THE  SOCIAL  HISTORY  OF  FLATBUSH


by Gertrude Lefferts Vanderbilt

1887



STOCKINGS

    Even articles so simple as stockings have been subject to the mutations 
of fashions. We read that Queen Elizabeth had them "of black knitted silk." 

There is little doubt that at an early period they were of bright colors. In 
1737, or thereabout, white stockings were first worn. At first they 
occasioned some dispute as to whether they were modest and lady-like. White 
stockings, however, continued to be worn, even in the deepest mourning, we 
are told, until 1778; at that time black silk stockings were introduced as 
the usual wear in England.

    Black silk stockings were always worn in our recollection in this country 
by ladies in mourning until about 1855, when the fashion of wearing high 
boots hid the stocking, and unbleached cotton hose were worn with all 
dresses, whether dark or light. At that same period, also, children always 
wore white stockings with white dresses; a dark stocking with a white dress 
would have been considered in very bad taste. At present that has been 
changed; colored hose of the deepest or of the most brilliant dye are worn 
with white dresses, and white or unbleached cotton hose are worn only at the 
will of the owner.

    The knitting of stockings was an important industry in the family in the 
last century and in the beginning of this. The ball of gray and dark-blue 
woolen yarn was always in the knitting-basket; the stockings for the whole 
family were knit by hand at that time; the children's were often of red yarn; 
the men's were of gray or blue, and the women's of any color to suit the 
fancy of the wearer. To-day, when a good pair of unbleached cotton hose can 
be purchased for 25 or 30 cents, and coarse cotton at even a less price, we 
can not advise the resumption of the knitting-needle, although it seems like 
a pleasant, home-like way of spending the long winter evening, when conversation, 
or even reading, offers no interruption to the industrious fingers.


NEXT....FLATBUSH SOCIAL..SHOES

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