Safe or smokin': Stockings to socks

Smokin': Seamed stockings

I was leaving my building this morning; the elevators opened and on stepped a young woman leaving for work: a black turtleneck tucked into a short black and white print miniskirt in wooly/nubbly fabric (we still have snow here, after all), a trim black wool coat, knee-high black leather boots and sheer nude stockings with black seams. 

"Seams!" I said, smiling, "I haven't seen those for a very long time." She smiled back and said, "Everything old is new again."

I pondered the thirty-five or so years between us. No one I knew when I was her age wore nude seamed stockings, except to Tarts and Vicars parties.

Last week, I wouldn't have known where to get them. Well, now I do, and also tights. Apparently they're a (solidly smokin') Thing.

If you are going to, say, a graduation ceremony, and know you have to wear hosiery, why not have a bit of fun with these, or a pair of fine nude fishnets?

I have friends worried about veins and spots so was fascinated to see Moonlight Pants, tulle hosiery by Wolford. They would certainly update a simple black dress and provide coverage without the tourniquet effect of tights.

Safe: Spring socks

But I am a sock woman, and as if programmed by Daylight Savings to Spring Forward, I'm looking for some new ones. Spring is not sandal time in Montréal, so when you can flash a cool pair of socks, it's a distinct  pleasure.

A trip to the Westmount boutique Soxbox is always tantalizing (Japanese screen-prints; art prints, solids, stripes) but I've filled today's windows with socks accessible to all readers. Yes, these are safe, but sprightly safe.

Posh socks

Haut de gamme socks are a special treat (and also make a terrific gift). In past decades, desperate for good colours, I sometimes bought men's (especially Japanese ones), but lately, women's socks have caught up.

I would like these:

Top row, left to right, two patterns:
Hansel From Basel Yin-Yang Crew, $US 14;
Hansel from Basel Breakfast Crew, $US 14.
Bottom row: From Pantherella, who make sublime women's socks, two in Egyptian cotton:
ankle socks in Crocus; and the same style in grey and pink stripe; each £11.

Seasonal winks

I'll budget for at least one pair of this-could-only-be-spring socks, like wearing a garden on your feet!

J. Crew pink butterflies on blue; cotton/nylon. Price, $US 12.
Simons green insects; cotton/nylon. Price, $CDN 5.
Bombas Tropical Floral, pima cotton; calf height. Price, $US 14.
Bjorn Borg French Flower socks; cotton jersey. Price, $US 8.

Budget charmers

The Bizou boutiques throughout Canada (with mail order to other locations) have good quality socks for the price, usually four pairs for $12; knock yourself out. They are cut a little shorter, ideal if you wear socks in hot weather. They are 70% cotton/15% poly/15% spandex.

Left to right: Grey and white stripes with watermelons; navy with toucans, and a pair I have re-stocked many times, navy with an anchor, a great sock with jeans.

Spring socks have a magnificent but short bloom, like tulips. Pick them up over the next month, and spare yourself from wondering where they went, right when you want to wear them.