[Falln's Roesor Suit and Shiny Things Socks - click for larger image]

I had the joy of conversing with hyasynth Tiramisu of Silent Sparrow last night. We discussed socks and my dilemma concerning the aforementioned accessory. She relayed to me why she does not include socks in every set of suits. She said that she “feel(s) like (she is) cheating if she put(s) in the same socks”. While this is commendable, as the socks she does include are excellent, I explained to her that I would be content with the same basic sock style if a specific style was not deemed useful for the ensemble. I do believe she thinks me mad. She feels it is unethical to offer the same socks, but I beg to differ. Mind, others may have a different point of view on the sock conundrum.

[Shiny Thing's Knit knee socks - dark]

Hya did inform me that Shiny Things had knee socks (for women) that would be suitable for men. So I ventured out and found their knit socks to be quite to taste.

They are copy/modify, so can be shortened. I’m uncertain how one’s partner might find their gentleman in knee length socks (mind, some fashions do require it, I will concede) if trouser removal occurred. Copy as you like to any other necessary folders of suits. Being modifiable, they can be tinted to taste.

[Shiny Thing's Knit knee socks - dark]

To be fair, I did also perform a seach in world for “socks” (Search> Classifieds> Socks). I don’t recommend the journey that it will take you on for I have now seen far more in SL than I perhaps ever wanted. However, I will say that there are a few creators who produce just socks, but none worth noting for gentleman. This is not to say they do not exist, but quite simply they are beyond my radar.

In conclusion… I might have garnered some sympathy from Hya regarding the gentleman’s plight of socks in Second Life.

Other Details:

Photos taken in My Photosphere

Human avatar

• Hair – Elliot (LightBlond) by Six Kennedy of GuRL 6
• Skin – Scorpio Revelation (3A Smooth) by The Abyss
• Eyes – Blue Opal by Miriel Enfield of Miriel

[RFyre's Soleil]

Comments:

“For me, socks are like sex – tonnes of it about and I never seem to get any.”
– Prince George, Blackadder the Third

As Prince George was so often denied his socks (courtesy of Blackadder’s entrepreneurial spirit), so are we in SL denied our socks. Although I hardly think Blackadder is involved… but one never knows as he does get around.

Socks — one of the simpler pieces of system clothing on the avatar. Why then are socks not often included in suits? This is a question that has plagued me for some time.

I own 191 complete ensembles (as of writing this), and only 24 were accompanied by socks. These are not encouraging results.

[AVID's Midnight]

Would it not be a simple matter for a creator to apply an appropriate texture to a new set of system socks and include these with the ensemble? In fact, once created, finely textured socks in the most commonly used colours could simply be popped into every suit’s directory with new releases. I am not expecting socks to match the brocade or silk of a vest or jabot in the ensemble (although that would please me considerably and does on those rare occasions I discover such attention to detail). But what is wrong with including even a nice pair of black dress socks with an ensemble (or whatever colour is appropriate)?

And why do I care, you might ask (apart from the obvious fact that my ankles show with most of my footwear choices)?

[Bare Rose's Formal Hakama]

In a rush whilst changing clothes I sometimes forget my socks and venture out of my door, into the world, with bare feet in my shoes (quite noticeable against pale skin, and blinding when I am my vulpine self). It’s about as mortifying as SL’s old “hair attached to the backside” complication immediately following a TP. Being sockless while elegantly attired does not project the image one wishes when arriving at an event (unless it is a beach party).

[RFyre's Soleil]

I tend to first wear an entire directory comprising of the ensemble in question (I tweak from there, but usually I begin with the entire suit). Then, if need be, I must remember to perform my search for “socks”, and almost always choose Eladrienne Laval’s basic black socks from her ELaval Thom Waistcoat Ensemble suit (they are untextured, but appear at the top of my list when I search for socks). While I am not lazy, I am time efficient, and it would please me to no ends if I did not need to perform this task each time I change and require socks other than what I wore to match my previous ensemble. Mind, I could simply add a copy of said socks into each new ensemble I buy, but yet again, why must I? Or, I could cease my whingeing and add socks to each shoe’s directory, of which there are far fewer than suits (and a savings on inventory items, which is quickly exceeding 30,000 again). On the other hand, I choose my footwear last and god forbid I inadvertently replace an ensemble’s matching pair of socks with a pair of simple black dress socks! Far better for me to resort to searching for “socks” in my inventory and choosing appropriately. And wouldn’t it be nice to have a choice of socks to choose from!

[E Laval's Thom Waistcoat Ensemble]

But this does not solve the problem for those who do not possess a monochrome wardrobe such as myself. When black or white will not do (or one has a closet sock fetish), one is left with the task of procuring appropriate socks or making one’s own socks. A search on XStreet provides a list of ensembles that DO contain socks, but if one is simply searching for socks, none are to be found. By the way, out of 1193 formal ensembles, only 168 include socks (that is a low 14%), and less than 9% of gothic ensembles include socks. For formal wear, that is appalling!

It would appear that ladies have a considerable selection of hose they may choose from (2175 entries for lady’s stockings on XStreet!), but men are, once again, out in the cold… shivering… sockless in SL. It is a travesty that requires rectifying. That, or men must become transvestites.

[sf Designs' Lord Lace]

I decided to ask a few creators why they did not routinely include socks in their fashion sets.

Azriel Demain of FallnAngel Creations replied immediately and most kindly. He had the following to say:

“Most women’s outfits come with socks or stockings because they are there to complement the outfit, and to accentuate and show off a woman’s legs. Whereas most men’s outfits, their legs are covered by pants. Then the guy puts on boots or shoes that cover the rest of his ankle and foot so there really is no point for socks aside to say “my socks are purple today!” Then taking off your shoes to prove your point. Some shoe designers for males do include socks with their shoes.”

[Silent Sparrow's Nemu]

I thank Azriel for his insights and do agree for the most part… except that my ankles show more often than not without socks.

Allow me to transition this discussion of socks from tongue and check complaint and curiosity to general commentary. Within my wardrobe I have a few coloured, non-textured socks that were added for convenience, and I do appreciate this. However, my collection is devoid of textured non-thematic socks. I do have one — sf designs from Lord Lace, where even the toes are appropriately textured. And thematically, creators such as AVID, Bare Rose, RFyre, and Silent Sparrow all include socks as appropriate to match the ensemble (my thanks to these creators). I appreciate such attention to detail very much. However, I really would like to own a few pairs of elegant socks when ankles are visible between trousers and shoes.

To that end, I decided to see how difficult it was to make socks. After applying my test pattern texture to a pair of system socks I could see that it was entirely possible to create some nice looking socks if one had the ability to create custom textures (which I realize many do not, and I will never purport to be capable of). Having less than zero ability for making clothing, I realize that I am not the one to fill this niche. I did, however, create two pairs of socks for testing and amusement purposes. One is a Tintable knit pattern and the other black velvet. These are now freely available in my apothecary to any sock deprived gentleman who might have use of these.

[Black velvet socks for amusement]

[Tintable knit for the desperate]

And finally, as a sometimes furry avatar, I must address the topic of furs and socks. Some furs make use of all their furry attachments, while others do not. For myself, I very seldom make use of my vulpine legs and feet. System socks are used among most furry avatars to colour the legs as appropriate, thusly negating the need and use of socks as socks. Moreover, if a fur is making use of their avatar’s legs and feet, footwear is also not required. Trousers can sometimes also be a problem with avatar leg attachments, but thankfully most trousers are modify and can be shortened to taste. But this is heading towards a topic for another time. Our concern here is that of socks, and the distinct lack thereof in SL.

[AVID's Midnight -- click for larger image]

And finally, what does sex have to do with socks, apart from the Prince Regent largely lacking in both? Well, everyone loves a sharp dressed man, do they not?

Other Details:

Photos taken in My Photosphere

Human avatar

• Hair – Elliot (LightBlond) by Six Kennedy of GuRL 6
• Skin – Scorpio Revelation (3A Smooth) by The Abyss
• Eyes – Blue Opal by Miriel Enfield of Miriel

Fox avatar

• Avatar – Arctic Fox by Cheetah Kitty
• Hair – The Dauphin (Blonde) by Siyu Suen of Illusions