Slouch socks
A slouch sock is a type of sock popular in the 1980s featuring a heavy non-elastic upper that may be pushed down into heavy folds around the ankles or pulled up to the knee. Slouch socks also tend to have a foot that is made of very thin fabric, to encourage layering of the socks. A popular 1980s fashion trend involved wearing multiple pairs of slouch socks to create a very thick, heavy slouching affect around the wearer's ankles.
Slouch socks come in two primary varieties. "Flat-knit" slouch socks have no elastic and have a "two by two" knitting pattern. A popular example of this style of sock is the Wigwam 622 Slouch Sock, which for many years was one of the best-selling varieties of slouch socks in America.[1] The "flat-knit" term comes from the fact that the ribbing of the socks has a relatively squared-off appearance. "Rib-knit" slouch socks are so-named because of their rounded ribbing. This is the style of slouch socks typically worn by waitresses at popular restaurants such as Hooters and Wing House.
Slouch socks were a popular fashion item from roughly 1984 to 1996-97 for both men, women, college age, teens and kids. Many women and girls wore black leggings or lime green leggings with white slouch socks, athletic sneakers and oversized T-shirts or sweatshirts as casual wear or exercise wear. Also the slouch socks worn over leggings can be smart casual when worn with a nice tunic or v neck sweater with a turtleneck or other layering shirt underneath or a nice longer or oversized tunic. Cheerleaders wore slouch socks along with Keds as part of their uniform until the early to mid 1990s when other styles of cheerleading shoes began being worn with the slouch socks until the late 90's when slouch socks brgan to be replaced by crew or ankle socks. Also many girls, teens, college girls, and women wore the slouch socks usually over leggings or sometimes sweatpants usually with Keds and oversized tee shirts, sweatshirts sometimes with a turtleneck under the sweatshirt, or sweaters. A v-neck sweater with a turtleneck under it was popular. Or they wore the slouch socks with babydoll or skater dresses or dress shorts all worn with white Wigwam slouch socks worn over black opaque tights with Keds. Or sometimes with flat ankle boots. [2] Also the socks were worn with jeans or pants rolled or cuffed to show the socks or worn over skinny legged jeans. They also wore slouch socks in warmer weather with capri leggings, bike shorts, casual or dress shorts, shortalls or bike shorts in many colors usually black or white and sometimes trimmed with lace under babydoll dresses, or skater dresses usually with Keds or sometimes with flat ankle boots or athletic sneakers. Boat shoes and cross training sport sneakers were also worn with slouch socks. Many women, college age, teens, and tweens wore slouch socks as part of aerobic exercise wear or over sports leggings in colder weather for running, cross country and other sports. Also popular during the 1980s was for women to wear slouch socks with pantyhose and a mini-skirt when going out to dance clubs. Boys, teens, college age and men wore slouch socks with boat shoes and cross training and other athletic sneakers with jeans or pants rolled or cuffed to show the socks and with casual or dress shorts, sweatpants or over sports leggings in colder weather for running, cross country and other sports.
Slouch socks seem to be gaining in popularity again, partly as a result of the popularity of Manga and Cosplay culture. Japanese style "loose socks", an exaggerated form of slouch sock with heavily ribbed uppers ranging from 24" to 48" in length, and "super loose socks" with uppers that can range from 48" to 72" in length are available from various web retailers. One look that's growing in popularity is to wear a pair of loose socks with leggings and a pair of calf length boots, with the socks slouched down over the top of the boots. The winter sock selections in 2012 show a distinct trend towards longer, thicker and slouchier socks, with both men's and women's styles featuring loose-fitting knit fabrics and heavily ribbed uppers.
For men slouch socks was a part of body building fashion often worn with mutli-colored and patterned sweatpants tucked in. Layering the socks was not uncommon for men either, both with different colors or several white pairs over each other as an example. To a less degree in boxing were tube socks was more common. The socks was not uncommon on basketball courts either, normally layered white slouch socks and sometimes slouch socks over tube socks. Basketball high tops and buffalo shoes were normally worn together with the slouch socks and basketball shorts with oversized T-shirts and/ or basketball tops as well. Both types describe above was used by men as well. Men was often less tidy about the slouching than woman and the slouching was often more random. Often the outer sock more or less covered the inner one so the effect was more of one pair of thick pair of socks than two or three pairs clearly visible.
The slouch socks was also very popular in aerobics for both men and woman. Hipsters in New York has now been seen wearing slouch socks over their pants and together with the increasing use of sweatshirt; it's a very telling sign that eighties fashion is on its way back, albeit with less daring colors.
References
- [Wigwam 622 Slouch Sock. http://www.sockcompany.com/622.html]