Argyle is one of those patterns that rewards restraint. Worn well, it adds something to a smart casual outfit without announcing itself. Worn badly, and it looks like a novelty gift from someone who ran out of ideas. The difference is almost always in the colour palette and the scale of the diamond. Loud colours in a large repeat and you’re wearing a statement whether you meant to or not. Quieter tones in a tighter pattern and suddenly the sock is doing exactly what a good sock should: finishing the outfit without distracting from it. We’ve been particularly interested in the ones that work under tailored trousers and with loafers, the kind of socks that reveal themselves only when you sit down and cross your legs. That moment of understated detail is what separates a considered wardrobe from one that just happened. These are argyle socks that know exactly what they are and do not feel the need to shout about it.