Socks

I warned you things could get random...

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How do YOU choose your socks?

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Are you trying to look dignified and be taken seriously? If you work in a professional field, I could see this as being reasonable. I mean like an attorney, or a CEO. If you're a woman in these fields, I imagine you may wear a power suit a lot, and nylons may be in order. But CAN they be a splash of color or an attempt at light-heartedness? What about other professions? I would not take my doctor- man or woman- less seriously if s/he had on fun socks. Rather I'd be relieved that s/he seems to have a sense of humor (as long as it wasn't crass- like bloody scalpels or something!).

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Maybe you purposely pick your socks to make yourself look fun? When I did daycare, the kids LOVED it when I wore fun socks. The toddlers would pull up my pants legs to get a look at Winnie-the-Pooh on my ankles! (They also loved the slippers I had with sequins sewn in a flower on them- I loved "working" in my slippers!) I've seen a lot of teachers wear fun socks. Do they just figure than can get away with it because they work with kids?

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Kids' socks themselves are GREAT. My girls have a bazillion different pair with Princesses, Sesame Street characters, hearts, etc. Even the plain colored socks tend to have a flower or something on the cuff. Yet they also have outfits that look better with plain black or brown or off-white socks. All of which are nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find for little girls!! WHY do clothing manufacturers do this to us?!?! If you're going to sell basic outfits in basic stores (think Target, Walmart, etc)- than PLEASE someone also sell the SOCKS to match in those stores! I hate that to get black socks for C & E I had to buy them full price at Children's Place. I can hardly afford anything else there not on sale- but that's where I had to go to get black socks!

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Do you choose your socks differently based on what the day ahead holds? If I'm going to a funeral, or even just to church, I tend to go for more "dignified" socks- black or dark, plain socks. If I'm going to an ECFE class with my kids, colored will do & quite possibly patterned. If I'm going to my women's Bible study, I'll go for colors, MAYBE a print, but they have to fit well & not be worn, since there's a good chance the hostess will invite us to leave our shoes at the door & others will be seeing my socks more...

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Are your socks sensible or stylish? I've thought about this while looking at the other women's socks at Bible study. Hazel (who I know is scared of computers so will NEVER see this!) is getting older, and is nothing if not practical. Her socks reflect that- warm, plain, sturdy. Others are sporty- it goes more with their personnas. A few have come with holes in the toes- they are down-to-earth and not concerned with their appearances- especially among friends.

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Has your array of socks changed as your life changes? Going through Jr. High & High School in the 80's (I feel old...), we all wore thick, slouchy socks. Lots of pastels. They matched our shirts & came up over our pinned-legged jeans. I couldn't wear those now. In college, I was pretty matchy-matchy with my outfits and socks (OK, I still am to a degree.) Warmth was the factor in trudging across campus in the snow when you were too cool to wear boots. When I worked in an office when B was little, I got more into just the basics; I didn't have time to think about it. When I did daycare, I got more fun socks. The past year or two I've started buying more "footie" socks- ankle socks that go better when wearing shorts & capris.

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I have a LOT of socks. I can hardly stand NOT wearing socks (which is OK most of the year in MN), and since they seem to rarely wear out, still have most of the ones I've bought over the last 10-15 years. They have their own drawer, of course. Lots of white ones- I got smart a few years ago and put a box in my drawer as a divider: all the knee-high nylons (that I RARELY wear) are in the box, all the white socks are on the Right & everything else is on the left. If I'm tired in the morning, or in a hurry, I don't have to think- just grab white socks & go. But days when I know I'm staying home with the kids, I'll find myself grabbing the lime green ones with the smiley faces. Or the rainbow striped ones. Or the ones with chickens. Or veggies. I think it's a little reminder to myself to not take myself so seriously and to remember the playful side of myself while I'm home raising my children.

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Who knew socks could be such a deep subject??