As college students, we do a lot of walking. I personally like to allot fifteen minutes of walking time in the morning to comfortably get across campus for class… at a mild walking pace. During these fifteen minutes, I have found that two different factors contribute to the quality of my morning walk: the socks on my feet and the music in my ears.
Considering it is my fourth year of walking to classes across the Connecticut College campus, I have tried out many different combinations of socks and music, and I have to say, there are some blends that pair very well together. I would love to share them with you here.
1. Darn Tough and Classic Rock
I was introduced to Darn Tough socks right before a mandatory high school backpacking trip. I hated backpacking and nature, but I loved the socks, and I still wear them. As the name suggests, the socks are built to last, and so is Classic Rock. I’m talking about The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and The Clash. When I’m wearing Darn Tough Socks, I’m blasting these artists and stickin’ it to the man.
2. Bombas and Ethiopian Jazz
Bombas have recently taken the world by storm. They prioritize comfort, and Ethiopian Jazz is likewise such a comforting and fluid genre. My favorite album is currently Wede Harer Guzo by Hailu Mergia and the Dahlak Band. If you like stepping on clouds and feeling lighter than air, you have to try out this combination.
3. Hanes and Indie Pop/Rock Music
Hanes are available in almost every department store, and thus, they have become an accessible and beloved staple of my sock collection. Obviously, the staples of my music collection are artists that fall within Indie Pop and Indie Rock: The Smiths, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, The Cure, Franz Ferdinand, R.E.M., Simon and Garfunkel, and Sufjan Stevens. Combining Hanes socks with Indie music creates a familiar and comforting vibe, perfect for romanticizing the mundane routine of classes.
4. Little River Sock Mill and Blues, Bluegrass, and Folk Music
To be honest, the genre of music for this sock is largely derived just from the name of the brand: Little River Sock Mill. It makes me think of my hometown in North Carolina and all the small rural cities across the south, the birthplaces of these genres. If you are wearing Little River Sock Mill socks, try tuning into some Bob Dylan, Mississippi John Hurt, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Wilco, Jimmy Reed, and Hank Williams. This sock-music combination will give you some clean simplicity and nostalgia to start your morning off right.
5. Weird Novelty Socks and Early 2000s Pop Music
“Weird Novelty Socks” is not necessarily a brand, but it is a style that frequently appears in students’ collections. I usually see them sold in the strangest places, like pretty much every bookstore for some reason. The novelty socks that often cushion my feet have cats, curse words, and even Edgar Allan Poe. To match the funky vibe of the socks, you need 2000s Pop. For this, I personally love artists like Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson, and Kesha. We all like these artists, but trust me, you will like them even more with some novelty socks under your boots.
Happy pairing!