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 much 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.

Of the finest quality, these stockings are an excellent example of hosiery serving a seductive purpose rather than a functional one. The lace insert is twice the length as it usually is on such stockings, revealing the leg from the ankle up to the knee. The sheerness of the silk in addition to the lace makes these stockings the ultimate feminine accessory.