My life as a sock owner has become a great disappointment to me.  I
need thick, comfy, cushy mostly-cotton socks that won't slip down with
every step I take.  I am suffering heel pain (plantar fasciitis), but
the rubber-heel cushion shoes inserts make socks slip and bunch even more. 
I can't have anything too tight because of diabetes.  Special socks
found on websites all look too thin and emphasize support.  Socks seen
in stores tend to be thin and very elasticky or else that hard, tight
cotton that will stretch out on top while shrinking below (product of
unimaginable feats of engineering).  And--I need not only basic black
and white but some decent colors, such as heather/marl blue, oatmeal,
forest green, and purple, to fit women's shoe size 6 1/2.  Please
speed solutions to relieve my sockal sorrows.

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Request for Question Clarification by tan-ga on 23 Jun 2002 21:35 PDT

Do you want crew socks or knee highs?
Tan-ga

Hi apteryx,

I can relate.  There is nothing like a sagging sock to turn bright
skies dark.  I suspect that a lightly lycra-ed sock might be the
answer.  I found a nice selection of Calvin Klein athletic (and other)
socks that may help cure your sockal sorrows.  Take a look at:
http://www.beautyrose.com/womenssocks1.html

and scroll down to the Calvin Klein models. They contain just 1 or 2%
lycra so should not be too tight for you.

I have worn CK socks myself and find them comfy, springy, and upright!

Other cotton socks containing lycra can be found at:
http://bizrate.com/marketplace/search/search.xpml?de_id=200&cat_id=10130400&keyword=lycra+cotton&minprice=&maxprice=&SEARCH_GO.x=21&SEARCH_GO.y=7

I can't personally vouch for any of these, but they are name brands.
The LLBean crew socks come in navy, black, white, pink, and khaki. 
There are also knee and trouser socks in the Bean section.

A good range of color choices in lycra-containing cotton socks can be
found at:
Grass Roots Natural Goods
http://www.grassrootsnaturalgoods.com/footwear/054.html.

I just can't tell by the pictures (or personal experience) how cushy
the socks are.
 
BTW I checked at two diabetic sock sites (and you're right, they look
thin and unappealing) to see if lycra was commonly used. I was pleased
to see that 1% or 2% lycra is de rigeur.
(http://www.coare.com/product/store_diabetic.asp and
http://www.hocks.com/htm/rxsocks/rxsock.htm)

In my opinion, the socks at those two sites don't hold a teeny candle
to the CK's.

Search terms used: socks cotton lycra women's
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&q=socks+cotton+lycra+women%27s&btnG=Google+Search

I do hope I have helped you to ameliorate your hosiery woes.

Keep smiling,

alanna-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by apteryx-ga on 26 Jun 2002 00:12 PDT

Crew.  And thanks for asking.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by apteryx-ga on 26 Jun 2002 00:43 PDT

Thank you, alanna.  Some attractive possibilities here--especially the
Grass Roots, for my style.  I was unable to tell from looking at these
if they are really cushy.  That was my problem in my own research. 
How do I tell from whatever info. is given (such as "medium
thickness") if they are really cushiony?  The lycra might be the
answer to the staying-up part, but I also need the soft padding.  The
heel pain, which is unrelated to the diabetes, is almost crippling on
some days.  I am middle-aged, with a full-time job, teenage kinds, and
plenty to do, and am by no means ready to become inactive.  But before
I spend a bushel on footwear, I need to know how to tell what will
help make my dark skies bright.

---

Clarification of Answer by alanna-ga on 26 Jun 2002 04:03 PDT

Hi aptereyx - You sure do lead an active life.  It must be the pits to
have to deal with foot pain while you are running around.

I peered closely at the Grass Roots pictures, and you're right, it's
not easy to tell how cushiony they are.  I guess you have tried foam
sole inserts or heel inserts in your shoes, so those options are
non-starters.

The only other kind of sock I found was an athletic sock with padding.
 The colors are boring but here goes:

Red Wing Comfort Cushion and Comfort Crew
http://www.redwingshoes.com/products_accessories.html

Girl Gear
http://www.girlgear.co.uk/acatalog/Girlgear_Catalogue_Female_Cycle_Clothing_2.html

note: for Girl Gear, you'll need a sizing equivalent chart found at
the bottom of the page; halfway down you'll also see a neat heat
molded insole featured.
http://www.altrec.com/shop/detail/12688/13/sizing

Freshpair.com Thorlo hiking and tennis socks
http://www.freshpair.com/catalog_section_women_id_24.html

It's the old dilemma: comfort or style.  Personally I would invest in
one pair of Grass Roots to test them out. And maybe try out the padded
socks on the weekends?

I wish I could have found the perfect sock for you.  

Alanna

search terms used: socks cotton lycra women's pad OR pads OR hiking
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&q=socks+cotton+lycra+women%27s+pad+OR+pads&btnG=Google+Search

Very good job.  With the added clarification, I think this answer goes
about as far as we are going to get.  Alanna certainly mustered a lot
of good information; beyond that, maybe I'm asking the impossible. 
Thanks, Alanna!

Hello,

I would probably try to answer this question but it's very late and
nearing bedtime for me! So, maybe this link will help; I've gotten
Wigwam socks several times and their 'atheletic' category of socks has
several variations of thickness and padding to choose from. The
colors, unfortunately, seem rather limited. Still, I hope you find
something appealing here:

http://www.essentialapparel.com/cgi-bin/exec/store?referrer=adwordsWIGWAMSOCKS&page=wigwam.html

Good luck!

Regards,
Dandrick-ga

WigWams are great socks, but before you try those you should buy a
pair of SmartWools available from http://www.smartwool.com/index.html.
 They have won various accolades for their comfort and durability.  If
these don't work for you, I'd be quite surprised!  I hope this helps
ya and I'd love to know what you think of your new SmartWools.

Good luck,
Fooky

A slightly different look at the situation. 

You have two problems 1) obtaining comfortable socks and 2) keeping
them up.  May I offer a possible solution to part 2?  In the military,
in order to keep your shirt tightly tucked, you wears garters.  These
are lengths of elastic with rubber-grip/ring fastners on both ends. 
They fasten at the lowest point of the shirt on both sides and then
extend down to fasten to the sock on that side.  Not only does it keep
your shirttail down, but it also does a great job of keeping your
socks up.

Easy :) Holeproof Computer Socks

from the site: http://www.holeproof.com.au/products/brands/brands_compsox.asp

"Considered by many as the most comfortable men's sock ever developed,
computer socks were a world first in sock design.

They were the first sock to comfortably stay up when all others
failed. Computer Socks technology is licensed to over 20 countries
world-wide and the technological innovation is acknowledged through
display in the Sydney Science Museum."

Try Gold Toe socks.  My grandfather had diabetes and very poor
circulation in his legs and feet.  He always bought Gold Toe socks
because they were the most comfortable.  They make a certain style
that does not have elastic around the band.  Not all stores carry
them, so he would have to call the company and order them direct.  I
don't know if they still do that, this was about 5 years ago.  But you
can also try to call a retailer that sells Gold Toe and ask them if
they can stock those.  Ask for the kind without elastic and tell them
why you need them.  They should be familiar with which style it is.  I
think the other suggestions of Wigwam socks, while well-intentioned,
aren't taking into account the fact that you're diabetic.  I have
Wigwam socks and I think they would be too tight for a diabetic.  I've
seen what diabetes can do to feet, and I know these were the only
socks my grandfather could wear.  I hope this helps.

FootJoy (http://www.footjoy.com/)the people that made their name
making golf shoes sell the most comfortable sock I've ever owned. They
are available in white and "dress sock" styles. They can be found in
most golf course proshops.

[Original requestor adds]  I should have said crew in my Q--sorry.  I
could not figure out how to respond to the request for clarification. 
There is no 'clarify' button that I can find, and the FAQ and instrux
did not help at all.

Also, with all due thanks to authors of comments, I am not ready to
turn to men's socks (with or without garters) as my solution.  Surely
there's an equal need among women.  I do appreciate the point that it
is two problems--thank you, suspense--and I am hoping there exists a
findable pair of socks that will solve both.

The "rage" in Japan among school girls are ridiculously long, saggy
socks that are held in place with a special "sock glue."

You can order it online from J-List at:
http://www.jlist.com/cgi-bin/shop.cgi?ss=sock&function=search

On the other hand, I hope you just manage to find some good,
comfortable socks that stay up on their own.