A Love Letter to Socks, the Humble but Reliably Wonderful Last-Minute Gift

It’s the holiday season, which means it’s time to do some gift shopping! We’re sharing our favorite picks for anyone on your list—check out all of our gift guides here!

Everyone has a favorite go-to gift they count on year after year. For some, it’s a pretty coffee mug; for others, it’s a delicious-smelling candle. For me, it’s socks.

I’ve already professed my love for a very particular sock, but here’s the thing: No matter how well you know the giftee, there’s a sock out there that’ll work for them. Wine is hard to buy if you don’t know what kind your pal drinks (if they drink at all); candles are tough if there are allergies and smell preferences to consider; mugs are fun, but what if they don’t have space or—gulp—they’re not a hot beverage person????? Socks are the answer. See our top picks below, and get ready to surprise and delight this holiday season with cozy (and stylish) feet—no matter your budget.

Get these festive socks for your parents, sibling, or anyone else you feel like you need to go big for. The holiday patterns are subtle enough to wear into January and February (although honestly there’s nothing stopping anyone from wearing them year-round), and the honeycomb arch support provides just the right amount of comfortable compression. Four cotton-blend pairs come in a pretty box that’s ready for wrapping—or, if you’re really running late, a stick-on bow.

Buy: Snowflake Calf Sock Gift Box for Men or Women, $65 at Bombas

All-fleece socks from home organization staple Muji are the ultimate lounging-around-the house gift, and they’re under $10. Grab a hand cream to go with, and you’ve got an A+ gift.

Buy: Women Boa Fleece Room Socks, $8.90 at Muji

This collab between L.L. Bean and Darn Tough looks like something you might have worn to summer camp in the 1970s, in the best way. The wool-blend socks have hiker mega-fans over at Reddit. They’re available in three different colors for both women and men.

Buy: Katahdin Micro Crew Sock for Women or Men, $24 at L.L. Bean

Between the sky blue color and the adorable flamingos on this pair, what’s not to love? Bring some warm feelings to your pal even in cold weather. Urban Outfitters has plenty of other quirky socks to mine, too, including swimming shark- and avocado-adorned ones.

Buy: Flamingo Crew Sock, $10 at Urban Outfitters

The boxed set of seven comes with a cheeky fried egg pattern, a groovy graphic pattern, a classic argyle (in a bold color), and more.

Buy: Happy Socks 7 Days Gift Box, $84 at Nordstrom

Smartwool started my love affair with socks, and the love’s still there. These shorties—which are 57% wool and 41% nylon—are great for ankle-high boots (and friends and family in warm climates).

Buy: Smartwool PhD Outdoor Light Pattern Mini Socks (Women’s), $18.95 at REI

Just because nobody else can see your socks doesn’t mean they need to be boring. This set of three low-cut, no-show socks brings the good vibes.

Buy: Angela Chase Show Sock Set, $20 at Anthropologie

These cuties come in classic winter patterns that probably also live on a quilt in some cabin in northern Maine. Made of a blend of polyester, acrylic, wool, and spandex, they’re super soft—and the price is nice, at what works out to $8 a pair.

Buy: MUK LUKS Women’s 3pk Holiday Boot Socks, $24 at Target

Cable knit exterior with a fleece lining on these means even the frostiest of feet will get a warm-up. Plus: pom poms!

Buy: Ugg Pom Pom Fleece Lined Socks, $49.50 at Nordstrom

The grippy soles on this pair are good for yoga and barre classes, too, which your most active friend will appreciate. And in a sea of black and gray, they’ll love these bright pink-patterned ones.

Buy: Miley Grip Sock, $14 at Pointe Studio

You can upload photos of up to three faces on each pair of these socks. Orders ship within 10 days, so if you order today you can still get yours on time.

Buy: Custom Dog Socks, from $24 at Divvy Up

The heels, toes, and tops of these socks have a little shine to them, but the rest show off bold bar stripes. These come in navy, too.

Buy: Burro Crew, $14 at Hansel from Basel

What’s this? What’s this? Oh, just six low-cut socks featuring Jack Skellington’s face.

Buy: Nightmare Before Christmas 6pk Low Cut Socks, $8 at Target

These come in adorable little cracker packages, so you can easily give them out all together or individually.

Buy: Disney Princess 6pk Socks in Surprise Crackers, $12 at Target

Pendleton’s classic Glacier Park stripes also appear on winter hats, wool scarves, dog beds, and yes, blankets, so if your pal’s the collecting type, they have plenty of options.

Buy: Pendleton National Park Stripe Crew Sock, $22 at Urban Outfitters