouraging you to wear a certain sweater when visiting the relative who gifted it. It’s sneaky, but the comfort and health toe socks can provide is worth it. Besides, the ToeToe Sports Golfer are super comfy socks!

If your dad is a straight-up sports nut then a high-quality compression sock like these Running Compression Socks are a wonderful option. They’re designed for both a runner’s comfort and muscle recovery, with a padded achilles tendon protector and graduated compression to encourage healthy blood flow during activity. Be sure to show your dad the right way to put on compression socks. Sure, everybody puts their pants on one leg at a time, but with socks it’s a different story.

Even if you don’t deluge your dad with delights, let them know they’re a fantastic father, however you can. Make your poppa proud.

Anybody at extreme ends of size scales has problems finding things that fit and that they like.  Often you get used to wearing something that doesn’t quite fit and is a little uncomfortable, because it’s the closest to “right” that you can find.  We can’t guarantee that these styles are going to fit every US men’s shoe size 13, because feet come in so many shapes and sizes, but we want to give you options to work with and places to start looking.  There are brands that you can rely on having size 13 options, a couple of styles that fit higher than a US men’s shoe size 13 and it’s worth giving tube style socks a chance.

Let’s start with three socks with formed heels that are sized to fit larger than a US men’s size 13!  They may be plain black, but they run a range of styles. If you’re looking for something taller, the New Zealand Sock Lady Merino Thigh Highs also have a size that fits US men’s shoe size 14.5+, they’re the Extra Large, green banded, version.

• Authentic Military Bootsocks, Black and Olive are available in an Extra Large that fits up to size 14 •
• Wool Liner No Show Toe Sock, the Extra Large fits 13+ •
• ToeSox Toeless Ankle Socks with Grips, the Black come in an Extra Large that fits up to size 14 •

But what brands are good for larger feet? And are there tube socks that aren’t super boring?  Find out after the jump!

B.Ella midcalves (or “men’s socks” see What is a Midcalf? for more info) are sock size 10-13, which we’ve found fit men’s US shoe size 8-13.  We even know folks with narrow US men’s shoe size 14 who can rock the Maniche Tweed Boot Sock comfortably!  One thing to keep in mind with high wool content styles like these is washing them carefully.  Handwashing, like we’ve shown you in the Sock Journal before, is key to making sure you don’t lose that very important stretch that lets the socks fit your feet!

Enough babble! Here are some of the cozy and cool midcalves B.Ella offers.

• Franco Wool Boucle Striped Midcalf •
• Gaspare Men’s Crew Socks •
• Cesare Cashmere Blend Dot Socks •

 Now remember, when you’re looking through their styles, even if you see some feminine feet in the product shots for midcalves, don’t assume they’re dainty and remember to check the Sizing Tips!

Another brand to remember, especially if you’re into toe socks, is Injinji.  All of their styles are sized, and their Large fits US men’s shoe size 11-13. They have several great styles and lots of colours in each style, but here are some favourites:

• Eco Performance Rainbow Quarter Crew Toe Sock •
• Performance Liner No Show Toe Sock •
• Performance Liner Crew Toe Sock •

RockNSocks’ midcalves also fit up to a US men’s shoe size 13, so if stripes are your thing, they’re one to check out!

• Uma Striped Crew •
• Calliope Striped Crew •
• Apollo Striped Crew •

For amazing sport socks that are just as great daily socks, Dahlgren has three sizes that come in an Extra Large that fits US men’s shoe sizes 10-13.

• Expedition Knee Highs •
• Metro Argyle Midcalf •
• Thin Compression Knee High •

Now, ToeToe is a little tricky.  Their sized styles don’t fit up to a US men’s shoe size 13, but their larger footed midcalf options do.  Make sure to read those Sizing Tips!

• Contrast Midcalf Toe Sock •
• Striped Midcalf Toe Sock •
• Argyle Midcalf Toe Sock •

One last brand to look at is Tabbisocks.  They have three styles of tabi (y’know, “ninja socks” ) that fit far larger feet than the sizing label says.  Both the Bright Basic Tabi and the Fuji Mountain Tabi have been tested on a narrow US men’s size 14 foot and fit great!

• Kabuki Tabi Socks •
• Bright Basic Tabi Socks •
• Fuji Mountain Tabi Crew •

Okay, but what if you’re larger than a US men’s shoe size 13, or you have wide feet, or just want more options?  Tube style socks may be the way to go.  With no formed heel, they can accommodate a wide range of foot sizes.  There are two things to keep in mind with tube style socks:

How long is the sock?  A sock that is a knee high in the product picture may only reach mid-calf on larger feet, which means that a midcalf style like the Terry Loop Wool Walkers Toe Socks may be more of a crew or an anklet, even if you’re getting a size Large.  Check the Sizing Tips for the styles you’re looking at to find out how long the socks are.

How wide is your foot and calf? Wide feet often mean larger calves and you’ll want to check the Sizing Tips to find out the calf and cuff stretch for the socks you’re interested in.  It’d be no fun if the sock you find is long enough, but doesn’t have the stretch you need.

That said, here are three tube styles that may be just the thing.

• Mardi Gras Rainbow Toe Socks •
• Muscles Tube Socks •
• Dreamy Knee High Tube Socks •

Right now we don’t have a “search by size” option on the site (yet!) because socks fit a range of sizes and how wide or narrow your foot is can scoot you into a different sock size pretty easily.  Like any tricky fit question, you can drop us a line if you are looking for something specific.

Do you have larger feet?  What styles of ours do you like to rock?  We know some folks have to look outside of Sock Dreams for larger foot needs, what are your favourite sock resources for US men’s shoe size 13 and above?

On average, we’ve found that a midcalf is about 9-11 inches long from heel to the top of the cuff.  They give you a little more coverage than a crew for a reason—a midcalf is one of the traditional men’s dress sock heights.  When you’re wearing slacks and sit down, the legs of your trousers ride up, flashing ankle.  A midcalf just covers that skin that might show and they are just the right height to be paired with old-fashioned sock garters. Crews are a touch too short to close that gap between shoe and cuff and knee highs are more sock than you need, but midcalves are just right.

• Nicolo Rugby Stripe Midcalf •
• Franco Wool Boucle Stripe Midcalf •

More on what makes a midcalf (and a common misconception about them) after the jump!

So they’re taller than a crew and shorter than a knee high, but what else is a midcalf?  As I mentioned, they’re a common height for “men’s” dress socks.  Even if you’re not a guy, but you’re dressing in slacks and nice loafers, odds are you’ll pick a midcalf sock to go with.  That means that our men’s socks collection has some fancy and office-appropriate options in midcalves, even if their overlap with crews and larger footed options means that there are some novelty socks and crazy stripes too.

• Bottle & Pint Midcalves •
• Ribesi Wool Dress Socks •
• Angelo Reverse Stripe Midcalves •

As we all know, it doesn’t matter what gender you identify with when it comes to picking socks.  It’s all about what kind of style, fiber and coverage you want to rock.  But midcalves are often called “men’s socks” and designed with a traditional guy in mind, so there is one thing to remember—foot size.  Not all midcalves are designed for larger feet, but quite a few (like the B.Ella midcalf styles) are.

You may remember from the Sock Math post that I said the most common sock size was 9-11? Well, “men’s socks” range about 10-13, or a US men’s shoe size most commonly 8-11.  Though we always list all the sizing info we can in the Sizing Tips for each style, we tend to call what other folks say is a “men’s sock” a “larger footed midcalf.”  When you’re shopping around and see us use that phrase, or the Sizing Tips show you a larger sock, remember that you can subtract about 1.5 to a US women’s shoe size to figure out your US men’s shoe size

A lot of folks who wear a US women’s shoe size 9 can comfortably wear the average larger-footed midcalf, though there can be too much room in the toes for some. So don’t get too sad if you see a midcalf that says it’s larger, measure that foot and drop us a line, odds are, if you’re over a US women’s 8.5, it’ll fit. The following socks are just a few that are “men’s”, but they’re happily modelled and rocked by ladies with an average-sized lady foot.

• Ozone Men’s Stripy Midcalves •
• Striped Midcalf Toe Socks •
• Sock It To Me Midcalf Bikes •

A little taller than a crew and just the right height for sock garters.  Often a larger foot, but not always, midcalves may be one of the most common sock heights, but they can be complicated.

A quick tip: on average, men’s US shoe sizes are the same as the women’s size, minus two.  So if our Sizing Tips for a product say that a style fits women’s US shoe size 7 – 11, then they should fit men’s US shoe size 5-9.  Most suppliers call their larger foot sizes “men’s”, which also tends to be midcalf.  We’ve got these styles in a collection all their own.

Nothing is really more old-school masculine than our Men’s Sock Garters (called such because they’re styled after the traditional men’s sock garters, not because they’re just for guys). They also are available in stripes and extra-long.  They add a fantastically polished look to any outfit.

The button and loop closure on these traditional garters work best with thinner dress socks, so if you plan on pairing them with styles with thicker cuffs, the tougher grip of the Suspender Clip Sock Garters is the way to go. Here are a couple of socks that do work well (and look great) with traditional sock garters:

• B Chevrons •
• Ozone Stripy Midcalves •
• B.Ella Teodoro •

Midcalves are commonly associated with father’s day socks, and if that’s your padre’s style, we have a ton of options.  But there are other sock styles out there, even if you (or the person you’re buying for) are rocking men’s US shoe size 11s!  Check them out after the jump!

Knee highs look great with shorts.  Plus, even though it’s warm right now and hard to imagine winter chills, taller socks are great under long pants when the weather turns frosty.

• Dreamy Knee High Tube Sock •
• Meat Knee High •
• Dream Stalker Stripes •

On the opposite end of the spectrum are ankle socks, which pair fantastically with sneakers and other casual shoes, adding a flash of colour around the ankle.

• Dream Sneakers •
• Split Toe Quarter Crew •
• Eco Performance Rainbow Quarter Crew Toe Sock •

Of course, these are all just some starter ideas for what to pick out for Father’s day.  Every dad is different—what things are you thinking about picking up for your poppa?

What about a perfect preppy pairing of argyles for each sized foot in a new family?

• Leonardo Argyle Midcalf •
• Arygle Baby Booties •
• Carlino Argyle Crew •

Need something quirkier? Space dye to the rescue!

• Space Dye Terry Shortie •
• Space Dye Terry Baby Booties •
• Space Dye Terry Crew •

More cozy wool options and a few that will bring a smile to your face after the jump!

Fuzzy stripes in itty-bitty booties and a grown-up crew:

• Lexy Wool Boucle Stripes •
• Katy Striped Wool Baby Socks •

Polka dots to perk up the whole family!

• Cesare Cashmere Blend Dot Socks •
• Dottie Baby Polka Dot Baby Socks •
• Bea Polka Dot Crew •
• Liza Polka Dot Knee Socks •

Three foot size choices in a sedate cashmere blend wooly solid:

• Este Luxe Crew •
• Nuova Baby Ribbed Wool Socks •
• Gregorio Wool Bootsocks •

The Cotton-Lined Knee Highs are popular, but did you know they also come in a knee high for itty-bitty feet and lots of sizes in between? Even teeny feet can have knee highs!

This pairing we blogged about when the baby penguin socks first came in, but it never stops making me giggle (and if you’d rather have matching, there are Happy Penguin Socks for grown up feet!):

• Shark Bite 3-D Midcalf •
• Penguin Baby Socks •

What about something a little more ‘traditional’?

• Mouse Baby Socks •
• Pretty Kitty 3-D Midcalf •

Whew! I could go on forever, it’s so fun to do. Have you paired up any of the socks we carry to make little families?

Dreamer name: Danny

Current favourite style: Bamboo Quarter Crew Three Pack

Did you like this sock when we first started carrying it, or did you hate it and grow to love it?

I had my doubts, initially, because these socks looked like a total bore. They were grey and uninspired, content to cower on the shelf wedged between far more interesting and colourful socks. Yet looks can be deceiving, and I was mistaken– They are simply too comfortable to ignore, and I think they look ok too!

What is the best thing about this particular style?

They satisfyingly hold my foot, and leave them dry whenever I wear them, no matter the activity. Furthermore, I once (circumstantially! It’s not a habit, I swear) wore a pair of these for three days in a row and there was little to no smell once I took them off. That’s incredible!

How’s the fit?

I wear a Men’s 9, and sometimes a 9w, and I’ve found that they’ll “hold” the foot more than other socks, which keeps your feet feeling as though they’re walking on clouds. I’d talk about my calf size, but they don’t go up that high, so let’s not talk about that, ok? Moving on. I will say that they rest comfortably on my ankles, giving me a bit more coverage and support than a footie, but less bulk than a mid-calf or a crew, which I love.

Who would you recommend this style for?

For people who enjoy where utility meets comfort! Also all the left handed people of the world, and people who love tacos and kittens.

Anything else?

I really love tacos and kittens (but not kitten tacos).

• Kabella Wool Cable Trouser Socks •
• Orkney Angora Wrist Warmers •
• OTK Tube Socks •

Ooh, I’m all excited to break out the arm warmers and leg warmers now! 
What are your fall favourites?

I am 5’6.5”, 225lbs, 31-32 inch inseam,
hips 49in, 29in thigh, 19in calf, size 8.5 shoe.

So now we have them, and they fit me pretty dang good. They have more room in the waist than the regular size helping the waistband lay nice and flat.

Foot Traffic seems to have reinforced the weave from waist to about mid thigh and I’m thinking that will make them last longer. They are still nice and soft and stretchy. They fit my size and shape quite well. I would guess that a size or two above me would do well with them too depending on your shape and leg length.

The leggings fit me a bit differently than the tights. The leggings seem to me a bit smaller, not a ton, but a bit. The plus size legging also has the reinforced thigh and panty area as the tights but here it seems to effect the sideways stretch some and cause a slight dent in my thigh. But the waist band is great on these as well.

Charcoal is one of my favorite colors and am already planning out some nice fall skirt, sock, and legging/tights combos. I can’t wait for even more colors!

Another great way to celebrate: we are reintroducing Throx!



We first saw them in 2003 and later suggested them as the perfect stocking stuffer for the holidays. …yes, I know, the journal is a bit of a mess back there,
it is being worked on, more about that another day…
We’ve got several new styles in now…
a couple are on our site, a couple more are being added this weekend

and bunches more are only in the store (for now).
There are due to be even more in coming months, including thigh highs(!!!)

and although we spell it with a “t” I did find this link for sock garders featuring another fun image of a well dressed man.
Of course we here at Sock Dreams know real men still wear sock garters
our own VP Mr Natosi wears them often…

okay, you can’t see them in that shot, but they’re under there!

We have yet more garters in the works…
no word yet on just when we’ll get more elastic for our beloved button hole garters (we could get another version, but I just don’t like it as well as the one I can’t get, I do ask often and am always told so,mething to the effect of just a little longer…)
and, one of our in house Dreamers came up with a brilliant idea that I can hardly wait to share, no, not even a peep about it you’ll get from me, you know what they say about loose lips! other stuff too, so stay tuned and remember…
Sock Dreams loves you!