Nothing but Seamed Stockings

[Idledame]

Thanks LD, that explains why my modern same-color-seam hardly shows, but the black seam was too black. I think the black seam might not look right on an old lady, even though I like them. What do you think? I was musing to my daughter that I ought to get the seams tattooed on, to save money, and not have to worry about if they're straight or not. She was horrified (which is always fun to do to teenagers-payback, you know). I had to admit it might look odd with shorts or a bathing suit.

 

[IndieCherry]

Magnolia Hosiery

I just wanted to let you ladies know that I bought a pair of fully fashioned seamed stockings from Magnolia Hosiery online http://www.magnoliahosiery.com/and I was really happy with my purchase. Apparently they have been in business since 1954 so there is a degree of authenticity there. They were a little on the pricier end, I think (they were $20 including shipping to MT). But, they have great customer service. I forgot to put my size in my order and someone e-mailed me to ask before they shipped it. And, shipping was fast.

The stockings fit well and felt good on. I was so thrilled to be able to wear them for the 1950's holiday party Hubby and I hosted. I got loads of complements too .

 

[Laura Chase]

Ladies, where do you get those 100% silk stockings to go with your 20's and 30's look?

The ones I have are all vintage, and I haven't been able to find any repro models.

I really miss silk stockings, I think they are lovely and more comfortable to the skin than nylon. Nylon is nice for some occasions, for some looks, but I like that silk stockings are so temperature-adjustable. In summer they are cool, in winter they are warm, they feel more in sync with my body than nylons.

Any ideas? I've found this, but they just don't look right to me.

 

[missjo]

As far as I know the only authentic stockings are original ones.
It is impossible to find newly made non-nylon seamed stockings.

The originals I have are not see-trough, the ones on the site are.
The ones on that site are also not seamed and the most used colour back then was brown, or rust.

I cant even find cotton seamed brown stockings.

 

[Lady Day]

All my non-nylon stockings are vintage (cotton silk blends) and that was the find of a lifetime.

missjoeri hit it, you wont be able to find all silk stockings really. Have you tried the stocking store? You could contact them. They may know of a resource.

LD

 

[LizzieMaine]

In thirty years of vintage collecting, I've never come across a single pair of wearable silk hose. But I do remember reading an article in the New York Sunday News around 1978 which announced that a particular high-end lingerie shop in Manhattan still stocked them -- so they were still being made up to then at least.

Seamed cottons don't seem to exist at all other than old store stock, but fortunately when they do turn up they're still highly wearable. Vermont Country Store used to sell non-seamed cottons, but I guess in their recent rush to expand into other sorts of merchandise, this was one item that got dropped...

 

[Laura Chase]

Thank you ladies, this is what I suspected, and feared. The ones on the site look totally wrong, I was just horrified that it was the only new silk stockings I was able to find by googling.

LizzieMaine, I have found wearable vintage silk stockings, but two pairs aren't really enough to go around. But oh, they are so extremely nice, and yes, just like missjoeri says, they are completely opaque and thick and yes, the ones I have a are light brown with a golden shiny sheen. They have a seam in the back, but because they are so opaque, it's very discrete. Like on nylons, there is a loop at the top of the seam, and a decorative pattern all the way under the welt. They have a cuban heel, but again, nowhere as visible as on nylons. There are eleven dots on each side of the seam, at the very top, right under the welt, I guess from the machine that made them.

Another wondrous thing about them is that after wearing them, they take the shape of my leg, but after sitting in my drawer for a couple of hours, they just spring back into their original shape.

Lady Day, is this the site you were thinking of?

Were all stockings back in the 20's made with a seam? Wool, cotton, silk. Was this just the only technology available?

 

[Lareesie Ladavi]

I've actually purchased some from Victoria's secret (that was like 14 years ago), but they don't carry them anymore.
Personally, I don't like them because they are already shaped and haven't much (if any) stretch. They wrinkle and bunge after a few hours. The idea is nice, with the pre foot shape and everything.

 

[Laura Chase]

I've actually purchased some from Victoria's secret (that was like 14 years ago), but they don't carry them anymore.
Personally, I don't like them because they are already shaped and haven't much (if any) stretch. They wrinkle and bunge after a few hours. The idea is nice, with the pre foot shape and everything.

I think the wrinkles are quite charming. But ff nylons are just as shaped, I would say.

 

[Lareesie Ladavi]

Don't get me wrong, it's always nice to have a natural material and the ones I had were embroidered across the top. They were beautiful, except for the shape. I lost weight and had to toss them. I held on to them for years....they weren't cheap back then. I think I paid something like 20 dollars (a lot for 14 or 15 years ago).

The fully fashioned, of today, have stretch, although they can bunge, if the garter belt slides... Now that I think about it, belts don't stay up very well, either. lol

 

[Laura Chase]

You are right, they don't have that much stretch, and I could imagine that if you lost weight, they could easily sag because they really need to fit 100%.

I'm still just quite amazed by how alive silk stockings are, as opposed to nylon. One of the pairs I have is a tad too small so it creates some stretching where the garters are attached to them, so I get these indents between the garters because they pull the stockings up while my leg pulls them down. But after I take them off, they bounce back into shape in a matter of hours.

No, garter belts that sit on the hips slide down like crazy. They are useless, just bedroom wear. But if you get one of those snug high-wasted ones, it should be ok, right?

 

[KittyT]

Were all stockings back in the 20's made with a seam? Wool, cotton, silk. Was this just the only technology available?

As far as I know, seamless stockings didn't come around until the 50s.

I don't like them because they are already shaped and haven't much (if any) stretch. They wrinkle and bunge after a few hours. The idea is nice, with the pre foot shape and everything.

If they're sagging, the stockings don't fit you right or your garter belt doesn't fit you right and is sliding.

No, garter belts that sit on the hips slide down like crazy. They are useless, just bedroom wear. But if you get one of those snug high-wasted ones, it should be ok, right?

Yes. I have a couple of basic garter belts that do not slide at all. With FF stockings, I definitely prefer a girdle, but I can and do wear them with my regular garter belts and have no problems.

 

[LizzieMaine]

As far as I know, seamless stockings didn't come around until the 50s.

They first show up in the Sears catalog in 1942, actually -- but they weren't especially popular, and didn't really catch on until the 50s.

There were also seamless cotton and rayon stockings -- in fact, many of the seamed cottons and rayons on the market were actually knit seamlessly and then had a fake seam stitched up the back. These were marketed as "Seam-Effect Back" stockings, but you can tell they aren't full fashioned as soon as you look at them.

 

[Lareesie Ladavi]

Man...you guys are making me itch to dress up and go dancing...I've been sick and haven't dressed up in a couple of weeks.

 

[missjo]

To make things even more confusing, there are seamless stockings and there are SEAMLESS stockings.
In the 30s and 40s they advertised stockings as being seamless but they ment that they did have seams but these were hard to see.
Invisible seams.

I once got lucky and bought a LOT of original pre ww2 silk seamed stockings, all Rusty coloured.
And although I keep repairing them and repairing them and repairing them, they will one day run out.

My winter tip is to buy a bunch of nice thick cotton or even woollen tights, cut off the legs and just add your own seams.
This is easy, just turn them inside out and put them under a sewing machine.
Its not ideal and not perfect, but hey, it works!

Perhaps we should all pretend that we are some sort of sicko fetish club that NEEDS these thick silk seamed stockings, it seems that today this is the only way to get producers to start making stuff!

 

[deadpandiva]

Scarlett, do you have a direct link to the pantyhose they sell? I'm not finding it. There are 2 links: Photos and Stuff...I'm not seeing anything to do with lingerie/panty hose. Thanks!

I think someone here might have mentioned dying vintage stockings but I can't find the post. I have some that are a little light so I would like to dye them. Any tips? They are lace (sort of). I'll have to post picks as I have never seen a pair quite like them. They are nylon with a little stretch. I think the lace is not for texture or design but so they don't snag.

 

[Viola]

I've never owned seamed stocking or fishnets...what are the rules for when to wear each, and can short women wear them without looking silly? Does it lengthen the leg or is that a pipe-dream? Is there a colour of fishnet that is more proper/vintage?

I had a pair of really thick cabled tights/hose (like pantyhose, but thick) at one point that I really loved but I don't know where to buy them now or if that's really a vintage look or me kidding myself.

And my guy thinks argyle or striped socks (the knee-high kind) are cute on girls, and I sort of like them too but associate them with more goth than vintage - was that ever a look? And what did they go with as far as dress/shoes?

 

[helenhighwater]

You can get 100% silk stockings from Stockings HQ in the UK, made by a French company:
http://www.stockingshq.com/cervin-champs-elysees-100-silk-stockings-927-0.html

But it doesn't look like they're seamed.

And some rather horrible hold-ups. Yack!
http://www.stockingshq.com/cervin-rive-gauche-100-silk-hold-ups-955-0.html

 

[Laura Chase]

Great news from What Katie Did - thicker quality stockings, which will be great for fall and winter! I'm especially coveting these rayon ones. Great replacement for silk, I think, without having felt the quality yet, they look a lot like the vintage silk stockings I have.

Unfortunately, the price is steep, as usual... Does anyone else make something similar to this for a more affordable price?

 

[Heather]

Great news from What Katie Did - thicker quality stockings, which will be great for fall and winter! I'm especially coveting these rayon ones. Great replacement for silk, I think, without having felt the quality yet, they look a lot like the vintage silk stockings I have.

Unfortunately, the price is steep, as usual... Does anyone else make something similar to this for a more affordable price?

I was thinking the same when I got their email!