When wearing a light-coloured suit, you have the option of matching your socks with your shoes rather than the suit itself. A darker pair of socks will add contrast to your overall look, especially those with a subtle pattern or texture.

Whatever you do, steer clear of socks in neutral, tan or beige tones when wearing light-coloured suits, as they can look rather bland and boring. 

See also: Gentlemen's Guide: Choosing The Right Cufflinks 

White socks may seem like a safe choice for casual days, but they should really only be worn when doing some form of physical activity such as sports. As an alternative, stay classy even on your off days by pairing your sneakers with subtly patterned dress socks.

When in doubt, a pair of high-quality black socks will never go wrong whether you're wearing a suit or jeans and when it comes to patterns, sticking to dots and stripes are the safest bets.

Watch: A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin 39mm Copper Blue Dial

Suits: Brunello Cucinelli | Socks: Brooks Brothers | Shoes: Berluti (black leather), Brunello Cucinelli (brown loafers and sneakers)

See more stories from our Gentlemen's Guide series.