The Vintage Nylon Stocking Era
Instructions: From nylon riots to pantyhose, test your knowledge of the hosiery that was essential to every woman's wardrobe!
- 1.
In what year were nylon stockings first sold to the public, causing a buying frenzy?
A1950B1935C1945D1940 - 2.
What chemical company invented nylon, the synthetic fiber used to make stockings?
AUnion CarbideBDow ChemicalCDuPontD3M - 3.
What happened to nylon stocking supplies during World War II?
AProduction increasedBThey were bannedCPrices tripledDNylon was diverted to make parachutes and other military items - 4.
What chaotic events occurred when nylon stockings became available again after World War II ended?
APrice warsBNylon riotsCGovernment rationingDStore boycotts - 5.
What visible feature on the back of nylon stockings was considered essential for a polished look in the 1940s and 1950s?
ALace trimBA straight back seamCA bowDReinforced heels - 6.
What did women paint on their legs as a substitute for stockings during the WWII nylon shortage?
ASuntan lotionBGravy browningCAll of these were usedDLeg makeup - 7.
What accessory was used to hold up stockings before pantyhose were invented?
ARubber bandsBSafety pinsCSock glueDGarter belt - 8.
What measurement system, using a 'denier' number, indicated how sheer or opaque a pair of stockings was?
AWeightBDenierCThread countDGauge - 9.
What product did women use to temporarily fix runs in their stockings?
ATapeBSewing kitCSuper glueDClear nail polish - 10.
What color were the most popular everyday stockings in the 1950s?
AGrayBNude/suntanCBlackDWhite - 11.
When pantyhose were introduced in 1959, what major convenience did they offer over traditional stockings?
AThey eliminated the need for a garter beltBThey were cheaperCThey lasted longerDThey came in more colors - 12.
Which brand sold pantyhose in egg-shaped plastic containers at supermarkets and drugstores?
ARound the ClockBHanesCL'eggsDNo Nonsense - 13.
What fashion-forward hosiery trend of the 1960s featured stockings in bold colors and wild patterns?
AFishnet stockingsBPatterned and colored tightsCLeg warmersDKnee-high socks - 14.
What mesh-patterned stocking style, featuring a diamond-shaped open weave, was considered daring and glamorous?
ALace stockingsBFishnet stockingsCNet tightsDOpenwork hosiery - 15.
What were women called who lined up for hours to buy the first nylon stockings in 1940?
ANylon-iacsBStocking seekersCNylon fansDThe term used was simply 'mob' or 'crowd'
Answer Key
Nylon stockings went on sale on May 15, 1940, known as 'Nylon Day.' Four million pairs sold in just four days, marking one of the most successful product launches in history.
DuPont developed nylon, announcing it at the 1939 World's Fair. It was marketed as a replacement for silk stockings, which were imported from Japan.
During WWII, nylon production was diverted entirely to military use, especially for parachutes, creating severe shortages and a thriving black market for stockings.
When nylon stockings returned to stores after WWII, demand was so intense that 'nylon riots' broke out, with women waiting in lines of thousands and fighting over limited supplies.
The back seam was a defining feature of stockings, and keeping it perfectly straight was a constant concern for women. Crooked seams were considered very embarrassing.
Women used leg makeup, gravy browning, tea, and other creative substitutes to simulate the look of stockings during WWII, often drawing seam lines with eyebrow pencil.
Garter belts, worn around the waist with adjustable clasps hanging down to grip the stocking tops, were the standard way to hold up stockings.
Denier measures the thickness of stocking fibers. Lower denier numbers (15-20) meant sheerer stockings, while higher numbers (40-70) meant more opaque, durable ones.
Clear nail polish was the go-to emergency fix for stopping runs in stockings. Women applied it at both ends of the run to prevent it from spreading.
Nude or suntan-colored stockings that matched skin tone were the everyday choice for women in the 1950s, creating the illusion of bare but polished legs.
Pantyhose combined panties and stockings into one garment, eliminating the need for a garter belt. This was especially convenient with the shorter skirts of the 1960s.
L'eggs pantyhose, launched in 1969, were sold in distinctive plastic egg-shaped containers on rotating displays in supermarkets, making hosiery as easy to buy as groceries.
The 1960s mod movement brought boldly colored and patterned tights into fashion, replacing the standard nude stocking with fun, eye-catching designs.
Fishnet stockings, with their open diamond-patterned weave, were considered provocative and glamorous, associated with showgirls and cabaret performers.
Newspapers described the massive crowds of women waiting for nylon stockings as mobs. The frenzy demonstrated how revolutionary nylon stockings were for women's fashion.