Stockings

At Denier Court, we appreciate a fine stocking. Particularly fully fashioned seamed stockings. The allure of these once-commonplace garments is the reason that Denier Court exists. Decades ago, society judged ladies harshly for not wearing elegant dresses and stockings. Men were judged too for not wearing a fine suit. In more modern times it seems that the opposite is now true as few people want to be well dressed for fear of being judged or treated with suspicion.

We have a mission to turn the tide and re-introduce a little vintage glamour back into our society and demonstrate how good it can look and feel to ditch the leggings, ripped jeans and the baggy jumper in favour of more elegant styles.

With so few of the original Reading knitting machines left in the world which still produce fully fashioned seamed stockings, and society’s continuous tendency to devalue true old-style glamour, time is running out on the elegance of times gone-by. We aim to preserve, encourage and promote the fashion ideals of yesteryear and ensure our traditions last for future generations.

This may sound trivial to some, but it is very important to us. If you feel the same way, please join us and help bring back a little glamour to society. We hope you will join us for many enjoyable evenings socialising, enjoying fine food and drink and feeling as amazing as you look.

• Where to Buy
• Stockings Trivia
• Videos: How Fully Fashioned Stockings are made
• Video: How to Wear Traditional Stockings

New to buying fully-fashioned stockings? We recommend starting with Gio – manufacturers of a fine range of stockings in a wide range of colours and heel designs. They even supply colour matched lingerie to perfectly match your stockings too.

• In the 50’s and early 60’s women wouldn’t be seen without a pair of seamed stockings. In fact, if they could not afford a pair, it was common to draw a mascara line up the back of the leg. This practice was particularly prevalent during the war when stockings were unavailable.
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• The wearing of hosiery dates back to the 15th century. Before nylon stockings were invented, stockings were usually made from silk.
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• Fine stockings come in 10, 15 and 20 denier. The smaller the number the finer the stocking. A denier is the weight in grams of 6 miles of nylon thread. So 6 miles of 15 denier equates to 15 grams.
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• In 1945, Macy’s sold 50,000 pairs of nylons in just 6 hours.
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• Traditionally, bare legs were highly inappropriate in public, so stockings were essential.
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• Fully fashioned means they have been flat knitted and loops reduced to form the shape, before being sewn up the seam.
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• There are only a handful of manufacturers left in the world today.

Fully fashioned nylon stockings are made on the original Reading knitting machines and hand stitched to finish. There are very few of these machines left in the world now, and the skills requires to maintain them are very rare indeed.