18th Century Striped Stockings
Vertical stripes were the predominant style of striped stockings in the 18th century, but there are a few examples of horizontally striped stockings or diagonally striped stockings.
As with ribbed stockings, 18th century descriptions and illustrations indicate that striped stockings were more typically worn by men.
Extant examples
KM 85159, a pair of white silk stockings with thinner blue and gray stripes, c. 1750-1799
Concord Museum PER2111a & PER2111b, “Pair of men’s stockings … hand knit; black and white stripe lambs wool,” 18th century
London Museum 53.101/19a-b, wool, c. 1766-1799; “Pair of yellow and light blue stockings, knitted sideways to produce vertical stripes (as opposed to the horizontal ones produced by knitting in rounds). Toes of a different colour, knitted white piece, possibly machine made.”
DAR 2237, “hand-knit striped wool stocking, about 1787-1795, possibly owned by Capt. Isaac Burnett”
Met C.I.44.8.12a, b, a pair of silk stockings, Europe, late 18th century
National Maritime Museum TXT0381 and TXT0382, silk stockings with blue stripes worn by Nelson when wounded at Tenerife, c. 1797 (H/T Klára Posekaná)
Met C.I.44.8.13a, b, late 18th/early 19th century
Men wearing striped stockings in 18th century portraits and illustrations
It's possible that some of the depictions of stockings (especially those from the 1770s) are really showing ribbed stockings rather than striped stockings.
Interior of an inn with a musician
Porcelain figure of a youth holding a bunch of flowers, Doccia Porcelain Factory, c. 1770
Mons Le Frizuer, 1771
The enterprizing macaroni playing the part of ranger : up I go, 1772
The Firework Macaroni, 1772
The Fish-Street Macaroni, 1772
A Macaroni Print Shop, 1772 (H/T Kilian Head)
A Macaroni Dressing Room, 1772
The English Shaver or Frenchman in the Suds, 1772
The French Man in London, 1772
Docking the Macaroni, 1773; see also Docking the Maccaroni — or the Butcher’s Revenge, ca. 1773
Now Sr You’r a Compleat Macaroni (H/T Kilian Head)
The Timorous Sporting Macaroni, 1773
The Enraged Macaroni, 1773
The Macaroni: A real Character at the late Masquerade, 1773
Search the World you'll seldom see - Hansomer Folks than we three, 1775
A fox-hunting breakfast, 1777
The Sailor’s Present - or, The Jealous Clown, 1778
Paul Jones shooting a sailor who had attempted to strike his colours in an engagement, 1779
Prattle the Political Apotecary, 1779
Two 3 pounders in full speed to a shilling ordinary on Sunday, 1780 (H/T Klára Posekaná)
A young Man en chenille … Striped stockings, white and light violet, mixed, Cabinet des Modes, 1er Cahier, 2e Planche, 1780s
Redingote with three collars, crossed in front, called Lévite Redingote, Galerie des Modes, 35e Cahier, 5e Figure, 1781
A Fleet of Transports under Convoy, 1781
Deceitful Kisses, or the Pretty Plunderers, 1781
The overjoy of M. de la. Motte. Piquet. at the bringing of the St Eustatia fleet into Brest, 1781
A politician out of office in Out of Place. Hors d’emploi, 1784
Tragedy Burlesqued, or the Barber turned Actor, c. 1785-1790
A man in an Overcoat … White stockings striped with blue, Cabinet des Modes, 4e Cahier, 2e Planche, January 1, 1786
A young Man … His silk Stockings have long stripes, blue and white, Cabinet des Modes, 10e Cahier, 1ere Planche, April 1, 1786
The Man drawn in this Plate … His silk stockings are striped blue and white, Cabinet des Modes, 21e Cahier, 2e Figure, September 15, 1786
A young Man in a Dragoon green frock coat, decorated with apple green silk embroidery … His stockings are silk, with white and apple-green stripes, Cabinet des Modes, 22e Cahier, 2e Figure, October 1, 1786
O Tempora, O Mores!, 1787
The young Englishman shown in this Plate … His stockings are silk, with white and unbleached-linen stripes, Magasin des Modes, 2e Cahier, Plate III, November 30, 1786
Young Officer in a Zebra Coat … Men, young and old, are in stripes from head to toe: the stockings are also striped, Galerie des Modes, 61e Cahier, 5e Figure, 1787
Gallant with beautiful watch, looking for the sun at noon to check it, he is dressed in a ciselé Velvet Coat, egg-shaped Buttons, English Stockings, etc., Galerie des Modes, 58e Cahier, 2e Figure, 1787
Such Things Are - Such Things Were, 1787
Such Things Are : Telles Choses Sont, 1787
The Modern Atlas, or Man of the World by James Hook, 1787
London Refinement, 1787
The Adonhiramite Philosopher, Galerie des Modes, 58e Cahier, 4e Figure, 1788
A dandy holding a quizzing glass, 1789
A Rain Beau, 1790
The Lamplighter, 1790
The New Man after God’ own heart, 1791
Jimmy Lincum Feadle, 1791
Neck or Nothing, 1792
Drilling for the Militia, 1792
St. James’s day, 1793
Dressing the minister alias roasting the guinea pig, 1795
A barbers examination, 1795
A Burgeſs of Warwick Lane, 1795
Fashionable economy, or, The way to make one pair of stockings do the business of two!!, 1796
My Poll & My Partner Joe, 1796
French Habits: Le Boureau, 1798
A French gentleman of the court of Louis XVIth. A French gentleman of the court of Égalité, 1799
18th century descriptions of striped stockings
“Deserted the 11th Instant, from a Party of the 35th Regiment, at Newport Pagnell, in Buckinghamshire, James Priest, Born in Bilson, in the county of Stafford, by trade a Nailor, worked some time as a Potter, 18 yeas of age, 5 feet 5 inches high, brown complexion, dark brown short hair, grey eyes, stout made, and supposed to be gone to Bilson, by the way of Stoney Stratford; had on, when he deserted, an old brown coat and waistcoat, leather breeches, and a pair of striped blue and white stockings; the shirt he wore was marked J. Priest, 35th Regiment.” (London Chronicle, March 14, 1776)
“DESERTED from Captain ROBERT MULLAN’S Company of Marines, in Philadelphia, the following men … James Deacon, about 24 years of age, 5 feet 9 inches high, he says he served his time to farming in Bucks county, born in England, a fair complexion, short brown hair, slender built, and very talkative; had on when he went off, a pair of stripe cotton stockings, nankeen breeches much worn, a woollen bound hat with a white lining.” (The Pennsylvania Gazette, October 6, 1776)
“RUN away, last night, from Capt. Henry Reeve, who this morning sailed for Charlestown, in his Majesty's service, a NEGRO MAN named CUFFEE, about 23 years of age, a well made fellow, a full black, with a remarkable long scar down the middle of his forehead, had on a blue coattee, fustian waistcoat, crimson plush breeches, shoes, and black and white striped stockings.” (The Royal Gazette, December 26, 1781)
“I live at No. 280, Holborn, I am a hosier, the two prisoners came into my shop, about four o'clock on the Monday in the afternoon, the 13th of September … they asked to look at some striped silk stockings that lay in the window, I reached them down, they asked me the price, I told them half a guinea a pair … he was going out, and I missed a pair of striped silk … You seem to swear pretty hardly, Sir, you tell us Sir, that the other person took the striped silk stockings, did you see him take them?” (Trial of George Green and Benjamin Coleman, Proceedings of the Old Bailey, September 15, 1784)
“the prisoner came in and asked to look at some striped cotton stockings; I shewed him some, and he chose one pair; then he asked for some finer; I shewed him some; he chose one pair” (Trial of William Tennant, Proceedings of the Old Bailey, December 13, 1786)
“NEW FASHIONS from PARIS … Gentlemen’s Dreſs … Very broad green and white ſtriped ſilk ſtockings.” (The Newcastle Weekly Courant, June 7, 1788)
“The ſaid William Smith, is about five feet ſeven inches high, rather fair complexion, light brown hair clubbed, was dreſſed in a light coloured coat, nankeen breeches, and coloured ſtriped ſtockings.” (The Newcastle Weekly Courant, July 12, 1788)
“RUN-AWAY from the subscriber, on Tuesday the 12th inst. a negro man, named COLLY, about 6 feet high, 26 or 27 years of age; he had on when he went away a dark blue plains coat, a red striped vest, two new brown linen shirts, corduroy breeches, and plains do. a pair of new shoes, and striped stockings, and round hat bound” (Virginia Gazette and General Advertiser, July 27, 1791)
“His hair was cropped in the moſt faſhionable ſtyle, and he was dreſſed in a ſtriped blue coat and dark ſtriped waiſtcoat, nankeen breeches, blue and white ſtriped ſilk ſtockings, and half-boots” (A ludicrous Aſſemblage of Modern Tutors, The Gentleman’s Magazine, April 2, 1792)
“I saw him put the striped pair, the silk and cotton in his pocket.” (Trial of James Guy, Proceedings of the Old Bailey, January 9, 1793)
“Committed to the jail of King George county, on the 5th day of this month two negroes, who say they belong to Mr. Wm. Marriwether and Mr. Smith Payn, of Goochland county:--One of them is a well set black fellow, who says his name is JOHN; he has on a felt hat, blue soldier coat, spotted velvet waistcoat, brown linen shirt, plains breeches, striped stockings, and negro shoes” (Virginia Herald and Fredericksburg Advertiser, March 21, 1793)
“Runaway Apprentices. … For the apprehending of JAMES WHITE I will give a similar Reward. He is about 19 years of age, 5 feet 4 inches high, pleasing countenance; dark hair generally queued; had on a brown cloth coat with a black velvet cape, white trowsers, and striped silk and cotton stockings” (Norfolk Herald, August 31, 1799)