Armonk resident Rick Peterson had been the chief operating officer for sock and accessory company LittleMiss Matched for four years when new management downsized him out of a job in September 2009. The then-66-year-old exec quickly learned that, no matter how impressive his career track record—40 years’ experience in the hosiery and apparel field for such industry leaders as Kayser–Roth Corporation and Levi Strauss & Co.—his age, coupled with an anemic economy, made re-situating himself next to impossible. His solution? Nigel Knox, purveyors of luxury Nifty Sox, which marry European quality with a contemporary American design sensibility.
These are clearly not your grandpa’s socks, as evidenced by the sophisticated color palettes and such witty designs as a pink skull-and-bones graphic on a khaki field. “You can tell more about a man from his socks than any other item in his wardrobe,” says Peterson, a sock afficionado who owns about 100 pairs and who designs all the line’s offerings. “They’re not just functional foot coverings. They’re a projection of one’s personality and personal style.”
Manufactured in Italy—Peterson tried to have the collection manufactured domestically but couldn’t find a factory able to accommodate the company’s small run—the socks are made of extra-soft, fine-grade Pima cotton and feature toes that are hand-looped closed to eliminate the bulky seams typical of machine sewing. Prices for the socks, which are offered in a standard size 10 to 13 and can be purchased at Outerluxe in Larchmont or Family Britches in Chappaqua, start at $30. Next up for Nigel Knox? Look for women’s socks and other men’s accessories. For more info: nigelknox.com.
