Stockings

Art Historical Context

Step into the elegant world of 19th-century French fashion with *Stockings* (1880), crafted by the esteemed Mr. Callum Hosiery Co. This delicate pair, made from luxurious silk, hails from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. Donated as a gift from Mrs. John G. Milmoe in 1993, it exemplifies the refined hosiery that defined women's undergarments during the late Belle Époque period. Silk, prized for its sheen, durability, and smooth drape, was a hallmark of high-end fashion in 1880s France. Produced by specialized firms like Mr. Callum Hosiery Co., these stockings transitioned from utilitarian wool to opulent silk, symbolizing status and femininity. They would have been worn beneath voluminous skirts and bustled silhouettes, providing both support and a subtle luxury against the skin. Today, this artifact offers a tactile glimpse into everyday elegance, highlighting the craftsmanship of French textile innovation. Preserved in the Met's collection, it reminds us how intimate garments like these shaped cultural ideals of beauty and propriety in Victorian-era Europe.