Stockings

Stockings, originally designed for practical purposes, soon transformed into a fashionable accessory with the invention of the knitting frame in 1589 and then the circular-knitting machine in 1816. This technology allowed for a tighter weave and a better fit. Also, it was easier to produce stockings, making them more affordable and readily available to a larger public. Plain white stockings were in mode for quite some time, until the mid to late-1800s when hemlines rose, and the ankle was revealed. This change in fashion called for colorful and fanciful motifs to decorate the lower leg, a visually appealing effect.

This pair of stockings is an excellent example of how the patterning of the stocking was higher on the leg in the twentieth century, indicating the possibility of more leg being seen. The toe is stamped A.J. Cammeyer, a Fifth Avenue retailer specializing in the sale of shoes and corresponding accessories.