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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are socks a rubbish present?

119 replies

Starryskiesinthesky · 03/03/2023 07:12

I love nice / new socks and so do my partner & kids!

I have bought my sons girlfriend earrings, a hair thing and some socks. Just thinking if others don’t share the love of socks this might be a dull present!

Are socks a rubbish present?
OP posts:
Turtletotem · 03/03/2023 07:14

Socks are a great present 🧦

hattie43 · 03/03/2023 07:14

We love new socks in this house aswell. We would buy patterns / characters according to their interests and likes eg mum found fat face cockapoo socks in her Xmas stocking to match her cockapoo Alfie .

icountallthebeans · 03/03/2023 07:15

I genuinely think it's an age thing.

I thought they were shit when I was younger and I didn't believe my dad when he said he liked socks, because they seemed like such a boring and unimaginative present.

Now I'm old myself, I appreciate the value of a good pair of comfy socks.

I probably wouldn't buy them for a young person unless there was some kind of novelty or joke involved.

OptimusPrime31 · 03/03/2023 07:16

I like socks as presents. I only buy cheap white/ black ones for myself but other people will get me fancier ones as a present.

At least you know they'll be used rather than a random gift set that may never be opened

Arebella · 03/03/2023 07:17

They be lashed in a drawer and never worn in our house!

bananaboats · 03/03/2023 07:19

I personally wouldn't really want socks as a gift but suppose it depends how well you know her, just a token gift its ok but not a main present.

milkysmum · 03/03/2023 07:20

My teen daughter loves getting socks, as do her friends. These are often given as gifts between them.

redspottedmug · 03/03/2023 07:22

Sock lovers in this house

JackiePlace · 03/03/2023 07:22

I only wear diabetic socks and all my friends know this, so I do get annoyed with sock gifts unlesss they are the exact kind I buy.
In past times though I loved them.

dudsville · 03/03/2023 07:26

Those seem like nice socks OP, and i think socks are a perfectly nice gift. However, I've only been given socks twice in my adult life, both times they were from my favourite store, and yet still neither pair suited me. I'm quite particular, i know what I want in a sock!

Original poster
Starryskiesinthesky · 03/03/2023 07:38

🤔 I am toying with whether to just give her the earring and hair thing and no socks. Might just do
that! seems safer!

I think I am old though as I like nice soap now too!

OP posts:
reluctantbrit · 03/03/2023 07:50

Depends. These socks look fairly boring unless you know she will like them.

I love a nice set of fluffy socks as I get easily cold feet. DD loves funny socks and when she was riding, proper knee heights, ideally thermal.
I am hinting for cashmere ones next winter.

A friend does a lot of hill walking, she likes getting quality good hiking socks.

But a normal set of M&S socks? Not really. That goes on the same list as 3for2 Boots smelly sets at Christmas.

MyOtherUsernameIsDave · 03/03/2023 07:51

I only wear black socks so I don’t like being given socks as they’re always patterned. I like bed socks though.

Kranke · 03/03/2023 07:53

How old is she? Over 30, then yes I’d give the socks. Under 30, I’d go with the earrings (if you know she’ll wear them, I can only wear gold otherwise my ears hurt) and hair stuff.

Aprilx · 03/03/2023 07:53

Starryskiesinthesky · 03/03/2023 07:38

🤔 I am toying with whether to just give her the earring and hair thing and no socks. Might just do
that! seems safer!

I think I am old though as I like nice soap now too!

I don’t mind socks as a present but they have to be a a bit different or interesting. I wouldn’t give those boring grey socks as a gift, definitely something to buy for yourself.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 03/03/2023 07:56

Being a millipede I welcome a gift of socks - providing they are enough pairs for all my feet.

It does take quite a long time putting them all on in the morning though, however I have stream-lined things a little by switching from lace-up shoes to those with a Velcro closure system.

Redshoeblueshoe · 03/03/2023 07:56

3 people asked me for socks last Christmas, so a teenage girl, a 40 year old man and a grandad.
Socks are great

Wifflywafflywoo · 03/03/2023 07:59

My mam decided not to include socks in my Christmas gift a couple of years ago after 30 odd years of buying them. I was absolutely horrified at the thought of having to buy my own socks and not have new, fluffy socks to get me through winter 😄. Needless to say the socks have made a glorious come back and my drawer is suitably full and unholy.

Include the socks is my vote 😊

percypercypercy · 03/03/2023 08:00

I don't wear socks, so I wouldn't appreciate socks as a present. I realise I am an outlier though.

Roundandnour · 03/03/2023 08:01

Everyone I know loves socks.
im one of those whose feet are always cold and love getting them.

Arebella · 03/03/2023 08:01

I thought you meant for your son, not the girlfriend. Definitely look like mens socks! I'd find it quite random if someone bought me those socks as a woman.

WeCome1 · 03/03/2023 08:05

It looks like they were £28. They’d be a bit wasted on her I think, depending on her age I doubt she’d appreciate them £28 worth.

gannett · 03/03/2023 08:17

Socks are both dull presents (unless an in-joke) AND great presents. Because they're the kind of boringly functional thing that one always needs but never wants to spend time thinking about buying. As ever, it ultimately depends on your relationship with who you're buying for and their personality. But everyone needs socks so they'll get used, and OP is getting other things as well so it's not JUST socks (which could be underwhelming). All good imo!

Letsrunabath · 03/03/2023 08:30

I love a gift of nice socks. Only ever buy myself supermarket socks.

lovemelongtime · 03/03/2023 08:33

Socks are fine as a gift, but make them nice ones. Bamboo ones are nice as they are too expensive to buy for yourself, so a bit luxurious.