The only problem is, gift cards can seem kind of impersonal. Sure, you love socks and you know they love socks, but even the prettiest email gift card sort of pales in comparison to something sent through US mail. But it doesn’t have to!

First, let’s look at ordering an email gift card. They’re pretty straight forward. From the Gift Card menu, chose “email cards”, or you can click this link right . . . here. There will be a simple form to fill out.

You can choose what style of email gift card you’re sending, we have several gorgeous looks for different seasons and occasions. Then just fill out your info and the info about who you’re sending the gift card to. There’s even a space for a little note! (remember this for later, it’s key to really personalising a gift card!)

Things to remember:

• You can enter any whole dollar amount you want! So you can send $13, $27, whatever specific lucky number you fancy! •

• Make sure you have the right email! Double check that the email for the person you’re sending this to is right. We can’t fix it if you send it to a lucky stranger. And make sure your email is right too, so you can get a confirmation that it was sent. •

Tips on the rest of the email gift card process and a great way to personalise email gift cards after the jump!

Now, before you move from the gift card ordering page, it’s time to personalise it. Ever since we launched our new Advanced Search you may have noticed I’ve been peppering these Sock Journal entries with links to specific searches. It’s kind of great, if we’re talking about dyeing white nylon, I can make a search for white nylon. Or if we’re talking about what makes up a boot sock, I can make different searches for those variables that help define boot socks. It’s a pretty great system!

So to make this gift more than just digital dollars, all you have to do is think about the person you’re giving it to. Do they need sporty socks for larger feet? Pretty sheer styles that need garters? Gorgeous wool tights?

Go to the Advanced Search page and use the checkboxes to build a search that fits what you think they’d like. What’s great is that you can limit the search by how much things cost too, so if you’d like, you can limit your search to styles their gift card can afford.

Once you’ve built a search for them, just copy what’s in the address bar (you can ignore the “?pp=30&sort=best_match” bit, if you’d like the URL to look nicer).

Now paste it right there in the “your message” area. You only get 200 characters in the message area, but there is a countdown that can help you trim what you’re saying to fit the search and your note.

Now you’ve got all that entered click “preview” to take you to the Confirmation Page, which is what I like to call the “oh man double check EVERYTHING page.” Now is the time to check their address and your address and the message and the amount. You can easily go back and edit, so make sure it is all good.

Now add it to your basket and do the rest of your shopping or head on through checkout as normal.

Things to remember:

• Once you finish checking out, the email gift card will send. We can’t hold it for you. This makes it difficult to get email gift cards as presents ahead of time, but we have a tip for that in a minute. •

• After you’ve completed your order and the email gift card is sent, we can’t make changes. Unlike a regular order, where we might be able to catch it in time to fix a colour or size, email gift cards are sent at the speed of the internet, which is faster than even Sock Fairies can go. •

Your lucky recipient will get an email that looks like this (well, if you picked the Solstice theme), only I bet you’ll be more generous with them than I was to myself, and their gift code won’t be scrambled.

You get an email that looks pretty much like it, but has a banner on top that says “This is a copy of the gift card you sent to (whoever you sent it to).” You’ll also get an order confirmation email, just like normal.

Here are just a couple more tips and reminders for gift cards:

• Email gift cards are an automatic process; we don’t do a thing to them. Pretty much, they’re magic. •

• But! If you do find that you’ve mistyped the recipient’s email, call or email us as soon as possible, so we can update and resend the email gift card. •

• There is one trick you can use if you want to buy an email gift card now, but don’t want somebody to get it just yet. Type in your own email as the recipient email, then the email gift card will go to you. Then all you have to do is forward the email gift card when you want them to receive it. •

So if you’re still trying to figure out last-minute gifts, don’t despair!  Email gift cards don’t have to seem impersonal and we have to say that it seems like folks really love them—most especially when it’s clear they got them because someone wanted them to spoil themselves.

Please keep in mind that December is by far the busiest time of year for both Sock Dreams and USPS. We always do our best to get all orders out the door within 24 hours, but because the post office is also being flooded with mail from around the world, shipping times WILL increase the further we get into December. The simple trick here is to place your order early and select the right shipping method for your needs.

If you’re shipping within the U.S. and hoping for an order to arrive by December 24th, our free first-class shipping should be speedy enough to cover you through December 18th.

Priority shipping gives you an extra day or so of wiggle room; you can safely order with Priority through December 19th for delivery by the 24th.

By December 20th, we highly recommend that you opt for 2-Day Express if you want to be absolutely sure that the package will be delivered by the 24th.

At this point in the season, our international customers will want to select Priority or Express International shipping for all orders with a holiday due date. Unfortunately, we cannot control how long Customs may hold on to an order during inspection, but placing your order with Priority/Express International shipping can often expedite the package’s transit through Customs.

Even slightly belated gifts will still be appreciated, so don’t let tricky shipping times ruin the fun and joy of your holidays. And remember– if you’re down to the wire and you’ve completely run out of time to ship anything, there’s always our e-gift cards, which are emailed to your recipient immediately!

More information about our shipping options can always be found on our shipping information page, and we encourage you to contact us at any time with questions about shipping, gift orders, or anything else!

For things being sent via USPS Priority mail (which is an extra $5, and free for orders totalling over $50) USPS is telling us the 21^st, but you’ll want to make your order by the afternoon of this Tuesday, December 20^th to ensure your order arrives in time.

Extra special rush deliveries shipping USPS Express (for $22, which includes insurance) that need to arrive by December 25^th need to be made before noon on December 22^nd, though again you’ll be safer if you make your order on Wednesday the 21^st.  All of our prices and expected time for delivery is on our Shipping Information page.

So, even if you’re using our free First Class shipping, you have all weekend to browse and find just the right treats for your loved ones (or yourself).  And I know a couple of styles that are perfect gifts for a winter holiday.

The Cronert Button Up Legwarmers are not only cozy and chic, they’re crazy soft and will be one of those pretty presents that a person can’t stop touching.

More snuggly suggestions after the jump and some shopping tips too!

A wonderfully warm wool sock that does well for lots of feet and personal tastes are the O Woolies.  Two foot sizes, over the knee for some folks, a great cuffed knee high for others and available in sedate neutrals and eye-popping purples, they’re a great all-around gift.

Speaking of wool, the Laurel Snowflake Knee High is a lovely option for a winter gift, with a sweater-style snowflake pattern that looks so amazing on.

For wool sensitive feet up to Men’s US size 10, the Diamond Rib Knee Highs are a great bet, like the other kilt socks we carry they work equally nicely under a skirt or trousers.

What I know I want (and may buy myself in the spirit of the season) are the Hansel from Basel Silk Thigh Highs.  We don’t have very many and quantities are limited, so get them while you can!  They’re gorgeous stockings that feel nice, look nice and would make anybody feel their fanciest when wearing them.

With the wonderful new wishlists, you may have a smart head start on gifts for your loved ones, or for letting others know what you want!  For those of us on tighter budgets this year, use the wonderful sorting options on our site to start your search—choosing to sort a section from “low to high” puts the tempting big-ticket items at the end of the display.

And don’t forget our Zap! and Sale sections.  When you check the “Gift invoice” box on the Shipping Options page of checkout, it will hide prices on the invoice, so your lucky recipient won’t know what you laid down for them.

If you’re leaving a gift note, make sure you enter it in the bottom box on this page (it pops up once you check “Gift invoice”), that makes your message one of the most prominent things on the invoice, so they don’t miss out on your wonderful words.

Now remember, you’ve got all weekend, but if you want to take advantage of our free First Class USPS shipping, get your order in by the afternoon of this Monday, December 19^th.

Nothing is quite as cozy as a winter sweater and sweater patterns and knits abounded this year, they’re a fun gift—the hectic patterns of a holiday sweater become beautiful on the smaller canvas of a sock.

• Black Forest Crew •
• Sock It To Me Tacky Christmas Sweater •
• Wooly Deer Crew •

Wee baby socks are great gifts too, especially for new families, and a couple of our favourites are tucked among the stocking stuffers (though it’s worth peeking through Kids & Baby too, there’s bunches more!). You can also check out last year’s post about socks for family feet for more ideas!

• Baby Vaggio Angora Socks •
• Penguin Baby Socks •
• Argyle Baby Booties •

More spotlight styles in our Stocking Stuffer collection after the jump!

Sometimes the best gift is the thing a person wouldn’t get themselves.  Three of the most expensive styles in the Stocking Stuffer collection are perfect for situations that call for just one, very nice, gift.  And those Orkney Angora Wrist Warmers are probably my most used go-to recommendation for a gift that anyone will love.

• Polonova Velvet Wrist Warmers •
• Geared Up Garters •
• Orkney Angora Wrist Warmers •

Little things, that can be tucked into the tiniest stocking, are also great gifts.  They’re also novelty items (though for more novel styles, check out our Novelty Socks collection!), something fun and different to add a little spark to your gifts this season.

• Pretty Bow Stretch Socks •
• Star Laces •
• Boot Cuff Warmer •

There are more styles in the Stocking Stuffer collection and hundreds more all through our site.  Are you giving the gift of cozy toes this year?

Now, what about folks who totally should get toe socks for the holidays, but aren’t exactly a stripy, tabi, goofy kind of person?  That’s where beautifully engineered, premium toe socks come in.  We’ve written about Injinji before, when we first brought them in and again this summer, when telling you about Coolmax® fiber.  They’re a little pricer than novelty toe socks, but that’s because of all the brain power that went into designing them.

Designed for performance, with a comfortable welt cuff, smart shaping in the toes and heel, a bit of built-in arch support and available in three sizes, Injinji toe socks take that quirky toe sock present to the next level.  Their most basic sock, the Performance Micro Toe Sock, is comfortable as all get-out and even comes in more options than boring old black and white.

After the jump we’ll highlight a couple more of their styles and let you know just who they’re perfect for (and just maybe they’re perfect for you!).  Plus, we’ve got a review from a Vibram FiveFingers wearer about the Injinji Performance Liner styles!

For your eco-conscious friend who likes a little colour, the Eco Performance Rainbow Quarter Crew Socks are a wonderful choice!  We go into more detail on the coolness of the, um, Coolmax® EcoMade that they’re made with earlier in the Sock Journal, but it’s 97% post-consumer recycled material!

And if you’re shopping for someone who wears those five-toe shoes, then the Performance Liner Crew and Performance Liner Anklet are perfect!  They’re whisper-thin, so they’ll fit just right in snug five-toe shoes—but they’re designed to prevent chafing and blistering and encourage proper alignment.  This is what a Vibram wearer says:

The whole point of those silly looking finger-shoes is to be doing active stuff, but if you wear them naked they chafe pretty bad. So you just need SOMETHING between them and your skin. Your feet’ll still get cold and the shoes’ll still get stinky, but the socks will prevent blisters. They also make the shoes a lot easier to get into, interestingly.

The Injini liner-weight socks work pretty great for that. I also picked up some of their medium-weight ones, and those work great too. It’ll depend on how tightly your shoes fit, but I think you can probably count on at least the liner-weight ones working.

Our wonderful reviewer also warns: “The liner-weight ones will tend to come apart a little bit at the point right between the toes, and I was worried about that at first, but it’s not turning out to be a problem. They’re staying structurally sound, and the holes aren’t making any opportunity for chafing and don’t seem to be spreading.“  I got a quick snapshot of the kind of wear he’s talking about and it’s true, though the bit between the toes is a bit frayed and has holes, there is no indication that it’s going to go further than that.

Of course, not everyone rocks toed shoes, but toe socks made as well as Injinji fit just as comfortably (if not more so) in regular ol’ shoes.  If you’re looking to gift someone even more than comfort, the Ex-Celerator Knee High Compression Toe Sock is lovely enough to make your “big” present. From 14 mmhg at the ankle to just below 8 mmhg at the cuff, this gradual compression system goes to one of the stronger weights you can get without a prescription and is perfect for lightweight, everyday use.  They’re designed especially for muscle recovery after working out.

Two styles you may want to snap up for yourself or others before they go away are the Travel Toesock and the Injinji Split Toe Quarter Crew.  They’re both Zap! styles and no longer available from Injinji, so the last pairs we have are it!

Have you picked up a pair of Injinji for yourself or as a gift?

“Bed sock” is a term used most often to describe an ankle or crew height sock that is thicker and often fuzzy, just the thing for snuggling up under covers or padding around the house. Some styles even have grip treads on the bottom, like slippers, to keep you from slipping on slick floors.

The most obvious bed sock choice are the New Zealand Bed Socks. Thick fuzzy wool lining that doesn’t easily mat or felt in the wash or during wear is encased in a sturdy acrylic shell that keeps warmth right where it belongs—on your toes! In classic solids and fun patterns, they’re one of the most popular bed sock styles we carry. The grip tread patterns come in three sizes from little feet to big and make great gifts.

• New Zealand Bed Socks with Hearts •
• New Zealand Bed Socks with Grip Tread •
• New Zealand Bed Socks with Polka Dots •

Not all bed socks have it in their name. Some of the styles in our Warm! collection fit the bill of height and coziness. Look for fluffy wool styles, that fun fuzziness is useful because it creates pockets of air that help trap heat. Angora is a great choice, as we’ve blogged before, it is a partially hollow fiber that does a professional job of trapping heat and regulating temperature (which means you stay warm, but not sweaty!).

• Niego Crew Socks •
• Bunny Angora Shorties •
• Alpino Merino Mousse Crew •

For wool-free options and bed socks that are slumber-party ready, join us after the jump!

Now, what if—like me—you just can’t handle wool? Turn to terry lining, those little loops mimic boucle styles that cushion and comfort cold toes. The Space Dyed Terry Crews worn inside out (terry side in!) are my bed sock standby, and they’re thin enough that I can just slip a regular knee high over them when I need to leave the house. We don’t have a collection for terry lined styles yet, but using “terry” as a search term turns up some great styles. These are some of my favourites:

• M Bootsocks •
• Nouvella Space Dyed Terry Crews •
• Cronert Slipper Socks •

Quirky bed sock and slipper styles are a popular gift for the holiday season for yourself or someone else. Whether they’ve toes, or animal faces, or pretend shoes there’s something to brighten your day and snuggle your toes.

• Tubular Pig Socks •
• Fuzzy Toe Socks •
• Ruby Slipper Socks •

Bed socks! They’re short and cozy, sometimes have grippy bottoms and always are great to snuggle your toes into. What’s your favourite?

Now, to start our week…
two nice letters I found in feedback this morning:

Message:
I just received a variety of your socks/thigh highs from my hubby. I love the socks & your site and have added you to my bookmarks. I sense an addiction brewing

Sincerely,
Rachel

Message:
Just found your site… where have I been. Thank goodness there are others who share my passion for socks. My faves are stripy ones – there used to be a store here in my town called Socks Appeal, but they have long since closed down, so I was left to scour the shelves during Halloween mostly to try to find some comforting socks… I had almost given up hope. Thank you again – soon to be a very loyal customer!

Malena

and an odd one…

where can I get info on mens floppy socks

thank you

Brian

Can anyone tell me what “men’s floppy socks” are exactly?

11/28/07 update, loose socks was what he sought.