Most men have a sock drawer that functions as a crime scene. Odd pairs, worn thin heels, cotton that collapsed after three washes, colours that were once black and are now a shade best described as giving up. We have all been there and most of us stay there longer than we should.

Plain socks should be the easiest thing to get right and somehow they are not. The wrong ones bunch, slip down inside the shoe, or lose their shape by lunchtime. The right ones hold the ribbing, keep their colour, and feel like they were made to last longer than a single season. We have been looking specifically at options in merino, combed cotton, and fine wool blends that actually perform across a full working day and beyond.

Nothing here is trying to make a statement. That is entirely the point. The best plain sock is the one you stop thinking about the moment you put it on.