FashBlog.com

My husband glanced inside my dresser drawer as I reached in for a pair of socks. "Wait a minute...do you have a pair of orange socks in there?" came the question from the man who won't even wear a pair of socks with a stripe. While I realized that such a thing was anathema to his no-nonsense style of dressing, I decided to try to explain that they were Halloween socks, black silhouettes against an orange background. He accepted my explanation, but he still seemed confused by the whole idea.

I believe my first pair of holiday-themed socks was a gift. One Christmas, my grandma gave me a Rudolph sweatshirt that came with a matching pair of socks. It was a little late to wear them that year, but I was intrigued by the idea. I had a few Christmas shirts and several pairs of Christmas earrings, so why not Christmas socks?!

I've since added several other pairs of decorative Christmas socks, a couple of pairs of Valentine's Day socks, and the previously mentioned Halloween socks to my collection. I found them to be a fun way to dress up for the occasion without being too showy. Depending on how long the legs of my pants were, they wouldn't even be visible to most people, just a hint of red or orange. But I knew I was wearing them, and that was half the fun.

One definite advantage to holiday-themed socks that I've noticed is that since you only wear them for a couple of days each year, they last a long time. And by "a long time" I mean that I have a couple of pairs that I've had for seven or eight years. That's quite an investment. If you're the plan-ahead sort, you can also find decorative socks at cheap prices by buying them after a holiday when they go on clearance along with all the other seasonal decorations. Since my initial purchases or five or six pairs of socks several years ago, I haven't had to spend a penny for my little slice of holiday fun.

Holiday socks seem to be much more of a feminine interest, though. I have yet to come across a guy with an extensive selection of St. Patrick's Day and Easter socks. Perhaps it's because they can turn to ties for their small piece of holiday flair. Or maybe I just don't know the right guys and my assertion is completely false.

There's a part of me that feels that maybe this interest in socks with big hearts and Easter eggs is a bit juvenile. For instance, I was able to indulge in my decorative socks at work when I was a teacher because it seemed to fit the overall setting. But if I worked in the corporate world I would have had to think twice before slipping a pair of heart socks on underneath my skirt. But I say it's all in good fun. Try it for yourself the next time a holiday season rolls around.