Vintage Nylons

About Vintage Nylons

Du Pont scientist Wallace Carothers created the nylon fabric (formerly referred to as Fiber 66) in 1939. Du Pont introduced the country to these sheer leg coverings at the 1939 World's Fair. When nylons went on sale the following year, women went crazy for them, buying up nearly 70 million pairs. This frenzy would come to an end when the United States entered World War II.

In 1941, Du Pont stopped making women's nylons in order to manufacture items such as parachutes, nylon rope and tents. This manufacturing moratorium on women's nylons caused what is referred to as the "Stocking Panic" and created a black market for criminals to sell a pair of nylons for a whopping 2000% markup. Nylons that were previously selling for $1 were now selling for $20 or more. This is not the end of the nylon story.

After the war ended and Du Pont was able to once again manufacture women's nylons, the black market ceased to exist. However, more problems were to come. Du Pont had to re-convert their factories from making wartime products to making stockings. This took some time and the women of the time had little patience when it came to getting their hands a pair of nylons. Many would wait in line in front of department stores for long periods of time, only to get turned away because the store ran out of nylons. This caused what is referred to as the "Nylon Riots".

During the "Nylon Riots", which lasted from 1945 to 1946, normally well-mannered women would get into all out brawls over the much coveted nylons. Shortly thereafter, Du Pont was able to increase production and meet the high demand.

Where to Buy Vintage Nylons

If this is your first time purchasing these classic nylons, keep in mind that the cost for a pair can be quite a bit more than contemporary nylons. Here are a few places in which you can purchase vintage nylons online:

• Ho-hose – Based in the United Kingdom, this company offers a huge variety of European vintage nylons.
• Old Nylons – Perfect for the vintage nylon collector, this website offers nylons made before World War II.
• Glorious Vintage – The nylons offered on Glorious Vintage are very moderately priced, but you have to act fast because they sell out quickly.
• 50's Clothes – This is an auction site where you can bid on various styles and colors of women's vintage nylons.
• Alexis 4 U – Find vintage nylons from Alberts, Hanes, Triumph, Reynolds and many other popular vintage brands.
• Isabella's Vintage – This website has a limited supply of women's classic nylons at great prices.
• Sleek n Chic – Here, you'll find a huge selection of vintage hosiery in white, taupe, beige, nude and black.
• Enchanted Oldies Vintage – This site has nylons from eras gone by, still in the original packaging. Prices are given in Great Britain Pounds (GBP) so remember to convert your currency.

Conclusion

If you're looking to get into collecting women's vintage nylons, most of the websites listed above offer their products in the original packaging, making them a great addition to your collection. If you're purchasing these nylons because you want to wear them, keep in mind that most of these stockings are thigh-highs, so you will need to buy a garter belt (vintage or otherwise) in order to do so.

Given that many collectors believe that vintage nylons will no longer be available within the next decade or so, if you want to wear your new classic nylons, consider buying a few pairs. That way, if the pair you wear gets a run or a snag, at least you'll have another pair in your collection.