Seems to me that one of the things we might find crazy in the way others dress in today's diverse fashion world was not that uncommon way back when. In fact, the first appearance of knit socks go much further back than we might have imagined...as in Egypt!
The First Socks Were Worn With Sandals
Photo credit: Smithsonian Magazine
Today’s classic fashion faux pas was actually the first method of wearing this clothing item. The earliest-known knit socks are from Egypt, dating back to the 3rd–6th centuries AD.
Most of sock history occurred in colder climates, so why there were socks in ancient Egypt is a mystery. These were constructed of knitted wool, often in bright colors, with a division between the first two toes to allow for use with sandals. Basically, they were the first fashion socks because they were probably not needed for warmth.
The Romans also wore socks with their sandals. Bare-toed Roman soldiers suffered in damp northern climates like Britain, and archaeological evidence (the Vindolanda tablets) shows they would write home to request more socks be sent.
How do we know they wore them with sandals? A dig in Britain turned up a sandal with fabric fibers caught on pieces of metal inside the shoe. So, yes, this world-conquering empire expanded at the hands of armed warriors on the frontiers who wore sandals with socks.
I knew that socks had been around for a while, but never that long...and I had no idea that Roman soldiers ever wore them with sandals. Somehow it makes the typical dress code at some of the resorts around seem a lot more fashionable, ya know?
Coffee out on the patio again this morning!
