What makes BurlyCon different from other Burlesque festivals and conventions? The BurlyCon web site describes the event:

Burlycon is a community-oriented professional growth and educational convention for Burlesque performers, fans, and aficionados. BurlyCon will offer classes, workshops, panels, a vendor fair, and social events.  BurlyCon is committed to providing an affordable opportunity for performers of all levels to learn, grow, and wwwelop their skills. BurlyCon is focused entirely on community building, educational and social events. There are NO Burlesque shows or performances!  There is no contest, and no performance showcase.

With classes ranging from basic bump and grind to fan dancing to managing a burlesque company, there is no doubt this will be a wonderfully educational weekend for all involved!

Sock Dreams is not only vending at the event, but we are one of the sponsors and as such we were able to provide an advertisement for the event.

We were lucky enough to get the help of local Burlesque performer (and one of my favorites) the lovely Infamous Nina Nightshade. Nina works with several Burlesque groups in the Portland area, one of them being Critical Hit Burlesque another partner member of the Portland Geek Council, and she was very excited to help us out.

In Burlesque, the performers use the word peel to describe the action of slowly removing items; we will be bringing all the items that are ripe to peel. Along with our dreamiest Dream Stockings, lovely lacy items, sock garters and belts, as well as tights and other fun accoutrements.

If you are interested in attending this event, registration is still available on their web site. Come shake a tail feather with us!

Let’s start with pastel ruffles, for feet and a bit higher up . . .

clockwise from top: Textured Stripe Knee High in Pink, Micromesh Lace Ruffle Tanga Short in Light Blue, Puffy Chiffon Mini Petticoat in White w/Pink, Textured Stripe Knee High in White, Micromesh Lace Ruffle Tanga Short in Pink

More pretty pastels after the jump!

I know that gloves can be a traditional part of fancy Easter dress and there is something terribly lady-like about daintily gloved hands.  Maybe this one isn’t a “rainbow” since they’re all white or off-white.

clockwise from top: Fingerless Lace Gloves in Ivory, Lace Gloves with Ruffles in White, Elbow Length Fingerless Gloves in White,  Lace Gloves with Ruffles in Ivory, Lace Gloves with Ruffles Fingerless in White, Stretch Lace Wrist Length Gloves in White

Of course, not everyone who wants to rock springtime glove action wants white lace.  So how about some soft and satin styles in similar subtle tints?

clockwise from top: Alpaca Beehive Knit Shorties in Pink, Microfiber Chenille Arm Warmers in Camel, Orkney Angora Wrist Warmers in Natural, Classic Satin Gloves in Light Pink, Microfiber Chenille Arm Warmers in White, Isabel Handwarmer in Natural

Of course, we can’t talk about sweet, soft shades without mentioning the O Lovelies and the Ethereal Arm Warmers!

Clockwise from top: O Lovelies in Pebble, O Lovelies in Blush, Ethereal Arm Warmers in Lavender, O Lovelies in Robin’s Egg, O Lovelies in Pearl, Ethereal Arm Warmers in Pink

There are a bunch of pretty pastels in our wide wonderland of socks, but the Spring collection is a good place to start for those light layers and lovely shades of spring. How about you? Do you start adding frothy, frilly pastels to your wardrobe this time of year?

images above from Style.com, but similar styles are:

• Medallion Net Tights •
• Faux Garter Look Pantyhose •
• Lacy Faux Lace Up Knee Sock •

This, as any dedicated sock fan knows, is just the rest of the world catching up!  What the popularity of fancy tights means is that our suppliers are offering more options and we have more great styles to choose from!

Of course, I am not a runway model or a celebrity that gets driven around everywhere.  I have to deal with the still-too-cold-for-my-taste weather of February.  I’m guessing you do too, so remember, a gorgeous lace or net style is just as stunning (if not more so) layered over something like the Color Tights or the Foot Traffic Combed Cotton Tights.

Let’s start off with all the amazing options from Foot Traffic.  They offer some great textured tights, most with plus size options and some of them come in white even!

Clockwise from top: Narita Sheer & Opaque Tight, Brooklyn Mesh Flower Tight, Dublin Texture Tights, Paris Fleur-de-Lis Pantyhose, Nordic Texture Tights, Lima Texture Tights.

More lovely, lacy options after the jump!

Both of these stunning styles I know several of you are already rocking.  They’re some of our most popular Leg Avenue lacy tights (ooh, and keep an eye on our What’s New page throughout the year for more great openwork and lace styles from Leg Avenue).

• Vintage Pinstripe Net Pantyhose •
• Baroque Lace Pantyhose •

Lace and net aren’t the only ways to rock some gorgeous openwork.  There are several styles that our suppliers call “crochet” (which aren’t crochet, because socks are knit!) or that mimic the look of crochet styles that are just as lovely.

• Codori Crochet Tights •
• Pothole Pantyhose •
• Patricia Merino Crochet Tights •

Of course, these are all tights.  In our Lace collection we have so many more options, from just a touch of lace to entire stockings, thigh highs to anklets.

• Bow Lace Stockings •
• Floral Lace Knee High •
• Open Crochet Crew •

Every time the sun breaks through the clouds I start planning what socks I’m going to wear as soon as it’s warm enough.  Hopefully combining fancy-pants openwork with warmer layers will keep me satiated until spring. Are you layering lace in these last days of winter?

One summer style that is a big favourite with Dreamers and will always remind me of a box of crayons are the Dream Sneakers.  They hide under high tops and their ankle band of colour just pops over lower shoes. And they come in packs of two pair!

(from top right, going clockwise: Black/Royal, Black/Purple, Black/Fuchsia, Black/Red, Black/Gold, Black/Kelly)

Now, sometimes you need more than little sneaker socks. Lightweight arm warmers and even an OTK after the jump!

We get asked what arm warmer styles are good lightweight summer styles pretty regularly.  Both the Vitamin Arm Warmers and the Chevron Sleeves are good, fuller coverage arm warmers that are still light enough to breathe.  If you’re sensitive to the sun, they’re a great choice.  The Ethereal Arm Warmers are the same long length and are even lighter, but they are also are semi-sheer, so they won’t give you as much protection.  Between all three is one of my favourite rainbows, swinging between summer neons and sunbleached pales:

(from top right, going clockwise: Ethereal in Lilac, Ethereal in Pink, Chevron Sleeves in Dark Red, Vitamin in Neon Orange, Vitamin in Neon Yellow, Chevron Sleeves in Hunter)

Speaking of coverage, sometimes you may want a little more on your legs in the summer, either for the evening or personal style.  When it’s warm, it’s best to stick with open, lacy styles.  The open, cotton blend knit of the Crochet Lover Over the Knees is a perfect option. I love how their colours are dusty but vibrant, like wildflowers and summer grass.

(from top right, going clockwise: Dark Cyan, Brown, Merlot, Rust, Gold, Olive)

We know some of you do go sockless in the summer, especially the summer weather most of the country is having right now (and we forgive you, since you do rock socks in the winter!), but if you do wear socks or armwarmers, do you have a go-to summer colours?  What colours are summer to you?

Ooh! And don’t forget to check out the contest before it ends next Thursday, July 28!

Dreamer name: India

Current favourite style: Sheer & Opaque Stripe Thigh Highs w/Lace Top

Did you like this sock when we first started carrying it, or did you hate it and grow to love it?

Generally I don’t dig lace on myself but with these it’s okay. 

What is the best thing about this particular style?

They are really long. My inseam is 34” and I like a thigh high to go all the way up sometimes. Not to mention the subtle thinner stripes. Grown up goth if you will.

How’s the fit?

These are tube style, so any shoe size should fit. Also with their length they would work well no matter your gender. They have great stretch, and the lace stay up top is wide enough that they don’t really cut in or roll down. My thigh is 22” and they fit very well on me. They would probably work well from 18” to 23” as well.

Who would you recommend this style for?

Those other tall folks out there. And anyone who likes the stripy look, but wants something cooler for warmer weather.

Anything else?

Great for evening wear, the stripes and the little bit of shine is fun without being gaudy.

the color is so soft on these…very beautiful…and i adore the ribbing.
and both sides stayed thru all my wearing them the way i had arranged them…
one side cuffed with a bit of scrunch…the other up over my knee. A+