Put a sock in it
Novelty socks with quirky designs and images make you go feet crazy, writes Kasmiah Mustapha
NOVELTY socks have been called many names — funky, crazy and even flamboyant. With their bold and bright colours and designs, these socks have been declared a fashion necessity. The eye-catching designs can be funny, cute and sometimes, downright strange. The designs may be based on movie characters, cartoons, animals, sports, food, images of famous people or even a catchphrase. There are no rules on who can or how to wear them as people have matched these socks with business suits and casual attire. They also wear them with loafers, sneakers and sandals.
Although an article in Vogue called these socks the “ugly Christmas sweater of the feet”, even high end fashion houses such as Burberry, Fendi, Prada and Gucci have featured them on the runaway in the last two years.
The socks became even more famous due to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He has been credited for single-handedly reviving interest in novelty socks, a fashion trend that just won’t quit.
Trudeau’s collection of novelty socks draws attention whenever he steps out in public. He wore maple leaf socks to his first ministers’ meeting after being elected in 2015. At a Nato meeting in Brussels in 2017, Trudeau wore one blue sock and one pink, each with the Nato flag emblazoned on the side.
He wore a mismatched Star Wars-themed pair to a meeting with Ireland’s Prime Minister Enda Kenny and yellow duck socks to the World Economic Forum in Davos. During his visit to India last year, he wore a pair of Darth Vader socks. Knowing his penchant for these quirky socks, he often receives them as gifts from other world leaders.
An article in the New York Times even claims that Trudeau is using sock diplomacy as part of his political strategy. Wearing these eye-grabbing socks is a way to convey unspoken messages about his position on issues at hand, according to the article.