by Vanessa Cumber

Created on: March 04, 2007   Last Updated: April 22, 2007

Sock buying would seem at first like a mindless endeavor, aside from the obvious prerequisite that they fit. I've personally never fretted too much about sock shopping and never realized just how important choosing socks can be, that is until I bought the wrong kind of socks for my husband.

I've never been able to spend a lot of money on a pair of socks for myself and feel good about it. I suppose that's why I usually opt for the fifty-pair value pack of white cottony athletic socks. I have an odd pair or two of dress socks in my drawer, but never seem to get around to wearing them and am not quite sure how they got there in the first place.

Besides appropriate size and value, I feel that quality is an important concern when it comes to sock shopping. I am proof that you do not have to pay a lot for good quality although that is not to say that cheap always spells quality with a capital Q.

I've found that name brand value packs such as Hanes are preferred when it comes to quality. These I buy for my husband on a regular basis as they have socks to accommodate his big feet (the big men's size 12-14 socks). They last for a decent amount of time without developing holes, make good sweat absorbers and are work boot friendly.

Still, it is a good idea to pay attention to the value pack you are plucking up as I accidentally chose the ankle cut socks instead of the regular crew socks which ended up making my husband's new pair of work boots rub him the wrong way. The situation dictates the type of sock you will need and if you are in a professional environment, then thin, dress socks would obviously be more appropriate than crew socks.

For me, fashion does not apply to socks but for the style-minded individual there are socks in a limitless assortment of designs and colors. You have the ability to coordinate and accentuate, and make sock shopping a science if you so prefer.

So, how should YOU choose socks? Choose a pair that is right for YOU, taking size, comfort, quality, value (and style if you so desire) into concern.

Thick or thin, sock wearing is most definitely in, so if you want to be a sock-savvy shopper, make sure you are a mindful sock shopper. At the expense of feeling like Dr. Seuss, I've certainly had fun writing about sock shopping and hope I've divulged some tidbits of info to stimulate your sock-related thought processes.

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