RSS feed
halloween
« Older Entries | »
Though we do have a rather wide selection, sometimes we just don’t have exactly that stripe or pattern that you need. But a steady hand and a little patience can take you a long way. I’ve got two quickie guides on adding your own drawn details to socks and there’s a bonus DIY at the end too!
Drawing on nylon
Drawing on nylon is the easiest, so let’s start there. Say your costume needs some sort of specific pattern on the legs. A good example would be Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas. Her stitched-together legs are a huge part of costume accuracy (which maybe I’m a big nerd about). Here’s what you’ll need:
• A good reference picture (I like this one of assorted Sally parts) •
• A permanent marker—they make Sharpies in about every colour now, which is awesome! •
• white or off white tights, like the Opaque Tights •
Always test in an inconspicuous place, to make sure that what you’re using and what you’re using it on don’t hate each other. The Opaque Tights and Sharpies get along pretty well!
It is way easier to do this with the tights on, so suit up. Keep in mind there will be a little bleed through from the marker.
Now, keeping an eye on your reference image, start drawing! Try to go as smoothly as you can. Sometimes I found that the felt marker tip wanted to catch on the nylon.
Ooh, the detail really makes it. I wasn’t trying to get too-too accurate with the stitches, just going for the overall feel.
And, done! So easy! If you wanted to earn extra points, just add a blue-grey shade to ‘em with the skills you learned in DIY: Dyeing Nylon.
That’s tights, but what about socks? Join us after the jump for more tips and tricks! Read more »
by Brenna
October 26th, 2012
We’re thrilled to be hosting a Halloween costume contest on Tumblr this year! Show us your spookiest, kookiest costumes using Sock Dreams socks, and if we love your picture the best, you’ll win one of three gift cards.
You don’t even need to have a Tumblr account to submit your photos, so this contest is open to every single sockster. If you have any questions, please email us, and we’ll be happy to help. We’ll be accepting submissions until 11:59 PM on November 3rd. Please be sure to click through to see the details and guidelines for submitting content, and have fun! ♥
by Jess
October 25th, 2012
It’s pretty clear that we Dreamers are into Halloween and costumes. I know this. Yet, when I put a call out to fellow Dreamers for pop and modern culture costume tips, I did not expect that I’d get so many awesome ideas from pretty much everyone. I am going to do my best to share everybody’s recommendations, so pull up your socks, we’re going in.
Comics
We’ve got some solid comics fans here, most notably Zaffie at our Tumblr. She’s already pointed out that Kate Bishop in Hawkeye #2 (story by Matt Fraction, art by David Aja) is wearing what looks like the Extraordinarily Longer Thigh Highs in Plum & Black.
Spiderman is a classic. And it takes some layering, but one of our Shop Dreamers dressed up one of the manequinns at our brick and mortar store in Opaque Tights in Royal, Opaque Solid Nylon Trouser Socks in Red and the Spider Lace Pantyhose for a webtacular Spidey look.
Super heroes (and villians) are easy game when looking for good use of legwear. They have to wear something under the leotards, right? Another Dreamer reminded me of one of my favourites—Poison Ivy, specifically her character design by Bruce Timm for Batman: The Animated Series. Her simple look is all pulled together by simple lime green tights.
Of course, you don’t have to keep it simple. We’ve had (amazing!) customers pull unique, stunning looks together too (like this fabulous steampunk Poison Ivy).
TV
I know a lot of you are into My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (if only because of all the drawing requests!) so you know that there are a ton of rainbow options to accessorise your Rainbow Dash costume. But one Dreamer suggests that the Furry Rainbow Leg Warmers might be just the thing. You’d be like a My Little Clydesdale!
I am going to be honest here and say that I have no idea who this character is (thank goodness for Dreamers filling me in!), but Fishnet Footless Tights and the Lace Anklet with Ruffle seem to be pretty key pieces to dressing as Robin Sparkles from How I Met Your Mother.
Another popular character is Rachel Berry of Glee. She wears a lot of knee highs and a lot of solid colour basics that can be easily matched by the Color Tights and the Opaque Solid Nylon Trouser Socks.
Video Games
One game that a lot of folks I know are playing is Borderlands. Gage the mechromancer has some great black and white wide stripes that are perfectly matched by the Extraordinary Striped Thigh Highs in Black & Natural.
Also in Borderlands (which is looking to be a pretty sock-tastic game) Mad Moxxi rocks some mismatched stripes and Fencenet Thigh Highs. It’s hard to tell what colourway the stripes are, but the Uma Striped Over the Knee looks to be a good match.
Movies
We were pretty big fans of the Joker’s socks in The Dark Knight. Though we don’t have the Joker’s every day chaos-checkered socks, we do have a taller option in the Neon Checkered Chaos OTKs that would look fab for folks going as Nurse Joker.
Our Tumblr caught this one already too, but Sally from Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas wears scrunched black and white stripes. I think maybe the Super Warmers – Short would be a great match (and give you room in your shoes for patchwork tights)!
If you want to be classically classy, one of the Dreamers points out that you can’t go wrong with Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Either the Satin Gloves with Snap Buttons or the Opera Length Satin Gloves with Rhinestone Trim plus the Sheer To Waist Pantyhose in Black with a little black dress and pearls? Perfect.
This one is a little esoteric and you need a friend to really pull it off, but you could totally channel the vibes of 101 Dalmatians with the Contrast Vertical Striped Thigh Highs for Cruella DeVille (maybe over some red tights?) and the Foot Traffic Polka Dot Knee Highs for a Dalmatian.
A far more straightforward approach would be to emulate the original horror stylings of Jaws with a 3-D Shark Bite Sock over some Bloody Zombie Thigh Highs.
Whew. That’s a good one to end on, right? I hope we’ve helped inspire you if you’re still struggling with a costume. Remember, we love when folks share how we’ve helped them make a costume perfect and our Facebook is a great place to do it! How are socks helping your costume come together?
by Brenna
October 19th, 2012
When you think of monsters, you probably picture the classics—Dracula, the Wolf Man, Frankenstein. How we mentally picture these creatures is mostly shaped by the early work of Universal Studios’ films from the first half of the 20th century. They made a lot of monsters, but I thought we could look at the classics and see what accessories and socks you’d need to finalise your costume (because I’ve been loving Zaffie’s costume posts on our Tumblr) and what else evokes their classic, terrifying style.
The ultimate classic monster, Dracula, didn’t ever really show socks. I am sure someone as aristocratic as the Count totally rocked classy cashmere midcalves, but nothing you ever saw on screen. Nonetheless, you can wear his vampiric, black tie look a little more campily (because really, Bela Lugosi is a little camp anyway).
• Tuxedo Midcalves •
• Opaque Tights in Red •
As old as vampires are werewolves, and Universal’s Wolfman (and the ground breaking transformation scenes!) is as classic. Transforming into this hirsute beast won’t take much trouble, or a full moon. You just need some appropriate accessories.
• Harajuku Furry Warmers in Brown (we like these as muffs/arm warmers too) •
• Fingerless Arm Cozy in Walnut Brown •
Nerds know you don’t call the big green guy “Frankenstein.” Properly he is “Frankenstein’s monster” or, “THE MONSTER.” And he’s yet another sockless wonder. But I bet big ol’ feet like his would do best with comfy, terry lined styles like the M Bootsocks. Or! I bet he’d like something fun (and colour-coordinated) like the Sock It To Me Monster Midcalves!
The Monster’s lady, on the other hand, wears long fingerless gloves, or bandages that look like it. And you can rock her distinctive hair without breaking out the bleach by rocking those stripes on your legs with a little creative layering.
• Simone’s Sleeves in White •
• Opaque Tights in White •
• Side Stripe Legging •
Some more movie monsters and associated socks after the jump! Read more »
by Brenna
October 12th, 2012
Unless you choose 2 Day Express by the end of the day today (Friday the 28th), you probably won’t get your socks in time for Halloween on Monday (check out our shipping info page and give us a call if you have questions, we know how important socks are this time of year) But don’t worry! There are two costume socks you can DIY yourself, if you need a last-minute finishing touch for your costume. In both these DIY I’m using the O Basics, but any plain sock will work perfectly.
Skeleton Socks!
If you need something like the Kawaii Skeleton OTK, all you need is a pair of black socks, a paintbrush and some white acrylic paint (like craft paint). This one is easier to do if you put the socks on (it’s even easier if you have someone help you, though!). Keep in mind, some paint will leak through to your leg, but that’s the beauty of craft paint, it washes off.
Using our image of the Kawaii Skeleton OTK or an image of leg bones as a guide, paint some bones on your socks. If you’re not comfortable freehanding, use a piece of chalk or a white eye liner to draw some guides before you paint. The result is much more like an x-ray, which I kind of like!
Not too hard! But if you want an even easier option, you can DIY your own version of a very popular stocking we sold out of way too fast this season. That and more after the jump (believe me, you want to see what other Halloweeny goodness I have to share)! Read more »
by Brenna
October 28th, 2011
« Older Entries | »