PROJECT Show is looking to dot up their employees this February in Las Vegas. They teamed with sock icons Happy Socks for a collaborative polka dot affair as designed by Nick Wooster. Who knew the man liked polka dots! They’ll adorn staff and also be available in the PROJECT pop-up shop. $12 a pair.

Possibly some of the finest multi-coloured boot socks on the market, Wilderness Wear are made with functionality in mind. Even if you never put them to the test, it’s good to know you’ll be mountain and trek ready if you’re ever called into action. “The Merino Fleece sock is used, in the field, by both the Australian Antarctic Division and the Australian Defence Department personnel. The high merino yarn content coupled with the socks construction ensures warmth, durability and comfort.” We don’t know if the amazing colourways are a tech feature but they’re the real selling point for us. More at Silver and Gold.

Our good friend, Eugene Kan over at Hypebeast shares his eight holiday picks for 2011. The Hong Kong based writer and thinker clearly knows what he want for the holidays – many of those gifts are subtle reminders of his years in North America. We still got something going on right over here. We love DQ as well. Follow him @eugenekan

Read and see more of Eugene Kan’s eight holiday selections after the click.

More gift ideas, you may sigh at the idea of getting or giving socks but in truth they’re probably one of the most useful presents you could receive. Although they continually reappear on ‘Unimaginative item’ lists, people buy them because people want them. That’s especially true if they’re an excellent pair of Paul Smith’s.

These have two things going for them. They’re navy and they feature polka dots and if you’re not getting an iPad or one of those BMW electric cars then what more could you ask for. Find them at Mr Porter.

Click for more

Some reasonably priced Fair Isle socks, our favourite festive hoisery, courtesy of Scott Nichol. The Leicestershire based company has been producing socks for quite some time now. Their trademark is the ‘Hand-linked toe’ which gives the sock an almost seamless finish, strengthening them and protecting you from any unsightly big toe poke through. The finish also makes them incredibly comfortable which is pretty much job number one. Thick boot socks that will keep you warm as well as stylish, a Made in England cotton mix, available at Oi Polloi.

Yeah, yeah, streetwear brand on menswear site and all that. You all know the drill by now – barriers are being broken down and all that jazz. And, if we’re honest, right now the only difference between a menswear outfit and streetwear one is a 5 panel cap and some Visvim trainers. Anyway, these socks are perfect if you’re up for a flash of sock. And we said sock by the way. A flash of that other thing will land you behind bars. (Flatspot)

We’ve been getting a little carried away on the sock front of late, we’ll make no apology. This is what happens when Summer says ’see you later’. Still holding out for some cashmere numbers for those luxury feet situations,  in the meantime the reasonably priced Goerke Socks from premium line Mr Bs at Aldo would put a smile on our faces. Fairisle socks are always welcome round these parts. The design team at Mr B’s went all the way to Japan to find machines capable of creating these intricate patterns. It paid off. More at the Mr. B’s Gentlemen’s Boutique.

Click for more

Cashmere socks might seem like an unnecessary luxury but that’s because they are. If you’re spending nearly as much on socks as the shoes you tie over them you should fully expect an unease to wash over you as you hand your credit card over at the till. The problem with cashmere socks is that if you’ve gone to the expense of purchasing a pair then you need to treat them right and, oh, yeah, there’s that unease again as you find yourself putting on a separate wash just for your ‘premium hoisery’. Yet, in all this we find ourselves drawn to this little bit of madness. Tabio use the finest cashmere, they tell us they remove it by hand with a comb during the spring moulting season. No shears for these guys. So, if somebody’s gone to the trouble of combing goats it seems rude, churlish even, to not buy a pair. Only as a mark of respect you understand.

Click for more

Sunny Sports are always just on the right side of light-hearted in terms of print and design. ‘Fun’ can be tricky territory when it comes to clothing but this Japanese brand manages to keep things colourful and interesting whilst avoiding ‘jazzy’. This winter design is sober enough to allow a little peek between trouser and shoe, good stuff. Find them at Context.

More look after the click.

Now here’s a pair of socks that’ll go well with a red hooded Ray J-esque sweatshirt. We often find it hard to wax lyrical about socks because, you know, they’re socks. There’s a science to them, but there’s a science to your freezer as well – that doesn’t mean you want to hear some in depth talk about them. What you want to know is that they’ll look good, feel great and give you that Ray-J* steez we all want. (Oi Polloi)