There isn’t a whole lot of difference and sometimes we do use the phrase “knee sock” when we’re talking about knee highs. But, more often than not, when we call something a “knee sock” we’re talking about a sock that ends somewhere around the knee—sometimes below, sometimes above, sometimes right there in the middle of your knee cap—depending on your leg shape. The Bess Cashmere Slouch Rib Knee Socks are a perfect example of this, you can see how they end at different spots on different models’ legs:

Since we try on all the styles we sell and almost all of the models you see in our pictures are Sock Dreams employees, we get to see how socks act on different leg types. Long legs and fuller calves mean some shorter over the knee styles don’t fairly deserve the name “OTK”. But those same socks can’t properly be called knee highs either because just as many other folks had them go over their knees. So, we started using the phrase “knee sock” to highlight that ambiguity.

It was Sourpuss’ styles that made us first start using the phrase more actively, they’re shorter for over the knee styles and even though Sourpuss called them OTKs, we couldn’t after testing them, even though we love them.

• Octopus Knee Sock •
• Galley Ho Knee Sock •

The DreaM Stockings “knees” styles are another great example of a knee sock. Available in seven variations (with lots of varieties for each!), they can be worn as over the knee socks or knee highs, depending on your legs (or on your personal taste, I prefer them as knee highs, even though I’ve got short legs).

Clockwise, from top: Purple Knees, Pink Knees, Green Knees, White Knees, Orange Knees, Blue Knees. Center: Brown Knees,

A way to find these in-betweeners is also to choose both “knee high” and “OTK” in Advanced Search then click the word “ALL” next to the header for Coverage. This shows you styles we’ve found fall both above or below the knee, depending on your leg. If you’ve got longer legs or fuller calves, you may already know the trick of wearing OTKs as knee highs, cuffing or double-cuffing to take care of any extra length.

A knee sock isn’t a style that couldn’t cut it as an OTK, nor is it just an over-achieving knee high. They straddle both coverage worlds, offering their stylish services to more leg types.

Coverage-wise, boot socks tend to be either midcalf or knee high—just like boots. And just like boots, there some shorter versions. These three are closer to that nebulous crew height (see What is a Crew Sock for more info on that!).

• EG ECO Hemp Birdseye Bootsock •
• EG ECO Random Stripe Rib •
• Organic Nuby Crew •

We like bootsocks a lot. Our Dream Stockings house brand even has two boot sock styles! Both have terry inside for extra durability and cushiness.

• M Bootsocks •
• Authentic Military Bootsocks •

So sure, those are some bootsocks, but what are the factors that define a bootsock? Find out after the jump!

We have a Bootsocks category, but what socks you love to wear with boots might be different, because feet and boots are different. What it really comes down to is thickness, sturdiness, and comfort.

Thickness and comfort kind of work together. You want more sock between you and your hard boots to cushion your poor feet as you trek or hike or whatever. One of the best ways to ensure that your socks will be thick enough to cushion your toes well is terry lining. Those little loops are like fluffy shock absorbers. Searching for the pattern/texture attribute “terry” in knee highs and midcalves brings up a bunch of great possibilities! Some, like Gumball Poodle styles, just have terry lining on the bed of the foot. Others, like the Dream Stocking tubes, are terry lined all the way up to the lightly ribbed cuff

• Punk Rock Knee Highs •
• Dreamy Knee High Tube Socks •

Sturdiness is the real variable. How, when and where you get holes in your socks depends on the shoes (boots are a big culprit!), your feet and how you walk. A good way to look for sturdiness is to look for socks designed for sport. And we’ve got a category for that! You’ll find brands like the fantastic Dahlgrens—with their built in support and an amazing ability to stand up to wear and tear—and Stance, designed by and for skateboarders but perfect for anyone who puts their socks through the paces.

• Expedition Knee Highs •
• Plasticism Midcalf •

Comfort is different for everyone. Unlike sturdiness, it’s a little easier to tell right off if a style is going to be your thing. But it can be a little frustrating to poke around and see if styles have the attributes you need. So here are a couple common sock complaints and searches built to find you what could work. I’ve pre-loaded the searches to be for midcalves or knee highs. In some cases I’ve handicapped the search to bring up better boot sock options, like by adding “Terry” or “Sport” as a search term to narrow results. It’s up to you to play around with the results from there (colour, fiber, etc) to find what you’re looking for. The pictures are just slices of some of the goodies you’ll find using these searches.

• Needs to be fitted at the ankle: No tube socks! •

• Cushy without cotton: Terry-lined wool •

• Fibers that are good at dealing with moisture: ABC! Alpaca, Bamboo, Coolmax •

• Big feet! Small feet!: Styles with sizes •

So what’s your favourite boot sock? If it happens to also be one of your favourite socks of all time, then you should definitely check the Sock Journal out next week.

On average, we’ve found that a midcalf is about 9-11 inches long from heel to the top of the cuff.  They give you a little more coverage than a crew for a reason—a midcalf is one of the traditional men’s dress sock heights.  When you’re wearing slacks and sit down, the legs of your trousers ride up, flashing ankle.  A midcalf just covers that skin that might show and they are just the right height to be paired with old-fashioned sock garters. Crews are a touch too short to close that gap between shoe and cuff and knee highs are more sock than you need, but midcalves are just right.

• Nicolo Rugby Stripe Midcalf •
• Franco Wool Boucle Stripe Midcalf •

More on what makes a midcalf (and a common misconception about them) after the jump!

So they’re taller than a crew and shorter than a knee high, but what else is a midcalf?  As I mentioned, they’re a common height for “men’s” dress socks.  Even if you’re not a guy, but you’re dressing in slacks and nice loafers, odds are you’ll pick a midcalf sock to go with.  That means that our men’s socks collection has some fancy and office-appropriate options in midcalves, even if their overlap with crews and larger footed options means that there are some novelty socks and crazy stripes too.

• Bottle & Pint Midcalves •
• Ribesi Wool Dress Socks •
• Angelo Reverse Stripe Midcalves •

As we all know, it doesn’t matter what gender you identify with when it comes to picking socks.  It’s all about what kind of style, fiber and coverage you want to rock.  But midcalves are often called “men’s socks” and designed with a traditional guy in mind, so there is one thing to remember—foot size.  Not all midcalves are designed for larger feet, but quite a few (like the B.Ella midcalf styles) are.

You may remember from the Sock Math post that I said the most common sock size was 9-11? Well, “men’s socks” range about 10-13, or a US men’s shoe size most commonly 8-11.  Though we always list all the sizing info we can in the Sizing Tips for each style, we tend to call what other folks say is a “men’s sock” a “larger footed midcalf.”  When you’re shopping around and see us use that phrase, or the Sizing Tips show you a larger sock, remember that you can subtract about 1.5 to a US women’s shoe size to figure out your US men’s shoe size

A lot of folks who wear a US women’s shoe size 9 can comfortably wear the average larger-footed midcalf, though there can be too much room in the toes for some. So don’t get too sad if you see a midcalf that says it’s larger, measure that foot and drop us a line, odds are, if you’re over a US women’s 8.5, it’ll fit. The following socks are just a few that are “men’s”, but they’re happily modelled and rocked by ladies with an average-sized lady foot.

• Ozone Men’s Stripy Midcalves •
• Striped Midcalf Toe Socks •
• Sock It To Me Midcalf Bikes •

A little taller than a crew and just the right height for sock garters.  Often a larger foot, but not always, midcalves may be one of the most common sock heights, but they can be complicated.

The bit that holds on to the stocking is technically called the garter, though we tend to call them “garter clips” more often than not.  They come in basically two types, loop-and-button or suspender.  The loop-and-button garter is the classic type more traditionally associated with garter belts.  Suspender clips are called that because they’re the type of clip you see on modern suspenders, with little teeth to get a good grip on whatever they’re biting down on.

On average, suspender clips can hold more and better than traditional garter clips.  They clamp down fiercely on even the thickest socks.  That’s why our Suspender Clip Industrial Garter Belt has them and why we offer sock garters with that style of garter clip.  They’re all-purpose and a good way for a person to start trying types of garters.  They hold everything!  And though they have little teeth, they still do well with thinner styles of stockings, though very delicate styles aren’t advised, because nothing is sadder than a laddered stocking.

However, the loop-and-button style is best for delicate nylons.  And for the more flimsy garter clips, thin stockings are as much as they can hold.  But how can you tell if a garter clip of any kind is going to have the holding power you need for your socks and stockings?  Well, I’ve rounded up all the clips of the various garter belts we sell and after the jump we’ll go through them, from lightest to strongest!

We carry a couple kinds of garter belts from Leg Avenue.  They have two variations on the most basic garter clip, one with a ribbon tacked on with a couple of stitches to hide the clip and one without.

With a wire loop and flexible plastic for the button, they’re the lightest weight garter belts we carry.  They do wonderfully with thin nylons, fishnet and other delicate stockings.  Comparatively inexpensive, they’re great for costumes and trying out garter belts for the first time.

• Lace Garter Belt and Thong •
• Satin Garter Belt •
• Lace Garter Belt and Thong Plus-Sized •

Next up are the Escante garter belts.  They’re also a lighter-weight garter clip, but the loop is solid plastic, which is a great option for folks allergic to nickel.

Thin cotton stockings can be worn with these, though thick socky-socks are still too thick.

• Escante Lace & Bows Garter Belt •
• Escante Satin Garter Belt •

The Rago garters have fantastic clips, they’re the almost the strongest traditional garter clips we have, paired with some of the fanciest garter belts and cinchers.  They’re strong metal wire, with the flexible button firmly attached to the clip instead of hooked on like the Escante and Leg Avenue garter clips.

Medium-weight stockings and socks pair well with these garter clips.  Thicker styles like the Long Cuffable Scrunchables do just fine, but styles with thick cuffs, like the Dreamer Socks, are a bit too thick, since the welted cuff is double the thickness of the sock.

• Rago Six Strap Garter Belt •
• Rago Cincher •
• Rago Pink & Lace Cincher •

The absolute sturdiest traditional garter clips are those on the Industrial Garter Belt.  This style is made for hockey players, to hold up their thick socks and keep them up while playing.  Big, strong loops and sturdy flexible plastic will hold most socks.  The only thing to remember is that the vinyl tab with the button isn’t permanently secured.  We don’t have spares, sadly, so make sure when you take your garter belt off for the day that the vinyl tab is secured snugly.

Using a traditional garter clip might take a little practice, the sock needs to be stretched over the button and the metal loop popped over it and then the narrower part of the loop snugged up, holding the sock in.

For reference, here are images of the Rago garter clip with a couple different thicknesses of socks.  First up, the easy to accommodate thin Dream Stocking styles, like the Dreamy Knees.

Next, with the thicker Long Cuffable Scrunchables:

And it looks like they even hold the Ribbed M stockings!  Remember, traditional garter clips do best with single-thickness cuffs, apparently even with thick ribbed styles like these.

What kind of garter clip do you like most?  Do you have one all-around garter belt or several styles for all your socks and stockings?

Crew sock height can vary a lot, though most are about 6 to 8 inches from the heel to the top of the cuff.  They look cute with sneakers and fancy shoes alike and you see them a lot more in the transitional seasons when you want a sock, but not too much sock.

• Nouvella Two Stripe Crew •
• Stripes & Contrast Crew •
• Throx Skulls ‘n’ Roses Crew •

Some more crew sock clarification after the jump!

Since they’re between anklets and midcalves, most of the crew socks we carry are listed in both categories. Depending on how long your legs are, some crew socks can hit up onto your calves, or at least close enough to almost count.  We tend to err on the side of whatever a supplier calls a height, when a style is so strongly in between two kinds of coverage.

• Tie Dyed Cotton Crews •
• Loving Horses Crew •
• Hippy High Top Crew Socks •

I’ll be honest, crew socks aren’t often my preferred height of sock.  What I tend to do with them is cuff or scrunch them down, making them more or less anklets.  There are quite a few crew styles that are great for this.  Some, like the Nouvella Crew w/Lace, are pretty much made for it!

• Organic Nuby Crew •
• Erin Wool & Silk Sock •
• EG ECO Scalloped Top Crew •

When you break it down, a crew sock isn’t too complicated—they’re not quite ankle socks and they’re not quite midcalf.  You’ll find that most novelty socks are “crew” height, and a huge proportion of B.Ella’s smaller footed socks are too.  But when you’re looking for just the right sock, knowing what a crew sock is can help us help you narrow down styles quite a bit!

Do you like crew socks or are they just too short or too tall for you?

“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?