Women socks

Women's cotton lisle socks, fine and hard-wearing

Slipped into a loafer or a derby, the sock shows more than you might think: at the ankle, when you sit down, when you walk. We designed our women's socks in cotton lisle, a soft, slightly lustrous mercerised cotton, as ankle socks or mid-calf, in shades chosen to go with our shoes.

Cotton lisle, an exceptional cotton

Cotton lisle is a mercerised cotton, finer, smoother and stronger than ordinary cotton. It gives our black cotton lisle socks a silky softness and a natural sheen, with a hold that does not weaken over the course of the day. They are priced at €11 a pair.

Ankle socks or mid-calf

The ankle sock, discreet, stops below the ankle and carries a light embossed pattern: it goes with sneakers or derbies and a cropped trouser. The mid-calf sock covers the leg when you sit, even with legs crossed, and suits a trouser suit as well as a long skirt.

Colours to show off

Black, beige, blue, carmine red, petrol blue or dark grey: our shades range from the most discreet to the boldest. A carmine red in a black loafer, a petrol blue under raw denim, and the sock becomes a chosen detail that signs the outfit without ever overloading it.

Merino wool for winter

When the cold arrives, our mid-calf socks in Italian merino wool, in navy blue or anthracite grey, take over. Soft, breathable and naturally thermoregulating, they keep the foot warm without making it sweat. Unisex, they are offered, like all our accessories, at €14, online and in our stores in Paris and Lyon.

A fine pair of shoes deserves better than a sock that wrinkles at the ankle or loses its shape after a few washes. Material, height, colour: three choices are enough to find the right pair. Here are our guidelines, from the office to the weekend.

What is the best sock for women?

The best sock for women combines a quality natural fibre, a fine knit that slips into a shoe without filling it and a hold that does not slip. Lisle thread, from spring to autumn, and merino wool, in winter, meet these conditions. Like all our shoe accessories, our socks were chosen to go with leather shoes: fine, understated and durable.

What is lisle thread?

Lisle thread is a long-fibre cotton thread, twisted, gassed and then mercerised. Twisted, it combines two strands twisted together, which makes it stronger. Gassed, it is passed quickly past a flame that burns off the small protruding fibres. Mercerised, it gains a silky sheen and better colour retention in the wash.

Mercerisation, an English discovery

Mercerisation takes its name from John Mercer, an English chemist who observed in the mid-19th century that a soda bath made cotton stronger and easier to dye. A few decades later, it was discovered that by holding the thread under tension during this bath, it was also given the shine that characterises lisle thread.

Merino wool, for cold days

Merino wool is a very fine wool, soft against the skin. Naturally thermoregulating, it keeps the foot warm when it is cold and stays pleasant when the temperature rises, notably on the Métro or at the office.

Trainer socks or mid-calf socks: which to choose?

The trainer sock suits outfits where the ankle shows, the mid-calf sock those where you prefer a covered leg. The choice depends mainly on the length of the trousers and the season.

How to wear socks with town shoes?

With town shoes, the sock is chosen either to continue the line of the trousers, to lengthen the leg, or in contrast, to emphasise a detail. The first option suits the office, the second more relaxed outfits.

With loafers

The loafer reveals the instep: the sock is therefore always visible. With straight trousers that stop at the ankle, a carmine red or blue mid-calf sock in a black women's loafer gives a tailored chic look, borrowed from the menswear wardrobe. For a more understated line, beige extends light-coloured trousers.

With derbies and Oxfords

Wearing women's Oxfords calls for a sock that matches the trousers: black under a black suit, blue under navy trousers. With a long skirt or a shirt dress, a beige or dark grey mid-calf sock adds a note of character, in the manner of masculine-feminine silhouettes.

With sneakers

The waffle trainer sock is made for wearing women's sneakers in leather: it stays discreet under turned-up jeans or cargo trousers, while protecting the foot. Petrol blue and carmine red liven up a white pair.

How to care for your socks?

Quality socks last a long time with a gentle wash: a moderate temperature, turning them inside out before washing and air drying are enough to preserve the knit and the colours.

1. Turn your socks inside out before washing to protect their outer appearance.
2. Wash lisle thread at a moderate temperature, and merino wool on a wool programme.
3. Dry them flat, in the open air, rather than in a tumble dryer.

The same care applies to your shoes: cedar shoe trees absorb the moisture left by the foot and keep the shape of the leather between wears. It is the natural extension of a good pair of socks.

In Corio, a French house whose name means "in leather" in Latin, has its shoes made in family workshops in the Porto region, with full-grain leathers. Our socks were chosen with the same standards, for their comfort and their durability through washing.

Not sure about a colour? Come and see our socks, try our shoes and feel our leathers in our stores in the Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés or Lyon.

Frequently asked questions about women's socks

Which material should you choose for quality women's socks?

Lisle thread, a fine and strong mercerised cotton, suits everyday wear and the mid-season. Merino wool is the best option in winter, because it keeps you warm without making you sweat. In both cases, a natural fibre is more pleasant than a synthetic thread.

Which socks to wear with loafers?

With loafers, a fine mid-calf lisle thread sock, matched to the trousers or in a chosen colour such as carmine red. On fine days, the loafer can also be worn barefoot.

Which socks to wear in winter?

In winter, we suggest mid-calf merino wool socks. They keep the foot warm in ankle boots or loafers, without the thickness of a sports sock, and stay pleasant in heated places.

In summary

Our women's socks in lisle thread, a fine and silky mercerised cotton, come as trainer socks with a waffle pattern and as mid-calf socks, at 11 euros a pair. Merino wool, at 14 euros, takes over in winter. Matched to the trousers or chosen in contrast, they go with loafers, derbies and sneakers. Discover our colours above.