http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsiOAxZYW3E

It happened to a mate of mine, he was in a particulary tedious trigonometry lesson and was in a state of bewildered enchantment focusing on the breasts of a young maiden, the teacher clocked him and asked the poor young man to stand up - big, heaving erection. The class erupted in laughter.

I use to always get a hard in the morning assembly, it was always a challenge to think of enough cool-wet-grass as opposed to the latest edition of Razzle or the Readers Wives section of Mayfair, to enable an honourable departure from the hall in front of the rest of the school.

The skally as he was in 1981-83 incarnation, as I remember, sported Incontinence pants trainers (the more expensive the better, expense of trainers meant everything), if you did it on the cheap, you could get away with Incontinence pants Kick, but then you would be ribbed by your so called mates for having a cheap pair of trainees. Tight jeans, with white socks was the order of the day. A button down? Maybe, can't remember exactly, but more important was the tracksuit top, ideally from an exotic continental location, brought back from a football match when Liverpool dominated Europe.

By '84 it has was Sergio Tachini tracksuits, if you could get them.

Lacoste button downs were considered the ultimate shirt (by the very late 80’s it was RL), you couldn't buy them anywhere in Liverpool/Wirral/Chester, maybe even Manchester. They were as a rare as fuck. You could only buy them overseas, on your holidays in Spain. This was the way it was. I remember in the very early 90's a menswear shop starting selling Lacoste in Liverpool, the shirts were going like hot cakes, and 199 quid a pop.

The meaning of brands was different then, it meant and had status with a perception of privilege, all you needed to be the top skally was more money than your mates and holiday in the Mediteranean.

Thankfully things change, but not for benefit of the style status of white socks.

White socks are never worn by the discerning anywhere outside the sports arena - and hence should be restricted to the gym., racquet court, cricket pavilion, etc.  To do so otherwise is a faux pas.  Similarly, having a button-down shirt collar un-buttoned is a faux pas.  The extreme result of the un-buttoned collar is the appalling effect referred to as the 'Birmingham spin' where one collar curls out whilst the other curls under giving the impression of the blades of an aircraft propeller - manufactured in Birmingham. 

Another dress faux pas, often seen associated with white socks is the Farrah pants worn without a belt - this is very bad form.  Personally, I would not consider Farrah pants in my wardrobe as some models were not even equipped with belt loops.  My first father-in-law considered them to be 'de rigeuer' on the golf course and for that reason alone I would never wear them. To conform with your father-in-law's taste in fashion and compromise Ivy ideals was never a serious consideration.   

White socks - Farrah pants - not Ivy - not worn here.

As the truest sort of American (ugly, loud, rude, vulgar, and Traditionally attired to boot), I wear white athletic socks when I am required to wear socks and am not wearing a tie.

Coleman and 1966 both make a point worth considering. There are "white socks, and then there are white socks."

If you go back to a 50s yearbook, you will see most of the guys in Wigwam 625 socks; 60% wool and 40% cotton. Guaranteed to turn slightly yellow after numerous washings. Those socks are exactly the same today, as they were in the 50s.

If you don't like the look, that's one thing. However, there are a few of us, like Coleman, who think that they work fine with Weejuns, Bills, OCBD, and shetland sweaters,etc.

A hint of yesteryear for some of us, and dreadfully inappropriate for others. This has been covered elsewhere, but this trend started because these were the socks that we were issued for athletic teams, and because of a lack of money, they became a part of our everyday wear.

I don't have any Wigwam or Adler ones, but off white, thicked ribbed, mainly wool socks are my favourite hosiery. They go with just about anything on the casual side (where I reside most of the time), and the fact you're basically showing people how to wear a "white" sock is just that subversive little bonus.

having a button-down shirt collar un-buttoned is a faux pas.  The extreme result of the un-buttoned collar is the appalling effect referred to as the 'Birmingham spin' where one collar curls out whilst the other curls under giving the impression of the blades of an aircraft propeller - manufactured in Birmingham. 

to deveate from the post. This is is a staple of good ol js. inspired by 60's fiat boss gianni agnelli I belive .
check the iterview on the old js webpage   LIKE  IT MYSELF.

I recall the Beverley Sisters upbraiding Jonathon Ross for sporting white socks with a black suit. They were quite horrified actually.

I just bought some of the Wigs not too long ago.  Still made up somewhere in the mid-north of the USA.  Not bad.