How Not To Model Stockings

This picture ran in the January 1953 issue of Newsweek with the following caption:

Five young women at a West German fashion show wear these enveloping hoods both to direct spectators' attention to their legs and to spell out the brand name — Elbeo — of their stockings.

Elbeo is still in business, and still selling stockings. Could it seriously never have occurred to anyone there that their fashion show, with "enveloping hoods," was going to look an awful lot like a Klan rally?

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Thu Sep 20, 2012
Category: Fashion | 1950s

Comments

I don't know, Alex, I had to stretch it a bit to get them into Klanish wear and 1953 over here was still heavily effected by the war. We put a pretty good hurting on Germany before it was all over.

Anyhow, you were supposed to be looking at THE LEGS! 😛

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 09/20/12 at 09:58 AM

I doubt that the KKK connection would register in the mind of anyone from a European cultural background. The culture and prejudices are too different.

Your Americentric bias is showing, Alex. 😉

Posted by KDP on 09/20/12 at 10:01 AM

Perhaps the Europeans would think first of this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capirote

Posted by Paul on 09/20/12 at 10:05 AM

They remind me of the Grim Reaper! :coolsmile:

Posted by Tyrusguy on 09/20/12 at 10:29 AM

I see your point, Paul. Perhaps the connection would have been more along the lines of the Inquisition. I can hear Mel Brooks singing about it now...

The Inquistion, what a show
The Inquistion, here we go
We know you're wishing
That we'd go away
But the Inquistion's here and it's here to stay
The Inquistion, oh boy
The Inquistion, what a joy
The Inquistion, oy oy

Posted by KDP on 09/20/12 at 12:26 PM

Noooooooo one expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise...

Posted by TheCannyScot on 09/21/12 at 12:36 PM

Come on, seriously Scottie? When was the last time a bunch of claymore wielding guys in kilts blowing on the pipes snuck up on anyone? 😉

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 09/21/12 at 01:35 PM

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