I throw my hands up and admit it; I used to not like socks. I lived in trainer liners and the thought of a sock poking its way over the top of a shoe was as utterly incomprehensible as having a visibly untucked tied lace. Shock, horror. Now I am a fully fledged convert to the power sock. Yes, the power sock. And tying my laces. There is something deeply satisfying about having a sock on full display that is a garment in itself. If your sock colourfully complements your shoe then farewell to your black cotton sensibles. I say ‘sensible’ a little lackadaisically as actually black socks are a well known staple on my washing machine’s menu making pairing them nigh on impossible. Pink Lurex numbers have survived dozens of washes never to be separated, in the words of Rick Astley ‘together forever and never to part’.
Isn’t there something so fun about a jolly sock. OK we may not all be into a turquoise be-pom-pomed festoon to the foot, but we can certainly at least dare to bare a splash of silver on our toes. A pair of gazelles, some rolled up jeans and a sport sock with a splash of colour is my go-to. Primark (boo-hiss, yes I get it) in late November provided me with the ultimate sock boot. When a sports sock becomes a sock boot. When both foot based obsessions have children. When dos become uno. When things are so wrong, but so right. I love them. As you can see I did once sport some dusky pink mules with a sparkly unicorn sock, a step too far for a twenty-four-year-old perhaps, but don’t let age get in the way of your dreams.
I think it’s time we mixed it up a bit. The endlessly cool Fearne Cotton is always flashing a bit of sock, socks and sandals have been made cool by the likes of Angela Scanlon and Megan Ellaby too and even Peter Jones of Dragons’ Den fame has been sporting a strong sock for many years on our Sunday evening tv screens, although I’ve yet to see him donning Lurex. Even the sensible suit wearers amongst us can up our sock game. A fun sock is for life, not just for Christmas. If you want to get your mitts on some stylish, even ‘statement’ socks, I’ve linked some fabulous finds. Also some amazing sock boots that are well out of my budget, for now…