From Bottom to top: Cute and Funny Socks

I have been given socks as presents, which the person who gave them to me thought were cute or funny or cozy: like those glove socks, where each toe has its own home, striped socks, or fluffy polyester ones in bright colors for cold evenings. And when those socks are worn by others, I noticed people making remarks about how cute or funny they are, which sort of reinforces the decision to wear these kind of socks.

When I see those socks on adults, I react and cringe, because my desire for esthetics is momentarily not met. Obviously, there is no right or wrong. I am just wondering and trying to understand. Where is the line between clothing and costumes? If someone wears a piece of clothing, which tends to become a conversation piece is the intention to receive additional attention or wanting to communicate something specific, like 'I have humor' or I like 'bright colors'? What about the criteria of age-appropriateness and occasion-appropriateness?

And this time it has nothing to do with the difference in German or American humor, which I stumble over sometimes, because even Germans wear cute and funny socks.