The one thing I am sad to rarely find reproductions of is embroidered stockings. It is most likely because women today are not scrambling to roll on a pair of opaque silk stockings, the only type that can most likely take to embroidery without tearing.
Left: Sold item from Etsy seller Ivy Cottage; Right: Sold item from Vintage Textile.
Embroidered stockings were around even during the Napoleonic era, but the fashion of having a design on the shin or knee area of hosiery occurred during the few years that higher hemlines were popular in the late 20s. Even then, the idea of flaunting one's "short" skirt with decorated hose was seen as scandalous. At least from what I can tell through the commentary I have found on this rare fashion.
Image from Mothic Flights & Flutterings
Gloria Swanson wearing embroidered stockings. These stockings look similar to a pair that were shown in a Nell Brinkley story (who we spoke of in the last post)...
Sections showing the side and front view of embroidered stockings on Brinkley's character "Prudence Prim" from the December 6, 1925 American Weekly.
Image from Mothic Flights & Flutterings
And to finish off this post and the series, here is Bebe Daniels wearing short socks with the ballerina ribbon design AND wearing ballet-style slippers. Kind of odd, if you ask me.
I hope you enjoyed this week long series of flapper leg decor!
Love these! Why on earth haven't I thought of this before, I can only wonder, since I indeed do like to wear those opaque very very grannylike stockings that I think would take to this rather nicely. Thank you!
Piia
Posted by: Pia | Monday, April 11, 2011 at 01:18 PM
I would love some embroidered silk stockings. Bebaroque (http://www.bebaroque.co.uk/) sometimes has nice embroidered hosiery, but it's expensive and I can't help thinking it wouldn't last any longer than normal tights.
Posted by: Kate in England | Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 09:23 AM