Vintage Hosiery Guide
06 August 2010
Welcome back, one and all. We have survived the initial presentation of the Vintage Hosiery Guide.
In the coming days I'll be writing about how to find your correct size in vintage stockings. This is a task easier said than done, but once you've found the size that fits you the best, you do not have to repeat or go through any trial and error if you want to wear a different manufacturer's stockings.
The sizing of contemporary or modern day stockings vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. What is a size A with one is a size 2 with another. For example: Cervin Capri 7 non-stretch RHT stockings, size 1 is their small, and fits someone 4'10” to 5'1”.
Now Gio RHT, size 8.5 (their smallest offering as an extra small), Shoe size (U. S.) 5 ½ – 6 ½ , Shoe size (UK) 3-4, Shoe size (Europe) 36-37, Height 4'11” - 5'2” (1.5m –1.57m), Inside leg 27”/69cm. These are two examples of modern day or contemporary stockings. It's no wonder a good number of ladies are confused to their stocking size, or limit themselves to one brand of stockings.
As you can tell, just from the comparison between modern day Cervin and Gio RHT stockings, the differences between sizing (alphabetical vs numerical), height, and Gio does specify shoe size and inside leg length, Cervin does not. Cervin is a trial and error, if you fall in-between their height guidelines, the stockings may or may not fit, depending upon your inside leg length, shoe size and weight, so you'll be buying yet more stockings to “try”.
Both of these offerings are made on circular knit machines (as are all RHT stockings, modern or vintage). The difference is in the yarn(s) used. 100% nylon has no stretch or give, and nylon/lycra blend has some give or stretch, thus virtually eliminating wrinkling at the knees or ankles.
In our next issue, we'll start discussing Fully Fashioned stockings. What are they? What are the modern offerings? Who makes them? How many manufacturers are making Fully Fashioned stockings currently? What are “Reading Machines”? We'll answer these questions and more next time in The Vintage Hosiery Guide.
