As a vintage clothing collector and dealer, there are just some things that would be an absolute delight to run across. I think these Peter Max Paints nylon stockings would be right up there in the “Holy Grail of Vintage” category.
Made by Burlington-Cameo and designed by Peter Max in 1970, these gloriously designed stockings came both in pantyhose and in body stocking version. Featuring original Pop Art designs on the leg and upper thigh. The pantyhose sold for $8.00 each, and the body stocking sold for $10.00. To give you an example of of what that would covert to in 2014 dollars, it would be equivalent to paying $48.23 for the panty hose and $60.29 for the body stocking. Probably certainly worth it, but since this ad was in Seventeen magazine I’m sure not many teenagers shelled out that kind of cash for panty hose. Especially since the life of pantyhose was probably five wearings or so.
But they are certainly divine! Another cool thing is that you could send in the coupon (that you got when you bought the pantyhose) to get a 24″ x 36″ Peter Max poster. The poster would be a highly collectible thing to have too. So I shall keep my eyes open for these groovy stockings – I never know what I’m going to find!
~Marilyn
I'm Marilyn, and I'm obsessed with vintage clothing, thrift stores, clotheslines, and Chanel. Welcome to my down-to-earth world!
Ah, these were wonderful! I had a couple pair and wore them during my senior year of high school… Actually, I didn’t have much money in those days, but my recollection is that they didn’t sell well, and I bought them at a serious discount in a local (California) department store. I’d be thrilled to find them again, but until then, all I have to remember them by is the cardboard with the graphics on it for one of the pair, which I put into a scrapbook at the time.
Hi Brenda,
That is SO cool that you actually wore these – I am extremely envious! At least you saved a piece (cardboard) of it – LOL. Did you perchance send away for the Peter Max poster?
I always look through the stockings at thrift stores, hoping I may come across these, or something similar. I’d probably faint dead away if I found these!
~Marilyn
My Dad’s college buddy whom was Uncle status and Godfather to my sister, worked with Peter Max to develop and market these at Burlington in the 1970’s! He gifted me with several pairs of stockings and an autograph, long gone, which my art loving self wore with great joy! Let’s bring them back….I’d wear them again in a heartbeat.
GREAT story, Dana! That is so awesome that you actually wore these. And to get Peter Max’s autograph too – WOW!
~Marilyn
I have two pairs of the tights in my dresser drawer. I probably only wore each of them twice, but I held onto them for some reason. I bought them when I was living in San Francisco in the 60s and early 70s. Anybody know what they are worth?
I remember them well! In the 70s I had a beautiful pair of tights in a grey-lavender color that had flowers up the side of the leg from ankle to thigh. Wore them with a matching color thigh-length mini-dress & ankle strap shoes. Ahhhh! So long ago.
3 pairs of vintage Peter Max Hose like new . Make me an offer
Marilyn – I just moved (downsized…by a lot!) and came across three boxes of these stockings. 2 unopened. ( I wore the third pair with a miniskirt.) My dad was a dept store exec in upstate NY and got these for me in 1970…I was 13 or 14. If you or anyone you know wants to buy them, or wants photos, let me know! Hallie in Chicago