Stockings

Art Historical Context

These cotton stockings, produced around 1900 by Horne & Co., offer a glimpse into everyday American fashion at the turn of the twentieth century As a product of a prominent Pittsburgh department store, the pair reflects the growing availability of ready-made clothing through retail channels during the Industrial Age. Their simple cotton construction speaks to practical needs of the era, when durable, washable fabrics were essential for daily wear beneath long skirts and petticoats. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, these stockings highlight the cultural importance ...