The History of Seamed Tights Tights, stockings, hold-ups or
pantyhose. Whatever you call them, they are just another widely
available fashion accessory to most of us, yet they have a long
and dramatic history. Men In Tights The breeches of 12th century
European men were close fitting and worn much like modern day
tights but held up with laces at the waist. In the early 17th
century, “hose” were commonly worn by men as you will often see
in the period dramas based on this era. They were made from
wool, silk or cotton and remained in fashion until the end of
the 18th century, when long trousers made an appearance. The
Arrival of Nylon Stockings It wasn’t until many years later that
it became more acceptable for women to show their legs, and with
the invention of nylon in the 1930′s stockings became more
accessible to ladies who couldn’t afford the silk version.
DuPont patented the process of making nylon – invented by Dr
Wallace Carothers – and the first nylon stockings hit New York
department stores in 1940. A