Did you know that nylon stockings didn’t come on the market until the 1939 World’s Fair? DuPont built the first full-scale nylon plant in Seaford, Delaware, and began commercial production in late 1939. (according to this article on the history of nylon stockings).
These are advertisements from the summer 1935 Chicago Mail Order Company, mostly for silk stockings (with rayon and chiffon stockings also advertised). On the 3rd page are ads for cotton stockings and rayon socks.
Nowadays, you can hardly even buy silk stockings. The only place I know of is StockinGirl.com, for $66.99 per pair, not including shipping. In 1935, silk stockings were only 23-54 cents! If you could go back in time and buy silk stockings for 25 cents, and you resold them for $66, you’d make a profit of over 264 percent.
The descriptions provide some unusual vocabulary:
“Reinforced silk slipper soles and French heels. Mercerized cotton toes and heel tips… chiffon weight!”
“Combed cotton heel tips”
“Cradle foot… curved French heel…service weight… stretch-e-e garter tops…”
“Seamed backs and feet. Fashion marks”
“Ringless hose”
“French-nude… mock seams…”
Below are the 1930s stocking advertisement pictures I scanned:
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