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.

The original backseamed stockings were fully fashioned, like the Ultra Sheer Retro Backseam Stockings.  A fully fashioned stocking is leg-shaped, allowing for a better fit across the curves of a leg when the fabric isn’t very stretchy. You can see the difference between the Ultra Sheer Retros and Lycra Cuban Heels, which augment their fiber blend with spandex. Neither of these stockings has been worn, but one is practically shaped like a leg already, going in a bit at the ankle to keep things sleek! And they’re much longer, since they don’t have it in them to stretch up.

But why? Well, the original nylon stockings didn’t have stretch. Like the Ultra Sheer Retro Backseam Stockings, they liked to wrinkle at the ankle and bag at the knees, relying on the springiness of knit and mesh to properly shape to your leg. Even the Two Tone Red Cuban Heel Stockings have a leg shape straight out of the package, and they are 15% spandex! Starting out shaped like a leg helps a stocking live a better-fitting life.

Our tip for keeping the bagginess away is to touch them up by dipping your hands in warm water and rubbing them up your legs, starting at the ankle, for a better fit. The water rejuvenates the fibers and helps sproing them back into shape. In the additional images for this style, you can see how the stockings look at the ankle and the knee when they get stretched out.

By the mid-sixties, more and more innovations to nylon were bringing stretchier, better fitting stockings that are the precursors to the nylon/spandex blends most stockings are today.  Just how do today’s nylon stockings match up to those of yesteryear? Here’s some pretty old package pictures and comparisons to feast your eyes on!

First, let’s look at some old styles. You can’t find these any more, but sharp eyes can often find old stockings in thrift shops. This pair is 100% nylon “run-resist” seamless. The cheap packaging and basic foot (the toe and heel are barely reinforced) means this pair was probably a cheaper, everyday style. How fun is that purple bag, though?

Now this pair is also 100% nylon, but they feel fabulous, like silky clouds. The hard box and excess of tissue paper lets you know these were nice stockings to save up for.

When looking at these fabulous old examples of nylon loveliness, I realised that the Ultra Sheer Retro Backseam Stockings were the perfect in-between for these mid-century stockings. Not as rough as one pair, not quite as fantastically fine as the other. And, like those old stockings, they rely on shape more than stretch, they’re as light as a feather and very delicate (I was super worried I’d snag any of these three styles while shooting them!).

Here’s a close up detail of the texture of these stockings. The cheap pair are on the left, the Ultra Sheer Retro Backseam Stockings in the middle, with the fancy-pants stockings on the right. Texture-wise, the Ultra Sheer Retro Backseam Stockings have a similar delicacy to the more expensive pair, with a fine texture that helps them blend against your legs.

Other sheer stockings we carry aren’t quite as fine. Stockings like these do require a careful hand in wearing them, because they’re so delicate. But, here’s a fun tip: if you want our finest, sheerest nylon styles, use this search term “These are very sheer and delicate.” Our caution is your code to finding the finest!

If you love old stocking styles, definitely check out our “Socks Through Time” board on our Pinterest! There are some fabulous styles on there that make me want to break out the time machine! And I’m not done talking nylons yet, we’ll have some tips and tricks for you later this month!

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!

Because they’re light and not very textured, nylon stockings can be fantastic gentle scrubbers. Just ball ‘em up and have at whatever needs to be cleaned or dusted with a more careful touch.

They’re also so gentle that thin strips are perfect to tie back plants to stakes or to anchor climbing vines. I would have a picture here, but I don’t grow things (it’s for the best).

Maybe you already know the newspaper trick for washing mirrors (WAY less lint than paper towels!), but nylons work just as well. And even less lint!

Okay, you KNOW you dropped something back there, under the very heavy thing. Just rubber-band a sheer stocking over the open end of your vacuum cleaner hose and try fishing for it. The stocking is open enough that the vacuum still suctions, but isn’t so open that the vacuum eats whatever you were trying to find.

That porousness is great for making bath sachets too. Throw some powdered milk, baking soda, oatmeal and lavender in there (it’s easiest if you stretch the stocking over a cup), tie it off and hang it below the tap in your tub. Nothing gross floating in the bath, but all the benefit of fancy bath times!

And here is a truly crafty crafting option! Craftgrrl has a Cheap Screenprinting Tutorial! Easy and quick screen printing. Just some nylons, non-water based glue and an embroidery hoop.

There’s a lot you can do with socks, too, but whew, I think they’ll need a whole post of their own! Do you have any tips for reusing old nylons?

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.

Sticking with stockings, these two styles offer the intricate look of a lace up, but none of the bother!

• Faux Corset Cuban Heel Pantyhose •
• Lace Top Faux Lace Up Stockings •

If you’re looking for something more sock like, the Faux Ballerina Crews and the Fairytale Knee Highs offer a little bit of a lace up look, and the Keyhole Corset Laced Leg Warmers are “laced” with a stitched-in elastic, for all the look and none of the worry!

And while we’re talking ribbons, if you want to just tie on something wonderful, we have two great accessories just for you.

• Lace Trimmed Striped Satin Bustle •
• Boot Cuff Warmer •

No matter how involved you want your socks to be, we have you covered, from thigh high laces to just accents, pretend lace up looks and things that need just a bow.

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.

Stockings:

By “stockings” I mean high nylon content thigh highs and over the knees (though a lot of trouser socks could qualify too), like the Two-Tone Red Cuban Heels.  Stockings, nylon tights, fishnet, or any of the more delicate styles need to be hand washed in warm or cool water and hung to dry.  Hand washing is pretty simple.  Use a mild detergent like Hosiery Mate and focus on more soiled areas, like the feet.  You want to treat them carefully.  Talking with other Dreamers, we use a couple of different approaches, depending on the delicacy of the stocking and how dirty it is.

For general washing, “kitty paws” and swishing in a bowl or sink of sudsy water is enough.  Just gentle poking and mild agitation, in a gentle imitation of a washing machine.

For a little more washing, follow the same movements you do when washing your hands, but with the stocking between them.

If you’ve got a trouble spot, careful rubbing with thumbs helps you spot treat any stains.

Once the stockings are sudsed up, rinse in cool, clear water until all the soap is out.  You can gently squeeze them to remove excess water, but don’t wring them.

Hanging up to dry is as easy as throwing the stockings over a towel or curtain rod, with a towel underneath to help soak up water.

Niq went over her basic washing process in the Sock Journal in 2005, using a hosiery bag.  Thicker nylon styles can go in a hosiery bag in your washing machine on gentle cycles, but the thinnest style most of us Dreamers feel comfortable with washing this way are the Color Tights.

Cotton (and cotton blend) socks and tights:

Most socks are a cotton blend and their care is pretty easy.  You’ll see, looking in the Fiber Content and on the label, that most cotton blend socks like to be washed in cool or warm water and then tumble dried on low.  Tempurature-wise, “cold” or “cool” is 65 to 85F° or 30C° and “warm” is 105F° or 40C°.  A lot of labels show a symbol for what kind of wash cycle you should use.

These are some common washing instruction symbols.

One of my favourite washing reference sites is Laundry Essentials.  It’s a great way to reference just which thing means what.

Drying instruction symbols are pretty similar to washing symbols.  One dot means cold, two dots mean warm, three mean hot.  Two lines underneath the symbol mean gentle cycle.  But a lot of us Dreamers don’t even tumble dry their socks (I do use the dryer, I will admit, but I wash all my clothes the same way: wash cold, tumble dry medium) and a lot of washing instructions don’t recommend it.  Here are some symbols to keep an eye out for:

When you see the symbol for drip dry, it often is indicating that you shouldn’t wring excess water out of the sock as you can hurt some fibers pretty badly that way.

Gentle detergents, washing with like colours and not over-drying are more ways to keep your machine-washable socks in good condition longer.  Cotton blends, acrylic and bamboo all are washed about the same way, but keep an eye on that Fiber Content and any tags, to make sure that you treat each sock as it would like to be treated.  High cotton content socks, like those in our cotton category, with 70% or higher cotton content, do need to avoid hot temperatures, because they’ll shrink up and the fibers will wear out much more quickly.

Wool:

Wool socks are wonderful, but depending on their blend and what kind of animal fiber they’re made from, they need to be treated specially.  What happens when you don’t wash wool carefully? It felts and shrinks and becomes not much use to anyone.  I haven’t done it to socks yet, but this sweater used to be an adult’s XXL.

Because wool care has so many variables and I don’t want to totally overwhelm you, I’ll share just the basics for now and focus on wool care in another post, with the help of Zaf, the Dreamer who tends our Tumblr and has more wool socks than anyone I know.  One thing to keep in mind is that, unless they’re very dirty, wool socks can go several wears between washes.

Most of the wool styles we carry recommend machine washing cold, on the gentle cycle and lying flat to dry.  For the best care you’d want to hand wash them, but with as little rubbing or friction as possible, using a detergent or wash that doesn’t create a lot of bubbles, so the fibers don’t felt.  Remember, it’s lather and heat plus friction that makes things felt up.  So use the same, gentle “kitty paws” and swish techniques from hand washing nylons for wool.

To speed up drying you don’t want to wring the excess water out of your socks, you want to press it. Lay your socks flat on a towel and roll it up tightly.

Unroll your towel and move the socks to a fresh towel, gently pressing them back into their proper shape.  Leave them in a warm, dry place, remembering to turn them over once they start getting dry, so they dry evenly.  I also try to remember to flip the towel (or refold it), so that they’re not just sitting on a damp thing.

There are a lot of great resources for washing wool, like at How To Clean Things and at Martha Stewart.  But they all agree on the basics: tepid water, gentle touch, reshape as you dry flat.

There is the wonderful “superwash wool” that you’ll find in styles like those from MP. Superwash wool has been treated in a way that inhibits wool fibers’ felting tendencies, so products made from it can go through the wash and, in theory, even be tumble dried.  Even so, for most styles that are made from superwash wool, like the MP Wide Stripe Cotton-Lined Wool Tights whose label suggests washing warm or hot, we still recommend washing inside out in cool water and hanging to dry.  It’s better to be cautious with styles you love!

Lots of information! But if you want to keep your socks and stockings looking their best and extend their life, careful and thoughtful care is key.  And you can extend this information to any of your clothing with similar fiber content.  Because I’m sure you buy clothes to match your socks like a lot of us Dreamers do, and if your clothes wear out before your socks do, how will you match perfectly?

And the winner is…

Great group shot featuring multiple pairs of what is quite possibly the best example of a St Patty’s Day stocking (or sock) that we sell!

This contest was born & held on Facebook.
Future contests should be better featured and shared via Twitter and here in our sock journal… I’ve just been so occupied with beta testing related tasks that I have barely completed a thought in weeks =) and soon, you will all see what I see…

And the winner is…

Great group shot featuring multiple pairs of what is quite possibly the best example of a St Patty’s Day stocking (or sock) that we sell!

This contest was born & held on Facebook.
Future contests should be better featured and shared via Twitter and here in our sock journal… I’ve just been so occupied with beta testing related tasks that I have barely completed a thought in weeks =) and soon, you will all see what I see…

And the winner is…

Great group shot featuring multiple pairs of what is quite possibly the best example of a St Patty’s Day stocking (or sock) that we sell!

This contest was born & held on Facebook.
Future contests should be better featured and shared via Twitter and here in our sock journal… I’ve just been so occupied with beta testing related tasks that I have barely completed a thought in weeks =) and soon, you will all see what I see…

And the winner is…

Great group shot featuring multiple pairs of what is quite possibly the best example of a St Patty’s Day stocking (or sock) that we sell!

This contest was born & held on Facebook.
Future contests should be better featured and shared via Twitter and here in our sock journal… I’ve just been so occupied with beta testing related tasks that I have barely completed a thought in weeks =) and soon, you will all see what I see…