Slouch sock

Slouch socks, slouchy socks, loose socks or fall down socks are a type of sock featuring a heavy non-elastic upper that may be pushed down into heavy folds around the ankles or pulled up to the knee. In Japan, the loose sock style has been popular with high-school girls. In the US, slouch socks have trended in and out of fashion since the 1980s.

Slouch socks

Description

Slouch socks are a type of sock 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 tend to have a foot that is made of very thin fabric to encourage the layering of the socks.^[1]

Slouch socks come in two primary varieties. "Flat-knit" slouch socks have no elastic and have a "two-by-two"^{[further explanation needed]} knitting pattern. The "flat-knit" term comes from the fact that the ribbing of the socks has a squared-off appearance. "Rib-knit" slouch socks are so-named because of their rounded ribbing.

History

Japan

 

Loose socks in Japan

Loose socks (ルーズソックス, rūzu sokkusu) are a style of baggy sock worn by Japanese high school girls, as part of kogal culture.^[2] This style of socks has also become popular among American teens and college students who are fans of Japanese anime and manga. These socks come in a variety of styles, defined by the knitting pattern of the upper portion of the sock. The two most popular styles are the traditional 2×2 rib knit (pictured) and tube-style loose socks, which are thigh-high length tube socks worn pushed down around the ankles. A skin-safe body adhesive popularly known as "sock glue" can be used to affix the uppermost part of the sock to the calf so that the entire sock will not bunch downward and spoil the look.

Loose socks were adopted as a fashion which flattered plump calves and also expressed rebellious deviation from Japan's strict dress code for school uniforms.^[3] They have been used as an inspiration for photography by Akira Gomi. They are also used in Japanese street fashions like kogal and fairy kei.

United States

In the US, slouch socks have trended in and out of fashion since the 1980s.^{[4][better source needed][5][6]} From around 1984 to 1997, slouch socks were a popular fashion item for kids, youngsters and adults of all sexes.^{[7][unreliable source?]}

The two most popular brands were Wigwam and E.G. Smith.^{[citation needed]}

Many women and girls wore black, lime green, blue, or other colored leggings with white slouch socks, athletic sneakers and oversized T-shirts or sweatshirts as casual wear or exercise wear. Other colors like pastel yellow, blue or pink and black, red, purple and neon green were also seen. Many girls, teens, college girls, and women wore the slouch socks usually over leggings, cotton pants, or sweatpants, usually with Keds and oversized tee shirts, sweatshirts and sweaters sometimes with a turtleneck under the sweatshirt (popularly), or sweaters. Or they wore the slouch socks with babydoll or skater dresses or dress shorts with white Wigwam slouch socks worn over black opaque tights with Keds.^[8] Also, the socks were worn with jeans or pants rolled or cuffed to show the socks or worn over skinny legged jeans. Boat shoes, ankle flat boots and cross training sport sneakers were also worn with slouch socks.^{[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][non-primary source needed][original research?]} 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.^{[23][24][non-primary source needed][original research?]} Cheerleaders wore slouch socks along with Keds as part of their uniform from the early to mid 1990s until the late '90s when slouch socks began to be replaced by crew or ankle socks.^{[citation needed]}

Students who had a school uniform also wore the slouch socks with their skirts, shorts and pants and boat shoes or loafers. Usually in white or school color.

Boys, teens, college age and men wore slouch socks with boat shoes, white Sperry canvas sneakers 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.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. America, Good Morning. "Here's every sock you'll need this season". Good Morning America. from the original on 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
2. Wallace, Sam (24 October 1998). "Filling the gap". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
3. Dodd, Jan; Simon Richmond (1999). Japan: The Rough Guide (1st ed.). London: Rough Guides. p. 810. ISBN 978-1-85828-340-1. OCLC 441275694.
4. "Backed Hard: The Best Stuff Our Editors Bought in September". www.vice.com. 30 September 2022. from the original on 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
5. "Fashion Flashback: Remember Slouch Socks!?". Glamour. 2012-08-24. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
6. Yarborough, Kaitlyn (8 January 2021). "1980s Slouch Socks Are Bringing Cozy Back in 2021—So Grab Your Old White Sneakers". Southern Living. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
7. All, Valerie, Mom Knows It (2013-03-19). "Remembering My Three Favorite Fashion Fads From The 80s". From Val's Kitchen. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
8. Bolat, Alex. "winter socks". Retrieved 15 November 2022.
9. "1987 Sears Spring Summer Catalog, Page 289 - Catalogs & Wishbooks". christmas.musetechnical.com. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
10. "1987 Sears Spring Summer Catalog, Page 52 - Catalogs & Wishbooks". christmas.musetechnical.com. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
11. "1987 Sears Fall Winter Catalog, Page 381 - Catalogs & Wishbooks". christmas.musetechnical.com. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
12. "1988 Sears Fall Winter Catalog, Page 13 - Catalogs & Wishbooks". christmas.musetechnical.com. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
13. "1988 Sears Fall Winter Catalog, Page 22 - Catalogs & Wishbooks". christmas.musetechnical.com. from the original on 2023-04-30. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
14. "1988 Sears Fall Winter Catalog, Page 303 - Catalogs & Wishbooks". christmas.musetechnical.com. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
15. "1988 Sears Fall Winter Catalog, Page 596 - Catalogs & Wishbooks". christmas.musetechnical.com. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
16. "1990 JCPenney Fall Winter Catalog, Page 317 - Catalogs & Wishbooks". christmas.musetechnical.com. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
17. "1990 JCPenney Fall Winter Catalog, Page 679 - Catalogs & Wishbooks". christmas.musetechnical.com. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
18. "1990 JCPenney Fall Winter Catalog, Page 213 - Catalogs & Wishbooks". christmas.musetechnical.com. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
19. "1991 Sears Fall Winter Catalog, Page 288 - Catalogs & Wishbooks". christmas.musetechnical.com. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
20. "1991 Sears Fall Winter Catalog, Page 293 - Catalogs & Wishbooks". christmas.musetechnical.com. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
21. "1991 Sears Fall Winter Catalog, Page 298 - Catalogs & Wishbooks". christmas.musetechnical.com. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
22. "1992 JCPenney Christmas Book, Page 120 - Catalogs & Wishbooks". christmas.musetechnical.com. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
23. "1990 JCPenney Fall Winter Catalog, Page 319 - Catalogs & Wishbooks". christmas.musetechnical.com. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
24. "Pin by Sarah Lingerie on JCP Leotard | Aerobic outfits, 80s workout clothes, Retro outfits". Pinterest. from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.