While I agree with you that going the more formal route can actually make this easier (you can dress an outfit down by just ditching the tie), I am going to have to disagree that you can just grab any old socks and pants and have them not clash. :)
The big distinction comes in with the belt and shoes colors. A lot of colors of gray I wouldn't wear with non-black shoes and belts. The socks that I wear also depend on if I'm wearing black/dark gray pants or something more Earth tone.
Certain colors work a lot better together than others. While purple can go with black or dark gray, it really pops with brown.
What I have found is that you can never own too many white collared shirts. You can wear them several times a week and no one will notice. You can wear them with a suit, with dress slacks, with chinos, with jeans, etc. A white collared shirt is always a good decision, except when eating Italian.
All my socks are black or at least dark so I don't have to rifle through them. I'm guessing you're American and by pants you mean trousers but it's a lot funnier to think you don't.
I bow my head in respect of your colour coordination. Myself I can hardly tell colours apart let alone match them. I make sure I don't have any vibrant colours so I don't have to make those choices and just make sure the tie has some common theme with the shirt. When in doubt I pick one of the black ones.
I don't know why Americans decided to go with pants over trousers.
My socks are usually only a few colors, and I never seem to have enough. I think my only real life hacker tip for clothing would be to always have way more socks, underwear and undershirts than you need.
I can usually find pants, a shirt and other accessories. But socks? I'm always scrambling to find some.
The big distinction comes in with the belt and shoes colors. A lot of colors of gray I wouldn't wear with non-black shoes and belts. The socks that I wear also depend on if I'm wearing black/dark gray pants or something more Earth tone.
Certain colors work a lot better together than others. While purple can go with black or dark gray, it really pops with brown.
What I have found is that you can never own too many white collared shirts. You can wear them several times a week and no one will notice. You can wear them with a suit, with dress slacks, with chinos, with jeans, etc. A white collared shirt is always a good decision, except when eating Italian.