The term "hosiery" mainly refers stockings, socks, tights or in a broader sense, it is tightly seated knitwear that cover the legs and can vary in position - are placed on the lower legs or completely cover the legs (such as tights or stockings). Similar terms "stockings", sometimes used as a synonym, is more specific and historically belongs to the subject of men's wardrobe, which completely covered his legs like tights, and tied to a camisole.

Stockings were originally garment for men. They appeared in England. In the history of European dress, the term "stockings" was used to describe different types of men's clothing that covers legs. Stockings can be a compartment of the foot or not. They are widely used by men until the early nineteenth century. The term also includes Romanesque wraps the lower leg, the ancient Nordic woven trousers up to the ankles and winding medieval crisscrossing leg, sometimes attributed to the bridge.

Early development

Men's hosiery - a piece of clothing, which in an attempt to meet the demand of technology and fashion intersect. Technological development has inspired changes in the style of clothing. From the Middle Ages to the early Renaissance many paintings depict baggy, sagging, wrinkled and ill-fitting stockings worn under a tunic or shirt. With the development of tailoring and improving technology have an opportunity to sew garments longer suitable for the size and the corresponding male anatomy. Stockings became the dominant clothing for the lower body in a men's locker room and remained so during the fifteenth and sixteenth century.

Even in the fourteenth century Italian tailors technology helped to create long colored stockings men in the knitted fabric. They were sewn seam curves and tight fit with the legs and lower torso. This technology also allowed the stockings become longer. By the last quarter of the fourteenth century two separate legs stockings reached the waist and were united in one thing - today we call it the tights. They were sewn on the back and ended near the crotch overhead valve (codpiece).

Various trends in colors and patterns observed in male stockings for each period of use. Many fashionable stockings in the seventeenth century were embroidered with gold or silver thread around the ankle. Vintage stockings were sometimes made with leather soles, so that they can be worn instead of shoes. Socks with soles and long sticking his thumbs - a great example of the fashion of the fourteenth century.

Knitted hosiery products

Knitted socks were found during excavations of Egyptian tombs, dating from the fourth and fifth century AD. At the same time, knitting has appeared in Europe. Hand knitting socks was an important craft in medieval Europe and to the sixteenth century turned into a profitable business. Silk stockings for those who could afford it were hand-knitted and were made of very thin silk. Good sitting stockings were an important part of the male wardrobe for the nobility during the sixteenth and seventeenth century. Socks worn by people of a lower class, were made of wool and flax coarse hand-knit, and sometimes, as in the past, they were woven from the fabric cut.

Production of stocking demand of men's fashion has provoked important innovations in knitting. The first knitting machine was invented in the late sixteenth century in England, in order to make stockings. Tissue was obtained crude, flat viscous eight stitches per inch. Although such stockings knit ten times faster than by hand, this fabric is old enough only for peasants. By the end of the century, this technology has been refined, and the opportunity to make silk stockings Silk Stockings - affordable fun comes from the Middle Ages . Now you leave about twenty stitches per inch. This created a very profitable industry and market high quality - were expensive stockings, which were popular before the end of the eighteenth century.

Cotton from India appeared in England in 1730. In the early eighteenth century fashion in men's dress has changed, there were long pants Knickers in fashion?   or trousers instead of a stocking and knitting industry began to decline.

Subsequent developments

By the end of the sixteenth century, woven and knitted stockings fastened at the waist coat men's braid. By 1540, men's stockings full length divided into two or three different sections called lobes. Each section has been sewn or tied to the top. The lower part of the stocking, from the heel to the knee mainly supported by garters and after 1540 jibe separately. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, knee-length stockings were worn exclusively Bridge. Garter were the most popular way to keep stockings until they have developed new elastic tissue in the middle of the twentieth century. From 1770 to 1820, many men put in their stockings "artificial eggs", a belt tying them to the legs to form the legs meet the ideals of fashion.

In the early twentieth century, the industry of men's stockings Men's socks: a new trend   It has been widely developed, produced many similar knitted garments. Then the term "poluchulok" called socks or stockings up to mid-calf or below, and the term "Stocking" refers to products that ends above the knee.

Related Articles

Men's socks: a new trend

Silk Stockings - affordable fun comes from the Middle Ages

Buying nylon stockings: Tips and Secrets

Nylon stockings: comfortable and sexy