04 May 2011

The 'Clock Sock'

Apparel Arts Magazine - Summer 1932

The hose selection is at five o'clock. On the bottom of the left page is the kit with the clock sock closest to my own. It suggests two ties at 10 & 2 o'clock. I prefer 2 o'clock. I'm guessing that's a white linen jacket (center top) with gray wool trousers (center bottom), a blue shirt (8 o'clock) and white bucks (6 o'clock).


Clothes and the Man by Alan Flusser - 1985

Flusser gives the easiest to understand advice about socks I've ever read. You're not going to find anything that sums up the wearing of hose better than this. In today's retail establishments socks are kept far away from suits. Sometimes on another floor. I remember going to pick up a suit at Britches of Georgetown in the '80s and the salesman would have my suit and a couple shirt and tie options with hose spread out on a billiards table in the back of the store. I didn't appreciate then. I'd really appreciate it now.

The Trad's Sock Drawer - Spring 2011

I've only become a fan of the 'Clock Sock' in the last six or so years. At first glance they reminded me of those nasty socks worn by skinny southern men with long necks in plastic and wire frame glasses and who, you were pretty darned sure, wore white sheets on weekend nights.

I've come around after seeing them in Apparel Arts Magazine. Mine are embroidered wool but feather light. They exude a '30s charm of discreet pattern and quiet elegance known only to the wearer, the man who shines his shoes and the woman who takes them off.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

The layout design of that swatch page is timeless. But I believe elegance is not only known to the wearer. In crossed-legged company, and away from a desk, everyone notices a man's hose choice and style. Tip: Never allow your socks to ride down near your ankles. Women hate that as much as the unshaven hair on the back of your neck.

But still more slights against the South? I'm guessing you think we all wear ropes for belts down here.

-DB

tintin said...

DB- That was a south I knew in the N.C. of the late '60s where George Wallace bumper stickers were everywhere and I caught holy hell for wearing a Humphrey button in grade school. I also caught shit for siding with John Lennon on the 'More popular than Christ' debate. I think I was 10. My argument being, if I had $5 what would I spend it on - a Beatles album or a bible.

Alice Olive said...

"..known only to the wearer, the man who shines his shoes and the woman who takes them off." Surely another sign of Tintimacy.

Unclelooney said...

You can't put a Dale Earnhart commerative belt buckle on a rope.

Trailer Trad said...

Sadly, I can't even follow the Apparel Arts Magazine chart at the top let alone your clock oriented directions on how to interpret it. No wonder my economics career never quite too off.

And, yes, I'm located in North Carolina.

Brummagem Joe said...

I look for clock socks on and off but never seem to see any that are really good. Otherwise I love patterned socks (stripes, dots, herringbones, squares, argyles, plaids, the works) but it does take a bit of practice if you're not natural to get the balance right.

Brohammas said...

Ya'lls south is apparently much different than my south. The one I am familiar with would never wear a NASCAR buckle, a bedsheet at night, and has no problem finding clockworck socks... or shiny purple suits.

Sir Fopling Flutter said...

"Unfortunately, the wonderful clockface French lisle hose of the 1940s and 50s are nearly extinct . . ."

Not as good as it was. Better that it will be.

GSV JR said...

When I first pulled this up and read the title I thought it said, "The Cock Sock." When I realized it didn't, I read the whole piece replacing "clock" with "cock." Fun! It's almost as fun as adding "in bed" to everything someone says. Not funny, I know.

Anonymous said...

The clock is making me dizzy

Family Man said...

I have found socks with clocks at, of all places, Target and (gasp!) Walmart. Not the best quality—that's a given—but they're out there if you look.

Family Man said...

P.S.: Now that you know they are officially sanctioned by Apparel Arts, when are you going to get yourself a pair of white bucks?

tintin said...

Family Man- You mean these?

http://thetrad.blogspot.com/2009/08/bu-bu-bu-bucks.html

I bought my 1st pr in 1984 and been wearing 'em ever since. Except from Labor Day to Memorial Day.

Family Man said...

For all the heat you give Giuseppe about white shoes, I thought you eschewed them.

I stand corrected!

(Sorry, but I couldn't resist using "eschewed.")

tintin said...

Family Man- Giusepp wears white bucks past Labor Day and far into Fall hence my heat.

Family Man said...

I had misremembered what was going on. You give Giuseppe flak for the white belts he does not own.

My mistake.

Nice bucks, by the way.