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What’s plaid on a diagonal and worn on feet? Argyle socks of course. Argyle socks have been around as a fashion item for a long time - a couple hundred years, in fact. There’s just something about these multi-colored socks that generations have found appealing in a variety of fashion presentations.

Argyle socks have gone in and out of style, only to return as the ìlatest thingî. Perhaps it’s the versatility of fashion applications or maybe it’s a natural retro item. Besides golfers, the biggest audience for these distinctive socks are younger people.

Although there are various stories on the origin of these socks, it’s generally agreed they first showed up around 1500 as the footwear of the Scottish clan of Campbell in the town of Argyll in Scotland. The clan’s colors were green and white, represented in their kilts and later, footwear made of the same cloth. From this simple beginning, argyle socks were born.

Sir Walter Scott, a Scottish writer and poet was largely responsible for immortalizing the argyle pattern when he brought attention to the design in a casual mention in his writings.

By the late 1700’s, the argyle pattern was commercially produced, and knitters soon followed the trend with diagonally stitched plaid stockings. These creations were dubbed “argyle socks”. The name stuck. Today they are as popular as ever.

If you’re of an older generation, you may remember the fashionable golfer of the 1920’s, proud in his plaid golfing hat, pullover sweater vest and matching knee-high argyle socks, posing with his clubs in all his fashion glory. This appearance was arguably the birth of argyle socks as an American fashion.

These patterned socks enjoyed immense popularity as a fashion accessory for young people during the Roaring Twenties, fading as America entered the Great Depression.

Surfacing again in the 1940’s and lasting well into the 1950’s, argyle socks were a favorite knitting project for young women to make as gifts for their boyfriends or for their own wardrobe. In fact my mother knitting a pair for my father when they were courting. Sophisticated collegiates soon integrated argyle patterns in vests, sweaters and hats, as coordinating fashions to be worn with the esteemed argyle sock. So pervasive was the fashion, the argyle sock look eventually became cliched, dying of overuse and becoming dated and out of style once again.

Then came the Preppies of the 1980’s, with their Retro interpretation of penny loafers, that sensible shoe of 1950’s fame, teamed with argyle socks.

Today, the famous socks are again enjoying a resurgence of fashion correctness, with a new twist. Now the argyle sock may be worn with grunge shorts or tuxedos in a contrasting and incongruous style statement. Uncoordinated is the new expression of individualism.

Argyle socks are a part of fashion history. As they say, “history repeats itself”, so you may well be a trend setter with your own new take on the argyle sock.