In search of the perfect socks

April 6, 2015 4:16 PM

I'm a woman, and I'm looking for socks to wear to work with dress shoes when it's too cold to go sockless. I need thin socks, similar weight to tights, but crew/ankle height.

When sock shopping I find two types of socks:
a) Correct thickness, too tall. I don't want trouser socks or knee-highs.
b) Correct height, too thick. I can only find correct-height socks that end up looking bunchy and weird with flats or pumps.

I know these middle-ground socks exist because I have owned them before! Any idea where I can find them? I live in San Francisco so I have access to most B&M chains, plus any online store that ships to the US.

posted by radioamy to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (10 answers total)

Best answer: Do you mean ankle highs?
posted by billiebee at 4:42 PM on April 6, 2015

Response by poster: Ah-ha! I guess "ankle high" is the term I was missing. Are there certain stores that tend to carry them? I never see them at Norstrom, Macy's, etc.

And do you have any recommended brands/styles?
posted by radioamy at 4:47 PM on April 6, 2015

I'm in the UK so I don't know which US department stores carry them. I wear them a lot for work so tbh I just go for the cheap multipacks :)
posted by billiebee at 4:51 PM on April 6, 2015

Have you tried Uniqlo?
posted by needled at 4:58 PM on April 6, 2015 [1 favorite]

Yeah, cheap is fine. Anywhere in the UK that sells tights also sells ankle highs, so I dunno, try Walmart, or your local department store, or wherever you would normally get your tights from.
posted by tinkletown at 5:49 PM on April 6, 2015

The answer to any sock question is pretty much always Sock Dreams. I used to live in Portland and I love them. Bonus: free shipping anywhere in the U.S.! Try the pages for anklets or maybe footies. They have wonderful customer service and review all their own stuff, so I'm sure they could set you up with the socks of your...dreams.
posted by spelunkingplato at 6:07 PM on April 6, 2015

Response by poster: Hmm I wonder if this is a UK thing! All the cute ones on Amazon are LissKiss which is a UK brand. Thank goodness for Amazon! (And what is up with Americans and their fondness for tall socks? So uncomfortable under pants.)

Sock Dreams and Uniqlo, alas, are all too thick or too tall socks.
posted by radioamy at 8:46 PM on April 6, 2015

i probably have more sock dreams socks than most, and i agree - this isn't really their strong suit. have you tried target? i know i've seen them there.

looking online, target has these or these or these - maybe all too funky for what you're looking for, but they should have more normal black/tan/nude versions in the store.
posted by nadawi at 6:36 AM on April 7, 2015

(i want to add - nearly all my socks that don't come from sock dreams come from target - their quality isn't as high, but the prices and selection are great)
posted by nadawi at 6:37 AM on April 7, 2015

Sometimes i see random brands of these in the cosmetic area of drug chains like Walgreens, like near where they have cosmetic bags. its sort of sporadic though, but if you are passing one it's worth ducking inside for a look.
posted by WeekendJen at 1:56 PM on April 7, 2015