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 of preserving ordinary garments alongside haute couture. In an age before synthetic materials like nylon, cotton hosiery represented both comfort and social norms of modesty. The gift from Mrs. John G. Milmoe in 1993 ensures that such intimate artifacts continue to educate visitors about the textures and rhythms of early modern life.