Fashion conscious men making bold statements with their socks

Plain black hose has given way to pinks, purples and oranges, and patterns like argyle, stripes and camouflage.

Incredible feet- Krzysztof Kluska (l) and Peter Lindman show their true colors in Bryant Park.

Gotham guys have a new spring in their legs.

They are putting their best foot forward by stopping use of safe black socks to the curb in favor of bright colors and dashing prints.

“Socks are a way that I can stand out at work,” says Roland Gonzales, 33, who works in finance.

Rob Kardashian, with sisters Kim (l.) and  Kourtney, reveals his Arthur George line of high-fashion men's socks at Neiman Marcus.

The Brooklynite was spotted in Bryant Park flaunting a pair of pink and purple striped Paul Smiths which he wore at his wedding. “Everyone wears the same sort of conservative dress,” he says. “This is a way to personalize my work wardrobe.”

Rob Kardashian rolled out his Arthur George range of attention catching socks at Neiman Marcus last fall, and sales tripled in just the last 6 months.

“We started putting things on the bottom of our socks, like ‘kiss me’ and ‘YOLO’ along with our camo prints. Everyone is wearing colorful socks. They’re definitely going to keep blowing up.” says Kim Kardashian

Rob Kardashian with a pair of his attention-getting men's socks

Even the most conservative dressers are following the line. When all 5 living American Presidents gathered in Dallas to dedicate the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum last month, George H.W. Bush caught all attention with his pink power socks.

Those paled in comparison with the star-spangled ankles he flashed with the Houston Texans cheerleaders the week before.

On TV’s “Mad Men,” senior partner Bert Cooper walks the office shoe-less to show off those pastel argyle print stockings which have become his signature.

Former President George H.W. Bush wore pink to the dedication of his son's presidential library.

Trends prove that men from all walks of life are stepping up their sock game. David DeParolesa, 30, started upgrading his underwear drawer a year ago. “I was getting bored with my outfits,” says the Hells Kitchen Web developer, wearing red Gap argyle socks.

“I wanted to have a nice accent,” he says. “I was missing color, and this was an easy way to add something new.”

Men’s wear boutiques are beginning to put more stock in socks. “A man’s socks can easily make a statement,” says Gabrielle Greco, the senior buyer of accessories at Jack Threads, a members-only men’s wear website.

'Socks are like lingerie for men,' according to Josh Bearman, sporting brown and white checks.

Their socks collection rose 6 times the rest of the company’s growth rate in 2012 to meet the increased demand from dapper dressers.

“Socks have evolved into an accessory versus a basic staple,” Greco says, “and men want to show them off because they are very well-designed.”

Pop colors of red, blue, purple and orange have been especially in high demand, as well as bold stripes and Aztec prints. “Our customer is the 18-to-34-year-old man who color-coordinates his dresses,” Greco says, “and now their socks are matching as much as their ties, pocket squares and the patterns on their blazers.”

The suit's not pinstriped, but the socks are.

Chic socks are available as cheap as 3 pairs for $10 at Gap or Century 21, or run $55 a pair at high-end retailers like Paul Smith, or even $185 at Barneys.

Ricky Choi, 26, started the affordable Nice Laundry sock service after his friend and co-founder spent hundreds of dollars replacing his ho-hum footwear. The D.C. startup which Mashable.com dubbed “the Warby Parker of men’s socks” is taking orders on Kickstarter.com for packs of 6 for $39 with free shipping.

“We make it very easy for you to refresh your entire sock drawer,” says Choi, who admits to owning more than 150 pairs of socks.

Pink and purple is no problem for Roland Gonzales.

“Some people say socks are the new necktie, but I believe they are a little more subtle than that,” he says, encouraging timid dressers to dip their toe into the new fashion.

“You get a flash here and there when someone crosses his legs, so it is a non-pretentious, not-shocking way to tell people you care about your appearance,” Choi adds.

That teasing glimpse of a blue, gray and orange camouflage print under a pair of classic black trousers gives a leg up to a man’s workday sex appeal.

“Socks are like lingerie for men. Only you know it is there under your pants but then when you walk, you give a little peek of what you have got on underneath.” Josh Bearman, 40, a writer visiting from Los Angeles

Bearman was complimented on his checkered pair twice while riding the subway recently. “I hesitated a second before buying these, honestly, because I was afraid they were too loud.

“But once I put them on, it was like, no, these are great,” he says.

Gonzales, a self-described sock fanatic whose favorite pair feature red margarita glasses, thinks the bold new socks trend is here to stay.

“I’m definitely noticing a lot of other guys coming on board with the bright socks now, especially with the summer coming. As the weather gets warmer, you’re going to see a lot of guys coming out with some pretty exciting socks.” says Gonzales.