What I'm trying to say, dear reader, is that I LOATHE socks. With every fiber of my being. In fact, I feel so poorly about shoe underwear that I routinely hold events where effigies of socks are burned and defiled in the midst of a group of wildly gyrating, warpaint-toting individuals.
(No offense to the good people at McGregor - A HappyFoot is... well, happy)
So, why this pathological dislike of socks? Well, my feet are used to being au naturel. They're much more comfortable, and much less stifled in this fashion. I think the old adage about skin being able to 'breathe' is kind of accurate.
But, sadly, socks are somewhat of a necessity to most people. And they're often the most overlooked part of an outfit.
'But why should I worry about my socks? No one ever sees them.'
For the most part, no. But there's definitely plenty of opportunities for people to see your socks (ever sat down in a chair and had your pant legs ride up, for instance?).
Traditional thinking says that your socks should coordinate with your pants. Or with your shoes. Or with your belt. Coordinate doesn't mean exact matching (if I hear ONE more person say 'but that doesn't match the pants', I may just lose my.... socks). Keep it in the same [colour] family. For instance, tan socks are okay with chocolate brown pants. Light grey socks are okay with black pants.
That's traditional thinking, in a nutshell. Now, on to some different thinking.
1. Socks coordinated to your necktie (or central-body accessory).
Wearing a red necktie? How about some funky socks that incorporate reds and pinks? This sort of wardrobe coordination is uncommon, and implies a mind that works outside of the normal rules and boundaries (ie- creative).
2. C-r-a-z-y socks!
Watch a couple of hours of British television, and you'll see what I mean. Our cousins across the pond have been wearing insanely coloured and patterned socks with otherwise-normal outfits for a number of years, with spectacularly eye-catching results. In this form of thinking, the sock does not have to coordinate with the outfit, as long as it is eye-catching and the colours clash with the outfit (this is the point- if the colours 'work' together, the effect is lost. I plan to test-drive this in classes come the fall semester, and keep a tally of how many professors I can derail with loud socks).
In closing, I leave you with some wisdom from a dear friend of mine:
May the sock be with you.
