That Dapper Chap: socks

Sunday, 29 November 2015

The Peper Harow New Sock Collection

Luxury Sock brand Peper Harow is excited to launch its latest collection of quintessentially English, hand finished socks for gents like you and I.

Made in England from the finest Pima Cotton, the range offers new seasonal colour ways, styles and prints.

Many snazzy options for discerning gents

A patriotic approach

More great patterns in the collection

Something a little different at the ankle today

Something for everyone in the new collection

Available online at peperharowlondon.com all styles are £16 per pair.

FIND PEPER HAROW

THANKS FOR VISITING. COME BACK SOON!

Product Review - Rock My Socks

That Dapper Chap takes us through a full review of some of the colourful and wondrous socks from the new range available from Rock My Socks

Product

While Rock My Socks was launched in 2013, it was just last year (2014) that I became aware of the brand. I'd seen their cool and funky styles on Instagram and after some mutual appreciation we chatted and soon after I was wearing their socks and posting my own Instagram pictures!

Me wearing my blue houndstooth socks £8.00

Based in Victoria, Australia, the guys at Rock My Socks say "Rocks My Socks is about great designs and quirky patterns, created to add a touch of colour to your life and brighten up the world...one foot at a time."

Airing my new Rock My Socks designs

They go on to say "Rock My Socks lets you express a shade of your individuality with a hint of colour peaking out from that subtle space between shoe and trouser. Or for the bolder and braver among us roll up your slacks, turn up your jeans, or pair off with your shorts and blast electric hues to the universe. "

But what inspires them to create such funky footwear? "We’re inspired by new ideas and new challenges, let us inspire your style. Join the fight against boring and add a little creativity to your wardrobe today with mens socks from Rock My Socks."

Make a statement in these purple and red stripe socks £8.00

While based in Australia, Rock My Socks opened a UK website in February 2015 and will no doubt look to expand on this later in the year. They tell me "This is the first step in our expansion into overseas markets, after a great response both locally and overseas to our Australian website over the first 12 months of the Rock My Socks brand’s launch. We have launched the UK and US sites so that we can tailor content, seasonal offerings and promotions (such as father’s day) to different countries at the relevant times of the year, and sell our product in the local currency and ship to these destinations faster."

You can buy your socks online now at uk.rockmysocks.com. They are currently still shipping from Australia but that will change in March/April 2015, as they will have local distributors in the US and UK so that customers receive their orders as quickly as possible.

Made in Korea, the socks have a high cotton content of up to 80% with the majority of pairs being 80% cotton and 20% nylon. Others have 70% cotton, 25% polyester and 5% elastane.

As for sizes, its a 'one size fits all' approach with all socks available in EUR 41 - 46, UK 7.5 - 11.5 and US 8 - 12.

Green and white spot £8.00

Price

The price is very reasonable and on a par with other brands offering funky designs like those offered by Rock My Socks. Each pair is £8.00 or $15.00 AUD

Aqua and white spot £8.00

Packaging & Presentation

My socks arrive quickly considering they are came from Australia and each pair were sealed in their own cellophane bag to protect them on their journey.

Each pair, neatly sealed in an individual bag

Each pair of socks is held together with a card tag which is held in place with a single stitch. On the tag, along with the brand name are the washing instructions and materials used along with details of where the product is made. You'll also find the website here too. Pretty much everything you need.

The packaging isn't flashy, it's functional. This isn't a high end product so the packaging doesn't need to be any more elaborate than it is.

The card tag with information on both sides

Paul Smith:cufflinks pocket square spring collection

Performance

Just as I expected they would, they socks fitted well and were very comfortable. With the brushed cotton for comfort and warmth, and the elastane for stretch and fit.

They washed well and didn't shrink at all.

Wearing my navy and pink spot socks

Pertinency

Every gentleman should have a couple of patterned socks in their collection. Rock My Socks offer a really good range of colours and styles. There will most definitely be a style that you like and can wear.

Pink Chevron Socks £8.00

The classic navy and white spot socks £8.00

Pro’s & Con’s

What do you need from a pair of socks? You want them to fit well. Check! You want them to look good. Check! And you want them to wash well and last for a decent amount of time. Check!

I've struggled to find an improvement that I might suggest to make the product better. I can honestly say that I have nothing to offer! They're a great product, at a good price, and they do exactly what you want from a pair of socks!

Another good thing is the free shipping to US and UK customers who buy three or more pairs! What are you waiting for?

People

The team liked the socks. I received three blue pairs, two of which were polka dot and one striped pair which do not show off the super designs that they also offer. So, when I showed them other designed available on line, they were really excited.

The three pairs of sock I received from Rock My Socks

They thought the quality was very good and that the packaging did what it was intended for. They would happily buy these socks. There were somewhat perturbed by the fact that they had to come all the way from Australia but when I explained that they will shortly be shipping directly within the UK, they were impressed.

Précis

Overall, I think that Rock My Socks do what they do very well. They offer a great range of styles and colours. You'll find something more sedate if that's what you're looking for, or something more eye catching if that's your thing.

Either way, there will be a pair that takes your fancy. Made well from good materials and well packaged. What more could you want?

Just remember that when you get your's make sure that you post a picture to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and use the hashtag #RockMySocks.

Promotion

THANKS FOR READING!

Product Review - Oybo Socks It To 'em

That Dapper Chap reviews Oybo Untuned Socks.

One Pair, Two Souls

PRODUCT

For this product review I’d like to introduce you to Oybo Socks, an Italian sock brand that packs a punch in the ever increasing bold world of socks.

Disbanded Summer

I'm loving my Disbanded Summer Socks

Oybo are different both figuratively and literally as the first thing you’ll notice is that their socks do not match! This is their USP and they sell their products as ‘untuned’ i.e. each pair of socks is a pair but each individual sock has a slightly different design to its partner.

Some of Oybo's latest collection

Me modelling Lemon Squeeze along side Sashimi

Lemon Squeeze and Pixel

The people at Oybo say "We're a small group of friends who started to do something nice for ourselves. We loved it so much we're now proposing sharing our enjoyment with connoisseurs who are serious about fashion but don't take themselves too seriously! This is to the ones who enjoying telling the whole world what they're about. And like doing it with nice details"

Modelling Pixel

The last couple of years has seen a sock revolution and you can now buy a huge range of multicoloured socks in a variety of designs. This is in direct demand from guys like me who want to inject some interest into their look on a daily basis. Wearing a bright and funky pair of socks is a sure fire way of injecting some personality and showing some individuality.

The majority of their socks are 95% cotton with 5% elastan. They recommend that they are hand washed and not tumble dried. They can also be dry cleaned.

Sashimi

I think you'll agree that Oybo have taken this a step further and introduced a funkier element to the sock revolution and its one that I'm enjoying!

Grandma

PRICE

A pair of Oybo socks will set you back 22 Euros (£17 $30). For a pair of socks this does seem a little steep but the design that has gone into each pair is worth it. You're not going to find anything similar out there and you will get noticed while wearing them.

Grandma, Versailles and Lemon Squeeze

These are a more high end sock. Buy yourself a pair as a treat or put your favourite pair on your birthday list.

Kobe Green

PACKAGING & PRESENTATION

The Oybo packaging is great, I love it and it only adds to the fact that this is a high end sock. Each pair comes lovingly joined together with a cardboard tag before it is encased in tissue paper and them placed into its own cardboard envelope. The envelope has the name of the sock hand written on it which is a very individual and personal touch.

The printed cardboard envelope

There is a lot of information on the cardboard envelope about the product, the material and washing instructions. There is also a cute little note suggesting that while we have two feet which are the same, we may have mixed feelings, so why why not wear different socks.

Each pair is beautifully folded and tagged

PERFORMANCE

A lot of Oybo socks are knee high. In the UK we're used to something that finishes mid calf at the highest. This may be a little distracting for some gentlemen and okay, maybe you don't want to be wearing a pair of Oybo socks when changing at the gym as you will get funny looks (I know this first hand)but the bonus is that they do not fall down. You pull them up in the morning and they stay there all day.

Baton Rouge, some of my personal favourites

Some of mine have been washed a few times now and while I have mentioned above they it is recommended that they are hand washed, mine have been in both the washing machine and the tumble dryer! (Sorry Oybo) I'm pleased to say though that they're still good to wear but the colour has faded and they have shrunk slightly. So yes, the recommendation to hand wash them is correct!

They are easy to wear and the summer range are cool and airy. They are not too thick and have a weave a little like a ladies hosiery. Again, in the UK we're not familiar with this but other countries are, and it's expected. I'm okay with it but it is very different to what I'm used to. The 'warmer' range such as Pixel are a nice thickness and its good to have a choice of thickness when choosing socks.

PERTINENCY

If you work in a bank and wear a grey suit every day and have to meet incredibly important people while remaining perfectly professional, maybe you should stick to a plain black sock as these babies could distract from all those graphs and PowerPoint presentations!

If your'e a guy who likes to stand out from the crowd or who does have an important job but still wants to show some personality (as a lot of us do) then these are for you!

Me, ready for the office

PRO’s AND CONS

The main thing I like about Oybo socks is the selection. They have a great range and I have never seen anything like them before. They stay up all day and they are very comfortable to wear. They do not leave you with those horrible 'sock lines' which reshape your legs and leave dents in your calves indicating that your circulation has been a tad impeded all day!

I've struggled to think of any negatives or anything that I'd change. I've already mentioned the light weave and the similarity to a ladies hosiery. This does make me a little uncomfortable but that's just me being a typical Brit and I'm already getting over it. Other than that I have no suggested improvements!

PEOPLE

Some people don't get it! Some people think that I have intentionally brought and worn different socks in some misguided attempt to make some kind of awkward social statement.

Once I made them aware of the brand and their philosophy they get it, but they are still a little uncomfortable with the concept. Its not mainstream so some people find it difficult to get their heads around.

My test group liked the designs and the quality of the socks but the majority of them would not wear them, simply because they are too different.

Grandma by the sea

PRECIS

Its apparent that I'm a fan! I'm a person that likes things that are different, that stand out, and which challenge the norm. Oybo do this and they do it well and to a very high standard.

Not everyone is as comfortable with the concept as me and the person that buys Oybo socks is making a statement and showing the world that they're happy to step out of a box.

They're aimed at the individual, the person who is happy to take a risk and the person that is often found putting two fingers up to the world and saying "Yes, I'm different and I'm happy to be"