People have habits that many times make no sense and may not have an obvious origin. How do you dress when is comes to putting on your shoes?
Yes, there are many aways around this question, i.e.: I wear sandals, I go barefoot, no socks.
Just play along with the premise.
More often the former but it depends. Usually ive put my socks on from the drawer in the bedroom then come step into my shoes in the livingroom on the way out. If for some reason ive grabbed a pair of socks and go sit down in the livingroom with my shoes in front of me I might put a sock on, step into the shoe and repeat.