May 2012 Stockings suspenders today are very different from what they used to be many years ago, but still equally as sexy! Fundamentally of course they remain the same because they are still worn on the legs, but the fabrics, styles and fashions change from decade to decade.
Stockings suspenders were traditionally made from silk which was probably lovely to feel against the leg (or hand for the men) although they laddered really easily, unlike today’s modern Nylon fabric, which of course still ladders if you snag them but in comparison is much more hard wearing.
Traditional stockings suspenders had seams up the back of the leg which would ideally be absolutely straight, if you were properly dressed. To keep the seam straight must have been a real pain in those days unlike modern day Nylon or Lycra which has a certain amount of elasticity old fashioned stockings really did have to be held up by suspenders.
So girls, let’s stop and appreciate for a moment how lucky we are that we don’t have to put up with real Silk stockings suspenders today!
Olden day suspenders were attached to a corset or a suspender belt, depending on the age of the wearer. Girls usually had suspender belts until their official début into society.
Originally, the Début meant the young woman was eligible to marry, and part of the purpose was to display her to eligible bachelors and their families with a view to marriage within a select upper class circle. This traditional event varies by region, but is typically referred to as a débutante ball if it is for a group of débutantes. A lone débutante might have her own “coming-out party”, or she might have a party with a sister or other close relative. Married women however always wore a corset, oh gosh yes, never a suspender belt!
The corset must have been most unpleasant, and an early version of what we girls know of as controlwear, the wonderful invention of Sarah Blakely the founder of Spanx. If you have ever worn controlwear then you know that feeling of relief when you get home from a function and undo yourself and let everything hang out at the end of an evening!
Well old fashioned corsets had stays made of wood or bone. Originally these stays were made out of whalebone and the term whalebone corsets was born.
The earliest known control wear appeared during the 16th Century and were called ‘pavre of bodies’ which contained the upper torso in the shape of a cone or cylinder. These forms later became the more familiar ‘stays’ which were made of wood or whale bone. The idea was to flatten the front of the body and in doing so push up the breasts so they bulged out of the top of the bodice.
Stays were considered an essential item to protect the back, the tightening of the midriff prevented bending and forced women to use their legs for lifting and thereby protect their backs. I wonder if that is why the younger generation don’t know how to lift anymore? Bend zee knees!
Stays survived until the late 18th century when the empire style became into fashion around 1796. The empire style of dress allowed for a great deal more freedom of movement for women and was greeted with delight by the young ladies of the time!
But back to stockings suspenders which were dangled below a corset or suspender belt, one at the front and one at the back of the stockings attached by a crocodile clip at the top of the stocking. Every time a woman sat down, the suspenders would twist and the stockings would twist with them.
Fortunately these days we have 4, 6 or even 8 clasp suspender belts and elasticated stockings to help prevent all that!
There is no doubt though that the fashion of stockings, suspenders