Capsule sock collection!

[nancyglancey]

Clearing out my sock drawer. Hundreds of them. Odd socks, patterned socks, never enough plain socks.

For work I wear navy trousers with flats, or dresses with boots. At home it's usually jeans.

What is the minimum sock collection I can get away with?

Oh and I have tights too but never wear them.

When you work it out, write a Marie Kondo-style book. I am bizarrely interested in having a ‘capsule sock wardrobe’.

maybe this is my calling!

I have six pairs of trainer socks and ten pairs of charcoal grey. Two pairs of heat holder socks. Rest in a bag I haven't touched for months. Same with ten pairs of knickers - rest in a bag. All rejects going to clothes bank next trip.

That's very admirable! I tidied the drawer and put loads in a bad for fabric recycling. Still too many socks!

Patterned socks are fun, but you need to be honest about whether they have a function your wardrobe.

I have 6 black and 6 grey pairs of trainer socks. This is too many but i use then throughout summer so I'm patiently waiting for them to wear out!

I had wool socks but turns out i don't like them so out they went. I have 2 pale and 2 dark grey chunky cotton socks and 3 neater cotton socks for winter. And that's it!

I only wear and own white, black or grey below the ankle sports socks. I dislike most patterned socks and think they'll inevitably clash with the outfit, draw unwanted attention or just look a bit naff / tacky. Keeping it simple and functional works best and makes the most sense for me. Plus the sports ankle socks are really cushy comfortable. Any other shoes I wear where the sock would be visible (like in a loafer or white trainer) I wear those thing ultra low stocking type socks

Yep I only wear black or white trainer socks. Can't stand socks around my ankles, and there's no point in patterned socks for me as I only wear socks with shoes to go out! Much easier to pair them up as well. Get rid and start again!

I'd hoik the whole lot out and store them somewhere else.

When you need a pair go get them. Then once you have washed what will turn out to be a week's worth of your favourites as you self selected them, put the rest out of reach.

If you haven't gone in search of them by Christmas, chuck them out.

I did this recently! Purchased seven pairs of nice socks (cotton/merino) - all the same design. I don't wear boots, so got ones that aren't quite invisible below shoe line, but aren't ankle high either. I've also got some lower black pairs for trainers - again, all the same. Have one higher pair for my short wellies , and kept a novelty pair for bed.

It's quite nice just pulling out the next identical clean pair each day!

This is what I should do. Many patterned socks were gifts from DD at Christmas though (pocket money bless her) and I can't throw them out!

I have stripey bamboo ones on today and yes they do look naff!

Chuck out the odd or worn out ones.

Don't chuck the rest, wear them when they don't show, under boots or when you have full length trousers and shoes/trainers on, as an extra layer in winter around the house etc. Long trousers are coming back so you will find them easier to wear.

Alternatively if you have a massive excess bag them up and store them until you need them (socks wear out, if you don't buy new ones you will use up the excess eventually) or your DD is in a size 3 or bigger and then she can wear them.

Following with interest, I have a wide deep drawer full of socks and tights - this is only for autumn and winter. I have a separate tote bag of lighter socks for warmer weather. I'm pretty sure I don't wear them all but somehow find myself unable to clear out any of them. I guess I'm a hosiery maximalist.

I have thick wooly patterned socks for around the house in the winter, merino socks in grey and black for work, cashmere socks for bed, merino tights mostly in black, navy and charcoal and one pair in burgundy (some of them new for wearing to office and I keep the slightly knackered ones for when I wear a skirt/dress round the house), patterned cotton socks, trainer socks, sock liners. It feels like I'm endlessly replenishing the drawer and always missing stuff, and spending a lot of money on them. At the moment I feel my wardrobe needs ivory merino tights from Wolford...

I like this advice. Thank you.