In comparison to our female counterparts, menswear can be viewed as rigid. To some, the stoic tradition that defines men’s fashion is what keeps things on an even keel. For others, these rigours serve as creative license to unsettle what seems to be the norm. I say all this because I’m noticing a rebel of sorts within menswear that would leave the staunchest traditionalists livid. However, for the longevity of men’s fashion, I think this break with tradition can be healthy. Or maybe not. Well, you be the judge as I share with you some recent avant garde encounters and sightings that had me shook.

So a few weeks back I was on the board of interviewers tending to a candidate for an entry−level business position. To our bemusement, the young man walked into the interview with fully exposed white socks paired with black dress shoes!?!? Bewildered does not begin to describe how I felt at such a fashion faux pas. However, what had me more puzzled was the fact that this young lad had the audacity to attempt such fashion brazenness in a setting this formal. Experimenting with sock colours is one thing, but at least wait until you land the job. Only then can you slowly inject personality through your dress à la Steve Erkel if you must.

Afterwards, I got to thinking: was I antiquated or had visibly sporting white socks with dress shoes become trendy overnight? I’ve been under the impression that the Michael Jackson “Beat It” era had been vanquished, but when three is a trend (and men are boldly entering interviews with black lace−ups complete with white socks), you have to start reprogramming your style schema as to what is and isn’t acceptable.

On that thought, I embarked on a bit of trend spotting and low and behold, peppered throughout cities far and wide, a revolt was in place on the established order of sock wearing. The streets are definitely talking and they are all for white socks and black dress shoes. Judging from these four looks, it’s safe to say their foray into the sartorial unknown is largely personality driven, with the odd dollop of style. In that sense, pardon may be granted to them for their subtle channeling of a nerdy élan.

However, my run in with white socks and black lace−ups was utterly unacceptable and left me unconvinced at the growing fad. But then again, who’s to say that the interviewee wasn’t emboldened by the same forces that spurred these four men to opt for verve at the expense of sartorial traditions. Even if that was the case, there’s a time and a place for the instinctive quirk in one’s style to surface and the boardroom is not one of them.

That being said, I’ll give it a couple months and revisit these pictures and see where my stance lies on the matter. I guess in the department of socks I’m what you would call one of the traditionalists that are yet to be won over to the whimsical ways of the new school. Sticking to conservative blacks, grays, browns, and tans has left my sock collection rather void of a crotchety style. Then again, in reference to the quandary at hand, I’m well aware that pairing white socks and black shoes steers clear of the bootee phenomenon (when you’re socks match your shoes hence there being no demarcation between where shoe ends and sock begins). However, when I see white socks worn with black lace−ups, I can’t help but envision Michael Jackson and his flailing legs bedecked with sequined white socks (yes, check out the “Beat It” video to relate to this mental imagery). So if anything, I believe come two months I’ll still be in agreement with the Style Guy in saving “your white socks for your white suit and white shoes.”

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As the age-old fashion faux-pas of wearing socks with sandals sauntered down the runway of Alexander McQueen’s men’s SS09 show, US Vogue came out with their “Ageless” issue to celebrate the fashion industry’s old guards.

A very interesting corollary, but does this mean that sandals and socks are in vogue? The look is one that is synonymous with the elderly so I’ll keep my fingers crossed for McQueen if his creative license of resurrecting a fashion faux-pas has any longevity whatsoever amongst his youthful legion of followers.

Mind you, sans the pastel grey socks, the shimmering gold dress shoe sandal was eye-catching and could very well be a strong contender for the new look sandal of next summer. The gladiator sandal is definitely being worn thin so with a hint of deconstruction (i.e., lose the socks), McQueen may be on to something.

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Just the other day, I reported on the ankle sock and lace-ups trend that sprouted over the course of the spring/summer men’s shows in Milan and Paris.

Yes, ankle socks are slowly becoming a source of comfort and style for those men who would rather not go sockless for the summer. And, ahem, given I’m not one to endorse socklessness; I’m mighty thrilled at this development.

However, as with most trends, for it to reach bonafide status it helps to have a following beyond just one individual and one locale.

The Sartorialist spotted the ankle sock in Milan and Paris during the spring/summer 2009 men’s shows and my hopes were ignited. Now all the way in the blonde hair, blue-eyed, avant-garde populous of Sweden, Face Hunter has sighted yet another ankle sock look and I’m feeling real gutsy about rocking ankle socks avec dress shoes!

I don’t know about you all, but I think we’ve stumbled unto something here…stay tuned!

[Image: Face Hunter]

I’m among those legions of men that have refused to catch on to going sockless for the summer. Whether wearing one’s pant leg rolled up or hemming some slim-cut khakis to create that slight high-water feel, going sockless is touted as the best way to complement summer/spring fashion.

Alas, for those suffering from overactive sweat glands, the sockless method may not be the most hygienically safe. If sandals (no flip-flops people) are the footwear of choice, then obviously I know my feet would be well ventilated. However, walking around in 100 degree weather in some lace-up dress shoes or loafers sans socks will produce a sea of perspiration that would send my feet into an abyss of funk and threaten the life of my shoes.

But such is fashion that you can trust where roadblocks arise, new roads will be paved.

While on assignment in Milan and Paris for the spring/summer men’s collections, Scott Schuman, The Sartorialist himself, spotted the odd but ingenious pairing of ankle socks with lace-ups. After having seen sifted through enough sockless fashion week attendees to send me into an envious breakdown, Schuman spied an ankle sock worn with dress shoes complete with rolled-hem pants—summer style couldn’t have gotten better. I held my breath for fear it was just an isolated statement of style unique to the mysterious Milanese gentleman, but low and behold another chap in Paris was spotted wearing ankle socks with lace-ups. Trepidation was overcome with excitement. Then reason set in and humbled my fervor as I asked myself, “Can I really parade around in ankle socks?”

There’s no doubting that this mishmash of ultra-comfy and ultra-formal definitely raises eyebrows, but I’m not about to get desperate. Variety is the spice of life and ankle socks sure do offer that element of choice to those who want to flash some ankle without the risk of leaving a snail trail of odor. Then again, idiosyncrasy is not for the faint-hearted and given my pent-up giddiness after stumbling onto this would-be fad, I think it all went to my head a little too fast.

Who knows, perhaps high-end fashion in the likes of Junya Watanabe (his Argyle sock game is delightful) will tailgate this sock trend, and then maybe I’ll summon up the courage to venture out ankle socks and all. As for now, my ankles remain contented with the suave modesty of mandals (yes, male sandals).

[Images: Men.Style.com]