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When we talk about “stockings” as opposed to “socks”, we mean the high-nylon content styles that more often than not have to be held up with a garter belt. Though most are sheer some, like the Lycra Cuban Heeled Two Tone Stockings (shown on the far right), are semi-opaque.
On top: Ultra Sheer Retro Backseam Stockings. Beneath, from left to right: Lycra Cuban Heel Stockings, Cuban Heel Thigh Highs, Lycra Sheer Cubans with Lace Up Tops, Lycra Cuban Heeled Two Tone Stockings.
Flattering, fancy and just the thing to finish off a dressy outfit, nylons have a fascinating history. Though our focus here at Sock Dreams is on socks, we do carry and love stockings. And we’re also big nerds who love to share history and facts. Today I’ll share a quick overview of the history of nylons, with some helpful facts for folks interested in rocking these classic and classy stockings. If you want more info, there are great, in-depth, histories of stockings all over the place. I’m super partial to the Smithsonian’s Stocking Series.
Nylon stockings were introduced at the 1939 world’s fair by Dupont, who have a great little timeline with some awesome pictures from 1939. They decided against registering “nylon” as a trademark, so that the word would become synonymous with stockings. Early stockings had back seams and when folks had to give up their nylon stockings for the war effort, they reproduced that backseam with leg makeup (great article at GlamourDaze about it!), creating the illusion that nylons were still covering their legs. I love this picture we have on our Pinterest from the Library of Congress image archives, showing a barrel of nylons on their way to becoming parachutes and cords.
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection. “Here’s where your parachute came from.“
It’s because of this temporary lack of nylon that we have the wide range of cotton stockings and tights we see today. But that’s a story for another day! We’re still talking about nylons. Join us after the jump for comparisons of new nylon stockings to actual mid-century pairs and some helpful tips about these fantastic, feminine stockings.
by Brenna
May 10th, 2013
It’s March and that means National Craft Month! We’ve given you lots of DIY options for rejuvenating socks that aren’t good for being socks any more, but what about nylon socks and stockings?
Nylon styles can be thin and anybody who regularly wears classic stockings has experienced a ruining snag. With socks you can darn holes or cut ‘em to make arm warmers, or use them as the base of fun crafts. There’s a lot more material involved in a sock than there is in a stocking. Sure, thicker and opaque styles you can turn into arm warmers (like at the end of this DIY post), but what about those classically styled, sheer “nylons”? Dreamer Zaf gave some good tips for dealing with holes recently on the Tumblr, but what about when there’s just no saving them?
Well, conveniently I collect household hint books, and even more conveniently, I’ve got one from the 1960s (reprinted in the 1970s), back when nylon stockings were a staple. Heloise’s Housekeeping Hints is pretty much my favourite household hint resource and between this old version and later versions (she’s even on the web, now!), there are lots of ways to get some last use out of snagged nylons. They’re not that craft-oriented, but they are crafty (as in sneaky and smart!). For all of these tips, use clean nylons and cut off any lace tops (especially if they have silicone grip strips inside).
Lotsa tips after the jump!
by Brenna
March 1st, 2013
Lacy, lovely, lace up! Not enough suppliers offer a good lace up option, but we have pretty much every version we can get. There’s just something wonderful about bits of ribbon adding the perfect finishing touch—in a pretty bow, of course.
If you want just a bit of cute complication in your clothing, the Lycra Sheer Cubans with Lace Up Tops are just the thing. A little lace, a lot of sheer and just enough ribbon to perfectly top those backseams.
Of course, you’ll need something to hold up those stockings, so why not the Escante Satin Garter Belt? Like the lace up bits on the stockings above, these ribbons are decorative and don’t really adjust the fit, but who says everything has to be useful?
If you want a little more commitment in your lace up styles, these three require a bit more finagling to get just right—the Opaque Thigh Highs with Lace Up Back on the left come to you unlaced (which is nice if you want to just put your own fancy ribbon in right away!).
• Opaque Thigh Highs with Lace Up Back •
• Lace Socks with Ribbons •
• Fishnet Fingerless Lace Up Gloves •
After the jump, some faux lace up options for those situations when you need something as fancy, but less fussy.
by Brenna
February 24th, 2012
We’ve shown you how to take care of your socks when they get a hole, but what about everyday ways to keep them happy and whole? The first thing to think of in proper sock care is how you wash them.
We list the washing instructions for our styles in the Fiber Content area on each product page. More often than not, how you wash a sock can be matched to one of three approaches: stockings, cotton socks and wool socks.
It’s a lot of information, so I’m posting it after the jump. There’s some great reference that will help keep your socks in their best state as long as possible. Everybody has their own methods, but these are some basics that most of us Dreamers follow for keeping our socks happy and healthy.
by Brenna
January 27th, 2012
after thinking one of our favorite Dream Stockings styles was gone for good we have been blessed with lots of new colors of O Marled socks… and just in time for fall weather to start hitting us with chilly evenings and even chillier mornings.
These deliciously thick, ribbed socks stretch to an accommodating 23 inches around at the tops while still fitting those of us with scrawny calves… a true “Dream” stocking if there ever was one!
My inseam is about 30 inches and my thighs are 19 inches around so these come pretty close to the tops of my thighs if I pull them all the way up, but my favorite way to wear them is thickly cuffed just above my knees. Larger/longer legs will have varying results, but as seen in the image for charcoal, as worn by Trina, these can still be a great OTK…
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The biggest change with this new batch is that we decided to only do one foot size which we are calling large because it is larger [in the feet] than the small hunter we have leftover from the previous batches, but don’t worry, these fit a shoe size 7 right up to women’s 10 pretty well and we will probably switch that large to “one size” when those hunters are gone. I also think these itch a little more before being washed a few times, which we think is due to the marled bits, I solved it by wearing them over leggings, but really it just took washing them to soften them up.
Ember is my favorite color of these right now, and as I sit here telling you why I love them so much I am tempted to wear them through a second day because I don’t want to take them off!
by niqkita
September 15th, 2010
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