1950s Hosiery: The Golden Age

The 1950s represented the peak of fully fashioned nylon stocking culture. Post-war prosperity, feminine fashion ideals, and refined manufacturing created what many consider the golden age of hosiery.

Post-War Abundance

After the wartime shortages and nylon riots, the 1950s brought plenty:

• Full production: Nylon factories at peak capacity
• Affordable luxury: Stockings available to all classes
• Quality improvements: Better yarns, finer gauges
• Brand competition: Many manufacturers competing

Women who had suffered through rationing embraced the abundance.

The 1950s Silhouette

Fashion demanded elegant legs:

• Full skirts: New Look style showed movement
• Pencil skirts: Tight styles required smooth hosiery
• Heels always: Stilettos emerged, legs on display
• Feminine ideal: Polished, put-together appearance

No respectable woman went out without stockings and heels.

The Stocking Wardrobe

1950s women owned multiple stockings for different occasions:

Denier and Gauge

Understanding stocking quality became common knowledge:

• Denier: Thread thickness—lower = sheerer
• Gauge: Needles per inch—higher = finer knit
• 51 gauge: Standard everyday quality
• 60 gauge: Premium sheerness
• 66 gauge: Luxury evening wear

Women learned to shop by the numbers.

Color Palettes

1950s shades had evocative names:

• Barely There: Palest nude
• Sun Bronze: Summer tan shades
• Honey Beige: Warm medium tone
• Cinnamon Toast: Richer browns
• Night Shadow: Ultra-dark for evening

Matching stocking shade to skin tone was an art form.

Cuban Heels and Variations

Cuban heel stockings reached peak popularity:

• Cuban: Square/rectangular heel reinforcement
• French: Curved, elegant heel shape
• Point heel: Extended up the leg
• Contrast colors: Dark heels on nude stockings

The heel style was as important as the shade.

Seam Culture

The back seam was fashion's detail obsession:

• Straight seams essential: Crooked seams were embarrassing
• Mirror checks: Women constantly verified seam position
• Friends helped: "Is my seam straight?" common question
• Dark seams glamorous: Contrast seams for evening

Seam straightness was a marker of being well-groomed.

The Garter Belt

Garter belts (suspender belts) were universal:

• Standard underwear: Every woman owned several
• Practical design: Simple elastic and clips
• Girdles too: Many girdles had attached garters
• No alternative: Only way to hold up stockings

Garter belts weren't lingerie—they were utilitarian necessities.

Brand Loyalty

Major hosiery brands commanded fierce loyalty:

• Hanes: Quality reputation
• Burlington: Innovation leader
• Berkshire: Premium positioning
• Cannon: Value brand
• Mojud: Popular choice

Women stuck with their preferred brand for years.

The End of an Era

By decade's end, change was coming:

• 1959: First pantyhose introduced
• Seamless stockings: Beginning to appear
• Youth rebellion: Teenagers questioning traditions
• Fashion hints: Hemlines starting to rise

The 1960s would sweep away the elegant stocking culture of the 1950s.

Lasting Influence

1950s hosiery style influences fashion today:

• Pinup aesthetic: 1950s stockings define the look
• Retro fashion: Cuban heels remain popular
• Bridal: Traditional weddings use seamed stockings
• Collector market: Original 1950s stockings valuable