For our second event of the season, we head back up to Seattle for the Pacific Northwest’s largest anime convention, Sakura Con!

The definition of sakura is cherry blossom, which seems completely appropriate, as the cherry trees in Oregon and Washington are going crazy with blossoms right now. Spring is in the air, and we are ready to celebrate with cosplay, characters, and all the socks one would need for both.

We have a HUGE following in the anime community, as we have a wide array of stripey socks to match your character. M Stripes, Extraordinary Stripes, Super Stripes, Dreamy Knees, N Stripes, striped tights, knee highs, over-the-knees, and thigh highs will all be on display and on sale for you to see up close and in person, along with petticoats, garter belts, and every cosplayer’s most trusted item: the It Stays Body Adhesive. As per usual, we will have special event prices on all of our Dreams Stockings and Dreamer Socks, plus a variety of stickers from our collection.

On a daily basis, we receive emails, tweets, Facebook posts, and Tumblr requests seeking sock guidance for various anime characters; we are always pleased to oblige. Speaking of our Social Media team, we will be running a promotion through all our various social media for Sakura Con, so stay tuned for more details.

Mata aimashou!

With our helpful assistant, Mrs. Half-Mannequin (“Half” is her maiden name) and a pair of Sheer Vertical Striped Pantyhose, I’ll share a couple tricks to help you guide those stripes. The wonderful Dreamer Zaf of our Tumblr took most of these pictures, since I only have so many hands.

In trying to keep those stripes straight, particularly with tights, sometimes the legs get twisted and that makes it awful up in areas that you really don’t want bunching. So here’s the key: keep the pattern straight from the start.

As you gather up the stocking or tights to slide them on, make sure you’re gathering everything evenly. Keep those stripes in line as you gather, starting from the top of the sock or leg of the tights. If you’re dealing with panels or designs, pay attention to what part is made to go in the front or back. What you’re doing is making sure your tights don’t get twisted.

Okay, now you’re ready to get fancy. Ease your little toes in and carefully put the stockings or tights on. It should be a lot easier now that you’ve essentially “prepped” them to keep their stripes straight. You may need to do a bit of adjusting as you go, but it should be pretty minimal.

Now they’re on! You may find that the toes are a little wonky. This is fine! You were focusing on getting things straight. Just adjust the toe seam to your comfort and pickiness—it’s a lot easier to get tights on straight then adjust the toe than make the toes perfect and try to keep the designs straight.

There, you look fabulous! For a twist you can do just that with socks and stockings (as opposed to tights), purposefully twisting them as you put them on for a new spin on vertical stripes. I think the Fast Lane Knee Highs are particularly well-suited to this.

Do you have any tips or tricks for putting on difficult patterns just right?

My personal favorite from this latest batch of Halloween goodies are the Candy Corn socks…
Based on our classic “striped knees” DreaM Stockings
*made exclusively for us in the USA using recycled cotton*

this version won’t be around long so if you love the bright colors grab a pair while you can.
…but worry not, we’re getting a darker version soon that should last us all the way til winter creeps in.

And when winter does creep in, me and my dogs are going to stay nice and cozy no matter what our crazy Portland weather throws at us!

Me… I’m wearing one of my favorite pairs of ExtraOrdinary stripes, plum & earth, it was a sample pair we later put into production because I adore it too much not to share…

Even though plain charcoal knee socks, like cuffed O Basics, or black tights would be more accurate (according to the crazy thorough Harry Potter Wiki), they’re nowhere near as fun as perfectly coordinating with the colours of your chosen house. We debuted this style in 2006 and their stretchy fit, padded feet and ultimate nerdiness has made them a perennial favourite.

Whether people are picking their pairs based on online tests—and, if any of you also re-take a test like that until you get the answer you want, raise your hand—or based on how brave, cunning, studious, or loyal you are, there’s one house colour combo that is clearly the most popular.

After the jump I’ll dish how the other houses rank in popularity and offer some other sock styles that are available in your favourite house colours.

It’s no surprise the the burgundy and gold of Gryffindor is heads and shoulders more popular, since it’s the house of our much-loved main characters. But I was surprised to see that dark green and silver (Slytherin) and dark blue and silver (Ravenclaw) are almost exactly tied.

Considering that one house is full of kind of fantastic bad guys and the other are the super smart kids, it’s no surprise. But what about Hufflepuff? I have to admit that the house with the badger mascot is my personal favourite, but I’m one of very few who feel that way. Poor Hufflepuff, the number of folks who want to rock their black and gold is less than half either Slytherin or Ravenclaw.

Now, if the soccer-stripe look isn’t your thing, here are some more classically striped options in your favourite house colours.

From left to right:
• Super Stripe Knee Highs in Red & Gold •
• Super Stripes Rayon in Moss & Lichen •
• Rugby Stripe Knee Highs in Black & Gold •

And! For nerds like me who dig book-accurate over film-accurate costume depictions, the original blue & bronze colours of Ravenclaw have a pretty solid option in the Dream Stalker Stripes in Navy & Spice.

If you missed out getting a pair of Sorcerer Socks in time for the release of part one, you have plenty of time to outfit yourself before part two, which will hit theatres July 15, 2011.  Have you dressed up in our socks for any Harry Potter film viewings?  We’d love to see your snaps, you can always post them to our Facebook!

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.

Dreamer name: Kori

Current favourite style: Extraordinaries [which are just a taller version of the Dream Stalker Stripes Kori is wearing above  -Brenna]

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

These socks were a winner from day one!  A true OTK on me, these sweet babies fit my chubby little calves and thighs without discomfort or bulging, and they ALSO fit my tiny little feet and ankles!  These are the best socks EVER!

What is the best thing about this particular style?

Well, not only do they fit me beautifully, but they are gorgeous!  And they’re made in the US too, and eco-friendly… I mean, these socks are the whole package!

How’s the fit?

Oh, and did I mention that they FIT!  EVERYWHERE!  From my 6.5USW feet to my 22 inch thighs, they fit perfectly, but the true magic of these socks is that they fit legs larger than mine… and they fit legs smaller than mine… and feet larger… and calves curvier… and legs longer… I mean, they’re EXTRAORDINARY!

Who would you recommend this style for?

Everyone who likes long socks!

Anything else?

My dog loves them too ?

Bootsocks

To keep yourself safe from playa foot, your feet need to be kept from the alkali desert floor by socks and close-toed shoes.  Several styles of our recycled cotton DreaM Stockings are terry-lined, making them cushy and absorbent bootsocks:

From left to right:

• Authentic Military Boot Socks •
• Dreamy Knee High Tube Socks •
• M Bootsocks •

If terry isn’t your thing, here are three more great styles, ranging from super thick wool to nice and thin recycled cotton.

From left to right:

• Coarse Knit Ski Socks •
• EG Smith Ribbed Bootsock •
• EG Eco Marled Bootsock •

But what about the fun and stripes and legwarmers?  Well, we have our favourite recommendations for those too, but you’ll have to jump below the cut . . .

Leg Warmers

Stripes and sparkles dress up the total usefulness of legwarmers when it comes to layering.  They roll up small in your bag, but make all the difference in keeping your legs comfy during those cold desert nights.

From left to right:

• Leg Warmers w/Brass Snaps •
• Super Long Open Crochet Leg Warmers •
• Lurex Leg Warmers with Pom Pom Tie Tops •

From left to right:

• Super Warmers – Long •
• Microfiber Chenille Leg Warmers (and matching armwarmers!) •
• Fuzzy Stripes Leg Warmers •

Arm Warmers

You can’t have your legs getting all the attention, but that’s what arm warmers are for—and they’re super nice for keeping off the chill when you’re not wearing much else.  The first two are our favourite basics (with high cotton content for you fire dancers!), and then there are some fun, patterned options

From left to right:

• Basic Fingerless Gloves •
• Simone’s Sleeves •

From left to right:

• Tie Dyed Fingerless Gloves •
• Harajuku Vitamin Arm Warmers •
• Checkerboard Fingerless Gloves •

What have we missed?  What are your favourite socks and accessories for the playa?