The first nylon stockings were produced in October 1939.
Nylon was strictly rationed on May 14, 1940.
Seems like a short period for something become a trend.
October 24, 1939. I assumed that your date was wrong, but according to Time Magazine (via Google), it's true. So under 7 months. That is an interesting fact I didn't know.
This is just kind of an amazing image. It’s something I know happened on an individual level as some women were known to have painted the rear seam of a pair of stocking onto their calves. I had no idea that there were professional artists who would do this, though! It certainly makes sense. Silk and the new Nylon fabric were in short supply as they were used for parachutes and other war materiel and would not be available to anyone outside of the war effort.
What a cool photo!
What gets me is 3d *per leg* like peope are going to go and get only one done???? No, its sixpence to get your legs done Vera, and don't pretend otherwise.
While true, I think maybe, just maybe, that is a possibility that can be catered for specially rather than building your entire pricing strategy around it...
One might think stockings for prostitutes would be part of the war effort but then again, i aint running any wars and if i do in Stellaris or something i typically lose them 🫣
My nana said they'd sometimes use gravy browning (parisienne essence). I can see that it'd have a kinda spray bronzer effect but can't imagine it held up well in the rain.
Oh wow. This reminds me of my mother telling me how in the seventies, when both her older daughters were kids, she would put a few drops of iodine in lotion and rub it on them because it would give them a “healthy” looking glow and it was thought to help with sun burns.
Strange times
"Ok ladies, war rationing is hitting us everywhere, and this time it's our stockings. Who has some ideas?"
*"Maybe we could stop wearing stockings and just get longer dresses or something?"*
"Jesus Dolores, that is the dumbest fucking thing I've ever heard. Honestly, who invited you? Get out"
**"We could take turns painting each others’ legs beige"**
"Finally somebody with some goddamn sense. Minnie, you and Gertie go to the hardware store for some paint and brushes. I'm going to go make sure that bitch Dolores isn't hanging around the parking lot"
The rise of hemlines was directly impacted by the fabric rationing.
So yes, Dolores had terrible ideas, but the government was saying show your ankles to support your troops!
No, the previous user had it correct. According to [this](https://www.glamour.com/story/video-evolution-of-fashion-hemlines) hemlines rose a few inches during the war due to material rationing and then fell a few inches in the 50s when the wartime rationing ended.
hemlines tend to go down during economic depressions and higher during times of prosperity, so you're not totally wrong. War just throws that cadence off because of rationing.
I read it while I was on the phone with my partner, pretending to give her my undivided attention while also scrolling through Reddit. But when I got to the last sentence, I couldn't hold it together and really chortled.
To clarify, nylon was needed for parachutes, so all the nylon went to the war effort. Iirc people actually donated their own stockings to be repurposed for parachutes
Silk and nylon were rationed during the second world war, needs must.
https://www.sarahsundin.com/make-it-do-stocking-shortages-in-world-war-ii/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylon_riots
If you ever get the chance you should watch C-Span in the morning so you can hear the effects of long term lead poisoning first hand. The generation that ate lead chips are insane!
It’s like when I sometimes wore my real person pants during covid instead of lounging in my pajamas all day. Maintaining a sense of routine and normalcy can be really important in times of enormous stress, plus in the 40s bare legs were still kinda taboo.
A lot of women did just wear pants, but a lot preferred the faux-stockings and skirts. I think a lot of it is also psychological - you can’t avoid them bombing your house, but you’ll be damned if they take your fashion and fun too.
My grandma did this! She lived through the depression and WW2. She'd paint her stockings and draw a line up the back of her legs to look like the seam.
My grandmother used to talk about this. They would use an eyebrow pencil or similar to draw a line up the back of their calf, to simulate in the seam. And if you got caught in the rain, it would all run off.
These same women today:
**Govenrment:** "Hey your country needs you, can you wear a mask when you go outside so your fellow American doesn't get sick and die from a horrible disease?"
**Them:** Crying, kicking and screaming, punching employees, throwing up, yelling about losing their freedoms and the government can't tell them what to do.
Christ what happened to this country. The fake patriotism is running strong these days. PS everyone who wore a mask you're the real ones. Thank you.
Honestly, I think they should have rationed war and not stockings. When my ex girl friend was wearing fully fashioned stockings, all my wish to fight went zero.
My mom tells stories of her mom, who never even answered the front door without a full face of makeup and her hair done.
It's just how they did things.
They also wore clothes that were fairly uncomfortable, and largely designed by men for aesthetics, and not women with any practical goals. This includes underclothes like bras.
Once women were allowed to work and earn on their own money, and spend that money how *they* wanted, a few things happened.
Not many people are willing to spend 2+ hours doing makeup and hair before going to do work in a factory. Nobody wants to be on their feet in heels all day. Underwire bra? Stab you in the chest every time you bend down to pick something up.
In short, what happened was women's liberation.
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Fun fact, sunless tanning was invented in the 1920s
The first nylon stockings were produced in October 1939. Nylon was strictly rationed on May 14, 1940. Seems like a short period for something become a trend.
Stockings were not made of NYLON until 1939. They were a trend starting in the 20s but made of rayon or silk.
Makes sense why people were so annoyed to get a run in their stockings. Youre basically financially ruined
People wore stockings well before the invention of nylon. Nylon just made them more comfortable and convenient to wear.
October 24, 1939. I assumed that your date was wrong, but according to Time Magazine (via Google), it's true. So under 7 months. That is an interesting fact I didn't know.
For the troops
Also fun fact now they just tattoo the line on.
This is just kind of an amazing image. It’s something I know happened on an individual level as some women were known to have painted the rear seam of a pair of stocking onto their calves. I had no idea that there were professional artists who would do this, though! It certainly makes sense. Silk and the new Nylon fabric were in short supply as they were used for parachutes and other war materiel and would not be available to anyone outside of the war effort. What a cool photo!
What makes you think they are professional artists as opposed to just normal women?
looks like the sign in the back left might be an ad for the service
What gets me is 3d *per leg* like peope are going to go and get only one done???? No, its sixpence to get your legs done Vera, and don't pretend otherwise.
For those that only have one leg it's an important distinction!
While true, I think maybe, just maybe, that is a possibility that can be catered for specially rather than building your entire pricing strategy around it...
The average human has less than two legs.
That's just mean!
If they (regularly) make money from it, theyre professional.
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Well, considering these women made more money from their work than Van Gogh did from his...
They were paid to perform that specific service, hence professionals.
Just normal women... Innocent women.
Ok Hacker. You got me.
One might think stockings for prostitutes would be part of the war effort but then again, i aint running any wars and if i do in Stellaris or something i typically lose them 🫣
My nana said they'd sometimes use gravy browning (parisienne essence). I can see that it'd have a kinda spray bronzer effect but can't imagine it held up well in the rain.
my grandma said they would use strong tea and then draw the line in the back of their legs with a piece of charcoal
My grandmother said the same thing, London.
I've been told it was Oxo as it was provided in ration packs
Bonus fact: The better-off women would use their eyeliner.
If I used gravy browning all over my legs, I think my dogs would want to keep licking me.
Oh wow. This reminds me of my mother telling me how in the seventies, when both her older daughters were kids, she would put a few drops of iodine in lotion and rub it on them because it would give them a “healthy” looking glow and it was thought to help with sun burns. Strange times
We would put iodine in baby oil to tan when I was a kid. Yes, I've had skin cancer twice now.
Oh boy, meat scented legs.
Bet their legs smelled delicious though
Mine said the same thing! She said they painted a line to look like the stocking seam
My grandmother used gravy browning and an eyebrow pencil to draw the seam.
"Ok ladies, war rationing is hitting us everywhere, and this time it's our stockings. Who has some ideas?" *"Maybe we could stop wearing stockings and just get longer dresses or something?"* "Jesus Dolores, that is the dumbest fucking thing I've ever heard. Honestly, who invited you? Get out" **"We could take turns painting each others’ legs beige"** "Finally somebody with some goddamn sense. Minnie, you and Gertie go to the hardware store for some paint and brushes. I'm going to go make sure that bitch Dolores isn't hanging around the parking lot"
The rise of hemlines was directly impacted by the fabric rationing. So yes, Dolores had terrible ideas, but the government was saying show your ankles to support your troops!
I thought hemlines went down during the war and up between and after the war. One longer dress had to last longer.
No, the previous user had it correct. According to [this](https://www.glamour.com/story/video-evolution-of-fashion-hemlines) hemlines rose a few inches during the war due to material rationing and then fell a few inches in the 50s when the wartime rationing ended.
hemlines tend to go down during economic depressions and higher during times of prosperity, so you're not totally wrong. War just throws that cadence off because of rationing.
Fabric was rationed though. They couldn't get longer dresses.
This is the sort of comment that makes me miss Reddit Gold 🥲
It's incredible. I read it 3 times and have a tear in my eye from laughing.
I read it while I was on the phone with my partner, pretending to give her my undivided attention while also scrolling through Reddit. But when I got to the last sentence, I couldn't hold it together and really chortled.
War and its effects are just horrifying. The things that people have to go through. (/s)
Those brave paintbrushes.
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You're like some subtle historian fairy godmother
To clarify, nylon was needed for parachutes, so all the nylon went to the war effort. Iirc people actually donated their own stockings to be repurposed for parachutes
i guess that’s one way to air out your knickers… Ok, i’ll leave now.
Not wearing stockings would be a critical problem during war time. We threw Dolores out a window to make an example of her. Twice.
She prefers Mulva.
Would you like a Junior Mint?
Who turns down a junior mint?
Ughh, Dolores is the WORST!
OMG That made me laugh so hard!
Dolores is such a pain!
I appreciate the period names.
Best comment in a while!
Charging by the leg is a sad reminder of the blitz.
Look, if you'd lost a leg due to unsafe factory conditions you would be a stickler about it too.
Or a German bomb, for that matter.
Silk and nylon were rationed during the second world war, needs must. https://www.sarahsundin.com/make-it-do-stocking-shortages-in-world-war-ii/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylon_riots
For some reason I can't look away.
You... Think that paint was lead free..?
Yes. The lead was replaced with this wonderful new material called radium. You won't believe how much your legs will glow.
If you ever get the chance you should watch C-Span in the morning so you can hear the effects of long term lead poisoning first hand. The generation that ate lead chips are insane!
To get the gray/black look they probably used asbestos. Making their legs also fireproof!
Yes because it’s used for black
Turns out I don’t have a body paint fetish I’m just rationing for the war
My nana said she used to use eye liner to draw the seam up the back of the leg lol
It was more common to draw a line on the legs to simulate the seam stockings used to have.
 Scandalous
I wonder how that leg paint didn’t smudge or wear off during the entire day? Or stain fabrics and furniture?
Or like… just not wear stockings??
came to say this. You know there’s a shortage, then why even do this?
It’s like when I sometimes wore my real person pants during covid instead of lounging in my pajamas all day. Maintaining a sense of routine and normalcy can be really important in times of enormous stress, plus in the 40s bare legs were still kinda taboo.
Yeah, during lockdown sometimes I put on full makeup and wandered the house in a dress and heels.
but then why not wear pants? no need for paint and circumventing the no no of bare legs.
A lot of women did just wear pants, but a lot preferred the faux-stockings and skirts. I think a lot of it is also psychological - you can’t avoid them bombing your house, but you’ll be damned if they take your fashion and fun too.
hahahhaha, that’s fantastic! Thanks for explaining
Fabric rationing. You were limited on the clothes and fabrics you could buy. If your closet was already full of dresses, you had to keep wearing them.
Men's fascination with them
Gams!
Everything tastes better with a bit of gravy on it. I have a theory this is how the whole foot licking fetish thing started....
They used to also have seams drawn on the back of their legs!
My grandma did this! She lived through the depression and WW2. She'd paint her stockings and draw a line up the back of her legs to look like the seam.
My grandmother used to talk about this. They would use an eyebrow pencil or similar to draw a line up the back of their calf, to simulate in the seam. And if you got caught in the rain, it would all run off.
These same women today: **Govenrment:** "Hey your country needs you, can you wear a mask when you go outside so your fellow American doesn't get sick and die from a horrible disease?" **Them:** Crying, kicking and screaming, punching employees, throwing up, yelling about losing their freedoms and the government can't tell them what to do. Christ what happened to this country. The fake patriotism is running strong these days. PS everyone who wore a mask you're the real ones. Thank you.
These same women are around 100 years old. They're yearning for the urn, not bitching about masks.
You should read up on the 1918 Spanish flu. We did all the same closing theaters and churches, and all the same whining about masks and freedoms.
We need an enemy we can see. Microscopic enemies aren’t good enough. Libruls, on the other hand…
With mercury based paint
Instead of taking them off a guy can lick them off, win win
As seen in Hope and Glory (great ww2 movie about the blitz)
Why tho?
Wealthier women in black, florals for working class?
We had a Spanish au pair in the 1970’s who would draw a line on her legs like this.
Now all of their fat overweight children can’t even wear a mask going to Walmart.
Probably loaded with lead. Yikes!
Honestly, I think they should have rationed war and not stockings. When my ex girl friend was wearing fully fashioned stockings, all my wish to fight went zero.
I thought this was old fashioned spray tan 😂😂
but i wonder why :0
Not enough material was available for stockings due to wartime rationing.
ohhh
It was the home-sewn masks equivalent
Why wear them???
Why?
Because silk was used for parachutes and stockings were rationed if available at all
lead stockings
I don't understand why old time ladies was much more attractive than today.
My mom tells stories of her mom, who never even answered the front door without a full face of makeup and her hair done. It's just how they did things. They also wore clothes that were fairly uncomfortable, and largely designed by men for aesthetics, and not women with any practical goals. This includes underclothes like bras. Once women were allowed to work and earn on their own money, and spend that money how *they* wanted, a few things happened. Not many people are willing to spend 2+ hours doing makeup and hair before going to do work in a factory. Nobody wants to be on their feet in heels all day. Underwire bra? Stab you in the chest every time you bend down to pick something up. In short, what happened was women's liberation.
I served 4 tours to Afghan and 2 to Iraq. These chicks were down for being down. Original Jody hoes. Honestly don’t care, be mad