If we were to ask you to name some examples of iconic hosiery, the chances are that fishnet tights would feature quite highly on your list. But what makes them so iconic and how did they first emerge onto the fashion scene?
The mysterious origins of fishnet tights
There are many different stories claiming to explain the origin of fishnet tights. One of the most widely accepted theories is that fishnets first originated in the Victorian era, during which time it would have been considered shocking to show any skin in public. Wearing tights beneath a long skirt ensured that women remained appropriately covered up even when traversing a flight of stairs, which naturally would have required them to lift their hemline slightly from the floor to avoid trips.
Fishnets and the Moulin Rouge
Cancan dancing is synonymous with the Moulin Rouge in Paris, whose dancers may have inspired young Parisian women to start wearing fishnets as a way to rebel against the rigid expectations that must have felt stifling.
Regardless of their precise origins, fishnet tights were being worn by 1933, which is the year the word first made an appearance in the Oxford English Dictionary. At this time, vaudeville and burlesque were extremely popular and performers including Bettie Page would wear fishnet stockings and tights in photographs and during their stage shows.
Today, fishnets are in competition with many other types of hosiery, including stockings and anti chafing shorts, examples of which can be seen on the websites of specialists such as https://www.bettertights.com/collections/anti-chafing-shorts.
However, fishnet tights feature frequently in magazines like Hello, Vogue and Cosmopolitan, particularly when they’re styled by celebrities on stage or at awards shows, largely because they’re so iconic.
Are there different types of fishnet tights?
Micronets are a form of fishnet tights with very small diamond shaped openings in the weave. Conversely, whale nets are constructed from thicker threads and feature diamonds that are much larger than those seen in micronets. While both styles have very different looks, they can both make a style statement when worn with a variety of different outfits.