This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-are-mens-socks-so-expensive-11658173120

MY HOSIERY GATEWAY DRUG was a pair of tie-dye socks my acupuncturist gave me in 2019. They came from Woodsock, his husband’s sock shop in Woodstock, N.Y. Before, I’d never been much into tie-dye or socks—sticking mostly to black Hanes in eight packs from Target. But these new socks were on trend, they were colorful, and I promptly lost them. Which is one of the big problems with socks.

During the pandemic, I started to overshop on the internet for things I didn’t need. Now I had another category of such inessentials to peruse: much cooler socks. I began with relatively inexpensive pairs, ordering under-$10 socks (mostly on sale) from the retail sites of PacSun, Urban Outfitters and Zumiez. Bright pink sneaker socks. Champion socks in deep maroon. Socks with skulls on them that skateboarders might wear. I am not a skateboarder.

Continue reading your article with a WSJ membership

Copyright ©2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.