Socks haven’t always been an element of the fashion world. For most of human history they were used to protect and warm feet. Fashion as a key element in clothing choice has been a fairly recent improvement. Socks have become a component of individuality and unique fashion statements since the fifteenth century. There are conclusive changes in clothing throughout all of history. But simply taking a look at the decades of the last hundred years can show you just how much clothing has changed over time. Socks as we understand them today are quite different from what the people of history wore. But socks have been around since ancient times, and have seen quite a bit of progress since that time.

The Big World Of Historical Socks

Currently, we enjoy a variety of fabrics and materials to keep our feet cozy and warm. In the past, most clothing was made from animal skins, and socks are no exception. The Greeks used tangled animal hair, Romans used fabrics and leathers, and it wasn’t until later that knitted or woven socks became commonplace. Since then, novelty socks and fashion leg wear have altered the selection of fabrics that are utilized in sock making and hosiery.

As history progressed, socks became decorative and not just functional. The Middle Ages brought with it the trend of garters. People didn’t initially do this for fashion’s sake. It was necessary. Colored cloth was tied around the legs, and then a garter would be worn over the top of the sock to prevent it from slipping down. With elastic, we no longer need garters to maintain our fun sock trends. The fifteenth century changed sock wear into what we know today.

Socks Can Make Or Destroy An Outfit

When you are trying to heat up on a cold day, nothing can beat a pair of nice socks. Socks and hosiery were originally used to keep people’s feet from being exposed to harsh weather and the elements. But even in olden days, they were also a component of making a declaration. Looking at where novelty socks have found their position in our culture, and seeing the place they held in ancient societies can be incredibly insightful.

From what we can see of some ancient peoples, animal skins were just used in an effort to keep feet safe from the cold and harsh environments, and were simply secured to the feet by being tied around the ankle. Some periods of time and particular cultures used socks to depict high status. There were other people that used them to show religious status. One illustration is priests of the 5th century. They wore socks in order to display their commitment to purity. In Rome socks were a symbol of wealth. Over time, fun socks, tights, and other decorative hosiery became commonplace in western society.

Socks As A Statement Piece

Decorative socks came around in the fifteenth century. Once printed sock designs were first seen in the fifteenth century, there was no going back. Soon there were variations in sock length, ranging from the thigh to the knee to below the calf. Rather than the focus being on guarding your feet from sharp rocks and cold weather, novelty socks, tights, and decorative hosiery became a concern to people. Nowadays there are seemingly limitless possibilities available to those searching for novelty socks, fashion leg wear and printed tights. The creation of synthetic fabrics permanently altered sock design and styles.

While there have always been styles in certain cultures during every time of history, the fifteenth century is a mile marker. During this period, socks took the form that we know today. In the past clothing was primarily functional and secondarily about appearance. During this time fashion took its’ place as a top priority. This time period ushered in many different fun socks that were used to liven up an outfit, and make an individual statement concerning the wearer. These trends affected both men’s and women’s wear.

Current Sock Style And Leg Wear

It was in 1938 that nylon was developed, which led to a surge in the manufacturing of nylon tights. This opened up textiles to a brand new world of chance. With the mixing of fabrics, a brand new set of materials was now open for clothing and sock designers to utilize. Currently, polyester, acrylic, polyamide and spandex have totally altered the modern fashions we observe in today’s novelty sock industry, and hosiery in general. Now there are socks to fit with any fashion, any event, and people of all sizes and personalities.

Once the 1500s brought with it the innovation of the knitting machine, the time it took to make knitted socks was cut drastically. This increased the accessibility to more socks in a broader variety of styles. In the 1900s, the mass creation of clothing in general took the world by storm, and fun socks were included in this. Socks were previously made by hand each and every time. But with the invention of circular knitted frames, a standardized, mechanized process became obtainable. Unless these kinds of inventions had been created, the trends and kinds of socks that we have available today would be really different. Industry has undoubtedly played an irreplaceable role in our access to fashion socks in our modern society.

It wasn’t until recently that sock design saw such an explosion in patterns, materials, colors and styles that we see today. With the variety of options available, people can choose a sock brand to buy exclusively. Some people enjoy buying a wide variety of designs, ranging from printed wool socks to leggings and fashion tights. Socks have become a further expression of personal style. Regardless of what you like, whether it’s printed leggings or novelty socks, tights or athletic socks, the world is your oyster when it involves sock options. It’s been a long time coming.