building a life of small joys
ISO a better sock drawer
Back in middle school, our gym uniform was so ugly. Our school colors, orange and blue, meant we all had to wear these hideous orange shirts (with our names written on the front in black Sharpie…) and navy blue jersey basketball shorts. In a valiant attempt to look a bit cuter, some girls rolled up their shorts to make them shorter. But the only real way to remind everyone that you had personal style was with your shoe+sock combo.
The sartorial emphasis on shoes was…a problem. You see, I have duck feet. The kind of feet that would never find their way onto foot finder. Picture this: very wide, very thick due to my high instep and flat-ish foot, and no visible veins or bone structure to speak of. Duck feet!
Nothing against ducks, of course. I love ducks
Finding shoes that didn’t pinch and squeeze was an impossible task. Every year, my mom and I would trek over to Sports Authority’s sneaker section, where I’d try on pair after pair, pleading with the universe that some of the not-ugly shoes would fit.
They did not.
In my adolescent brain, the only thing that could save my ugly-orthopedic-shoe-wearing ass was my sock game. The trend at the time was to be quirky and forgetful and clumsy (a la Bella Swan from Twilight), so bright, mismatched socks were the style du jour.
The combinations I came up with were truly daring (or so I thought). Neon pink with cerulean blue! Orange and emerald green! Maybe even blue and orange for a fully coordinated fit! I was an artist, crafting a narrative about myself for my classmates to consume. I was cool, I was aloof. I was nonchalant about things like matching socks.
When my feet stopped hurting and it stopped being cool to be quirky, I abandoned my sock strategy for good. Today, my sock drawer is dismal. Many of my socks were acquired via gift, which makes me feel like a man whose grandma keeps getting him underwear for his birthday.
Last week, something snapped in me. Why don’t I have any socks that I actually like?? I’m literally an adult with disposable income and free will. That changes today! (not the free will part)
Why am I thinking about my socks, you ask? I’m a big fan of this girl on Instagram, Anna Barger. She just bops around NYC riding Citibikes, drinking matcha, and going on adventures. Her joy at being alive and living in the city is so infectious! I love her vlogs. Anna is notorious for her shoe+sock combos - a siren song to middle school Madz.
I am nothing if not a copycat of great fashion ideas, so off I went! Searching for the perfect cute little socks for my own shoe+sock combos.
Stop #1: Urban Outfitters
My main goal: to find socks that would look cute poking out above my sneakers or loafers (I’ve given up hope that I can wear them commando and not get blisters). I can’t remember the last time I patronized Urban Outfitters, but there I was! Being brave.
Honestly, they have a great selection. The browsing clued me into the sheer sock trend (see upper right, lower right, and middle pairs) and the fact that everyone is still hopelessly obsessed with Snoopy; there were no less than 4 pairs of Snoopy socks for sale.
I know too much now - and also got lost in the UO Home section looking at overpriced furniture. I added my floral and ruffled socks to my cart and got out of there!! The tie-dyed frog socks made the cut, too. Obviously.
Sorry, Snoopy. I’ll come back for you someday.
Stop #2: Free People
Next up: Free People. Their accessory game goes HARD. Where else can you buy a giant red sequined bow for $150?! Nowhere. (maybe Amazon)
The selection did not disappoint. I really hope someone is living their best life in the sheer bow socks (top right). Because I did not buy them. The other three, though? Added to cart!
(I got a hair bow, too, of course)
Journey: complete!
Now that my sock trousseau has arrived (and evaded our building’s package thief), I can’t believe I didn’t upgrade sooner. While it felt ridiculous to spend more than a few dollars on socks, the difference in quality is insane. A good sock is like a good bra: my feet feel safe and supported (and look amazing, despite their duck-ish physique).
Sometimes, it’s the little things that make you feel the best. Putting on a nice pair of socks, lighting the fancy candle, buying yourself a nice bouquet of flowers… all these actions reinforce the notion that you’re worthy - that you’re enough. You deserve good things, and proving your self-worth with small actions adds up.
A nice pair of socks is more than just a good way to prevent blisters. It tells me I’m worthy of nice things; that I’m already enough, just the way I am.
So if you see me, expect to see a killer shoe+sock combo. My duck feet could not be more thrilled!!
XOXO,
Madz