All I Want For Xmas: Full Fashioned Stockings

Still having trouble deciding what to get me? No worries. I'm back again to drop some more less-than-subtle hints. Maybe you're afraid that, after last week, everyone ran out and got me some tulle. Maybe you want something more unique. I completely understand and, as always, I'm here to help.

My love for leg wear may only be equaled by my love for all things vintage. Of course, when you combine the two you get fully fashioned stockings. What could be more perfect? Stockings are, of course, always sexy, but when you add in the detail, the hand-crafted attention to detail, and the 100% nylon, things get much sexier.

Here's what I'm talking about:

Tentation Fully Fashioned Stockings by Kiss Me Deadly

Gio Point Heel Fully Fashioned Stockings

Cervin Capri 15 Denier Nylon Stockings

Secrets in Lace Fully Fashioned Stockings with Glamor French Heel

What Katie Did Fully Fashioned Stockings with Cuban Heel

Betty Sue in Katherine by Agent Provocateur

Once again, I hope this helps. I know how hard I can be to buy for ;-).

Good News 4 You

Vintage stockings are getting harder and harder to find. Once produced out of 100% nylon on special machines, in the early half of the last century, stocking manufacturers have almost all switched to mass producing stockings out of a nylon and lycra (or elastane) blend. With far fewer in production, it is not always easy to find the type of stockings seen in the movies and pin-up girls from the 40s and 50s, which were much more typically worn by all women of that era.

If you're a woman with longer legs (or a guy) you're most often even more out of luck. Unlike the stockings of today which include lycra, vintage stockings have almost no stretch, so much more attention needs to be paid to the specific size of the stocking. Vintage stockings often come in inches instead of sizes. Buy a length that isn't long enough, and the stocking has no chance of reaching the garter.

That's what makes the latest news out of Alexis4You so exciting (at least for me). Alexis4You commissioned an old stockings mill to begin production of full fashioned stockings in longer than normal (also know as 'tall girl' or 'opera length') lengths. These begin at 36" (measured from the bottom of the heel to the top of the stocking and extend all the way up to 42". By 'full fashioned' it means that these stockings include a back seem as well as the reinforced bottom of the foot which comes up to a cuban heel (a reinforced darker black square shape that extends above the back of the ankle).

Any fans of stockings and vintage looks should consider getting their hands on these, particularly if you are on the taller side. At $39.99, they're certainly not as cheap as typical gartered stockings, but are certainly competitive with most of the full-fashioned stockings on the market. ...that is, when you can find them.

Now We Need Stockings...

Yesterday I profiled a very lovely bodysuit from Eres. I mentioned at the time that, due to the four garter straps at the bottom of the suit, a nice pair of stockings would be needed to finish off the look.

So what is one to do? You don't exactly finish off an Eres bodysuit with a pair of one size fits all stockings from the corner drugstore. The bodysuit was described by comments as: sexy, beautiful, lovely, and detailed, among many other glowing terms. It is therefore important to find a pair of stockings that compliments all of those things.

When one needs such stockings, one should think of Cervin. Their stockings are handmade in a classic retro style that you don't often see anymore. The size needs to be carefully selected as they are made to fit specific heights.

One such option, pictured here, is the Swing Time Stockings by Cervin. These are done in the classic style with a few unique twists. As with all full-fashioned stockings they are 100% nylon with a back seam. They also have the reinforced sole and keyhole loop in the back. As with all stockings by Cervin, the brand logo is hand-stitched into the top of the stocking.

What this stocking also has that is well done, in my opinion, is an added design on the back of the ankle. Decreasing picots start below the mid calf and extend down to the top of the french heel. I think this adds a little bit more style to a stocking that already has plenty of it.

The stockings are available in sizes 1-5 and can fit heights between 4'10" and 6' which is great news from people like me who can sometimes be too tall for full fashioned stockings. They cost £29.95 (about $47 USD). Not a bad price when you consider that they are made with such detail that Cervin can only produce 8 of these in an hour. After all, isn't a little extra attention to detail always worth it?

In My Full-Fashioned Glory

I finally got a chance to wear my full fashioned stockings that I purchased from Alexis 4 You a while back. They are, without a doubt, the nicest vintage stockings I own. I have been building up quite a collection of vintage style stockings over the last few months, but this is only the second pair of full fashioned that I have purchased over that period of time. The other, which I reviewed a while back, were the Premier Euro Heel Stockings from Secrets in Lace.

The Secrets in Lace stockings were nice, but these are a bit nicer, I thought. They are, of course, 100% nylon, and 15 denier. They are ultra sheer with a Cuban Heel and a reinforced foot. Very pin-up model like. They also came with a key hole at the welt where I could attach one of my garter straps on each leg. I was happy to wear them around all day, and I couldn't get over the way they look and feel. I will most likely be shopping Alexis 4 You in the future. It's always nice when I find vintage "Tall Girl" stockings, as I prefer the kind that come up a bit higher on my thigh.

If you are at all interested you can get them from the Alexis 4 You website, where you can also browse quite a collection of other vintage stockings at the same time. I know that's what I'm doing. And I'll tell you, I got my eye on the Manhattan Heel stockings right now...