Quick. What article of clothing is given the least amount of thought and attention?

   My vote goes for socks. My guess is that most men favor dark socks for business and white socks recreationally and leave it at that. Unless you're Tom Wolfe the writer, who always wears white and even has his socks custom-made.

   Stone Age socks were probably made of animal skins and tied around the ankles. By the 8th century B.C. the Greek poet Hesiod wrote of piloi, socks made from matted animal hairs. The Roman writer Seutonius mentioned tibiale, stocking, in the 1st-2nd century A.D. And the first real socks were found in Egyptian tombs in the 3rd-6th centuries.

   The English clergyman William Lee invented the first knitting machine in 1589. But Queen Elizabeth I refused him a patent for his invention that produced coarse wool stockings because she was used to fine silk stockings imported from Spain.

   Nowadays men have the choice of whether to wear wool or cotton, and the season pretty much makes the call on that one. But when you give socks their due, they actually offer us quite a selection.

   First of all is length. Do you prefer anklets or over-the-calf? Gentlemen's Quarterly, that bible of men's fashion, says there's nothing more repugnant than seeing bare, hairy flesh between socks and pants when a man crosses his legs. As unsightly as that may be, it might be preferable than facing a pair of over-the-calves on a 90-degree, hazy, humid day. I read somewhere that wool absorbs more moisture than cotton, but come May 1 put my woolen socks in a plastic bag in the back of my closet. Just looking at them makes me perspire.

   Personally, I go with wool over-the-calves in cold weather and cotton anklets in summer. Over-the-calves obviously give more leg support, so are ideal if you walk and move around a lot. When I can get away with it in the middle of summer, I like to be barefooted in fishermen's sandals that don't expose too much flesh but still allow the air to circulate between the toes.

   Loafers without socks is another option, a bit on the preppy side, but still permissible according to GQ.

   There seems to be trend lately to wild, variegated colors in socks that I like. After all, if you're going to wear them, you might as well have a little fun.

   I stepped into a specialty clothing shop in Newport, R.I. recently that specializes in British woolen goods. He was selling some of the boldest, brightest multicolored woolen socks I'd ever seen. I wanted a pair in the worst way, but at $28 bucks a pair I kept my hands in my jeans. Some of the more non-traditional patterns include polka dots, herringbones, argyles, stripes, plaids and checks. My own favorite pair are striped purple, gray and maroon. 

   For traditional business attire though, socks should usually match or approximate the trousers with no break in color until the shoes. And the more expensive and fashionable the shoes are, the more they'll stand out in this straight color schemata. 

   Wearing anything but white for sports and recreation seems masochistic to me, but I tend to sweat a lot. I once played a pick-up basketball game band the dyes my colored socks turned my feet blue. And for those with that problem in general, it's often a good idea to change socks twice a day. Damp socks are an open invitation to athlete's foot and other irritating itches.

   Eugene Venanzi will soon be bringing his Fideli label of socks to Assam direct from his factory in Monza, Italy. The sleek line will include cashmere and silk, pure cashmere and traditional cotton lisle socks along with French boileau fine cotton clockwork hosiery. I say have fun with the trend of multi-colored patterned hose, especially for casual wear. Leave black socks to waiters and undertakers. And try to pay a little more attention to your socks. Remember that socks play an integral and respected part in American life. After all, it's not for nothing that we named a number of professional baseball teams after them.