You do understand that “optimality” for socks can differ a great deal, right? It depends on the intended usage (e.g. backpacking socks are rather different from dress socks), your particular idiosyncrasies (e.g. how strongly do your feet sweat), personal preferences (e.g. do you care how soft your socks are), etc.
My approach to socks is a highly sophisticated simulated annealing-type algorithm for efficient search in sock-space:
(1) Pick a pair of socks which looks okay (2) Wear them for a bit (3a) If you don’t like them, discard and goto (1) (3b) If you do like them, buy more (or close equivalents) until you’re bored with then, then goto (1)
You do understand that “optimality” for socks can differ a great deal, right? It depends on the intended usage (e.g. backpacking socks are rather different from dress socks), your particular idiosyncrasies (e.g. how strongly do your feet sweat), personal preferences (e.g. do you care how soft your socks are), etc.
My approach to socks is a highly sophisticated simulated annealing-type algorithm for efficient search in sock-space:
(1) Pick a pair of socks which looks okay
(2) Wear them for a bit
(3a) If you don’t like them, discard and goto (1)
(3b) If you do like them, buy more (or close equivalents) until you’re bored with then, then goto (1)