The evolution of man’s stockings

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The evolution of man’s stockings

The ancients did not have stockings, but used cloth sheets, paintings found among ancient peoples, from the Sumerians and Italic peoples before Rome, testify to it.

The Sumerians were wearing leather canvas skirts, while Rome, peasants, gladiators, and cold-tempered people wore bands wrapped around their legs and secured by straps or laces. Even in the medieval times the socks were of cloth, in a continuity with the trousers.

Because the “socks” were born, adhering to the foot, it was necessary to switch to knitting. The sources show that from the sixteenth century silk stockings began to spread to noble families. The Renaissance Renaissance portraits and the following centuries show the first socks to the calf or even long enough to match the current leggings or fuseaux, these models were mostly men’s socks because they highlighted the leg muscles and became a valuable element of men’s fashion.

It is said that the first silk stockings that appeared in public were those of Henry II of France, worn at his wedding with Catherine de ‘Medici, in 1533 were hand-knit hosiery stockings. Only at the end of the sixteenth century machines were made to make socks, Rouen and Paris were the cities known for the first production of socks. The production of fine socks, silk, embroidered and decorated, has since the sixteenth century Italy and Spain been one of the most renowned countries.

In 1857, the first circular machines for working socks made the manufacture faster. The machine was able to perform “decreases” by molding the sock tubing on the heel and the tip. Technological advances continued by allowing stockings with different yarns and different decorations.

With the birth of nylon socks, in 1938 and tights, in 1959, the history of men’s socks and the history of women’s stockings split.
Today, however, women’s stockings are still widespread, the women’s socks have a variety of variants: Wool, silk or cotton stockings, pantyhose alternatives under the pants are currently very widespread. On the trade are found Parisian socks, high above the knee, – to wear under a skirt or short skirt – long stockings to the calf, short stockings to the ankle.

The knitwear knitwear style is still important and can make a difference in case of casual clothing, but also classic or professional.

The men’s stock market has followed the changing of men’s fashion and apparel. Men’s socks manufacturing technique has evolved and now offers many possibilities, short socks, long stockings, uses Scotch thread, cotton in mix with linen, cashmere, wool, silk.

The men’s pants have shortened and have given more emphasis to the stocking. Just like a piece of clothing, if not more, the stockings talk about the person wearing them.
Short socks, for example, are widespread abroad, while many Italian men prefer long stockings.
What about silky socks? It seems that many artists of the twentieth century, such as Andy Warhol, to mention the artist of pop art have been seen with the left stocking of a color and the right of another.

Some rigorous men’s fashion experts coordinate stockings and ties: this is a detail that denotes a lot of attention to the daily rite of dress. Classic advocates often choose plain socks, in classic gray and blue colors, but today the variety of socks in the market allows you to dare other combinations from casual or elegant to stockings with embroidery and inlay motifs.