History of Stockings
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- By Liz Y
- Posted in dreamgirl, History of Stockings, lace, lace top, stocking, stockings, thigh high stockings
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The sexy staple of any femme fatale, stockings simultaneously provide coverage and sex appeal. Hugging every curve and accentuating the legs, it’s hard for the wearer not to feel like Brigitte Bardot. Here is the fascinating history of stockings.
History of Stockings
The sexy staple of any femme fatale, stockings simultaneously provide coverage and sex appeal. Hugging every curve and accentuating the legs, it’s hard for the wearer not to feel like Brigitte Bardot. Here is the fascinating history of stockings.
The word “stocking” comes from the word stock, which means: “a usually knit close-fitting covering for the foot and leg.” In the 15th century, it referred to a one-piece that concealed the lower trunk and legs. Initially, stockings were made of woven cloth, wool, silk, cotton, or linen and were primarily worn for warmth.
Longjohns (long underwear) were worn underneath long dresses but in the 1920s, as short hemlines were all the rage, women started wearing flesh-colored stockings over their longjohns. But luxurious silk stockings were not without its problems: it would tend to snag and run. A new type of fabric was needed which led to the production of the very first fully synthetic fiber. The invention of nylon by Dupont in the late 1930s revolutionized the fashion industry. Nylon was durable, strong, and cheap. They made their debut at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. Just a year later, they were sold to the public and four million pairs sold out in four days.
During WWII, Dupont stopped manufacturing stockings to focus on creating wartime material such as parachutes and rope, using the same nylon. Due to its elasticity and being shrink-proof, nylon fabric was extremely effective. Because of the shortage of stockings, many women bought them from the black market or drew seams down the back of their legs to give the appearance of wearing stockings.
Between 1945-1946, the “nylon riots” occurred when Dupont returned to making nylon stockings after the war ended. One of the worst fights broke out in Pittsburgh, when 40,000 lined up outside a store and only 13,000 stockings were available. It took months before DuPont could quicken their production to meet the incredible demand.
In 1959, commercial pantyhose (panties and stockings all in one) became an alternative to stockings. This meant that garter belts were not needed. With the swinging sixties came higher hemlines and the rise of the minidress and by 1970, sales of pantyhose exceeded stockings for the first time. By the 1980s and 1990s, comfort took precedence and bare legs became common. In 1987, sales further declined due to the invention of hold-ups.
La Femme Dangereuse offers all kinds of hosiery to fill your needs. For the delicate look of lace, try the Commando Faux thigh-hi leg wear. DreamGirl Lace Top Thigh High is flirty and DreamGirl Hosiery - Boot Look Lace Back Pantyhose has the seductive look of boots. For the illusion of garter belts, look at our DreamGirl Garter Look Black Pantyhose .
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