Stocking

Stockings cover your legs.

They go from your feet up to your thighs. They can be many colors. They can also be thin or thick.

Long ago, people made them by hand. They used wool, silk, or cotton.

Some were made of silk for queens.

Later, people made them with machines. This made them very stretchy. In the 1920s, women wore them for fashion.

Nylon is a special material. It is very strong and thin. During a war, it was hard to find them.

Today, people wear them many ways. Some use a belt with straps to hold them up. Others use elastic to keep them in place.

Stockings are clothes that cover the legs.

They go from the foot up to the knee or thigh. People wear them for fashion. They come in many colors and designs. Some are very thin and see-through. Others are thick and dark.

In the past, people made stockings by hand. They used wool, linen, or silk.

Queen Elizabeth I even had silk stockings made for her. Later, machines helped make them. This made them stretchy and easy to wear.

In 1939, a new material called nylon was made.

Nylon is thin and strong. During World War II, factories used nylon to make parachutes instead. This made stockings hard to find. People even had riots in stores to get them!

There are different ways to keep stockings up. Some have a band of elastic at the top. We call these hold-ups. Others use a garter belt. This is a belt with straps that clip to the stockings.

You can also find fishnet stockings. These have a wide pattern that looks like a net.

Stockings are close-fitting clothes that cover a leg.

They can go from the foot up to the knee. Some even reach all the way up the thigh. People wear them for fashion or to look nice. They come in many colors and designs. Some are very thin and see-through. Others are thick and dark. Today, people often wear them with short or mid-length skirts.

There are different ways to keep stockings from falling down. One way is to use hold-ups, which are also called stay-ups. These have a band of elastic at the top of the leg. This band helps them stay in place without slipping. Another way is to use a garter belt.

This is a belt worn around the waist. It has straps that clip onto the tops of the stockings. A third way is using a garter. This is a band that clamps the stocking to the leg. This is often worn by a bride at a wedding.

Long ago, people made stockings by hand. They used materials like wool, linen, or silk.

In the 1500s, men often wore things called hose. Queen Elizabeth I had special silk stockings made for her. In 1560, a merchant named Thomas Gresham tried to find silk hose in Antwerp. He could not find any, so he sent measurements to Spain. He had 20 pairs made there instead. Later, machines were invented to help make them. The first knitting machines were actually made for making stockings.

In 1939, a company called DuPont made a new material called nylon.

Nylon stockings were very thin and strong. People in the United States loved them so much. Up to 4 million pairs were bought in just one day! During World War II, factories stopped making stockings. They used the nylon to make parachutes and airplane cords. This caused a shortage of stockings. It even led to something called the nylon riots in American stores. People were very upset because they could not find any.

Stockings have many different styles and names. Some have a pattern that looks like a net. These are called fishnet stockings.

You can also find stockings with a special heel. A Cuban heel has a reinforced part that is sewn. Some stockings are made to be very thin. This is called ultra sheer, and it can be as low as 1 denier. The word denier tells us how thick the fabric is. A lower number means the stocking is more see-through. A higher number means it is more durable.

Stockings are close-fitting garments designed to cover the leg.

They typically extend from the foot up to the knee. Some styles may reach part or all of the thigh. These garments vary significantly in color, design, and transparency. In modern fashion, they are often worn with short or mid-length skirts. People use them for aesthetics and personal style. They serve as a functional part of hosiery, which includes various leg coverings.

There are three primary methods used to keep stockings in place. The most common method is using hold-ups, also known as stay-ups.

These feature a band of elastic or silicone at the top. This material resists slipping down the thigh. The second common method involves a garter belt.

In American English, this is called a suspender belt. It is a piece of underwear worn around the waist. It uses straps, or stays, to clip onto the tops of the stockings. Some people use girdles that include these clips. The least common method is using a garter. This is a band slipped over the top to clamp the stocking to the leg. Brides often wear these during weddings.

Stockings come in many specialized types and styles. One common style is fishnet, which has a wide open knit.

A similar but wider pattern is called fencenet. The thickness of the fabric is measured in denier. A lower denier number means the garment is sheerer. For example, ultra sheer stockings can be as low as 1 denier. A higher denier makes the stockings more opaque and durable. Some stockings feature a Cuban heel, which is a reinforced heel made by folding and sewing. Other styles include the demi-toe, which reinforces only the tip of the toes. There are also seamless stockings, which are knit in one continuous operation on circular machines.

Historically, the terminology and construction of these garments have shifted. In the medieval period, men typically wore garments called hose.

By the 15th century, the word "stock" referred to a one-piece covering for the lower trunk and limbs. This was essentially tights made of upper-stocks and nether-stocks. Before the 1590s, stockings were either hand-knitted or made from woven cloth. Knitted versions were preferred due to their flexibility. Early stockings were made from materials like cotton, linen, wool, or silk. A polished cotton known as lisle was a common choice. Interestingly, the first knitting machines were actually invented to make stockings.

Royal history provides specific examples of high-quality stockings. In 1560, the merchant Thomas Gresham sought silk hose for Elizabeth I. He could not find them in Antwerp. Consequently, he sent her measurements to Spain to have 20 pairs made. In 1562, Sybil Penn gave the Queen a gift of knitted silk stockings. Later, a woman named Alice Montague supplied the Queen with silk stockings. These historical accounts show how much value was placed on fine silk hosiery.

The 20th century brought massive changes through chemical innovation. In 1939, the company DuPont introduced nylon.

This material was cheap, durable, and sheer. The demand was so high that Americans purchased up to 4 million pairs in a single day. However, World War II changed production. DuPont stopped making stockings to produce parachutes and airplane cords. This created a severe shortage and a black market. When production finally resumed, the high demand caused disturbances known as the nylon riots. This era marked a major turning point in how stockings were manufactured and consumed.

Stockings have also competed with other types of hosiery. In the 1940s and 1950s, a precursor to pantyhose appeared in film and theater. Actresses often had stockings sewn directly to their briefs. By 1959, the introduction of commercial pantyhose provided a major alternative. As dress hemlines rose, the use of traditional stockings declined. In 1970, U.S. sales of pantyhose exceeded stockings for the first time. While pantyhose remain the most sold type of hosiery, stockings are still used for specific aesthetic reasons. They allow for the use of lace, appliqué, and the exposure of the thigh.