Jul
30
Hi everyone! This is Craig’s Dad, and I would like to talk briefly about socks. Not White Sox or Red Sox, and definitely not “Old Sock Stew”, just plain old regular socks. I’m sure some of you are wondering what I could possibly have to say about socks that would be in the least bit interesting. Well I’m either going to surprise you or embarrass the hell out of myself and my son Craig.
I think it is interesting the way socks and the wearing of socks has evolved over the past fifty or so years. I’m not sure what it says about us as a culture and I’m sure it would be even more interesting if I could relate it to something significant like global warming or bias in the media. But after all, their just socks, so what do you expect from me?
When I was a kid you could always tell the “have” kids from the “have not” kids by their socks. If their socks stayed up around their calves they were definitely “have” kids. If, on the other hand, their socks slid down around their ankles they were poor, “have not” kids. You see, the elastic in their socks was shot and they couldn’t get them to stay up and they couldn’t afford new socks. Craig’s Mom says that she used to put rubber bands around her socks so they would stay up, but that just seems uncomfortable.
A few years ago my daughter started harassing me about the fact that I wore my socks pulled up. She was always squatting down and pushing them down around my ankles telling me how uncool I looked. When I would complain all I’d get was the infamous “Oh, Dad!”
Now, of course, the really “with it” people wear socks so short you can’t even tell they’re wearing any at all. We had socks like that in my younger days too. Of course they were socks so old they slid all the way down into your shoe and usually ended up wrapped tightly around your toes and the ball of your foot. Not really very comfortable or stylish.
Well what do you think? How does the change in the way we wear our socks reflect the change in our culture?
July 30th, 2008 at 5:46 am
Hahaha! I love it. Socks definitely tell a lot about your inner man.
Another thing I’ve noticed is the disappearance of white socks. In the nineties, everybody wore white tennis socks, now most people uses black cotton socks. The ones in white stand out and they usually practice sports.
July 30th, 2008 at 6:05 am
I’m not supposed to wear white socks? D’oh!
My early sock memories are of wearing them up to my knees, along with shorts, back around 1980. It was quite the style. Oh, and those really short socks with the pom-poms in back. I’m thrilled, though, to discover that slouched socks are actually in fashion, or at least were a few years ago. Always nice to mistakenly get something right.
July 30th, 2008 at 6:17 am
I think you made Craig proud-very funny blog.
I love how in your day they were supposed to be worn up and now they’re not. I guess after a while the poor kids got tired of being identified as poor and rallied against the rich sock-wearing lifestyle and finally caused change.
I don’t particularly like socks myself. I’d rather wear footwear that doesn’t require socks, like slippers or flip flops.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:01 am
So what does a hipster do in a formal workplace environment? If all the cool dudes are wearing slouchy socks, doesn’t that lead to the dreaded showing-of-bare-leg above the socks when you cross your legs and your wool slacks ride up?
Am I the only one who still cringes at the sight of a man with legs crossed, and the sequence: wingtip, black sock, hairy leg, pant cuff,…. ?
July 30th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I own one pair of socks. I think they’re white, though I haven’t taken them out of my top dresser drawer for quite some time. The last time I think I wore them was when my son Chaz and I went bowling about six months ago.
So I don’t wear socks. Like Nicky, flip flops are the mode of shoe attire for me. And at work, I wear traditional Vans — sans socks of course. Even at the gym, cloth doesn’t come between me and my Nikes.
Fortunately, I don’t have sweaty, smelly feet — an awesome familly genetic trait that’s been handed down for generations.
But I’m an artist and designer, so I can get away with it. If I have a meeting with a corporate exec, they know ahead of time that they’re meeting with a sockless, Vans-wearing, pierced creative.
July 30th, 2008 at 8:21 am
when i was younger the big thing for my age group was layered socks - whatever in the world made us think this was a great idea? if you had on a shirt, say, with an american flag, you’d wear a pair of blue socks over a pair of white socks over a pair of red socks (had to be the scrunchy kind)…on one foot - then on the other they’d be in reverse order…this was also in the heyday of everything being a neon color…i had neon socks, too…
July 30th, 2008 at 8:25 am
TwoPi: Above-the-sock hairy leg syndrome (AHLS) is rampant across this country. Much is known about the causes of AHLS, but no known cure has yet been discovered for this socially debilitating disease. It can destroy families, careers, and put an end to a promising conversation with that blonde in Accounting. AHLS can strike anyone at any time. Don’t let it strike you. Visit http://www.endAHLS.org now to learn more.
July 30th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Perhaps men have embraced the soft sensuality of exposing the ankle. Or are we to return to those Puritan days where any show of ankle meant you better have a marriage proposal on the way?
July 30th, 2008 at 8:34 am
I guess I’m old enough to remember seeing poor kids in high school who had rubber bands around their socks to keep them from falling. I didn’t know people still slouched their socks. I thought anyone wearing shorts wears no socks or the “invisi-socks” and pants are worn long enough so it doesn’t matter what kind of socks you wear. I only wear socks in winter or at the gym, since I DO have sweaty smelly feet.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:10 am
First: Coolest Dad EVER!
Second: I wear ankle socks with sneakers only. I hate summer and the heat and can’t stand a bunch of material on my legs when I’m wearing shorts. Going sock less is unacceptable with sneakers as he genetic roulette wheel didn’t bless me with sweatless feet like Dave S.
The genetic roulette wheel did give me giant calves which make it impossible to find socks that will go over them. While I would like to have my socks stay up, they always end up at my ankle. I avoid AHLS by pulling my socks up before I cross my legs, they usually stay in place long enough to hide the hairiness of my legs.
As for culture, I think the increased wearing of flip flops has probably hurt the sock industry.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:20 am
As long as you’re not wearing black dress socks with sandals, shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, I think any way you wear socks is okay.
And we all knew how cool, Craiggers is, but who knew his dad was so freaking coo too! Coolness much be a genetic trait for the McAnallys!
HUGS…
July 30th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Socks are condoms for the feet and should be worn for everyone’s sake, unless you have those cute little soft feet of the the winner of the foot contest, Craig’ sister!
July 30th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Craig’s dad is adorable. I can almost picture him sitting on his front porch when a kid with low socks walks by. He’d stand up, shaking his fist and saying: “Kids these days and their low socks! Now in MY day…” But not really, because he’s too cool to be THAT guy.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Sock it to me.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Cool post. I wear mostly white socks but I’m a girl so maybe its different. I just bought new super shorty white socks. Mostly because I have an ankle tattoo I like to show off in summer and I HATE when the sock cuts off the design. I do wear black socks to the office though and I find AHLS gives me the willies at work. No hairy leg should ever be exposed in the workplace.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Craig’s dad, thank you for this delightful and insightful post. Seriously! I used to love matching my socks exactly to my clothing but I don’t think that’s acceptable anymore. I try to wear womens shoes without socks because A: I live in Texas and socks are like little foot cookers and B: I don’t trust myself to keep up with the sock times.
I think we should go back to that old class system! We need to be able to tell which poor people to unnecessarily snub SOMEHOW, right???!
July 30th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Ankle socks got me to start wearing shoes again. Tube socks just look weird with shorts. Now that I bike to work, I am too scared of sandals coming off to wear them. I need to get ones with straps again.
PS - We demand baby pictures.
(Don’t worry, Craig, no one has ever died of embarrassment.)
July 30th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I have a dream of having colored socks and coordinating them with my outfits, but it’s hard to find more than white, black, blue, and brown.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Ryan — If you have smallish feet like me, the women’s socks at the Gap are more than large enough, and come in just about any color you could want. Not that I’ve bought any or anything. ::hangs head::
July 30th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Hayden: Socks are condoms for the feet?? But, if you’re only sticking your feet in your own shoes, do you really need protection?
And I agree, Craig def got his humor from his Dad.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:23 am
I must be trained in the old ways. I wear the short, athletic socks with shorts, and the longer socks with long pants (no exceptions), always white. Colored socks are for special occassions. Sandals and flip-flops are for the beach. Now, if anyone thinks I should break myself out of this mold, you’re welcome to stage a sock intervention.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Ryan, There are some cool sock stores that have all kinds. In winter I like wearing funky socks. I have the coolest pink leopard fuzzy socks. I also have zebra socks, those with penquins and green neon ones with frogs. I think they have men’s socks. Here they have 41 colors. http://www.sockbroker.com/colors.htm I love it when I see a guy wearing funky socks. Adds character.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Hahahaha loves it. There was a time when I would always wear socks regardless of the day, temperature or season. 14 years later I hate wearing socks and shoes in general. Flip flops are the best way to go, but only if your feet look decent enough.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Flip flops feel good, especially the heel spanking, but they usually annoy the people that have to listen to that irritating slapping noise.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I love flip flops and wear them well into the Ohio winters. As long as the snow doesn’t go above my ankle, I’m good.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Dave S.: If you wear your 70’s knee sock condoms with your flip flops you could survive Anchorage
July 30th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Something tells me I’d need a lot more than knee socks to survive Anchorage. I can already feel all my piercings freezing clean off…
July 30th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Great post. Socks are always a topic in our house. Especially when someone needs clean ones….
July 30th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Why does dave s get so many smiley faces and who is giving them if Craig is away?
July 30th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Dave S., you have piercings??? Where are they and why was I not previously aware of this? Oh, and to keep it kinda on topic, your non-sock-covered feet aren’t pierced, are they?
HUGS…
July 30th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
No foot piercings. (Ew.)
Two eyebrow, labret, 0-gauge earplugs, and a nipple ring.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
“…and a nipple ring.” Just one, Dave? Isn’t it better to evenly distribute the pressure to both sides of your body when you hoist yourself by your nipples? Or am I assuming too much? :-p
July 30th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I prefer my pain assymetrical.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Didn’t we see a nipple piercing shot in your guest debate? I didn’t realize you had the labret though.
Though I am no longer factory issue, I do prefer to have only the 9 I was born with.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
David: Unfortunately, my feet cannot be described as anything approaching smallish.
Meee: Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll check that out.
Joe G.: As I said in the foot contest, no foot looks decent to me, but I’m okay with sandals since feet tend to stay on the ground where my eyes aren’t looking.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Does Craig own Argyle socks?
July 30th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Black socks rule!
July 30th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Socks? Oh, do you mean those hole-filled widows in Bossy’s bureau?
July 31st, 2008 at 1:23 am
My father wore stripped socks up high. So did I, when I was younger. I was unaware of the story behind the sock height sensibilities of the prior generation. At some point in my middle youth my friends taught me how to “be cool” and wear them lower. Only just a year ago did I purchase my first lowcut socks. I was worried about them slipping into my shoe, or not being comfortable. It turns out they work fine, and I tend to wear them whenever wearing shorts.
Though my feet don’t smell or sweat much I still like the fresh feeling of a clean pair of socks in the morning.
Great post, Craig’s Dad! Craig is fortunate to have you.
July 31st, 2008 at 11:17 am
[…] GUEST BLOG: Socks - A History at Puntabulous When I was a kid you could always tell the “have” kids from the “have not” kids by their […]
July 31st, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Very funny! Although you made me have flashbacks of being completely humiliated by wearing mismatched socks to elementary school. Thanks a lot!
July 31st, 2008 at 7:11 pm
This explains everything.
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:00 pm
i say hayden should get 100 smiley faces for his great taste in feet. Hayden… if i knew how to put them up for you, i would!
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I want to thank everyone for your kind, very kind comments. That response has me promoting Craig to give me another chance one of these days. I’m going to start a list of things to talk about. You may all be sorry you were so generous with your comments.
August 4th, 2008 at 5:19 am
[…] of the comments when I got home. And yes Ryan R., I own plenty of argyle socks!) Also, who knew my Dad would be such a blogging superstar? Of course, I’d like to give a big thank you to all my […]