I have had to "dress up" for work for years, and always wear a tie - although some folks find my taste a little eclectic - and a Windsor knot is the only one for me.
I too, was brought up to polish my shoes every day and was told it's something by which I would be judged - and sure enough when it came time for me to recruit people, one of the first things I look at are the shoes...
But, as for these half-hose, or over the calf socks as you guys call them, they just aren't worn here (UK). Short socks are perfectly acceptable on anyone from the tea-boy (should such a position still exist) to the CEO. And the higher up the greasy pole you go the more leeway one can adopt in your choice of colour(s).
The British diplomat referrred to by a previous poster was almost certainly Chistopher Meyer, a past UK ambassador to Washington in Tony Blairs time. Another (serious) person notable for his choice of sock is Jon Snow, a higly respected TV news journalist, he also wears great ties.
