I remember wearing my favorite skirts all year round. When I was a young lady, the skirts hid the knees, seductively revealing the rest of my legs. I knew men appreciated my legs. Nylon tights have always been an essential part of my wardrobe.
I lived in Elektrostal, 90 kilometers away from Moscow. I traveled to Moscow almost every weekend and I also bought my tights there. I don’t remember the name of the brand now, but it was American, for sure. I could wear them for 5 or 6 years and they remained in prestige condition.
Then we moved to Chelyabinsk (Russia). I was shocked to realize that it was impossible to find good tights there. No one had ever seen American tights in Chelyabinsk at those times. I couldn’t stand the underwear that was available at the shops – those tights formed folds on your knees! I had to use my Moscow supply in order to look pretty at work, where I was the only lady. I wore my tights even when it was minus 25 degrees Celsius!
Once I noticed that one of my neighbors used old tights to keep onions. She cut away the upper part, put the vegetables in the remaining stocking and hung it on the balcony. I found this idea wonderful and started doing the same. Onions preserved so well in the tights!
Story told by Lenianna Umerenkova (79), Ukraine
Interviewed by Elena Savelyeva, Ukraine
Illustration by Anna Popova, Ukraine
