In the spirit of this article, we have decided that we would do a GIVEAWAY in conjunction. All you brides and grooms to be, get out your pens and your box o’ Kleenex, ’cause our giveaway will be an essay on “How I met and chose my bridal party.”

We want to know all the messy, hilarious, tear-jerking ways that you picked the folks who will stand up with you on your special day. Extra points if you have a cross-gendered wedding party, which I was a part of last summer, or something else totally nontraditional.

Our first place winner will receive a $150.00 gift card to Sock Dreams, which can be used to purchase bridal party socks or broken up in any way to use as gifts for your party… or you could just keep it all to yourself.

There is no minimum word count to enter and all entries will be judged by the folks here at Sock Dreams.

To enter, please send your essay to info@sock-dreams.com by May 23rd 2013, and be sure to include all the important information such as your name and email. The contest ends and will be judged by May 24th, 2013, so the prize will be awarded just in time for all those June weddings.

Good luck! And good life!

All of Saturdays cards are gone and it’s time to announce the code word for day two!!!

 Once again, we will be passing our four $10.00 gift cards ad one $25.00 gift card per day at Stumptown Comic Fest.

Remember, the card is random, so the only way to find out how much you won is to go to our web site and place an order. Then use the promo code bar on the first page of your check out, to see what your discount is.

Today’s word is Boilerplate.

Good luck!

For each day of the con (Saturday 4/27,  Sunday 4/28), we’ll be posting a new code word right here in our Latest News.

We will be passing our four $10.00 gift cards ad one $25.00 gift card per day at Stumptown Comic Fest.

Remember, the card is random, so the only way to find out how much you won is to go to our web site and place an order. Then use the promo code bar on the first page of your check out, to see what your discount is.

Stop by our booth at Atrium #2 right outside the main con area and say the code Rose Red.

Good luck!

For each day of the con (Friday 3/29, Saturday 3/30, and Sunday 3/31), we’ve been posting a new code word right here in our Latest News.

All you have to do is come visit our booth (#148) and say the code word.

The first 16 people who say the code word each day will receive a Sock Dreams gift card for $5, $10 or even $50. The gift card will be selected randomly, so you could win big!

The code word for Sunday is kage. Come say hi and see if you’re a winner!

For each day of the con (Friday 3/29, Saturday 3/30, and Sunday 3/31), we’ll post a new code word right here in our Latest News.

All you have to do is come visit our booth (#148) and say the code word.

The first 16 people who say the code word each day will receive a Sock Dreams gift card for $5, $10 or even $50. The gift card will be selected randomly, so you could win big!

The code word for Saturday is otaku. Come say hi and see if you’re a winner!

(If you’re looking for Sunday’s word, it’s right here!)

For each day of the con (Friday 3/29, Saturday 3/30, and Sunday 3/31), we’ll post a new code word right here in our Latest News.

All you have to do is come visit our booth (#148) and say the code word.

The first 16 people who say the code word each day will receive a Sock Dreams gift card for $5, $10 or even $50. The gift card will be selected randomly, so you could win big!

The code word for Friday is katana. Come say hi and see if you’re a winner!

(If you’re looking for Sunday’s word, it’s right here!)

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.

Along with the month, we’re almost through with the year!  It’s crazy how fast 2011 seemed to go and I don’t know about you, but I still can’t quite believe that it’ll be 2012 in a little over a week. I also know that I fully plan on rewarding myself with a sock or two that I’ve been coveting this winter season.

You may think you have socks you’re super desirous of, but when you are around socks all day, getting to touch them and see all of the nearly thousand styles we carry—well, you should see the wishlists some Dreamers knocked out as soon as the option was available.  I asked my fellow Dreamers what socky delights they’ve been eyeing and will probably pick up before the end of the year.  They were more than happy to share, ‘cause well—we all love socks here! So sit back and get ready to scroll through some delightful sock goodness.  Consider it a mini vacation of pretty.

“My favorite socks this season are the Cronert Wooly Rainbows . . . if I was going to treat myself with one pair for making it through this year it would be another pair of those. . . they are super snuggly, soft and really pretty to look at. I have washed and dried mine in the machine, despite the warnings against that, and they came out perfect, soft and stretchy as ever…. they are like little wooly clouds emitting rainbows.”

“By now I have them all, but I was coveting the heck out of all of the mooses and deers.”  When asked if it was because of the antlers they replied, “Yes. I must have all the power of antler.”

• Knitted Moose Crews •
• Reindeer Rollltop Crews •
• Wooly Deer Crews •

“I’ve been wanting to try the O Rayons FOREVER because they feel so silky soft– I just haven’t been able to decide on a color to start with; they’re all beautiful!” (I think they should go for Blueberry! It’s my favourite, though I’m also super partial to the Lichen.)

More Dreamer covets and socks worth rewarding yourself with after the jump!

“After the Xmas mayhem is over I’m definitely going to treat myself to the new Tabbisocks Lined Micro-Fleece Tights and a pair of Bunch o’ Pansies OTK in black. They will look great with my new black party dress, and keep me plenty warm!”

“I’m all about the Dahlgren’s Expedition Knee Highs for warmth, comfort, and outdoor adventuring.”

“I’m kinda all about the Dahlgrens right now. I have to agree, the Expedition KHs look so dreamy! And, as always, me LOVES the Biella Ginger KHs! I will most definitely be treating myself to a pair or two of them as well. Yum!”

Once I got them going, it was hard to get them to stop!  Like I said, we’re kinda into socks.

“Cronert Ojos de Dios, Cronert Chain Texture OTK, Cronert Multistripe OTK, Portland Stripe Tights, Extraordinary Striped Thigh Highs, aaaand Fleece Lined Leggings. To start with.”

“mmm…crooooonerts. Pinstripe Heraldry and Ojos. oh, oh! and those Hansel from Basel Silk Thigh Highs. *swoon*”

“Cronert Shadow Brocade OTKs ALL THE COLORS, Breaux Alpaca Beehive Knit Long Fingerless Gloves in Turquoise, MP lightly ribbed wool OTKs.”

“I heart my Laurels . . . I’m gonna get more oh! & you know how I love layering my tights.”

The styles are as varied and different as we all are but the one way they’re all the same is in supreme comfort and quality.  We like to treat ourselves right (and you should too!).  I hope our favourites will help inspire you to get yourself something special.

What about me?  Well, although I have bad luck with most wool, I do okay with angora.  I’ve been eyeing the Rose Garden Knee Highs for a while and I think I’m going to take the plunge.

What socks are you coveting?  Are you going to pick up something for yourself this holiday season (or have you already)?

A quick tip: on average, men’s US shoe sizes are the same as the women’s size, minus two.  So if our Sizing Tips for a product say that a style fits women’s US shoe size 7 – 11, then they should fit men’s US shoe size 5-9.  Most suppliers call their larger foot sizes “men’s”, which also tends to be midcalf.  We’ve got these styles in a collection all their own.

Nothing is really more old-school masculine than our Men’s Sock Garters (called such because they’re styled after the traditional men’s sock garters, not because they’re just for guys). They also are available in stripes and extra-long.  They add a fantastically polished look to any outfit.

The button and loop closure on these traditional garters work best with thinner dress socks, so if you plan on pairing them with styles with thicker cuffs, the tougher grip of the Suspender Clip Sock Garters is the way to go. Here are a couple of socks that do work well (and look great) with traditional sock garters:

• B Chevrons •
• Ozone Stripy Midcalves •
• B.Ella Teodoro •

Midcalves are commonly associated with father’s day socks, and if that’s your padre’s style, we have a ton of options.  But there are other sock styles out there, even if you (or the person you’re buying for) are rocking men’s US shoe size 11s!  Check them out after the jump!

Knee highs look great with shorts.  Plus, even though it’s warm right now and hard to imagine winter chills, taller socks are great under long pants when the weather turns frosty.

• Dreamy Knee High Tube Sock •
• Meat Knee High •
• Dream Stalker Stripes •

On the opposite end of the spectrum are ankle socks, which pair fantastically with sneakers and other casual shoes, adding a flash of colour around the ankle.

• Dream Sneakers •
• Split Toe Quarter Crew •
• Eco Performance Rainbow Quarter Crew Toe Sock •

Of course, these are all just some starter ideas for what to pick out for Father’s day.  Every dad is different—what things are you thinking about picking up for your poppa?