Volume 19 Article 10 Number 7 The Iowa Homemaker vol.19, no.7

1939 Hosiery Goes Modern Marjorie Thomas Iowa State College

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Recommended Citation Thomas, Marjorie (1939) "Hosiery Goes Modern," The Iowa Homemaker: Vol. 19 : No. 7 , Article 10. Available at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/homemaker/vol19/iss7/10

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Publications at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in The oI wa Homemaker by an authorized editor of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. amount of silk used; thus, a greater tendency to run. Many manufacturers are replacing silk with rayon and mercerized cotton in welts and feet to hold pro­ duction costs clown after the price of raw silk rose last year. Fine mercerized cotton yarns may replace J-/-(}jiet1 silk hosiery for wear with some costumes, fashion experts predict. The need for diversifying women's hosiery ward­ robe has been felt for some time. There is no parti­ Goes Modern cu lar reason for wearing the same type hose with tweed suits and soft silk dresses. Abroad this trend Marjorie Thomas finds new away from one type of hosiery is quite pronounced. durability in hosiery a A new season always brings amusing novelties onto the market. Spring socks come in flower shades, com­ coed budget-builder panion anklets to team with the new cottons and I inens. Fringed cuffs, butterflies and novelty crocheted OSE that will dry in 10 minutes and remain free effects are now shown for Southern wear-a sure pre­ H from runs for weeks of wear are the most sensa­ diction for next summer's favorites. tional boon to women in recent years of hosiery . his­ Knee length hose continue to be popular, while torv. fantasy in silk hosiery seems to be demanded by short "these and many other claims are made for the most skirts. There are lace medallion hose in chiffon, sheer talked-about of the new synthetics, Nylon. Nylon hose silk and lines of lace running up the center front of will soon be made by a number of nationally known others. The lace, though primarily a decorative note, hosiery manufacturers. It is anticipated that they will acts as a guide in keeping stocking seams straight in be on the market by spring, retailing at $1.15 to $1.35. the back. The hosiery, to be made in all sizes, will be available In London, gold-embroidered woolen socks are in various weights, ranging from light sheer to service shown with evening dresses. Paris threatens to put weight. The colors found in Nylon stockings will not luminous strips in hosiery to minimize the number of fade to any greater extent than other high quality shins bruised during blackouts. hose. Another recent touch added to hosiery, gladdening Contrary to some idealistic rumors, they will run feminine buyers, is a touch of scent. One company, and snag, only a little less easily than silk. Nylon hose, making every effort to please the exact requirements however, are expected to give more satisfactory wear of feminine consumers, offers hose with a faint odor than silk because of Nylon's greater strength and of freshly-cut grass. elasticity which makes threads less brittle. Due to this greater elasticity the new hose will not bag at the knees or otherwise lose their shape. They have a more sheer appearance than silk and can be washed in hot water. In addition to these advantages, tests prove that Nylon is water and stain resistant, will GJPring {j1ccents /or CJfou not blaze but melts when exposed to a flame. Although it resists deterioration, the manufacturers recommend Millinery-Hosiery that the same care in laundering and putting on silk hose be used on the new knit. Lingerie-Flowers Developed by the late Dr. Wallace H. Carothers, Purses-Scarfs Nylon is classified scientifically as a polymide and is developed from the base products of coal, air and Robes-Belts water. American women buy 43 million dozen pairs of silk stockings per year, and the eagerness with which Nylon experiments have been watched indicate that the consumers are not entirely satisfied with silk hos­ iery. Vinyon, another recently developed synthetic Hazel Bucknam fiber which is strong and elastic, may be used in hos­ ierv soon. At Osborn's Durability of silk stockings has been increased to some extent by new finishes. No finish was formerly applied to hose. Synthetic resins and rubber now in­ crease elasticity and resistance to snagging. Elastic tops and carefully designed reinforcements have increased the life of silk stockings. Proportioned Confucious Say.· hose, designed to fit individual legs, have helped. This idea of measuring the length and size of the leg as well Very Good Shoes as the foot is comparatively new in fitting hosiery. In Very Well Fitted an effort to increase wear, some stores make a practice And Stylish Too of selling stockings in sets of three-a pair and a spare. At Miss Helen Stillmanks, graduate student at Iowa State, who recently finished a thesis on hosiery, dis­ 'Brannberg ~ Al1J'l__, covered several interesting facts. Her investigation shows that the number of fashion marks near the seam Downtown Ames affect wear, as each mark indicates a decrease in the

Mnrch, 1940 IJ