The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

The most-gifted piece of apparel during the holidays? Sweaters? Nope. Scarves? No. Ties or hats? Not those either.

Socks. The dowdy necessity long regarded as one of the most boring gifts ever, is suddenly cool.

Sales of socks -- particularly funky, patterned, novel varieties -- are on the upswing, as more Americans look to express themselves through their footwear, according to market research firm NPD Group. And as the holidays near, retailers say we’re approaching peak buying season: Roughly 20 percent of sock purchases take place in December.

“There are no rules anymore: Color explosions,...