Slouch sock

Loose socks in Japan

Loose socks (ルーズソックス, rūzu sokkusu) are a style of baggy sock worn by Japanese high school girls, as part of kogal culture.[2] This style of socks has also become popular among American teens and college students who are fans of Japanese anime and manga. These socks come in a variety of styles, defined by the knitting pattern of the upper portion of the sock. The two most popular styles are the traditional 2×2 rib knit (pictured) and tube-style loose socks, which are thigh-high length tube socks worn pushed down around the ankles. A skin-safe body adhesive popularly known as "sock glue" can be used to affix the uppermost part of the sock to the calf so that the entire sock will not bunch downward and spoil the look.

Loose socks were adopted as a fashion which flattered plump calves and also expressed rebellious deviation from Japan's strict dress code for school uniforms.[3] They have been used as an inspiration for photography by Akira Gomi. They are also used in Japanese street fashions like kogal and fairy kei.

In the US, slouch socks have trended in and out of fashion since the 1980s.[4][5][6] From around 1984 to 1997, slouch socks were a popular fashion item for kids, youngsters and adults of all sexes.[7]

The two most popular brands were Wigwam and E.G. Smith.

Many women and girls wore black, lime green, blue, or other colored leggings with white slouch socks, athletic sneakers and oversized T-shirts or sweatshirts as casual wear or exercise wear. Other colors like pastel yellow, blue or pink and black, red, purple and neon green were also seen. Many girls, teens, college girls, and women wore the slouch socks usually over leggings or sometimes sweatpants, usually with Keds and oversized tee shirts, sweatshirts and sweaters sometimes with a turtleneck under the sweatshirt (popularly), or sweaters. Or they wore the slouch socks with babydoll or skater dresses or dress shorts with white Wigwam slouch socks worn over black opaque tights with Keds. Also, the socks were worn with jeans or pants rolled or cuffed to show the socks or worn over skinny legged jeans. Boat shoes and cross training sport sneakers were also worn with slouch socks.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Many women, college age, teens, and tweens wore slouch socks as part of aerobic exercise wear or over sports leggings in colder weather for running, cross country and other sports.[22][23] Cheerleaders wore slouch socks along with Keds as part of their uniform from the early to mid 1990s until the late '90s when slouch socks began to be replaced by crew or ankle socks.

Students who had a school uniform also wore the slouch socks with their skirts, shorts and pants and boat shoes or loafers. Usually in white or school color.

Boys, teens, college age and men wore slouch socks with boat shoes, white Sperry canvas sneakers and cross training and other athletic sneakers with jeans or pants rolled or cuffed to show the socks and with casual or dress shorts, sweatpants or over sports leggings in colder weather for running, cross country, and other sports.