As an avid watcher of Fashion Week, certain pieces really catch my eye. Some things confuse me and some things intrigue me. I participate in wearing the newest fashion fad to some degree, but why do I do this? This question puzzles me greatly when it comes to a particular trend with girls across the world: boot socks.

What are boot socks you may ask; well if you take a look in a high school hallway you might understand what I mean just with a quick glance down. From the Uggs or the combat boots, these little pieces of nylon are peaking out to say hello. They range from mid-calf to over-the-knee; scandalous? Apparently not when worn with skirts.

Where did this simple trend even come from? I did my research and I came across this woman named Shelby Mason, the creator of a company called Boot Tights. Mason’s products range from lace, cheetah print, and everything in between. People pay $25 for these two pairs of nylon socks—ridiculous, but everybody keeps coming back and buying more.

I am a culprit myself in buying these socks, but I only have two pairs so it doesn’t really count. Like stated above, I wear them with jeans for that extra umph, or with a dress when I’m wearing combat boots, but why? Is it the constant force from the outside world telling me to look a certain way, or do I really enjoy wearing these socks? Am I conforming to society’s norms just like that one girl in the Forever 21 advert? Is this really even about how much I dislike boot socks?

In reality, everyone who participates in this odd trend can’t really be bothered to think about the small details like I do. I like to think that paying attention to close detail like this is a good aspect about a person but really you just turn out to be an avid complainer. Whether or not you wear these socks doesn’t really show what kind of person you are, it shows that you like to take a step in a direction that everybody else is heading in. Unfortunately, so am I.