Where did my grandma buy stockings?

February 8, 2012 1:23 PM

Give me my grandma's stockings!

I hate pantyhose. They twist and turn and run and creep and all manner of awful things. Please recommend to me online or brick-and-mortar places that can help me escape control tops and still look like a lady.

I want to find a functional garter belt and real hose to wear on a regular basis under my suit skirts. None of this crap from Victoria's Secret that doesn't actually do what it's meant to. Where do I find one?

Bonus points if you can tell me where to buy hose like our grandmothers wore, rather than the plastic scratchy stuff with the plastic bands on top. And if they've got that seam down the back, so much the better.

posted by mibo to clothing, beauty, & fashion (12 answers total)

If you are looking for bricks-and-mortar, you will need to give us a city or area constraint.
posted by brainmouse at 1:24 PM on February 8

See if you can find something here.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:29 PM on February 8 [2 favorites]

Frederick's of Hollywood. Shop for garter belts carefully - you don't want a lacy flimsy one. But I believe they should be able to help you. They tend to get confused with Victoria's Secret, but their stuff is a lot more functional.

Ask a salesperson to show you the hosiery and explain what you're looking for. Specify that you don't want hold-ups, but actual stockings. I'm pretty sure they sell backseamed stuff in the stores.

You may need to experiment with sizes. Too big and they'll be baggy, too small and they'll pull on your garters in a way that is not great and defeats the purpose.

If you really want fancy and really old-fashioned, then you want a place called Secrets in Lace. It's an online-only store as far as I know but they have really good stuff. As I'm at work at the moment I can't check and see if they sell actual old-fashioned nylon stockings but if you do get a pair, be careful with them. They're more durable than modern hosiery but they do rip and they're expensive.
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 1:34 PM on February 8

Seconding Sock Dreams.
posted by sperose at 1:40 PM on February 8 [1 favorite]

Thirding sock dreams, they are awesome and have everything you need, plus awesome customer service.
posted by insectosaurus at 1:57 PM on February 8

I've started buying from Sock Dreams (they have really nice cotton hose for everyday skirt-wearin' kind of stuff, wears like iron, no runs, super-washable...for when you're not dressing for work). I got one of their not-ultra-sexay garter belts to wear with them and it's just fabulous.

Better airflow (sorry, but you know it's true...that's one reason nylon nylons are just gross, especially in warm weather), holds up... good stuff.

They also have an "industrial" version with the clippy-style fasteners that will work with the back-seam types you want...
posted by bitter-girl.com at 2:04 PM on February 8

You want Berkshire stockings and a good garter belt, not from Frederick's, from a brick and mortar lingerie store.

No stay-ups, which you already knew, just soft stockings. Amazon has Berkshire seamed ones which are amazing, for example.
posted by lydhre at 2:38 PM on February 8

Lady Grace (at ladygrace.com, natch) sells garter belts that are both attractive and highly functional. Sock Dreams is awesome for thigh highs of all kinds, socks and hose. Hips And Curves is the go to if you're plus sized.

Did you search the green before asking? I swear I just typed this same answer not too long ago. Not trying to bug you, just sayin'.
posted by Sublimity at 4:18 PM on February 8

I've recommended this place before on the green. Pricey and frustratingly delicate, but where I get full-fashioned stockings when I want something as close to the ones from back then: Secrets in Lace

You want the full fashion french or euro heel styles. Those are made the old fashioned way (no elastic, so you HAVE to wear garters to keep them up) with old machines and come with seams and welts (they also sell a no seam version, which I think is just the regular reinforced heel and seam stockings).
posted by kkokkodalk at 5:13 PM on February 8

Another vote for Secrets in Lace!
posted by it's a long way to south america at 9:12 PM on February 8

Stockingirl.com, though some of the stuff is not that durable (though gorgeous) given the price.
posted by ifjuly at 5:36 AM on February 9

Nordstrom's Rack is an awesome place for old school stockings. They are hidden in the back. They are just like the old fashioned ones and they have the seam in the back. It's great because they're only 4 bucks a pair. The old ones do rip a lot so it's kinda a one time use thing. Garter belts you can get anywhere. Make sure you look for the ones without the plastic on the top. Those are the old ones like "grandma used to wear". They're their own brand and obviously can be found at regular Nordstrom, too but will probably be pricier.
posted by twoforty5am at 12:08 PM on February 9 [1 favorite]