Sock Dreams ~ Sock Journal » 2004

Archive for March, 2004

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Space dyed purple pluto…

Earlier this month while I was placing an order with EG Smith I asked why they don’t offer more colors of the cotton otk’s and was delighted to find out they had just added three colors, these space dyed purple plutos, heather slate (a nice light grey) & heather bark (a lovely soft brown). They also brought back the back seamed version which did not sell well for us a couple of years back so I waited, I have since decided to bring them in with our next order. These cost a little more so we are selling them for $15 a pair (this is their suggested retail and we still cover shipping to US addresses~:) Like the ones we already carry they are nice & stretchy, can be pulled up alot higher but will not stay that high unless you use garters or glue (we got liquid latex back!). Around the house they stayed up fine for me (cuffed just above my knees) but when I got out and started really moving around I added sock garters which did the trick perfectly for keeping them up comfortably. Next we’ll cover how well they’ll fit larger legs…

Posted on March 31st, 2004 in socks by niqkita
6 Comments »

Longsocks

With the nip of winter still in the air, layers rule, even on legs!

Well, spring may be in the air, but it’s still a little chilly, so I paired the bordeaux 50 inch crazy long socks with my black thick and buggy longsocks for a yummy, arch-hugging way to keep me warm the whole day long! The black have lovely ribbing on the arches, but the bordeaux do not, for though Niqkita and I are fans of the tiny, subtle foot massage that is arch ribbing, some aren’t, for aesthetic reasons. The bordeaux aren’t as thick as the thick and baggy black socks, and fit the length of my leg (I’m 5′10″), with a tiny bit of scrunch at the knees and a pair of sock garters to hold up the tops. Probably the most comfortable 50 inch socks here at sock dreams, especially if you need just a little bit more stretch, as the looser weave allows more room than the thick white and black longsocks. That’s all for now; soon I’ll be testing out the cubans that Eliza reviewed recently as well as their counterpart from another brand. Check back! :)

Posted on March 27th, 2004 in socks by shelleopard
6 Comments »

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BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY…

….CAUSE THEIR SOCK DREAMS CAN COME TRUE!!!!

hi!!! I’m EG! I’ve always had very wide muscular calves
(even when i was thin!).
Despite having large long legs (I’m just under 5′9″) I’ve always loved fun socks & legwear. Why should the petite girls have all the fun?! for years I bought up every ‘over the knee’ sock and thigh-high I could find … but unfortunately most of them were just money wasted as so many of them were far too short (almost like knee highs) or too narrow to fit over my calves or thighs. Then I found our sock queen Niqkita here at sock dreams …here I’ve found many styles that do fit me both in length & width. And I’ve also found that Niq is willing to fight for us larger legged humans and has been trying to convince many of her manufacturers to start making socks that will fit us with ease!!! yay Niq!!!!

All of the socks & stockings here at Sock Dreams are fun, amazing, funky, comfy…etc. But not all fit all (finally a sock store that realizes that one size doesn’t really fit all) … so, because sock dreams is so accommodating… I’ve volunteered to share my large legs (and embarrassing measurements) in the name of us larger legged humans never having to throw money after petite socks again!!! I’m going to try some of them on and model em for you from time to time so that you can make well informed decisions on pampering those deserving legs of yours. Did I mention that i’m going to have a blast doing this???!!!

First to the dreaded part …
my measurements
(so you can be sure how these socks will fit you in comparison)

my feet are a size 11
the thinnest part of my ankle is 10″
my calves are 16 1/2″ and very muscular
just over my knee (where otk’s fall) is…18′
my mid thigh is….23″
my upper top thigh is even more than that
(i’m afraid to measure … gotta keep some things personal)
my legs are approximately 35″ long

okay … so this is really embarrassing but I really think it will help, I would’ve loved for someone to do this for me years ago before I wasted all that money on small legged socks.

okay that’s done, so yay!!!! here we go………………

These are the uber cushy cozy pink 36″ longsocks (they are sooo soft). they fit my size elevens perfectly (but I think that’s the limit size for ample room to toe wiggle) and they pull up my calves with ease. They are just over my knees and sometimes slip down cutely just under my knees. They wash well … mine have never hit the dryer or hot water (see below) these are an excellent choice for larger legs.

One of my favorite pairs of sock dreams socks are my nylon burgundy stripeys. These I think will fit everyone!!! I can pull them up to.. well.. you know.. ALL the way up. And they stretch and stretch and stretch! these are a must for tall sock wearers and for those of us with wider legs too. I cannot say enough about these as I adore them. My favorite way to wear them is under a long flowing skirt (that way i can hike up the skirt when sitting and make a really cute statement). Here’s how I care for these and all my other treasured socks…..

WASHING
until Niq can convince all the sock manufacturers that they need to make socks with ample room for us, we’ve got to take good care of what we can get. for me, that has meant lots of hand washing and hang drying my favorite socks so they don’t shrink. I find a five minute soak with woolite in cold water works best. Then I blot with a towel (I roll up the socks in a thirsty towel and press on the rolled up towel to let it soak up the water) then I hang the socks to air dry. I’ve found I can also squeeze a little extra room into some socks by gently stretching them when wet. I do this often to get some toe wiggling room for my size 11’s. :O)

dripping dry...
hope this helps … sweet sock dreams to you all!!! EG

Posted on March 23rd, 2004 in socks by niqkita
18 Comments »

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Nearly thigh high toesocks…

pink on pink from your toes to over your knees

You asked for them…
and (at last) we have some to offer.
Over the knee toesocks, nearly thigh high at about 33 inches from toes to top, I think the max top width is about 18 inches. I’m 17 inches where they sat on me and they’re very comfortable, they also stay up perfectly. They are 75% cotton, the supplier says these are preshrunk, I’ve machine washed & dried this pair twice on warm settings and I have to be honest, they seem a bit shorter, though they still fit the same once on, if you don’t want any shrinkage I’d recommend cold (duh:).
I love lace thigh highs over stripes so I couldn’t resist trying these with them too…

This afternoon/evening I’m wearing ankle high midcalves from the same supplier. They have an amazing selection of colors but my main goal was to get every otk they offered so I was limited on shorter styles this time, not to worry, we’ll get more! For now I chose top striped black toe socks, these have fun white toes, another is the same with white stripes across the toes and yet another has red top stripes and solid red toes. They come in a medium and large size…

Posted on March 18th, 2004 in socks by niqkita
4 Comments »

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It’s nearly spring!!!
& here in the pacific northwest it’s evident everywhere I look…

tender leaf buds and flowers are opening each sunny moment drawing nearly everyone out of hibernation. These new aerobic socks are just in time for taking walks, exercising or just wandering out in the yard for a look around. We love our longsocks so much that I asked the supplier if he had any slouch socks, these are what he offered me and though they are a bit on the small side I think they are quite nice, really comfy! I really wouldn’t recommend these for those with feet larger than mine though (8.5) as they barely go past my heel and being 80% cotton they shrunk just a tad more when we ran them through the washer & dryer (very little piling though ~:). How do they differ from the slouch socks we already had? they are thinner, softer, come in white and totally stay in place around my feet, the others traveled a bit (toe seam would move to the side of my feet when I’m not wearing shoes with those, I decided to lower the price of them to $5 to help make up for that). One little peculiarity about these is that the leg of some are a classic ribbing & some have more of a spiral rib, some of the colors have some of each, when scrunched down they look about the same though.
If you’ve been waiting for the vertical striped thigh highs, they are back! Liquid latex will be back later this week.
Next to be added here: over the knee toesocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted on March 17th, 2004 in socks by niqkita
6 Comments »

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These just in…

TABI SOCKS!!!
not the traditional kind with fasteners…
these are the modern kind with 80% cotton & 20% nylon and are really soft & comfy. We have 6 colors ~ black, white, purple, light blue, green & red, in two sizes ~ medium & large, for $6 a pair.
Bsti & I are wearing a pair of each right now and love them!!!
We’ll get more pictures of them up soon (I’m a bit behind in getting new pictures taken and published, it’s tax time, grrrr, *must stay focused*).
The supplier sent me these wonderful pictures from her private collection so why make you wait for new pix?

Posted on March 12th, 2004 in socks by niqkita
4 Comments »

Throx

Just for fun!

The YIPES! Pinkos Throx are so yummy and soft, thin but comfy and stretch just big enough for my feet!

These would make nifty Easter gifts, Vernal Equinox gifts, or just “here, you fruity girl/guy” gifts ! The bolder-than-pastel colors really caught my eye; even though i don’t normally dig on colors this light, they’ve got me hooked lookin’ at ‘em!!!!

And the question is…what do you do with the third one??? Well, Niq keeps hers on the wall as artwork… I used mine to create an ever-fashionable cat scarf! :D
for

Posted on March 12th, 2004 in socks by shelleopard
6 Comments »

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Cuban Heels reviewed by Eliza

sheer black with red cuban heels & back seam

I always have problems with these. First of all, the widened section (the Cuban heel, or hill” as it’s called on the package. Typo?) widens too soon, making the pointy bit start too high up my calves. I attribute this to the fact that the average female foot size in the United States is about 9, and I’m about 7.5. A lot of specialty socks and stockings are just too big for me.

Second, and this may be because I’m horribly rough on my clothes, but these things lasted about five minutes after I took them out of the package before they exploded into a mess of chutes and ladders. Now that I think of it, it probably is my fault. I have longish nails and a horrible curse of clumsiness. The stockings were very fragile, though, and caught on everything.

Aside from all that though, these made me feel super sexy. I love backseams with a passion which is only trumped by my love\ for stripes, so these were really fun to wear. They pulled all the way up to the tops of my thighs and didn’t pinch too much, and I love the style of the tops with the solid/sheer/solid combo. The texture was gorgeous to the touch and nice to look at, too. Very very soft and daintily thin.

For $7, you are definitely getting your money’s worth. A pair of silk stockings in this style would last much longer, but would run about $20-$30. These are perfect for a single night’s wearing, or if you’re really good about it, two or three. I’ve heard about a trick (which I forgot to try) that is supposed to make stockings last much longer. This is drag queen lore, and those ladies know whereof they speak. Apparently if one sprays one’s stockings or tights with a generous helping of hairspray before leaving the house, the item in question will be much stronger (albeit stickier and more flammable).

Red Light and Metro usually charge about $12 for a pair of these, so go with Sock Dreams. They don’t charge shipping and they’re in Portland, so Seattle folks will get them fast.

Now I know some of you are sad that I don’t post the way I used to but, and for that I am sorry, but these reviews are fabulous!!! and the photos! I’m trying out some new slouch socks and should be updating tomorrow. As for the Cuban “hills” yes, a typo, I’ve found a few among the Music Legs items. I’m told freezing helps prevent runs and I may bring in some snagless gloves that you put on before you put nylons on to protect them from your fingernails (or cuticle as that’s how I sometimes snag stuff). Til tomorrow…
happy toes!!!

Posted on March 10th, 2004 in socks by niqkita
4 Comments »

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Buy these socks here for $8
Okay, these things are awesome. Iï¿½ve worn them for two shoots and just around the house, and I adore them. Theyï¿½re made of black stretchy lace that fits over the foot snugly and comfortably, with elasticized ribbons that are more than long enough to wrap all the way up the leg and tie just under the knees in a bow (on my legs, anyway). The elasticity is really a brilliant touch, since it allows one to tie the ribbons tight enough that they donï¿½t fall down, without cutting off circulation and getting flesh lumps. They look good plain, or on top of other tights or stockings. Theyï¿½re my favorite Sock Dreams thing so far, I think. :)
go to Eliza’s journal for even more pictures.
She’s also wearing our fishnet gloves with the fingers cut out…
Many thanks to Eliza & Woodeye for use of those images!!!

Posted on March 8th, 2004 in socks by niqkita
2 Comments »

stripes & sparkles

The combinations are endless!!!

This is a combination of the thigh high stripes in burgundy and black and the sparkly fishnets….These are two of my favorites!!! I just recently ordered the fishnets, and they are sooo soft and durable and incredibly shimmery! I agree with Niqkita, they’re like “a sprinkling of diamonds from your thighs to your toes.” They’re both Music Legs label, stay up just fine by themselves, and are comfortable to boot!

Posted on March 6th, 2004 in socks by shelleopard
12 Comments »

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