We’ve reached October, that wonderful time known to some as “fall”, but to many as “Halloween season!” We get pretty excited about this time of year, and as you start to plan your costumes, we wanted to round up some highlights from years past.
DIY Delights
We love a good DIY, and here we’ve rounded up the most Halloween-appropriate ones. May they make this year’s costuming even easier!
Cosplay Gloves
Often referred to as “armsocks” in the cosplay community, these gloves can be a real time-saver when you’re trying to depict supernatural skin tones. With your arms and legs easily matching, all you need to paint is your face, neck, and any of your chest or midriff not covered by your costume.
No-Sew Thigh High Boots
Your costume is almost perfect. You've got your skirt and your corset. You've got your wig and your props. The only thing you need to pull it all together is a pair of colorful thigh high boots. When buying expensive footwear is out of the question, but we have another solution…
Last Minute DIY Costume - Eight Legged Freaks
Even those of us who are obsessed with Halloween and think about it all year around sometimes miss the deadline on assembling costume elements and must get creative with what we have on hand. This year we've got a pretty easy last-minute DIY which you should be able to style into either a humanoid octopus or spider costume, and best of all, you might already have most of the things you'll need!
Drawing Detail
Though we do have a rather wide selection of items, sometimes we just don’t have exactly that stripe or pattern that you need. But a steady hand and a little patience can take you a long way. Here we've got two quickie guides on adding your own details to socks, and there's a bonus DIY at the end too!
Dye-ing to Meet You
If, try as you might, you just can’t find the right socks for your costume, we’ve got some tutorials for dying your socks and tights to match your needs.
Ready Set Color
If you’ve never dyed socks before, don’t stress, it is super easy! We’ll walk you through the basics, so you have the foundation to play to your heart’s content. For just straight up dyeing cotton blends like the socks in our Crafty Bundles, something easy to get and use like RIT Dye works pretty well, especially if you’re just learning...
More Dyeing Techniques
Once you start experimenting more with dyeing socks and fabric, you can also start looking into the wide world of dyes that are chemically formulated for specific fibers. Even if you’re not ready for learning the scientific ins and outs of fancy dyes, you can expand your techniques and start playing around with ways to add color.
Dyeing Nylon
We’ve shown you the basics of dyeing socks and how easy it is. All you need is a box of dye and some hot water. But what about styles that aren’t cotton blends? What about non RIT dye options? Well just you wait. Nothing dyes quite as wonderfully as nylon.
Dyeing Stockings to Match
There's something really fantastic about nylons and how they visually smooth out your skin, making your legs look even more fabulous. Of course, that illusion works best if your stockings are a similar tone to your skin. People come in a lot of different shades, so it is rather frustrating that most companies that make the nylons we sell only offer lighter shades of beige, but there are ways to custom-dye your own nylons.
Historically Inspired
We love diving into research and pulling out interesting moments in sock history, from the very oldest socks (a split-toe sock similar to a tabi sock) to modern fashions like top-stripes, with plenty of costume-inspiration along the way.
Historical Costuming Series
Beginning with Medieval Europe with Part 1, continuing on through the 18th and 19th centuries with Part 2, and rounding it out with some semi-contemporary 20th Century styles in Part 3, this series will help you reenact your favorite eras with (mostly) accurate socks.
Socks Through Time Series
This series goes a step deeper, taking a look at specific socks in history—like the intellectual women of the 18th Century who wore "bluestockings"—or the broad history of fashion staples like fishnets. If you're looking to add a little extra depth to an outfit, this is the place to look!
The Beginning - We begin our journey with a look at the earliest surviving pair of socks.
Bluestockings - Learn how this term came to stand for much more than just bluish socks.
Shakespeare's Embarrassing Stockings - We look at a stocking requirement that often haunts costuming departments.
The History of Fishnet - From Grimm fairytales and Paris dancers, fishnet styles have had quite a journey.
The History of Rayon - A dive into one of our favorite man-made fibers.
The History of Goth - From the Goths to modern gothic fashion, the times (and styles) have changed a lot.
The History of Top-Stripes - A bit of a current trend, this style has deep roots.
♥Lucy
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Winter is in full swing, and here are some of the styles we're rocking this year!
Tights
Tights are always in style for winter layering, and we’re obsessed with these designs from Smartwool. The fine wooly fibers wick away moisture and help to keep heat in, like a fancy version of long underwear, while providing an excellent base layer for thigh high socks. And we think they’re pretty great on their own, as well.
The Tight II Smartwool Tights ~ Ribbed Footless Wool Tights ~ Arabica Wool Tights
Patterns
This season we’re especially obsessed with complex knitted patterns. They work really well for more neutral, sophisticated style, lending themselves well to business environments, and can layer over tights to make for very cozy legs all day long.
Dreamer Tartan OTK ~ Extraordinary Waffle Thigh High
Dreamer Vertical Lines Thigh High ~ Extraordinary Diamond Wave OTK
Knee Highs
Our love affair with knee highs continues this year, as we can’t really get enough of colorful socks peaking over the top of knee- and calf-high boots. Keep your legs warm, protect your feet from stiff boots, and look cute doing it!
Jackalope Knee High ~ Marled Slouch Socks ~ Damask Compression Knee High
Sweater Socks
Nothing quite beats a cozy sweater, and we’ve got a couple styles that emulate that look (and cozy factor) quite well. So many, in fact, that we did a whole blog post on them a couple of years ago! Our favorites vary from year to year; right now we’re flirting with marled styles. We love the subtle texture and thicker knit that makes our marled yarns so special.
Top Striped Marled Scrunchable Socks ~ Space Dyed Scrunchy Socks ~ Marled Stripe Knee Socks
Arm Warmers & Leg Warmers
Enough about feet! Your hands tend to take on the bulk of the cold in winter, since they’re a bit harder to cover up than feet—especially with smart phones constantly demanding your attention. We’ve found that fingerless gloves are an excellent solution. They keep your hands warm, without adding any bulk to your fingertips! Add arm warmers over top for extra warmth, and pack a pair of leg warmers for when the weather gets exceptionally nippy.
Basic Fingerless Gloves ~ Tie Dyed Fingerless Gloves
Dreamy Sleeves ~ Marled Scrunchable Leg Warmers
Bare That Ankle
We’ve been hearing a lot about bare-ankles being a fashion statement right now, and while we can’t say that we agree that socks ruin a perfect ankle shot, we do have a ton of fun footie and no-show socks that can be very helpful if you’re rocking this look. Some of them even come in multi-packs, for footies every day of the week!
Distort Tab Anklets ~ Days of the Week Footie 7 Pack ~ Sadie Swirl No Show Socks
***
What trends are you rocking this winter?
♥Lucy
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June is LGBT Pride Month, and rounding up rainbows in celebration is kind of a tradition around here. We’ve always carried a lot of rainbows, but in the last two years we’ve been happy to add versions of other pride flags to our mix, to better represent us and our customers. We’ve a colorful array of items for you this year, and many ways to wear your colors with pride!
New This Year
This has been in the works for a while, and we’re so excited to announce our new acrylic Longer Dreamer Proud Stripes Tubes. Designed to be thigh-high on many legs, these tube socks will fit most feet, from the littlest to the biggest, while still reaching at least over your knees. Like all our Proud Stripes, part of the proceeds from these socks will go to help LGBTQIA+ organizations.
~ Dreamer Long Proud Stripes Tube Socks ~
This year we were also able to expand our Proud Stripes line to include cotton socks, opening up new color combinations. So far we have two colorways in cotton, inspired by the Lesbian pride flag and Aromantic pride flag, available in crews and thigh highs. In the right image below, you can also see how the "thigh high" makes an excellent knee high on wider or longer legs.
~ Dreamer Cotton Proud Stripes ~
These next beauties are actually currently out of stock, but we have more on order! Since last year, we added a tasty new flavor of rainbow with our Extraordinary Pastel Rainbows. You can sign up to receive a notification when we get more of these in stock from the item's page (you will need to have an account with our site, though).
~ Extraordinary Candy Pastel Rainbow Thigh High ~
Proud Stripes
Launched last year, our line of acrylic Dreamer Proud Stripes was inspired by our lovely customers, and continues to grow as we’re able to add new colorways. Part of the proceeds from our Proud Stripes go to LGBTQIA+ organizations; in this case, our local Q Center.
~ Dreamer Proud Stripes ~
Harvest Rainbows
Our Extraordinary Harvest Rainbow family of socks is an old favorite that’s not going anywhere! This mellow rainbow fits easily into a more-muted wardrobe, while still providing that pop of color.
~ Extraordinary Harvest Rainbows ~
Radiant Rainbows
If the Harvest Rainbows are too mellow for you, our Extraordinary Radiant Rainbows pack all the bright into a soft acrylic sock that’s perfect for Pride.
~ Extraordinary Radiant Rainbows ~
Vertical Rainbows
Made in the style of our Dreamer Vertical Striped OTKs, these socks will carry a rainbow from one leg to the other, or can be purchased as just cool tones or just warm tones, whatever your preference!
~ Dreamer Nocturnal Rainbows ~
~ Dreamer Laser Rainbows ~
All the Best for Pride
We’re not the only company making perfectly prideful rainbow styles; we’ve got these excellent designs from other suppliers, as well!
~ Proud Knee High ~ Gay Crew ~
~ Vertical Rainbow OTK ~ Over the Rainbow Thigh High ~
♥Lucy
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It’s that time of year again: the days are getting shorter, the leaves are starting to change, and soon summer vacation will be over and fall will be in full swing. In the past, we’ve talked about back to school styles, but this year I wanted to take a look at that often-overlooked staple: solids.
Patterns are very popular, and they can be a lot of fun, but sometimes you just want a nice solid sock. I am drawn to patterns, and I tend to forget that too many patterns can get overwhelming. There’s something lovely about a solid knee high or thigh high, whether it’s accenting a busier outfit, or providing its own pop of color. So, today, we’re going to visit some of our favorites.
Solid Tights
Let’s start with styles that serve the whole leg. As hard as it may be to imagine right now, soon this balmy weather will be turning chilly, and you’ll want simple layers you can throw under skirts or shorts to extend some of those summer styles. Cotton tights and leggings are ideal for this, because their cotton content will keep them breathable, without diminishing their warmth.
However, if you’re looking for something a bit more vibrant, nylon tights are where you’ll want to set your sights!
Left: We Love Colors Plus Size Tights in 1x-2x
Right: Opaque Tights
Solid Thigh Highs
Thigh Highs can look a lot like leggings, especially if you wear longer skirts, but they can also be layered over tights, or easily slid off bare legs if the weather warms up too much. They’re especially nice if you’re going between the still-hot Outside and the cool, air-conditioned Inside.
Left: Extraordinary Thigh Highs (also pictured above in burgundy)
Right: Ribbed M Stockings
A classic staple in more ways than one, knee highs definitely make me think of those school-girl days…but they can also add a note of sophistication to an outfit. Whether you’re sticking to neutrals, or making a statement with a favorite color, knee highs are a fun way to add some pop to your legs.
Left: Authentic Military Bootsocks
Right: Diamond Rib Knee Highs
Solid Crews
It’s hard to beat a basic crew sock. They can be wonderfully innocuous, or totally steal the spotlight, depending on your style. Since they can often be hidden by long pants or skirts, it's also an easy way to show some of your personality, even if it's just for you.
Left: Dreamer Cotton Dress Socks
Right: Meg Unconstricted Top Crews
Left: Harajuku Slouch Socks
Right: Dreamer Roll Top Crews
Although maybe not as highly praised as their patterned counterparts, solid socks and tights can form the basis of an outfit, either by being a neutral background to a wilder print, or carrying the show with their own color or texture. I hope we hit some of your favorites here, but if we missed some solid staples, feel free to let us know in the comments!
♥Lucy
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Floral pattern and flower socks are a way to bring some spring to your step no matter what season it really is. All those pretty petals freshen up any look, which must be why floral socks are so popular!
That’s definitely part of why Sock Dreams has a lot of different flower pattern socks, though we’re also just suckers for a good floral. There are a couple of loosely categorisable flavours of flower socks, from overflowingly abundant to general motif, and then, that most classic option: floral lace.
We’ve talked about our floral socks before, but although we’ve looked at floral meanings and flowery holidays and places, we haven’t really sat down to categorise general floral pattern types.
What’s a floral pattern?
My friend, what isn’t? If it’s got some plant in a stage of bloom, then it’s a floral.
We try to reign it in, you won’t find us classifying some bloomless twisting vine pattern as “floral”, but we hop on any flower showing it’s pretty petaled face with the same fervour we cheer the emerging buds of daffodils and crocus as harbingers of spring.
Abundantly Floral Socks
For me, what defines an abundantly floral sock is naming the sock style after the particular flower on display and making it the centrepiece of the sock show. Ozone’s various flower sock lines are basically the acme of the abundantly floral style.
Between their marvelously magical Witches’ Garden collection,
On left: Fairy Gloves Crew
On right: Belladonna Crew
To their earthier Apothecary Florals collection,
On left: Echinacea Crew
On right: Marigold Crew
They’ve already claimed the corner on fabulous flower socks. But, then you throw in all their other styles, which aren’t quite as intensely floral (but are still very flowery), and Ozone is clearly the prizewinning rose here.
Nordic Stripe Crew
In close competition, however, is Sweet Marcel. Though the styles are named after people of note, not flowers, the patterns themselves are often inspired by florals and flowers from those people’s lives.
On left: Frida Crew
On right: Jean Crew
The bold colours and dense patterning make them pretty abundantly floral, in my opinion.
Generally, Flower Socks
These might be the most common flower pattern socks. They’re rarely so rich with flowers that one could confuse them with abundantly floral, but they don’t just put one bloom on there and call it good.
Our Dreamer Socks florals fall into this category, with both bold and subtle all-over patterns that sedately march from toes to tops.
On left: Dreamer Lotus Thigh High
On right: Dreamer Jacquard Flowering Vine OTK
Another good example of this more moderate floral is Stance. Thanks to their dedication to dense patterns and printing, their array of options ranges from sporty,
On left: Briar Midcalf
On right: Ferny Midcalf
To styles that could almost be abundant, though they're far less common than the sportier options.
On left: Yumas Midcalf
Center: Lotus Rihanna Midcalf
And, with their ever-changing line-up of options, there’s always going to be a Stance sock that offers fresh florals and their trademark fabulous fit!
Classic Floral Lace
Now, not all lace has a floral pattern, just most of it. That means many of our lace socks and stockings can also be categorised as florals! Think of the big rose patterns floating between sheer panels of net, or scallop-edged lace trim filled with flowers. They’re soft and femme, but often rendered in black, so they’re perfect for soft goth feels and sensuously bold statements.
Probably the brand with the most floral lace is Leg Avenue, who loves their lace cuffs! Some are stay ups, with silicone grips hiding behind that pretty lace, and some are just big bold bands of lace finishing off already stunning stockings.
Sheer Vertical Striped Stockings with Lace
Of course, they also have fully floral options, not just in stockings, but tights and accessories too! From their cornerstone black floral lace to some uniquely gorgeous patterns in net, Leg Avenue has floral lace on lock.
On left: Floral Vine Net Tights
On right: Stretch Lace Wrist-Length Gloves
Of course, our flower socks encompass more than these three basic groups, there are about as many variants as there are common species of cultivated roses. So, take a walk through our garden of socks and see what gets you buzzing like a bee!
Delicate Flower Crew
Because, even if you don’t have a green thumb, it’s the middle of winter and nobody has ever given you flowers, flower socks are a bouquet you give yourself every time you wear them. ♥
♥~Brenna
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There are as many styles of weddings as there are unique couples, and one of our favorite things is hearing from customers who have incorporated our socks and accessories into their special day. From bright and original to classy and traditional, we’re happy to help you celebrate your love however you like! Only you will know the right look for you and your wedding party, but we’ve got some ideas to get you going in our Wedding Collection, and plenty more suggestions where those came from.
A Strong Foundation
Good style, both on special occasions and daily wear, is built on good foundation garments. And for a wedding, where you’re likely dressed a little fancier than usual, you want to start with good basics.
Petticoats
Although we don’t carry anything big and sweeping in the way of ballgowns, we do have some petticoats that can work wonderfully under tea-length dresses or shorter. They can even help you add a little pop of color, even if you’re the only one who sees it.
If you’re wearing stockings or thigh highs of any kind, you don’t want to be trying to adjust them all day, and garter belts are an excellent solution to this problem. They can also be a sexy little confidence-booster, if you’re feeling a little jittery on the big day. (Don’t like garter belts? Check out sock glue!)
~ Deep Lace Suspender Belt ~ Satin Suspender Belt ~
Sock Garters
Even shorter socks can migrate a bit throughout a ceremony, and sock garters are not only a good solution to this problem, they can also be a classy nod to an earlier era.
If you’ll have bare legs, you definitely don’t want to deal with any sort of chaffing on your special day, and Bandelettes' thigh bands are here to save your thighs from discomfort!
~ Dolce Thigh Band ~
Follow the Rhyme
You know the one: “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue...” This used to be an adage for bringing a bride good luck on her wedding day, but remains a fun tradition you can plan your outfit around (bride or not).
Something Old
You may not find the idea of truly old socks appealing, but we’ve got plenty of styles that play up a vintage feel.
~ Plus Size Paris Fleur-de-lis Pantyhose ~ Dreamer Vertical Vintage OTK ~
Something New
There’s a chance any of the items on this list could be your “something new,” but one new trend we’re seeing more and more are thigh highs with attached garter belts—they come in delightful designs, and the garter attachment adds that little something extra, when you don’t want to deal with a normal garter belt.
I’m afraid we can’t lend you the originals, but did you know our Knockout Bouquet Bamboo OTKs were original created for our Operation Officer’s wedding? Take a page out of her book with these soft openwork socks, or try their sister styles.
In addition to being part of the old rhyme, blue is also an excellent color to pair with neutrals like white, black, or creamy browns, and is a great way to add a pop of color if you’re not looking for something too bright.
And here's a little something extra, for Doctor Who fans...your old, new, borrowed, and blue TARDIS represented in this surprisingly-similar sock.
~ T Ceremony Compression Knee High ~
What Are Your Colors?
Once of the big choices when you’re planning your special day is the color theme. Whether you like neutrals, accent colors, or all the colors of the rainbow, it can really define the “feel” of your ceremony.
White
Although the white wedding dress is relatively recent, it’s become an iconic standard for weddings, in the US especially. And if you want to match your socks to your dress, you've got some lovely options.
~ Crochet Heart Lace Top Anklet ~ O Chevrons ~
Bring On the Colors
Even if you’re going with the modern tradition of white dresses and black suits, that doesn’t mean you don’t want a bright accent color! And for less traditional wedding parties, well, the sky’s the limit!
Harvest Rainbow Socks for your whole wedding team! (picture by June Lion)
~ We Love Colors Tights ~
Pride Colors
June (aka LGBT pride month) is right around the corner, so if you’re looking for something pride-themed to accompany your wedding, look no further!
~ Over the Rainbow Thigh High ~ Dreamer Proud Stripes ~
As always, we would love to see how you've incorporated our items into your ceremonies! Feel free to tag us on social media, or send pictures to [email protected].
♥Lucy
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For many people, summer means a wealth of outdoor activities, especially here in the Pacific Northwest, where we have hiking trails aplenty, and a summer that, while it can breach 100 °F on the hottest days, still stays relatively comfortable for most of the season. Although layering up may seem counter-intuitive in the heat of the summer, if you’re doing a lot of walking, you want to make sure you have socks that can keep up with you.
First off, you’re going to want to aim for natural fibers. Cotton and silk are obvious choices, but wool is also great for summer. Although wool may sound like it’ll be too warm for hot weather, it’s actually more comfortable on your feet than something synthetic, because socks made with natural fibers will let your feet breathe, instead of trapping the heat and moisture in.
Although we’re better known for our thigh highs, we have a few items in our house brands that are great for keeping your feet comfy in hiking boots all season long. Our Cotton Slouch Socks and Authentic Military Bootsocks are both great options of the cotton variety, as well as the Marled Stripe Knee Socks in the image above.
~ Authentic Military Bootsocks ~ Cotton Slouch Socks ~
And when it comes to wools, it’s hard to beat the Midcalf Woolies and the Dreamer Striped Alpaca Crews.
~ Midcalf Woolies ~ Striped Alpaca Crew ~
Those styles will get you going, but don’t worry, we carry plenty of items from other brands that are specially designed for keeping your feet safe and comfy no matter where you’re trekking!
Showers Pass
This brand makes some of the most impressive socks we’ve found—waterproof socks that not only do what they promise to do, but keep your feet dry while still feeling like normal socks. No scratchy plastic here. Showers Pass' socks are made with three layers, and the inner and outer layers are gentle on your skin, just like a regular sock.
Often with “hiking” right in their products’ names, Dahlgren makes excellent socks for the outdoorsy among us. Their socks are specially designed with the aim of wicking away moisture and protecting sensitive areas of the foot from rubbing and blisters, while providing good foot support as well.
Made with merino wool blends and light cushioning, Darn Tough socks are gentle on your feet, and tough enough to stand up to heavy wear. They also come in a number of fashionable designs.
~ Sierra Stripe Crew ~ Warlock Striped Light Crew ~
Sockwell
Sockwell’s compression socks are good year-round if you spend a lot of time on your feet, but they also make shorter styles that are ideal for summer recreation. With combos of soft merino wool and bamboo, their socks will keep your feet dry and protected.
~ Sport Ease Compression Ankle Tabi Socks ~ Inspire Micro Anklet ~
Stance
Known for athletic socks that are both fashionable and comfortable, Stance makes a wide range of styles that will keep your feet comfy, without sacrificing any style.
~ Dot Vibes Midcalf ~ Joven Midcalf ~
Smartwool
Remember when we talked about wool? Smartwool’s socks are great for keeping your feet comfortable through an exhilarating adventure, and are built with cushioning for extra protection.
~ Popcorn Cable Knee High ~ Sadie Swirl No Show ~
Toe Socks
Although some people balk at the idea of toe socks, we really recommend them, especially in the summer. The individual support on each toe can help protect again blisters, and can actually help your feet feel less constrained than in traditional socks.
~ Spectrum Trail Midweight Crew Toe Socks ~ Wool Lightweight Running No Show Toe Socks ~
Carry the Camp with You
Finally, even though you can’t be camping all the time, we have a couple socks that will help keep those fond memories close to your heart—or at least your feet.
~ Base Camp Knee High ~ Camp Knee High ~
Onward!
Wherever your summer adventures take you, make sure to stay hydrated! (and don’t forget to wash all that poison ivy away)
~ Sock Dreams Logo Water Bottle ~
♥Lucy
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