Years ago, when I wore clogs and Birkenstocks under my slightly too long jeans, I loved socks.  I had them all, fuzzy, toe-socks, rainbow, argyle and chunky knits.  Then I changed my whole style; started wearing skirts instead of pants, and suddenly, my sock collection didn’t quite work.  I needed knee socks, or over the knee socks, or tights or fancy secret lingerie for my feet.  And I wasn’t going to find them.

I got lucky a couple of times in the sock section of mainstream retail stores, but soon, I couldn’t find anything that would cover my fat calves.  Partly because I’m a big girl and partly because I really enjoyed the calf rosie machine at my highschool, my calves are about 18.5 inches round the middle.  No store around here was going to help me rekindle my sock love and buying online was too risky, what with not being able to do any type of stretch test.  Enter Sock Dreams – Unique Comfy Colorful Sexy Socks.

I found Sock Dreams while searching for tights.  I figured there had to be a pair of tights out there that were more like footed leggings than sausage casings.  I mean, that’s what hosiery feels like to me when hopping into it in the morning:  sausage casings.  My search lead me to Sock Dreams where I not only found the closest thing to footed leggings I could imagine (Signature Cotton Tights by Foot Traffic), but also knee highs and over the knees that could accommodate my fat calves.

But selection isn’t what makes Sock Dreams so amazing.  Almost every pair of socks, stockings and tights on Sock Dreams has a descriptive blurb about how well the socks fit on a variety of models, how much they stretch and whether they stay up or no.  Sock Dreams  does the stretch test for you!  My first shopping trip was like wandering through wonderland, and my first delivery was fast, fitting, and perfect.  If you love socks, if you’ve never found the right sock, if you are skinny or curvy, Sock Dreams will have something you will love.  That is all.

Surviving Whole Foods | Kelly MacLean = hilarious article.

Cyberoptix TieLab: hand silkscreened TIES THAT DON’T SUCK! for soldiers, spies, military enthusiasts, gun lovers, plane spotters, street fighters, war historians and possibly banditos. And barbers..

I found these ties while I was searching for a straight razor tie tack for Richard.  Instead, I got him a straight razor tie.  The ties at Cyberoptix TieLab are gorgeous and truly do not suck, as they say.

Yo!  I just bought these shoes:

Amazon.com: Aravon Women’s Maura T-Strap Pump,Black,10 D US: Shoes.

And I have to tell you all the reasons they are so awesome.  1.) I always wanted t-strap shoes.  There is an old-time class about them without being crazy stuffy (like patent leather).  However, the make of most t-strap shoes and the make of my feet never got along.  You see, I have a size 10, maybe 10.5 foot that was born flat (of all the things flat feet means, for me the most annoying is width) and I have gotten used to shopping size 11 because all shoe stores carry whole sizes in medium/narrow width.  Sizing up doesn’t help with certain shoe designs, like a t-strap.  But THESE SHOES come in wide and half sizes.  With the ultimate comfort of leather molding to the foot as it warms and a great insole: these are comfy!

2.) I was already captured by the construction and size options while ‘window’ shopping.  I figured I’d save up for the ~$120 purchase (~ for inaccurate memory).  A week ago, I was going over my saved shopping list and saw that they had been repriced at ~$36.  Holy Cannoli, Batman!  I must have those shoes.

3.) Even though I was relatively hopeful because of the sizing and construction (boxy toe for my Birkenstock feet), I have only had few and bad experiences buying shoes online.  But they came and they are the awesomest of awesome.  I wore them all yesterday with only a couple tiny spots on my feet that will need breaking in.

I am now greedy and spoiled.  I need to replace my brown shoes as well with something equally as awesome…and, I am having no luck.  Truly amazing shoes are, after all, few and far between.