Bobby Sox

Bobby sox (also spelled bobby socks) refers to short, white socks, typically ankle-high or slightly higher, that became a popular fashion accessory among young women and girls in the United States, particularly during the 1940s and 1950s. The term is also often used metonymically to describe the young women and girls who wore them, associating the socks with a specific youthful, energetic, and wholesome image.

The popularity of bobby sox coincided with the rise of swing music, poodle skirts, saddle shoes, and other elements of 1950s teenage culture. Teenagers would often roll the tops of their bobby sox down to create a distinctive, thick cuff around their ankles. They were commonly worn with saddle shoes or loafers and were a symbol of youthful rebellion against more formal adult attire.

Beyond their purely aesthetic function, bobby sox became associated with a particular set of values and behaviors. The "bobby soxer" was often portrayed as enthusiastic, optimistic, and involved in school activities such as dances, sporting events, and cheerleading. The term also carried connotations of innocence and naiveté.

While the height of their popularity has passed, bobby sox remain a recognizable and enduring symbol of mid-20th-century American youth culture and continue to appear in retro fashion and nostalgic depictions of the era. The term itself remains in use, though less frequently, to describe similar styles of short socks.