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I know a lot of folks born in February. In fact, I think three (!) Dreamers have had birthdays already this month. February’s symbols aren’t hearts, cupids and lace though, they’re the very stately and fabulous Amethyst, Viola and Aquarius.
Amethyst is a super fascinating stone, used for protection in battle, as a ward against drunkenness and for intaglio carving, its soft purple hue lends a calm beauty to goblets, amulets and jewellery. Found in a range of purple (one of the definitions of Amethyst is “purple” qualified by “any purple”), some of amethyst’s more common shades are rose, mauve and lavender.
• Wrinkle Press Knee High •
• Check Pattern Footies •
• Harajuku Scrunchy Socks •
The most valuable amethyst, however, is deep purple, with tinges of violet. I think what we and our suppliers tend to call “plum” is a good match.
• Super Ms •
• Soft & Dreamy Knee Highs •
• Boy’s Socks •
Because people have always loved to coordinate, violets (more properly, “violas”) are February’s flower. Tiny and purple with a distinctive five-petal shape; their larger, hybrid form is called a “pansy.”
• Polonova Flower Trouser Socks •
• Bunch of Pansies Over the Knee •
• Tibetan Flower Crews •
February’s dominant constellation is Aquarius, the water bearer. Symbolised by layered waves, it’s also part of a song title I bet you’re trying not to get stuck in your head. I think Nouvella’s Space Ocean colourway is kind of a perfect match—and the wee baby sock version way more fun (and cozy!) for little folks born this month than rocks and flowers.
• Dreamer Jacquard Ripple OTK •
• Space Dyed Terry Baby Booties •
• Dreamer Diamond Wave OTK •
So far February hasn’t tricked me with a sneaky nice day that pretends spring is around the corner, but we’re only about at the halfway mark of this short little month. There is plenty of time for one surprisingly warm day to make me think I don’t have to work so hard to stay cozy.
by Brenna
February 15th, 2013
I don’t know how many of you ever got presents for your birthdays with coloured glass that represented your birthstone—but the idea of flowers, gems and constellations associated with a month is pretty fun. And it’s a great way to take a walk through our gardens, mines and galaxies of socks!
January’s gemstone is garnet, which is normally a gorgeous deep burgundy (though also happens in yellow and a startling green!). Philippe Matignon’s red is called “garnet” (or actually, “rosso granata”) and I couldn’t think of a better name for this shade.
• Multi-Lines Knee Highs •
• Lily Lace-Topped Knee High •
It’s thought that the word “garnet” came from “pomegranate” and even if that’s not true, it totally could be. Our Dreamer Socks’ deep red shade is called Pomegranate, and we like it so much we’ve even got the 100 Inch Super Ruched done in the same delicious colour.
• Extraordinary Striped Thigh Highs •
• 100 Inch Super Ruched Socks •
• Dreamer Jacquard Ripple OTK •
Each month has a couple of flowers to choose from, it all depends on where you are, really. But mostly it seems like January’s flower is the carnation. The original colour of the carnation is pink, but thanks to flower science and careful cultivation, they now come in a whole tonne of shades. But one thing makes a carnation what it is and that’s the layers of ruffle-y petals. Hmm, what do we have that has layers of ruffles?
• Micromesh Lace Ruffle Tanga Short •
• Layered Tulle Petticoat •
Of course, you don’t need straight up lotsa ruffles to get a ruffle-y look. Sometimes a textured sock and a good scrunch is all that’s necessary.
• Dreamer Ruffled Stripe OTK •
• Textured Stripe Knee High •
• Keri Dimensional Stripe Crew •
The constellation associated with most of January is Capricornus (more commonly known as Capricorn). It’s a fish-goat. Or a sea-goat, if you want to be proper. Since we don’t have anything that has mohair in it right now (mohair comes from Angora goats), I think Capricorn will have to be represented by things that don’t go together, yet totally do make one awesome whole.
Stance always offers some cool mixed packs of mixable, matchable socks. Maybe those Trilogy Midcalves are more like a chimera, since that’s made up of three different things instead of two.
• Trilogy Midcalves •
• Mariner Midcalves •
These Sock It To Me Toddler & Kids Two Packs are fun because they pair up some unexpected and adorable designs. You know that monkeys and dinos would hang out or that ninjas like robots. But did you know that ninjas also love cupcakes?
There’s still over half of January to go and a long way until spring up here in the Northern hemisphere, so keep warm! Unless you’re in the Southern hemisphere, in which case may I offer you some lightweight sock styles, if you don’t mind my totally shivering while I do.
by Brenna
January 11th, 2013
I really love doing colour wheels. Maybe it’s the sorting, maybe it’s that they’re pure fun, but mostly I think it’s because we have some pretty luscious socks and this is a great way to show them off. I’d almost say that each one of our styles is as unique as a . . . snowflake. So let the cozy, cuddly, warm and snuggly winter wheels begin!
Arm warmers and fingerless gloves do wonders in keeping you warm!
Clockwise, from top: Harajuku Arm Warmers in Navy, Fingerless Arm Cozy in Denim Blue, Alpaca Cable Hand Warmers in Steel Blue, Wool Fingerless Gloves in Robin’s Egg, Acrylic Fingerless Shorties in Peacock, Orkney Angora Wrist Warmers in Azure.
Taller socks are a wonderful layer, over tights or under pants, for that extra level of cozy!
Clockwise, from top: Long Cuffable Scrunchable Socks in Royal, Orkney Angora Over the Knees in Azure, Kimi Wool Blend OTKs in Dark Royal, OTK Tube Socks in Royal, Long Cuffable Scrunchable Socks in Navy, Faux Fur Cuff Knee Highs in Sapphire.
Shorter socks can keep your toes snug, with warm wool and fabulous fuzzies!
Clockwise, from top: Gregorio Wool Bootsocks in Denim, Rainbow Striped Wooly Socks in Jean, M Bootsocks in Navy, New Zealand Bed Socks in Navy, ToeToe Walking Socks in Navy & Grey, Dahlgren Hiking Midcalf in Atmosphere.
Even tiny toes can be spared from the cold!
Clockwise, from top: B.Ella Stimolo Baby Bootie in Light Blue & White, B.Ella Baby Teddy Booties in Blue Marl, B.Ella Katy Striped Wool Baby Socks in Denim, Baby Wool Socks in Navy, Argyle Baby Booties in Denim, Dottie Polka Dot Baby Socks in Light Blue with White Dots.
There’s no need for fingers and toes to go blue from the cold, not when lots of toasty options exist already in those shades.
by Brenna
January 4th, 2013
Something is up in the state of Denmark, where the fabulous MP brand is from. To get to the bad news quick, we were informed that MP will no longer be producing goods for import to the USA, so we won’t be able to restock their items when we run out. It’s a very sad Zap! section right now, just full of MP styles we won’t see again.
This is a huge bummer, especially now that we’re officially into winter, because MP made some of our most favourite cozy styles. Since the stock we have now is the last we’ll be seeing of them, if you’ve been wanting an MP style and have been hesitating, now’s the time to treat yourself. And if you haven’t been coveting an MP style? Then let me explain just how wonderful they are.
The cornerstone of our love of MP is their cotton-lined wool. Comfy cotton on the inside and superwash wool on the outside, they are some of our warmest styles. Plus, the superwash wool is pre-shrunk, and the label suggests washing warm or hot. With wool! Of course, for best results, wash inside out in cool water & hang to dry. Taken care of well, these sturdy and well-made cotton-lined wool styles could be solid staples of your wardrobe for a long time.
• Cotton-Lined Wool Tights •
• Cotton-Lined Wool Knee Highs •
• Wide Stripe Cotton-Lined Wool Tights •
MP offers some great wool knee highs but the one true love of most Dreamers are the Coarse Knit Knee Highs. They’re thick and scrumptious, but probably not too thick for your favourite winter shoes. And they’re long enough to reach the knees of most legs who try them! Available in two sizes and three colours, the Coarse Knit Knee Highs are one style that I think all of us are trying to get a pair of before they go away.
Even the littlest ones can get cozy with MP. The terry loops of the Baby Wool Socks keep tiny toes cozy and the Cotton-Lined Wool Knee Highs go down in size to a kid’s US 3.5-5.5.
• Cotton-Lined Wool Knee Highs •
• Baby Wool Socks •
Not all colours are available in tiny sizes, so use the drop-down menu to choose the size you’re interested in first, then pick the colours that show up as available (not greyed out).
Of course, MP isn’t all about the cozy, they also have some light, weight warm weather styles that are equally as fabulous. Sure, it may be pretty dang cold right now, but these styles probably won’t be here when warm weather comes back. Future you will be forever thankful.
• Check Pattern Footies •
• Flower Rib Leggings •
• Lace Crew •
These are just a few of all the MP styles we have left! Before you say your goodbyes to MP by getting something to remember them by, check out the MP sock sizing guide after the jump—with basic sizing ranges and what styles we carry in each size.
by Brenna
December 28th, 2012
Last week our socks danced the first half of The Nutcracker ballet for you. After a brief intermission, the classic tale finishes this week—remember, if any of the principal players strike your fancy, links to the styles are scattered throughout the narration. Now, shhhh, the lights are dimming and the performers are coming out . . .
Traditionally, the nutcracker turns into a human prince after Marie helps defeat the mouse army. But Marie likes the nutcracker the way he is, so he stays the way he looks, but has a more royal bearing now. They romantically dance in the snow.
The nutcracker and Marie take a nutshell boat pulled by sharks across a sea to the Land of Sweet Socks.
When they reach shore they go to the Sugarplum Fairy who was keeping an eye on things until Prince Nutcracker returned. They tell the Sugarplum Fairy all about how Marie helped defeat the mouse king.
The Sugarplum Fairy is impressed and puts on a show for Marie and Prince Nutcracker. First, cozy chocolate coloured socks and arm warmers dance with a capital “D.”
Then coffee stripes wrestle a little bit, because they’re kind of wound up on caffeine.
Candy cane-coloured red and white stripes twist about.
Floral socks, sheer and woolly put on a fashion show with some garters.
From under Mother Gigogne’s skirts dance her wee little children.
For the finale, the Sugarplum Fairy dances with her cavalier.
Full of joy, everyone dances together as Marie and the nutcracker watch.
But the dancers begin disappearing . . .
And even the Nutcracker Prince leaves Marie.
And Marie is all alone.
She wakes up at the foot of the Christmas tree, next to the still broken nutcracker.
With determination, Marie goes back to sleep, back to the Land of Sweet Socks. If it was all a dream, what a sweet, sock dream it was!
by Brenna
December 14th, 2012
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