It seems you so often see whimsical-style witches and other cutesy spooky-type females wearing striped socks (usually black and white). Where did this originate? Was it ever a common fashion in real life? If so, how did it come to be associated with spooky girls specifically?
I remember them on the "Wicked Witch of the East"s feet/legs just before they curled up after the ruby slippers were removed. I don’t know if they ever showed up before then, but I think they showed up that way ever after.
My WAG is that is started with the Wicked Witch of the East in Wizard of Oz. And the reason for that was the movie was looking for strong visual statements to use in the newfangled color film. In the original illustrations for the book you just see feet sticking out from under the house, no stockings (and never mind that the shoes were silver, not ruby.)