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| from Wearing History – 1939-40 – novelty stockings |
The other night at the Bomber Girl’s Pageant, I was asked if we carried vintage style seamed stockings in the A-D shop. I had to tell the lovely girl no, but it got me thinking…maybe we should.
You’ll all be excited to know that I’ve got several fine 20th century shoe styles planned for 2013, and we’re even starting early, with the perfect 1920s t-strap spectators, “23Skidoo,” which will be available on pre-order in about a week.
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| Wearing History – 1933 |
So why not some proper vintage stockings to go with them? I know seamed stockings are available online in plenty of places, but there is a difference between what’s available now, and what was *actually* worn in the 1920s and 30s.
For one, stockings were silk or rayon, not nylon, which came into being in the late 1930s. They came in a variety of colors, but the seam up the back more typically matched the stocking color, rather than being black or red or some other risque choice.
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| Vintage Dancer – 1927 |
Cuban heels were around, as well as Manhattan heels, double-point heels, French heels. These were to be found on “fully-fashioned stockings,” which are stockings that have lisle-reinforce heels and toes, no lycra or stretch, and, of course, need to be held up with garters.
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| Via – I think these are all just 1920s novelty stockings that are claiming to be from different eras. Those silly flappers!
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These vintage styles are hard to come by, and apparently only a few manufacturers in the world make them. I’m determined to find out more about these, though, and perhaps carry them in the store, so when you order your 23Skidoos, your Gibsons, your Claremonts or Rosemonts, you can add a pair of perfectly period and proper stockings. 🙂
6 Comments
Mel
October 29, 2012 at 12:47 AMVery awesome idea. I lucked out with Leona Edminson Stockings that had seams matching the stockings and are actually held up with garters instead of that horrible stickly elastic stuff. They are stretch but are thicker net style. Unfortunately they are very hard to come by now as they seem to have stopped makeing them.
I would definitely be interested in vintage silk stockings if they come in my size. I guess that is the beauty of stretch 😀
Scene in the Past
October 29, 2012 at 2:50 AMThis would INDEED be fantastic. I would very much appreciate proper OPAQUE seamed stockings, in all the variety of colors they had! One of Agatha Christie's 1920s books mentions a girl whose silk stockings were pale green to match her gown and shoes. Squee!
vintagevisions27
October 29, 2012 at 12:34 PMI would be very interested in period correct seamed stockings. I know there are several places on the web that offer them but they are either super expensive or not quite "right" for one reason or another.
-Emily
Mère et fils
October 29, 2012 at 12:56 PMI can't wear nylon so I will be interest.I'm happy to know the pre order for the shoes will start soon.
KittyKatt
October 30, 2012 at 5:59 AMIn a pinch, you can zigzag the back end of regular thigh highs to get the look of seamed stockings. we did that in the theater a lot.
Chelsea
October 31, 2012 at 1:07 AMI would love seamed stockings! I've been looking in all the Halloween stores and costume sections of regular stores, and I can't seem to find any that aren't fishnets.