I feel like you took an easy route with this one. Comparing $4 and $40 items, that are not really trying to be the same thing, doesn’t seem equitable. I believe your product is a quality one. I’m sure most of your subscribers do as well. How about trying this again, but against a closer rival? There are plenty of sock vendors, selling over the calf lengths, that are in the $12 to $20 price points. At 10X, the delta is highly evident. At 3X or 2X, the gap closes and the $40 pair is better challenged to show a better value.
Materials do make a difference. I am a professional handspinner and cashmere is not really a good choice for socks. Cashmere is short staple so can pill. I would rather go with wool which will keep up the socks and provide excellent moisture control. I have knit socks for my husband and he notices the difference. But perhaps I will check out Belvedere dress socks for him.
Laurie Lee I have a little youtube channel Spinning the Past. Last year I showed how to process raw wool. Traditionally socks were from the ‘down’ breeds because they have such spring and memory. A good all breeds resource is The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook.
Yeah I wouldn’t do cashmere unless I wanted a felted bobbly mess lol. I haven’t knitted socks yet. I’ve got some 75wool25nylon sock yarn but I’m leery about turning heels socks seem so complex ( says she who made cat bordhis moebius scarf several times lol) .. I’d love an antique sock machine.. would be fun Just wondering, what wheels do you use if you spin a lot? Any particular breed you prefer to spin? I tried it.. I found spinning... tricky.
I've bought a couple pairs and they definitely are the best dress socks I've ever owned. They don't fall down at all and being very thin they don't bother me while I wear them. Looking to order the green/purple one and hoping the dark grey one with the burgundy/white clocks gets in stock soon.
Difficult to appreciate the arguments presented due to bias. In my opinion it would be foolish not to try out $4 socks first and then evaluate whether lack of comfort, color, material and fit makes the case for going more expensive. Also, socks come in a spectrum as any garment. Surely there must be $8 socks that makes a compromise between the extremes.
Of course Adam, I encourage you to try it for yourself. The yarn we use in our socks costs more than $8. What level of comfort vs. discomfort is worth your money is of course up to you. If you only ever know $4 socks or $8 socks you may not crave anything better because you don't know better, but once you have experienced a better sock you might not want to go back or maybe you do, who knows. The only way to find out is to test it.
You even get a pair of $40 socks for free with a purchase of $100 or more in the shop. Just go to and wait for the popup. www.gentlemansgazette.com/shop/?
Thankfully for me my feet don't sweat much, and since I've got slightly shorter legs basically all of my socks go over the calf anyways. With my college budget, if I'm spending 40 bucks on clothes, it's not gonna be on socks 😂
Duplicate Yeti I hear you. I would never have been able to justify buying these in college. But as I wore out my socks after college, and I had better employment, I slowly started replacing them with better quality. The FB socks I’ve gotten have lasted years now with no sign of slowing down.
I do suffer with hot/sweaty feet (the key is airing your feet and not wearing socks as much as possible) so I’m starting to consider more expensive socks now I have a bit of a higher budget!
I suffer from sweaty feet in cheaper socks from the poor material and then my feet get clamy and cold throughout the day and will start to smell. Thankfully I have progressed over the years to being able to afford better quality ones and keep my feet warm in the colder weather.
When I first started watching GG videos, I definitely found the look of the ribbed two-tone Fort Belvedere socks appealing... such a classic look, and the comfort of having over-the-calf socks is something that's missing in so many cheap socks--or even expensive socks for that matter. It's always been a massive pet peeve that tallish men like myself can't find quality socks at a decent price point. So... I coveted the FB socks as soon as I saw them. Having said that, I just cannot stomach a $40 (USD! That's $56 Canadian, plus shipping, and before any potential duties and taxes at the border) for a single pair of socks. We all know socks wear out and get lost all the time so I just can't wrap my head around $50 for a single pair. IF you're reading this and you agree with me, this next part is for you... because I did find a solution after some internet digging. Viccel socks. They come in more like $12-$18 per pair, have the same ribbed/two tone look and many of the other quality features mentioned in this video. They are made in Turkey, and though the shipping was NOT fast, they did get to me, and the quality for the price is extremely high. They are over the calf, nice and long, with really great elastics, made of a high quality cotton blend and they look and feel great to wear. I doubt they are quite as nice as the Fort Belvedere socks, but for me, they are working out great.
All my Viccel socks are still going strong, and I just received a shipment of five new pairs of the Celchyk socks and they’re dynamite. Came way faster in the mail too. Not quite as much selection as when they were viccell.
Owen Hexley I like classic mens clothing, but he’s right, it is pretty expensive compared to average clothing which is why many don’t bother. No pair of socks should even cost $40 imo.
Not sure I agree, he often advocates shopping for used or vintage pieces and has his entire series on "is it worth it". Yes FB sells higher end accessories but they still remain fairly affordable for the quality they provide. I'm not buying $40 socks as I don't like thin socks but his socks aren't $150+ like some high end designers.
Cheap socks are the devil. I have a few Marcoliani socks and they are absolutely indestructible. There is a huge difference in functionality and quality of premium socks. I admit that it can get expensive, especially since you need lots of socks in different colours and patterns, but they really are worth the investment. Most quality items will initially cost a lot, but the long term cost per wear/use makes them quite affordable. That's what GG advocates for anyway.
I bought a couple pairs of FB socks and they are very nice and work very well with my outfits. They stay up and don't feel uncomfortable. Costly, yes, but they do work and last.
A very interesting video. As usual, you get what you pay for, and it's very difficult to find real knee high socks unless you are ready to pay a bit more than the discount price.
@@ssxxxss its true. Fashion choices may seem like a frivolity but everything is important. Even basic necessities, such as socks and underwear impact a person and their actions. Like with women, lingerie makes a difference. And the material is also very important.
dannovarius I wear each pair weekly and machine wash after each use. These are cotton. I was worried they’d be too hot for my climate but they seem to not over-insulate. One thing I love is that they are very smooth and don’t catch on the fabric of my slacks. This prevents the pilling I’ve experienced with cheaper or even medium priced socks like Gold Toe or Piere Henry.
@@dannovarius We have a video on how to wash the socks here ruclips.net/video/XA2QTn0V-bo/видео.html we have socks in different materials. All is described on the website. www.gentlemansgazette.com/shop/?
Should be in stock for most socks but we will get a restock soon. You can even get a pair of $40 socks for free with a purchase of $100 or more in the shop. Just go to You even get a pair of $40 socks for free with a purchase of $100 or more in the shop. Just go to www.gentlemansgazette.com/shop/? and wait for the popup.
There are cheaper full length over-the-calf socks usually made with a merino blend or cotton, but here in europe there aren't too many options except falke and a few others for the high end. What I want to know is what to go in terms of material for in the summer if i want OTC instead of going for no-show socks. Another issue i have with expensive socks is that you still need to buy a lot of pairs in order to rotate and not have to wash them all the time, so the investment increases rapidly.
I agree, for that reason I use cheaper socks for my work and day to day with conservative colors (black, navy, grey, brown and khaki), and use my falke and pantherella shadow stripe ones for special occasions.
I have a question about lapel pins. I know you wear them through the button hole on the lapel, but I was wondering if it would be appropriate to wear two lapel pins, one on each lapel. Would it damage the suit if I wore a pin on the lapel without the buttonhole? Thanks!
It will damage most linens, most cottons, and some wools, it depends on the fabric as well as the weight of the fabric and if it has a nappe. Perhaps ask a your tailor. As for style, it would probably look strange if they were two different designs, and gimmicky if they were the same design. I would stick to one.
Zareldo it all depends on how fast you go through socks. Once they won’t stay up anymore, or they’re pilling like crazy, those $4 socks are done. How often do you find that you replace your socks?
@@MiniPaintAdventurer I myself dont wear dress socks regularly as my job doesn't require it, but assuming you do, I doubt the expensive dress socks last 10x as long as the inexpensive ones
@@Zareldo I wear over-the-calf socks Mon-Fri (or I used to until March) They do last if you have enough pairs and look after them. It's an expensive one-off purchase for items that last at least a whole year, but they could easily last more.
I have very sweaty feet and cotton just gets gets soggy; I like wool, but it's become very difficult to find high-percentage wool dress socks. I also have large curvaceous calves so OTC socks cut in at the top. I found house-brand lightweight 80% merino wool OTC black socks at a still-independant top-shelf department store which work very well for me. (And those socks contributed to winning the 'Mr. Sexy Legs' contest at my niece's wedding reception!)
That's because you don't know where and what to look for: Injinji,Tibetan sock, , Darn Tough, Icebreaker, Smartwool, Wigwam, Eddie Bauer, Patagonia, etc., they are made with merino wool, some of them have a life guarantee and they are about $18.00 to 35.00 a pair, so go hunt you can find them in sport stores and online
@@labellaescrima1996 - Those are thicker outdoor socks, not lightweight dress socks. And at $18.00 to 35.00, what you recommend costs more than what I found.
I have pizza socks, I'm a woman, but I agree, they are over rated. Can't really wear them with anything, so I wear them at home, or when I wear boots. They're cute, but not exactly practical.
I'm sorry Raphael. Being a broke college kid, I could only dream to be like you. Hopefully, your company, Fort Belvedere will last long enough for me to buy the socks. Please don't let any corporate entity to take over your company as they may reduce the outstanding quality of your goods.
There's also middle priced socks. For years I wore Gold Toe dress socks and they stay up, are very comfortable and have better materials for sweat and odor control. And they have a lot of nice new styles too.
@@gentlemansgazette That's ok too. Another good sock is The Proper Sock, they are left and right foot specific, they are dress socks that function like an athletic sock and have all kinds of great features and look good too. But to your point, to each his own.
Did it feel funny jumping around and filming socks on your feet? Cause it sure looked funny lol. Great video as always, I recently ordered Viccel socks and hoping they will be decent. Will definitely be getting Fort Belvedere once I save up some money!
Great video. Men should also note that 40$ socks can easily 10x outlast 4$ socks. I have primarily used Pantherella's quality socks about 3 years and they all still look like new. Some very cheap so-called sport socks I recently bought disintegrated in less than 10 days of use. And the feeling of dry feet in wool socks and good shoes is just priceless.
me neither mate & some of these on IG that get them for free & then post a link in their bio to purchase make me chuckle, like i'm going to buy @ that price when they're giving out free !
13 pairs of Fort Belvedere socks delivered today. I am impressed. Thank you. Now, maybe I have a chance to keep up with the style of the European lady I am with :-)
Once you wear a pair of high quality, over the calf socks (like those from Ft. Belvedere), you'll never want to go back. I have one pair from Ft. Belvedere at the time of this comment and they are so much better than any other pair I have in my wardrobe. Even if you aren't sold on the idea that $40 socks are worth it, I still recommend you buy one pair and try them for yourself.
Personally I usually spend around the $9-16 on socks. But like I think I mentioned in one of your older videos. A large reason I don't buy more expensive socks is because this video is pretty much the first time I've seen a seller (including the packaging) actually trying to justify the prices e.g. I've seen branded socks beside no-branded socks and the difference was price and packaging (as far as I could see from the the ingredient list and through the packaging). Now the question is, where's the sweet spot? IMO, that's actually a problem I've noticed in quite a few different segments, that you're just expected to just know the difference between thing and they can't be arsed to justify or explain it themselves. TL:DR I like that you've made a comparison and wish more would do that! ;)
While not dress socks I just bought some Thorlos and Darn Tough socks at $12 to $20 a pair and I thought they were expensive! Overall I bought them for some similar reasons you mentioned about the $40 dress socks so I understand your points.
Socks ARE important! I hate the ankle-crawling type: I like my socks knee-length, cotton, wool, or silk - they're just so much more comfortable, they stay up (no need for ridiculous sock braces), they don't reveal my dead-white shins and calves, and they're comfortable - the older you get, the more you want comfort, in your shoes, socks, trousers, jackets, shirts: all with room to move, without either strangling you or making you look like a tent of billowing cloth.
Or get a pair of $40 socks for free with a purchase of $100 or more in the shop. Just go to You even get a pair of $40 socks for free with a purchase of $100 or more in the shop. Just go to www.gentlemansgazette.com/shop/? and wait for the popup.
In Denmark we have company called "Egtved Strømper [socks]" that have made socks in Denmark since 1931. Their factory is still located in the mid of Jutland. Their socks retails from 20-30 dollars (80-120 kr.) and is made of 100% cotton, wool or a blend of cotton and elastic for their no-elastic version. The last version is especially good for older people (my wife´s grandfather uses them) since he has problems with the bloodflow and the socks are not tight at all. Egtved also produces over-the-calf socks in the same materials as the shorter versions. The only thing they do not have are colours. It is a very conservative brand, so you only get black, navy, charcoal grey and some shades of sand/stone. The quality is high but the designs are not as elaborate as yours.
While hand knitted socks are pure 1950s, I am currently wearing a pair of long hand knitted socks that a young friend gave to me because he didn't like either the pattern, or the colour. His grandmother knitted them for him and he didn't want to offend her by not wearing them. He told her that he gave them to me as a present, to thank me for what I have done for her grandchildren. Now we are both happy, because winter has just started in Australia and the hand knitted socks are not only warm, they are very comfortable to wear. Phil.
Socks that cost between 10-20 dollars is the norm. If I paid 40 dollars for a pair and put my toenail through them it would be quite aggravating. My socks don't normally fall down unless they are worn. I try to buy socks that are mostly cotton with a little spandex.
My life hack for buying cheap over-the-calf socks is to buy women's socks. They unfortunately don't come in too many colours, but they're long enough to stay up all day. Of course the quality of the fabric isn't very high, but if you're on a budget and want to be able to buy socks at the supermarket, women's socks do the trick. So far no one's noticed!
Don't laugh at me, but once I bought children/boys socks because men socks were too big (they had only 8/9 size) and I wanted blue/green , blue/blue stripes socks.
I just wish I could get colorful compression socks. I have to wear 30/40 compression socks, and all I can find from the quality brands like Medi are tan, brown, black, grey, and navy. I need more color from my socks!
I have a cache of quality socks that I bought about 10 and 15 years ago. So I almost never buy socks. The problem is that a small number of the socks just disintegrated sitting there in 10 years without even being worn once. They are stored good and the non-problematic socks are just fine. I had the same issue with two sneakers too. Stored about 10 years new shoes in good condition and disintegration. I believe long term existence is not a design goal for many of the modern products.
My problem with expensive socks is that I tend to wear them out very fast because my toenails tend to create holes in them after only a few uses, even regularly trimming them does not seem to improve the lifetime of socks all that much.
I wouldn't recommend it if you are outside of USA. You will get a high customs house bill to pay in order to get it released by the courier and the shipping cost will be quite high as well. I would love to buy their products but, in the end, it's final price is unjustifiable.
The socks at Fort Belvedere are top notch of course, but seriously 90% of people can't afford them. Most people on living on an employee's salary can't afford to splurge $40 on a pair of socks (which is barely visible when walking anyway). Even if you spend $400 on a pair of socks, 99.9% of people won't know that they're quality socks. I'd rather buy $15-20 socks and save the rest for a suit or a pair of good shoes that can be worn as everyday wear and can last for super long. Expensive socks will get torn eventually, like all socks.
Everyone can get a pair of $40 socks for free with a purchase of $100 or more in the shop. Just go to You even get a pair of $40 socks for free with a purchase of $100 or more in the shop. Just go to www.gentlemansgazette.com/shop/? and wait for the popup.
It cracks me up how a lot of guys are going for the colorful socks now. And to show them off they wear high waters halfway up their calves. To me wearing high waters is ten times worse than having cheap socks. Hey Sven, where's the flood? 😉
I got "burned" by a few pairs of shadow stripe socks from Falke. 3 of 4 pairs have been totally worn out (huge holes, impossible to fix) within only 10 months, wearing one pair for 5 days each week. Each pair costs around 15 EUR. Any advise if it was poor quality, or just me walking around to much?
Try Pantherella instead, excellent quality already in 20€ price range. My experience with Falke was that they were not much different from cheap super market socks.
@@mikav8206 Very good hint, thank you! I ordered them and am currently wearing them. They look and feel very good. Now to find out how long they will last on my feet ... :)
Could've also compared a middle ground like 20$ socks. The expensive socks, when compared to such low quality will always look amazing, but I rarely find a good reason to buy something so expensive, when a middle ground exists.
Can you spend one or two videos on Doctor Who style. Check all actors that pleyed him since 1963 to 2017 ( Im not including latest actor for some reasons )
Using $4 socks as a comparison of your $40, it is a fair comparison? I understand the need to promote your product but comparing and judging products by counties, is a bit too much. You get what you paid for in most kind of commodities. China also produces 100% silk socks, which costs around $20 per pair, the quality might not be just slightly higher than yours but the value for money is quite competitive. What shall I say about your malicious comparison? Imagine, Comparing a business class seat of Air Italia and the economy seat of Air Asia, and concluded that Italian airlines bring passengers a much better experience than Asian airlines do.
I wear Vacuna wool socks, the best wool in the world, great for any weather, dapper types if needed, and in my opinion those socks for $40 looked terrible personally. In Geneva, Switzerland, Boutique Addison is my dapper socks choice.
Thrift stores often have unused pairs of 100% cotton made in Italy socks for 1 or 2 dollars, I usually pick up a pair whenever I visit them.
I feel like you took an easy route with this one.
Comparing $4 and $40 items, that are not really trying to be the same thing, doesn’t seem equitable.
I believe your product is a quality one. I’m sure most of your subscribers do as well.
How about trying this again, but against a closer rival?
There are plenty of sock vendors, selling over the calf lengths, that are in the $12 to $20 price points.
At 10X, the delta is highly evident.
At 3X or 2X, the gap closes and the $40 pair is better challenged to show a better value.
It is problematic to compare by price anyways. It should be more like what makes item good vs what makes it bad.
@@johandavid9774 - they're not really comparing. It's just advertising the socks they sell
Once you go expensive socks and underwear you never go back.
Materials do make a difference. I am a professional handspinner and cashmere is not really a good choice for socks. Cashmere is short staple so can pill. I would rather go with wool which will keep up the socks and provide excellent moisture control. I have knit socks for my husband and he notices the difference. But perhaps I will check out Belvedere dress socks for him.
wool socks are fantastic for wicking away sweat and odours, and guess what they do keep you warm
Laurie Lee I have a little youtube channel Spinning the Past. Last year I showed how to process raw wool. Traditionally socks were from the ‘down’ breeds because they have such spring and memory. A good all breeds resource is The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook.
Yeah I wouldn’t do cashmere unless I wanted a felted bobbly mess lol. I haven’t knitted socks yet. I’ve got some 75wool25nylon sock yarn but I’m leery about turning heels socks seem so complex ( says she who made cat bordhis moebius scarf several times lol) .. I’d love an antique sock machine.. would be fun
Just wondering, what wheels do you use if you spin a lot? Any particular breed you prefer to spin? I tried it.. I found spinning... tricky.
6:17 my weird neighbour talking to the trees.
I've bought a couple pairs and they definitely are the best dress socks I've ever owned. They don't fall down at all and being very thin they don't bother me while I wear them. Looking to order the green/purple one and hoping the dark grey one with the burgundy/white clocks gets in stock soon.
Difficult to appreciate the arguments presented due to bias. In my opinion it would be foolish not to try out $4 socks first and then evaluate whether lack of comfort, color, material and fit makes the case for going more expensive. Also, socks come in a spectrum as any garment. Surely there must be $8 socks that makes a compromise between the extremes.
Of course Adam, I encourage you to try it for yourself. The yarn we use in our socks costs more than $8. What level of comfort vs. discomfort is worth your money is of course up to you. If you only ever know $4 socks or $8 socks you may not crave anything better because you don't know better, but once you have experienced a better sock you might not want to go back or maybe you do, who knows. The only way to find out is to test it.
You even get a pair of $40 socks for free with a purchase of $100 or more in the shop. Just go to and wait for the popup. www.gentlemansgazette.com/shop/?
I am happy with my 1$ store socks, and the seasonal holiday designs always make me smile! Nutcracker, Chrismas Llama, Valentines socks...
I wear Pantherella socks, which cost about $30 a pair. I like the Merino wool; I don't like having to wash them by hand.
Thankfully for me my feet don't sweat much, and since I've got slightly shorter legs basically all of my socks go over the calf anyways. With my college budget, if I'm spending 40 bucks on clothes, it's not gonna be on socks 😂
Duplicate Yeti I hear you. I would never have been able to justify buying these in college. But as I wore out my socks after college, and I had better employment, I slowly started replacing them with better quality. The FB socks I’ve gotten have lasted years now with no sign of slowing down.
I do suffer with hot/sweaty feet (the key is airing your feet and not wearing socks as much as possible) so I’m starting to consider more expensive socks now I have a bit of a higher budget!
I suffer from sweaty feet in cheaper socks from the poor material and then my feet get clamy and cold throughout the day and will start to smell. Thankfully I have progressed over the years to being able to afford better quality ones and keep my feet warm in the colder weather.
When I first started watching GG videos, I definitely found the look of the ribbed two-tone Fort Belvedere socks appealing... such a classic look, and the comfort of having over-the-calf socks is something that's missing in so many cheap socks--or even expensive socks for that matter. It's always been a massive pet peeve that tallish men like myself can't find quality socks at a decent price point. So... I coveted the FB socks as soon as I saw them. Having said that, I just cannot stomach a $40 (USD! That's $56 Canadian, plus shipping, and before any potential duties and taxes at the border) for a single pair of socks. We all know socks wear out and get lost all the time so I just can't wrap my head around $50 for a single pair.
IF you're reading this and you agree with me, this next part is for you... because I did find a solution after some internet digging. Viccel socks. They come in more like $12-$18 per pair, have the same ribbed/two tone look and many of the other quality features mentioned in this video. They are made in Turkey, and though the shipping was NOT fast, they did get to me, and the quality for the price is extremely high. They are over the calf, nice and long, with really great elastics, made of a high quality cotton blend and they look and feel great to wear. I doubt they are quite as nice as the Fort Belvedere socks, but for me, they are working out great.
Those Viccel socks still in tact 2 years later? I looked on their site and I think they’re now called “Celchuk”
All my Viccel socks are still going strong, and I just received a shipment of five new pairs of the Celchyk socks and they’re dynamite. Came way faster in the mail too. Not quite as much selection as when they were viccell.
Thank you for the tip, fellow Canadian. GG socks look amazing, but I also can't stomach the cost.
I feel like 95% of the subscribers of this publication can't afford to dress the way Sven likes men to
Josh Patterson I think 95% will never buy $40 socks.
Owen Hexley I like classic mens clothing, but he’s right, it is pretty expensive compared to average clothing which is why many don’t bother. No pair of socks should even cost $40 imo.
Sven is reaching the people he needs to reach to stay in business, the rest enjoy the content anyway.
Not sure I agree, he often advocates shopping for used or vintage pieces and has his entire series on "is it worth it". Yes FB sells higher end accessories but they still remain fairly affordable for the quality they provide. I'm not buying $40 socks as I don't like thin socks but his socks aren't $150+ like some high end designers.
Cheap socks are the devil. I have a few Marcoliani socks and they are absolutely indestructible. There is a huge difference in functionality and quality of premium socks. I admit that it can get expensive, especially since you need lots of socks in different colours and patterns, but they really are worth the investment. Most quality items will initially cost a lot, but the long term cost per wear/use makes them quite affordable. That's what GG advocates for anyway.
Personally I like the subject of socks, and naturally i have the $40 pair
Aireney Kirkendoll Mmm, yes, quite
Would you please make a video on indoor garments such as slippers, robes, pajamas, etc. I would much appreciate it, as I am sure others would.
I am so glad you said “10 times as much” as opposed to “10 times more”. It’s nice to hear someone who understands the language.
I bought a couple pairs of FB socks and they are very nice and work very well with my outfits. They stay up and don't feel uncomfortable. Costly, yes, but they do work and last.
A very interesting video. As usual, you get what you pay for, and it's very difficult to find real knee high socks unless you are ready to pay a bit more than the discount price.
I really appreciate the video but does selling your own brand of socks create a conflict of interest?
you’re lookin a touch slimmer, Rafael. i see you’re doing some lockdown workouts🏋️
This was filmed long before the lockdown but thank you
I love socks...people don't seem to understand how socks are important
Even boxers make a dramatic change.
@@ssxxxss its true. Fashion choices may seem like a frivolity but everything is important. Even basic necessities, such as socks and underwear impact a person and their actions. Like with women, lingerie makes a difference. And the material is also very important.
Crystal Ruiz Material is the most important thing
1:14 - Are those the prototype Fort Belvedere slippers again?
Hinting at something are we?
I think that is his slipper with the monogram made by a bespoke maker
Can you make a video about dressing for leisure or how a gentleman should dress at home?
I have 9 pairs of FB socks. I love them a lot. What’s the lifespan you place on them? My first pair is 3 years old and shows almost no wear.
Have you worn them often? Are they wool? How do you wash them? Sorry for the interrogation :)
dannovarius I wear each pair weekly and machine wash after each use. These are cotton. I was worried they’d be too hot for my climate but they seem to not over-insulate. One thing I love is that they are very smooth and don’t catch on the fabric of my slacks. This prevents the pilling I’ve experienced with cheaper or even medium priced socks like Gold Toe or Piere Henry.
@@dannovarius We have a video on how to wash the socks here ruclips.net/video/XA2QTn0V-bo/видео.html we have socks in different materials. All is described on the website. www.gentlemansgazette.com/shop/?
Your socks are very good looking. Waiting for you to get my size(L) back in stock!
Should be in stock for most socks but we will get a restock soon. You can even get a pair of $40 socks for free with a purchase of $100 or more in the shop. Just go to You even get a pair of $40 socks for free with a purchase of $100 or more in the shop. Just go to www.gentlemansgazette.com/shop/? and wait for the popup.
Higher and materials don't necessarily last longer. Often times they last shorter.
Beyond quality you are going to find patterns and styles much classier at the 40 dollar level
Very true
And this is why I knit wool socks. For myself and for anyone in my family who wants a pair.
Grandma! How are you? I loved to wear knitted wool socks, particularly my grandma Xmas gift, even if everybody said I was crazy.😎
There are cheaper full length over-the-calf socks usually made with a merino blend or cotton, but here in europe there aren't too many options except falke and a few others for the high end. What I want to know is what to go in terms of material for in the summer if i want OTC instead of going for no-show socks. Another issue i have with expensive socks is that you still need to buy a lot of pairs in order to rotate and not have to wash them all the time, so the investment increases rapidly.
I agree, for that reason I use cheaper socks for my work and day to day with conservative colors (black, navy, grey, brown and khaki), and use my falke and pantherella shadow stripe ones for special occasions.
I do like the idea of a gentleman's socks being his secret weapon!
I have a question about lapel pins. I know you wear them through the button hole on the lapel, but I was wondering if it would be appropriate to wear two lapel pins, one on each lapel. Would it damage the suit if I wore a pin on the lapel without the buttonhole? Thanks!
It will damage most linens, most cottons, and some wools, it depends on the fabric as well as the weight of the fabric and if it has a nappe. Perhaps ask a your tailor.
As for style, it would probably look strange if they were two different designs, and gimmicky if they were the same design. I would stick to one.
Issa_Bass It will look weird anyway so why bother?
I like every aspect of the more expensive socks except for the thinkness. I can't stand thin socks. Entertaining and informative nonetheless!
We might have some thicker winter quality socks in the works, stay tuned!
That being said, the really expensive silk socks are all super thin.
$4 socks are for men who cant spend $200 to get 5 pairs of socks 😐
Zareldo it all depends on how fast you go through socks. Once they won’t stay up anymore, or they’re pilling like crazy, those $4 socks are done. How often do you find that you replace your socks?
@@MiniPaintAdventurer I myself dont wear dress socks regularly as my job doesn't require it, but assuming you do, I doubt the expensive dress socks last 10x as long as the inexpensive ones
@@Zareldo I wear over-the-calf socks Mon-Fri (or I used to until March) They do last if you have enough pairs and look after them. It's an expensive one-off purchase for items that last at least a whole year, but they could easily last more.
I bought 20 dollar Buy-it-for-lifetime warranty wool socks, thought I overpaid...
I have very sweaty feet and cotton just gets gets soggy; I like wool, but it's become very difficult to find high-percentage wool dress socks. I also have large curvaceous calves so OTC socks cut in at the top.
I found house-brand lightweight 80% merino wool OTC black socks at a still-independant top-shelf department store which work very well for me. (And those socks contributed to winning the 'Mr. Sexy Legs' contest at my niece's wedding reception!)
That's because you don't know where and what to look for: Injinji,Tibetan sock, , Darn Tough, Icebreaker, Smartwool, Wigwam, Eddie Bauer, Patagonia, etc., they are made with merino wool, some of them have a life guarantee and they are about $18.00 to 35.00 a pair, so go hunt you can find them in sport stores and online
@@labellaescrima1996 - Those are thicker outdoor socks, not lightweight dress socks. And at $18.00 to 35.00, what you recommend costs more than what I found.
Nameless One Why not mention the name of the store?
@@namelessone3339 ive worn my Darn Tough socks as dress socks before.
General Message of this Channel:
Buy expensive, dont give Polyester a Chance!
@Wuanslm And sometimes polyester is more expensive than (cheap) cashmere. What would you choose?
I have had cotton socks in the past they are waaaaay too itchy
@@Thicbladi Try filo scozia. Way smoother than anything else.
I have pizza socks, I'm a woman, but I agree, they are over rated. Can't really wear them with anything, so I wear them at home, or when I wear boots. They're cute, but not exactly practical.
children socks cheap garbage thats what it is nothing more!
I'm sorry Raphael.
Being a broke college kid, I could only dream to be like you.
Hopefully, your company, Fort Belvedere will last long enough for me to buy the socks.
Please don't let any corporate entity to take over your company as they may reduce the outstanding quality of your goods.
There's also middle priced socks. For years I wore Gold Toe dress socks and they stay up, are very comfortable and have better materials for sweat and odor control. And they have a lot of nice new styles too.
Each to his own. The gold toe socks I have tried were not for mw
@@gentlemansgazette That's ok too. Another good sock is The Proper Sock, they are left and right foot specific, they are dress socks that function like an athletic sock and have all kinds of great features and look good too. But to your point, to each his own.
Because of my feet sweating, I use white cotton cushion socks especially during err to very tender feet
Did it feel funny jumping around and filming socks on your feet? Cause it sure looked funny lol. Great video as always, I recently ordered Viccel socks and hoping they will be decent. Will definitely be getting Fort Belvedere once I save up some money!
We do a lot for our viewers and customers
The purple and white otc socks are not on your website or the black and white. I really love to purchase some
Great video. Men should also note that 40$ socks can easily 10x outlast 4$ socks. I have primarily used Pantherella's quality socks about 3 years and they all still look like new. Some very cheap so-called sport socks I recently bought disintegrated in less than 10 days of use. And the feeling of dry feet in wool socks and good shoes is just priceless.
im never gonna pay 40 dollars for ONE pair of socks
💀
If those socks last 10 times longer than the cheap ones you'll have better value for what you buy.
Me neither
I‘d suggest looking into Falke, if you live in Europe. The have amazing OTC socks for 20-40€ depending on the material.
me neither mate & some of these on IG that get them for free & then post a link in their bio to purchase make me chuckle, like i'm going to buy @ that price when they're giving out free !
I order mine Blue Socks with Red and White Clocks in Cotton
Thanks for Great Details in videos Guys
I’m a pregnant woman who will never wear men’s dress socks... but here I am watching.
13 pairs of Fort Belvedere socks delivered today.
I am impressed.
Thank you.
Now, maybe I have a chance to keep up with the style of the European lady I am with :-)
Once you wear a pair of high quality, over the calf socks (like those from Ft. Belvedere), you'll never want to go back. I have one pair from Ft. Belvedere at the time of this comment and they are so much better than any other pair I have in my wardrobe. Even if you aren't sold on the idea that $40 socks are worth it, I still recommend you buy one pair and try them for yourself.
love the sweater with the latest elbow airation technology
Raphael is the best and very funny as well . I like it 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Basically don't buy the Dockers socks? I'll think about purchasing the Fort Belvedere ones once I save up excellent and helpful content as always!
Personally I usually spend around the $9-16 on socks. But like I think I mentioned in one of your older videos. A large reason I don't buy more expensive socks is because this video is pretty much the first time I've seen a seller (including the packaging) actually trying to justify the prices e.g. I've seen branded socks beside no-branded socks and the difference was price and packaging (as far as I could see from the the ingredient list and through the packaging). Now the question is, where's the sweet spot?
IMO, that's actually a problem I've noticed in quite a few different segments, that you're just expected to just know the difference between thing and they can't be arsed to justify or explain it themselves.
TL:DR I like that you've made a comparison and wish more would do that! ;)
While not dress socks I just bought some Thorlos and Darn Tough socks at $12 to $20 a pair and I thought they were expensive! Overall I bought them for some similar reasons you mentioned about the $40 dress socks so I understand your points.
Socks ARE important! I hate the ankle-crawling type: I like my socks knee-length, cotton, wool, or silk - they're just so much more comfortable, they stay up (no need for ridiculous sock braces), they don't reveal my dead-white shins and calves, and they're comfortable - the older you get, the more you want comfort, in your shoes, socks, trousers, jackets, shirts: all with room to move, without either strangling you or making you look like a tent of billowing cloth.
I got a compromise. Buy $10 to $15 socks.
Or get a pair of $40 socks for free with a purchase of $100 or more in the shop. Just go to You even get a pair of $40 socks for free with a purchase of $100 or more in the shop. Just go to www.gentlemansgazette.com/shop/? and wait for the popup.
@@gentlemansgazette Save 40 bucks by spending 100! 😉
In Denmark we have company called "Egtved Strømper [socks]" that have made socks in Denmark since 1931. Their factory is still located in the mid of Jutland. Their socks retails from 20-30 dollars (80-120 kr.) and is made of 100% cotton, wool or a blend of cotton and elastic for their no-elastic version. The last version is especially good for older people (my wife´s grandfather uses them) since he has problems with the bloodflow and the socks are not tight at all. Egtved also produces over-the-calf socks in the same materials as the shorter versions.
The only thing they do not have are colours. It is a very conservative brand, so you only get black, navy, charcoal grey and some shades of sand/stone. The quality is high but the designs are not as elaborate as yours.
I've always wondered this.....watching now.
Thanks, that was very educational,, learning something.
While hand knitted socks are pure 1950s, I am currently wearing a pair of long hand knitted socks that a young friend gave to me because he didn't like either the pattern, or the colour. His grandmother knitted them for him and he didn't want to offend her by not wearing them.
He told her that he gave them to me as a present, to thank me for what I have done for her grandchildren.
Now we are both happy, because winter has just started in Australia and the hand knitted socks are not only warm, they are very comfortable to wear. Phil.
Still have a paar hand knitted socks from my mon. When it's very cold outside and you go for a walk: priceless...
Just hold on, a couple of months!
Your socks are 40$ other nice brands are $30
The brown and green FB sock in the thumbnail 🤤🤤🤤
Socks that cost between 10-20 dollars is the norm. If I paid 40 dollars for a pair and put my toenail through them it would be quite aggravating. My socks don't normally fall down unless they are worn. I try to buy socks that are mostly cotton with a little spandex.
My life hack for buying cheap over-the-calf socks is to buy women's socks. They unfortunately don't come in too many colours, but they're long enough to stay up all day. Of course the quality of the fabric isn't very high, but if you're on a budget and want to be able to buy socks at the supermarket, women's socks do the trick. So far no one's noticed!
Can you link some examples? I am interested as well :)
Don't laugh at me, but once I bought children/boys socks because men socks were too big (they had only 8/9 size) and I wanted blue/green , blue/blue stripes socks.
An excellent comparison, but let's not go to extremes. Compare the less obvious things. For example, viccel vs. fort belvedere!
I just wish I could get colorful compression socks. I have to wear 30/40 compression socks, and all I can find from the quality brands like Medi are tan, brown, black, grey, and navy. I need more color from my socks!
I have a cache of quality socks that I bought about 10 and 15 years ago. So I almost never buy socks. The problem is that a small number of the socks just disintegrated sitting there in 10 years without even being worn once. They are stored good and the non-problematic socks are just fine. I had the same issue with two sneakers too. Stored about 10 years new shoes in good condition and disintegration. I believe long term existence is not a design goal for many of the modern products.
Its funny, when i was in school, people use to get made fun of their socks showing becuase their "pants were too high"
The Gentleman's Gazette should definetly produce shoes!
My problem with expensive socks is that I tend to wear them out very fast because my toenails tend to create holes in them after only a few uses, even regularly trimming them does not seem to improve the lifetime of socks all that much.
Maybe use a nail file to smooth the nail
accent so strong! where yuh from zaddy?
I won't recommend cheap sockes coz some cheap quality gives bad smelly feet from long day of wear
What is your shipping cost to UK? Socks look good but probably a non-starter if there’s a hefty postage charge on top.
I wouldn't recommend it if you are outside of USA. You will get a high customs house bill to pay in order to get it released by the courier and the shipping cost will be quite high as well. I would love to buy their products but, in the end, it's final price is unjustifiable.
If you're in the UK just buy Corgi or Pantherella. If you're in Europe buy Calzesabas or one of the many of the Bresciani whitelabels.
Could you please a Video „IS IT WORTH IT?“ about Mackintosh Rain Coat / Maglia Umbrella?
The socks at Fort Belvedere are top notch of course, but seriously 90% of people can't afford them. Most people on living on an employee's salary can't afford to splurge $40 on a pair of socks (which is barely visible when walking anyway). Even if you spend $400 on a pair of socks, 99.9% of people won't know that they're quality socks. I'd rather buy $15-20 socks and save the rest for a suit or a pair of good shoes that can be worn as everyday wear and can last for super long. Expensive socks will get torn eventually, like all socks.
Everyone can get a pair of $40 socks for free with a purchase of $100 or more in the shop. Just go to You even get a pair of $40 socks for free with a purchase of $100 or more in the shop. Just go to www.gentlemansgazette.com/shop/? and wait for the popup.
„Viccel“ and „Pantharella“ sell great men’s dress socks for an affordable price.
Really nice video. Usefull.😄😄
It cracks me up how a lot of guys are going for the colorful socks now. And to show them off they wear high waters halfway up their calves.
To me wearing high waters is ten times worse than having cheap socks. Hey Sven, where's the flood? 😉
Nice video quick question where is your accent from? Thanks again 🙏
Germany I believe.
Carl Trotter Thank you thought it was just worth the ask. It’s a very enchanting voice that keeps me interested
@@sniffadoghq :D
I got "burned" by a few pairs of shadow stripe socks from Falke. 3 of 4 pairs have been totally worn out (huge holes, impossible to fix) within only 10 months, wearing one pair for 5 days each week. Each pair costs around 15 EUR. Any advise if it was poor quality, or just me walking around to much?
Try Pantherella instead, excellent quality already in 20€ price range. My experience with Falke was that they were not much different from cheap super market socks.
@@mikav8206 Very good hint, thank you! I ordered them and am currently wearing them. They look and feel very good. Now to find out how long they will last on my feet ... :)
So costlier is always better?
You should make a tuxedo /black tie fort beldevere
Those 4 dollars socks are rubbish. In Italy I can find 100% cotton over the calf socks for 2€ per pair.
Louis ADVENIER can't buy them online, it's "coop centro italia", like a Walmart in USA.
Would you be so kind as to make a video about the brand Paul Frederick? Perhaps along the lines of: "Is it worth it".
Tip: take a look at the € 12 to € 15 socks from the German brand Falke.
Could've also compared a middle ground like 20$ socks. The expensive socks, when compared to such low quality will always look amazing, but I rarely find a good reason to buy something so expensive, when a middle ground exists.
When you take us up on our free socks with an order over $100, the cost per pair goes down to $26 so that's pretty much in your range
What is your height Sven? thank you :)
Can you spend one or two videos on Doctor Who style. Check all actors that pleyed him since 1963 to 2017 ( Im not including latest actor for some reasons )
Why no lamb gloves in chamois yellow? Is there a rule for when a color can be peccary?
Ideally I want to phase myself off wearing plastic
Using $4 socks as a comparison of your $40, it is a fair comparison? I understand the need to promote your product but comparing and judging products by counties, is a bit too much. You get what you paid for in most kind of commodities. China also produces 100% silk socks, which costs around $20 per pair, the quality might not be just slightly higher than yours but the value for money is quite competitive.
What shall I say about your malicious comparison? Imagine, Comparing a business class seat of Air Italia and the economy seat of Air Asia, and concluded that Italian airlines bring passengers a much better experience than Asian airlines do.
This seems to be a review of the accuracy of the Amazon seller's description, but blaming the manufacturer
waiting for the video comparing Brooks Brothers and Indochino.
I wear Vacuna wool socks, the best wool in the world, great for any weather, dapper types if needed, and in my opinion those socks for $40 looked terrible personally. In Geneva, Switzerland, Boutique Addison is my dapper socks choice.
What socks to get for loafers?
I get your colour theory but in the end it's all about advertising your product. Nice
Is that a new design of sock for Fort Belvedere at 5:37?
Totally off topic but he kind of resembles Lin Manuel Miranda 😅 Especially in his older videos from about 5 years ago
I know you did did a video about the iron rangers but Ralph do you actually own a pair I really wonder
Rocket ships or pizzas hahaha
What about 3 pairs for one dollar?
Could you please so a Video about suit supply?
Socks are socks don't waste money.
-Saddam Hussein
also...you don't want Charlie Chaplin trousers