Every single day, junior Elleigh Rens-Hobbs starts her day off by picking out the perfect pair of socks. From Mystery Machine to Pepsi, Elleigh has almost any pair of funky socks that someone could imagine.
Since the beginning of freshman year, she has been wearing fun socks every single day. She started high school with funky socks, and she’s hoping to end high school with them, too. Throughout the years, she has gained around 30 pairs of socks–enough to cycle through every day of the month.
“My family has been funding my socks every single Christmas and birthday,” Elleigh said. “I think this Christmas, I got around ten pairs of socks, and not a single pair is white. They’re all Care Bears, and Liquid Death, the water brand. My family knows me for liking funky socks and just wearing funky socks all the time.”
From the Christmas and birthday celebrations over the years, she has gained many unique pairs of socks; some of these socks include snowmen drinking beer, limited-edition McDonald’s Grinch socks, and Smurf socks. Since she has such a wide variety of socks to choose from, there is also a multitude of colors to choose from. She can choose whatever color she wants, and can choose whether or not she wants them to match her outfit.
“Sometimes I color coordinate,” Elleigh said. “Today, I didn’t really coordinate [the socks with my outfit], but I feel like adding another pop of color is also good for my outfits. [I choose them] based on what I’m feeling.”
Picking out the socks is such a fun way for Elleigh to start the day; she doesn’t have to dread waking up for the long school day. She gets to decide what socks she wants to wear and gets to decide if she wants color-coordination or a fun pop of color.
No matter what day of the week it is and no matter what she’s doing during the day, Elleigh takes the time to find the perfect funky pair of socks. The socks are a fun way to be creative, and a good way to show some personality in her outfits.
“[Wearing fun socks] is something to look forward to in all my outfits,” Elleigh said. “It’s like, I have a good outfit, so it’s time to put on a nice, funny pair of socks. Who knows who’s going to see them?”
Since she wears a new pair of funky socks every day, people are starting to know her as someone who loves fun socks. The socks don’t just show some personality in her everyday outfits, but they show who she is as a person; they show that she’s a fun person who loves a little creativity in her outfits. Since she has been wearing the socks since freshman year, her friends and classmates are starting to get more used to them. There are some people in her everyday life that she gives a daily report to of what socks she’s wearing.
“[The socks are] just a personality thing now,” Elleigh said. “I like [the socks]; I feel like they kind of start conversations. Like, if I take off my shoes, someone will be like, ‘nice socks,’ and I have to tell a whole entire story behind them. [The socks are] really fun; people know me for liking socks now, which is kind of crazy.”
Elleigh has been wearing unique socks daily for around three years now; because of this, many people have gotten to learn about her addiction to funky socks. It’s also given her time to find the perfect places to get new pairs of fun socks. However, throughout the years, she’s learned that buying them isn’t the best way to get her new pair of socks; there’s one way to make them feel a little more meaningful. There are many different stores where anyone can buy fun socks from, but she tends to lean more towards getting them as gifts.
“I buy my own [interesting socks] sometimes,” Elleigh said. “If I see them out in the wild, then I’ll get a pair, but normally people get them for me as gifts; that’s part of why I think I like them so much, because it’s a gift. They’re useful gifts because I get to wear them a lot; [people] pick them out because they think of me, and I like that.”
The funky socks aren’t just a statement piece in Elleigh’s outfits; they’re also things that can be incredibly symbolic. They show that people are thinking of her when they buy her the socks, and that’s part of why Elleigh loves them.
Elleigh is hoping to continue wearing her socks throughout at least the rest of high school, and hopefully longer. From wearing her funky socks, she has learned to appreciate the people around her. Unique socks have taught her how meaningful a simple object can be.
“[Funky socks are] a hidden treasure in each outfit,” Elleigh said. “They add a nice pizazz, and I think they’re amazing. It’s also a cool trait, and it’s something interesting about me.”
