Socks are an interesting piece of clothing; we pay so little attention to them and yet they’re central to our overall comfort in several ways. They protect our feet from abrasion, wick away our perspiration, and keep our dew beaters snug in our shoes. They’re also a small detail that can either pull your outfit together or serve as an unwelcome distraction.

Walking around in canvas or leather shoes all day without any type of protection is a recipe for disaster. At the end of the day, you inevitably will have disgusting, smelly feet that will gross out anyone in the immediate vicinity when you remove your shoes.

A new fashion trend some men have adopted is wearing a full piece suit without socks. Fashion nerds don’t see anything wrong with this trend. According to them, it’s not about the socks but the shoe.

CEO of Christie Brown, Aisha Ayensu says “it’s not so much about going without socks while wearing a suit but rather what type of shoe you can go sock-less with. So far as it’s a loafer, it is perfectly ok to go sock-less.”

Also, depending on the occasion and the wardrobe you’re wearing them with, some dress shoes are more suitable than others and this will determine if you should wear socks or not. So let’s look at the 5 most popular types of dress shoes men can choose from and whether or not to wear socks with them.

1. Oxford

Oxfords are the most formal of dress shoes. Also known as Balmorals, Oxfords are (typically) leather shoes with a low instep and a thin, non-rubber soles. Their most distinguishing characteristic is closed lacing, which is what makes them your most elegant option. Cap-toes are a common embellishment for Oxfords, but keep in mind that the sleeker the shoe, the more formal it is.

However, very few shoes look good without socks – loafers, boat shoes, bucks – but dress shoes are not made to be worn without socks, it doesn’t make you look good. Because Oxfords are leather lined shoes, they make you sweat a lot so wearing some good socks on them is the best thing to do. Please stop wearing sport coats, suits the whole nine yards and then going sockless.

2. Brogues or Wingtip

Full brogues or Wingtips – these have a pointed toe cap with extensions called wingtip that extends along both sides of the shoe and usually ends near the ball of the foot. When seen from above the cap is shaped like a ‘W’ or ‘M’ depending on the viewpoint. It features broguing along its edges as well as decorative broguing in the center of the toe cap, which is called Medallion. There are a few variations to this style.

Stylish shoes are a necessity for any fashionable gent, and brogues are the masters of style. Because brogues have become so popular for formal and casual styles so yes you must wear them with socks.

3. Loafers

Loafers can be either dressy or sporty, but all have one distinctive feature: a lack of laces or buckles. The classic loafer is a slip-on shoe, often with moc-toe construction, with a wide, fairly flat heel. Decorations can include tassels, metal “snaffles,” or the leather strap of penny loafers. As per usual, the sleeker and simpler designs are the most formal, as are darker colours. But make sure you wear socks with your loafers unless the occasion is very casual.

4. Monks

Anything named after a religious ascetic doesn’t sound like much fun, but monks buck the trend. Like a loafer, monk strap shoes don’t have laces. Unlike a loafer, monk strap shoes aren’t just slip-ons – instead, they’re closed via a leather strap and metal buckle on the upper portion of the shoe. One, two, and even three-strapped versions are available. Monks are ideal for the man who wants to draw attention to his unique tastes.

Wear socks if you are going to be in a more formal setting, especially if you work in the corporate world, meeting with clients or attending a gala event. Stick with black socks if wearing black monk straps and charcoal or grey when wearing brown and oxblood.

5. Dress Boots

Put the hefty combat boots down. We love them too, but they’re not appropriate for a formal occasion. Opt for dress boots instead, which are slim, sleek and snug, often with a slight heel. Dress boots are typically ankle-length and come in many styles (the usual brogue, wingtip, cap-toe, etc.). The conventional rules apply: more details are less formal, fewer details are more formal. Wear them with dark denim, dress trousers or a casual suit and of course with socks.