“I began watching classic films of the ’30s and ’40s when I was around 10 or 11. I also used to watch all the Little Rascals shorts when I was even younger, and fell for Miss Crabtree. There was a style to the clothing that was just so elegant, and when she turned around, I saw the seamed stockings for the first time. Later, as I watched more and more movies, it seemed all the snazzy dressers wore seamed nylons. Those movie stars were so glamorous! ”

“I must admit that I have been very partial to the films of the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s. The ladies were always ultra feminine, the clothes always expressed confidence and a sense of ‘I am feminine’. I always admired them and their (or the director’s) dress sense. These images had a strong influence on my thoughts on dresses, and on femininity, in general.”

“As far back as I can trace, my interest in stockings began when Liz Fraser faked suspender trouble to distract the prison guards in the movie Two Way Stretch. The movie, which starred Peter Sellers (and has NOTHING to do with girdles, despite the title) was about a group of incompetent criminals who have to escape form prison then do a ‘one off’ heist to make them rich! Ms Fraser walks out of the cell on visiting day, says ‘oops’ and stops… and proceeds to hike up her skirt and refasten her stocking, all the time apologising for her dishabille and telling the guards how embarrassing it is! Naturally, their attention is focused entirely on her, while the other visitors, in the background, are seen tossing contraband goodies to the inmates!”