We're getting ready for autumn from the ground up: this page has articles on tights, socks and socks with high heels.

Tights

We plan to go on wearing summer clothes for as long as possible.  It is still warm enough to go without tights or socks on some days, but you won’t want to be caught out on a chilly morning with nothing.  When I had a ‘professional’ job in an office, I learned to save time and stress by buying tights and pop socks in bulk.  Okay, so I had a larger cash outlay at the start of the cold weather season, but I had the confidence that there was always a pair of intact tights ready in my drawer every morning.  Before I started buying several pairs at the same time, I would rush to the shops during my lunch break and use the cash in my purse to buy a pair or maybe two.  I would then wear these to death before repeating the exercise.  Sometimes I was forced into grovelling around in the laundry basket in the morning, telling myself that no doubt my tights had freshened up during the night.

If you work in a very smart environment, and wear a suit or dress for work, I recommend buying at least 7 pairs of tights in a medium weight black or neutral colour.  If you wear trousers to work consider adding some pop socks to your shopping basket.  These may not be the height of fashion, but they can make new shoes more comfortable.  Also, with sheer pop socks you will be more comfortable wearing ankle-skimming trousers in the winter.

In my experience the quickest and most cost effective way to buy tights is to get them on-line.  Both mytights and tightsplease have a wide selection of styles and prices.

My personal preference for colder weather is for opaque tights.  Not only are these warmer, they don’t show up tiny snags as do thinner tights, so they last longer.  A few tips for tights’ wearers:

·         Don’t wear your expensive tights with boots with a zip on the inner calf.  If you cross your legs with zip is very likely to snag your tights.

·         Carry a small bottle of clear nail varnish, or keep one in your desk drawer.  If you do get a snag or tiny hole, paint it with the nail varnish to stop your tights laddering.

·         Similarly, keep a nail file close at hand so that you can keep your fingernails smooth. File down any snags before putting on or taking off your tights. 

·         Keep your toe nails neatly trimmed.

·         If you are trying your hardest to look smart and are putting on brand new sheer black tights, pop on a pair of gloves and then put on the tights.  It dramatically reduces the possibility of snagging the tights while you are putting them on.  (It does look eccentric though.)

·         Check on the packet for washing instructions.  Many brands can be washed in the machine on the gentle cycle, but pop them in a wash bag to save them getting tangled with other items. 

All about Socks  

Tricia writes:

 Most of us own socks. A wardrobe basic, socks can be a fashion statement or just lovely, cosy, comfortable items to keep our feet warm. Cast your eyes around at the socks walking around our streets and consider this poor neglected item of clothing. Socks in the same colour as shoes and trousers are discreet and give the illusion of length for the legs. Clashing socks that conflict with an outfit can be a fashion faux pas. Socks that match your top when attending a fitness class help an outfit look well co-ordinated. Bright and novelty socks can look great but are a risky choice unless you are a design student or young enough to get away with anything.  (Bright green socks shown are from John Lewis.)Well loved socks bring a risk of a holey situation the minute shoes are removed.

Sorting through a sock drawer may not be your idea of fun but it doesn’t take that long and may mean avoiding that ‘holey’ situation.

1. Check through your socks for odd socks, holes, discolouration, translucent heels, loose elasticity plus marks on the underside.

2. Pair up the decent socks.

3. Have a hunt in washing bins, under beds, in gym bags, on airers, in washing baskets etc. for the partners of single socks and reunite.

4. Socks in very good condition which you simply don’t wear may be accepted by your charity shop so pop them into your charity bag. The Salvation Army may have clothing collection bins for the homeless in your local town.

5. Ensure the socks you keep are clean. It could be worth soaking them overnight, in biological washing powder if your skin permits, then laundering them.

6. Assess your sock storage system. There are drawer dividers e.g. from Lakeland, which allow you to store socks according to colour for ease of selection.

7. Check your sock colours co-ordinate with your outfits and that they serve your lifestyle e.g. do you require running socks, tennis socks, dance socks, walking socks etc.

8. Make a list of any socks you need to purchase in your beauty diary. Consider including toes socks with sections for each individual toe. These are now being recommended by some physiotherapists and Pilates specialists as beneficial for foot health. They separate the toes, giving space for them to function and possibly assisting in a reduction of fungal infections. 

Worn and Odd Socks

I believe a mysterious law of Physics exists stating that for every pair of socks in the universe two odd socks exist. There is even a theatre company called ‘Oddsocks’ after this travesty of nature. What are we to do with odd and worn socks in this increasingly eco-conscious world? Consider that if we live to eighty, purchasing six new pairs of socks a year that adds up to 480 pairs of socks or 960 socks for each person in the western world over a lifetime. Many of these socks will contain man made materials which are less than easy to dispose of.

Here are a few ideas for recycling clean socks. Consider keeping a sock bag to stuff the washed socks in until they are needed.

1. Darn that sock. Does anyone else remember learning how to do this at Brownies?

2. Household Cleaning. Socks can go over your hand to use as a cleaning mitt. Natural fabric socks work best. Use to dust, polish or dampen as a cloth.

3. Shoe polisher.

4. Sock puppet.

5. Mothball holder.

6. Cut for stuffing for craft projects.

7. Doll’s clothes. Cut off the toe for the doll’s head to go through, cut armholes to the side, cut length of sock as appropriate and you have a free doll’s dress.

8. Fill with dry split peas or similar, knot well and you have a bean bag.

9. Stuff into shoe toes to help keep the shape of the shoe when stored.

10. Use to store Christmas decorations, Christmas tree ornaments etc. Stuff the decoration into the sock to help protect it.

Hopefully, a few of the above ideas will help reduce out carbon footprint just a little.

Socks with High Heels

For several months running British Vogue has included fashion spreads of  feminine dresses and pencil skirts accessorised with socks with high heels.  I thought that I couldn’t possibly wear that – it just looked too odd for me.

I first saw the combination of socks and high heels in Birmingham. I was in a cafe and noticed a young woman at the next table.  She was beautifully dressed in pale grey and everybody seemed to notice her.  As she left I made an effort to see what she was wearing on her feet; she had high-heeled shoe boots with off-white lace ankle socks.  The look seemed just right for her, and those who are fashion forward may wish to try socks with high heels.

The lace ankle socks might look good with other outfits.  I’ve found some online at mytights.  These are by Jonathan Aston and are called “sweet roses anklet”.  They cost £6 and come in 3 colours, including off-white.  The black ones shown in this picture would add an interesting fashion twist to a plain black dress.

Mytights also have a range of printed nylon knee socks by Celeste Steine in  pretty prints, including a blue lace pattern that would look good with denim.   

Other styles are being added as there does appear to be growing interest in socks.

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