It’s cold and rainy, why would anyone even consider not wearing socks? Bring out the boots!!
LU, your tachana merkazit story reminds me of one that happened to a friend- she was davening at the kosel when a lady comes over to her and gives her a mussar shmuz about how it is not proper for her to wear a sheitle (peah nochris, there are many who hold that it is assur to wear a sheitle, but rather women should cover their hair with a scarf/hat/turban etc). My friend was single at the time with thick, a bit-past-the-chin-length hair.