I have a friend who decides what kind of man she dates based on their shoes. She has it neatly broken down into categories. A certain type of shoe depicts a certain type of man. I think socks can be a good indicator of for a man's personality. For example, a conservative man wears black socks with gold toes.
Athletic socks indicate the jock.
Short athletic socks are for the country club jock. Subtle patterned socks indicate a man with a creative whim but not flamboyant. No socks are Don Johnson wannabes.