Life&Style. Let's talk about socks By Jeff Allen, Contributor Your never felt intimidation until you've had someone like David Beckham lock eyes with you. I can attest to the intimida- tion felt in his gaze: he in his skivvies, | in my Pearl Jam T-shirt circa 2003. It happened last week while browsing H&M. Beckham’s black and white image ona box of dangling Ginch, eyeballing me while I browsed for socks. White socks, specifically. I don’t need Beckham or the alluring pout of Lana Del Rey to inform me that I’m neither fashionable nor fit. I’ve made peace with my body image and have fully embraced the poutine and Timbit lifestyle. I’m more into The art of being alone There is no shame in solitude By Elliot Chan, Contributor fter a grueling week of customer service and group projects, it’s healthy to want some alone time. Yet, to many people the idea of going out by themselves is piti- ful. What could be worse than entering a restaurant and asking for a table for one? Society has made it taboo to enjoy solitary pleasures, but I find solace in knowing that nobody can alienate those already alone. 10 band names on shirts rather than brand names on shirts. That said, I’m not beyond the seduc- tion of new apparel. But what is a walking fashion “don't,” like myself, to do? A guy limited not only by budgetary constraints, but his own inherent lack of fashion imagination? I say start from the bottom up. I have always been partial to white sport socks. My level of opti- mism on any given day correlates to the condi- tion of sock I step into. Do they match? Are they embarrassingly stained on the foot? Or worse, do they have that telltale terminal hole in the heel? Not only do white socks reveal your mindset, but like all modes of dress, for better or worse, they reveal who you are. I’m aman of simple tastes and decided to weigh in We live in a chaotic world where everyone is juggling responsibilities and relationships in one hand, and trying to hold their coffee in the other. People claim to know how to relax, but they’re often simply introducing another stressful activity. Don’t underestimate the strenuousness of hanging out with friends. It can be exhausting trying to gather everyone and dip- lomatically decide what to do. Enough of them— it is time to focus on yourself. Go on and ask yourself what you really want to do, and do it. Time alone is not wasted time. In fact, occasional solitude is on three options for you like-minded connoisseurs of chaussettes de sport. 1. H&M sport socks ($6.95 per four-pack): These utilize a clean Scandinavian design, and are a throwback to the tube socks of my youth, sans coloured rings at the top. Incorporating that wonderful Swedish (IKEA) philosophy of let- ting the consumer do all the work, this sock allows the wearer to determine heel-placement within the form. Tube socks were swell when I was 10. However, I am an adult now with respon- sibilities; a potential inverse tube sock situ- ation when I’m late for class is another challenge I don’t need. In terms of ankle support, I felt the elasticity was sub-par. Nobody needs that loose feeling around the ankles beneficial. For one thing, being alone allows your brain to function at a slower pace. In a group, a collection of minds can work as one to formulate solutions. Alone, your mind is simply allowed to drift from thought to thought, analyzing data at its own speed and arriving at personally desirable conclusions. This is a replenishing experience. I consider it the ground floor of being yourself. From there, you can understand your ideal mode of concentration and that is the staircase to self- discovery. Sorry to get all Zen on you guys, but it is a vital part of examining midday. My buddy swears by H&M under- garments, as he claims they “make your package look bigger,” alas, I find their socks lacking. 2. Old Navy crew socks ($8 per three-pack): Although slightly more expensive, they adequately represent the white sock sensory experience. Though bot- tom cushioning could be improved, the socks should last through sev- eral washings. The added benefit of the Old Navy line is the grey bottom footing, which makes it easily identifiable when pairing socks on laundry day. 3. Joe sport socks ($8 per four-pack, available at Superstore): These prom- ise a “fresh” experience, and I suppose it makes sense that a grocery chain whether or not you are in fact a needy jerk. Of course, Iam not telling you to joina monastery and become a recluse. I’m also not telling you to cancel plans to take naps either. What I am saying is that it is okay to negotiate time with yourself, your co-workers, classmate, friends, family, and significant others. Solitude will improve your relationship with all those people, because any form of relation- ship is a reflection of yourself. So the better you recognize your own features, the clearer you can see those in others. Being independent would promote their clothing in the same way they do their milk and packaged cow tongues. The sock doesn’t disap- point in terms of overall comfort, and offers “antimicrobial protec- tion,” which implies that my feet will never smell. Ultimately, these socks, like so many designer brands, lack that special je ne sais quoi you find in hardier socks found at manly-man retail outlets like Mark’s Work Warehouse. I don’t know if white sports socks make the dude, but in my experience, a fresh clean pair can definitely improve your outlook, even if you’re not waking up next to a Spice Girl. As I journey down the road to self-improvement here at Douglas, my quest for the ultimate white sport sock will continue. is a positive attribute. Some people consider it loneliness, but I consider it freedom. I am free to try that new restaurant, watch that old movie, or visit a town that I never knew existed. We don’t need to feel guilty or ashamed for going on adventures alone. We should feel privileged. So schedule some solitary time, because in a world of over seven billion people, it is the time alone that we should truly cherish.