Men have very simple tastes in clothing compared to women. Most of them go for the most comfortable clothes possible when looking for something to wear. Socks are no exception when it comes to this. Most men grew up just having multiple pairs of white or black tube socks because let’s face it—socks were invented mainly for comfort and not style. But gone are the days when these small pieces of clothing are just an afterthought.

Men’s colorful socks are a new rising trend in fashion. With literally thousands of possible combinations for length, color, and material, wearing these trendy pairs may be overwhelming. So here’s a guide on when and how to wear these fun fashion pieces.

Always consider the length of socks you want to wear

Multiple sock lengths are available for your use depending on the purpose or style you are going for.

No-show socks are great for the sockless look, because you can still enjoy the comfort they provide. Plus, the sockless look is perfect for warm weather as you don’t need to cover too much skin. Just make sure to get a pair with a grip on the heels so it does not slip off your feet.

Meanwhile, athletic socks reach the ankles when completely pulled up. They are also great for sporty activities because of the comfort and support they provide to your ankles.

The most common and most flexible sock length is the mid-calf or the crew socks. Men’s designed socks are commonly mid-calf length and they can be worn with trousers or jeans, or even with shorts. Crew socks with absorbent materials can also be used in sport activities.

Familiarize yourself with the color wheel for color coordinating your outfit

The color wheel is a great tool when you’re choosing your outfit of the day. Putting on non-complementary colors is unflattering and tacky. Go with clothes that are opposites in the color wheel and you’ll be good to go. It has also been an established rule for the past decades that you should match the color of your socks with your trousers. But with the rise of men’s colorful socks, color coordination is a new acceptable trend and this is where the color wheel comes in handy.

Know when it’s acceptable to wear colorful socks

Colorful socks are trendy and head-turners. But this does not mean that you should wear them on every occasion possible. There are certain exceptions in wearing loud colored socks. Events like birthday parties with casual themes, weddings with wacky color motifs, and costume parties are acceptable occasions to wear colorful socks. So you may go as wacky or outrageous as the theme allows. But somber occasions like funerals, baptisms, or weddings with formal themes warrant a much more tame plain-colored socks, which does not necessarily mean you won’t look good.

Colorful socks are a great addition to the options men with simple tastes have. Adding a bit of color to your outfit (on the right occasions) will definitely make heads turn and will add more life to the party.