The History of Knit Hosiery

Legsss- Blair DeVorrs

via Blair DeVour

Nothing says sexy like a pair of Vintage Fully Fashioned Stockings! They are becoming increasingly rare and at the same time, increasingly popular. Fully Fashioned refers to the process by which they are knitted flat and then sewn together, to form the seam up the entire back of the stocking. Since they were made exclusively to fit the wearer's shoe size and height, they contain no Lycra within the yarn; resulting in little or no stretch.

1940's Fashion:

How to Wear Fully Fashioned Stockings

via Glamour Daze

The history of the stocking goes way back and was very much an accessory worn for warmth. It's not until the roaring 20's, when hemlines were shrinking, that women started wearing a sheer versions made of silk and eventually Nylon. Interestingly enough, before the fad of sheer stockings became popular, the style of the day was to roll your stockings to just above the knee and wear with your swim suit:

by 1926, this fad, thankfully, disappeared!

By the  1930's, the DuPonts dropped the invention of Nylon on the masses and the 1940's saw women giving up their silk stockings for the war effort. Pantyhose replaced stockings in the 1960's and has remained more popular since. Everyone has their preferences, in terms of stocking vs. Pantyhose. I personally love stockings, thigh highs in particular. After wearing a garter and clip apparatus, I decided it was not for me. They didn't feel secure enough against my thigh for my liking and I kept adjusting them often.

There is an interesting image and film history here. Just in case your curious.... there are some vintage lingerie patterns out there.