Shirley 90013 Fishnet Back-Seam Lace Stay-Up Thigh Highs

What these are

The Shirley 90013 is a pair of fishnet thigh-high stockings finished with a wide floral lace stay-up band and a back seam running up each leg, shown here in black. They are sold as a pair of hosiery, not as part of a set, and they are worn pulled up the thigh and held by the lace band rather than clipped to a garter belt. The brand on this listing is Shirley of Hollywood, and the style number 90013 is the maker's own reference for this fishnet back-seam design.

Two features define the look. The first is the open diamond mesh of the fishnet; the second is the single dark line of the back seam, travelling from the heel up through the calf and into the lace. Together they give a classic, deliberately old-fashioned hosiery silhouette rather than a plain modern stocking.

How they are built

The leg is a fishnet knit — an open diamond-shaped mesh with visible gaps between the strands, rather than a closed, opaque knit like a standard nylon stocking. Fishnet is one of the oldest decorative hosiery constructions still in production, and it behaves differently from sheer hosiery in two practical ways: it stretches generously in both directions because the mesh itself can open up, and it is far more forgiving about fit than a closed knit of the same nominal size. The mesh on the 90013 is a fine gauge — the diamonds are small and close together, closer to a dressy fishnet than the wide, chunky net used on costume pieces.

The top of each stocking is a deep lace band in a scalloped floral pattern, several inches tall, sitting high on the thigh. This is the stay-up element. On lace-top hold-ups the band is knitted with its own elastic and usually a gripping finish on the inside face, so the band holds against the skin and keeps the stocking at the height you set it. Because the band does the holding, there are no clip tabs on these stockings and no garter belt is needed to wear them. The scalloped edge of the lace means the top finishes in a soft wave rather than a hard horizontal line.

The back seam is the third element. A seam running up the rear of each leg is a holdover from the era before circular knitting, when stockings were cut flat and sewn together, leaving a visible join. On modern hosiery the seam is decorative rather than structural, and it is a styling choice: it draws one continuous vertical line up the back of the leg. On the 90013 the seam is worked in the same black as the mesh and reads as a solid line against the open net, which is what makes it visible at a distance.

Putting them on and looking after them

Fishnet goes on best by gathering, not pulling. Bunch the whole stocking down to the toe with both hands, place your foot in, then roll and ease the mesh up the leg in stages rather than dragging it by the lace band. Pulling a fishnet up by its top puts the entire load on a few strands of mesh, and that is the usual way a net gets laddered on its first wearing. Once the stocking is at full height, set the lace band where you want it and smooth the mesh so the diamonds sit evenly; then reach behind and straighten the back seam so it runs centrally up the calf, since the seam is the detail people notice if it has twisted.

Rings and long or rough nails are the main hazard with an open net, so it is worth taking rings off before handling them. For care, this is fine hosiery, and the general practice for fine hosiery applies: wash by hand in cool or lukewarm water with a gentle detergent, do not wring or twist, do not bleach, and let the stockings drip dry away from direct heat. Machine washing and tumble drying are hard on both the mesh and the elastic in the lace band. Store them flat or loosely rolled rather than hung, and keep them away from anything with a hook or a velcro fastening.

Who they suit

These suit someone who already likes the classic seamed-stocking look and wants it in an open net rather than a sheer. The back seam is the whole point of the style, so they work best with outfits that let the back of the leg show — worn with heels, the seam and the vertical line of the heel read as one. They also suit anyone who finds garter belts fussy, since the lace band removes the need for one entirely.

Fishnet is a forgiving construction, so stay-up nets generally accommodate a wider range of thigh measurements than a closed-knit stocking of the same size, but how a hold-up band behaves is genuinely personal: band grip depends on your own thigh circumference and on how high up the leg you prefer to wear the top. If you are between sizes or have not worn hold-ups before, that is worth factoring in. You can browse the rest of the fishnet hosiery range or the wider lingerie collection to compare styles and tops.

Good to know

• Sold as a pair of stockings.
• No garter belt, suspender clips or attachments are needed or supplied.
• Hosiery is a close-to-body textile item; nylon-family fibres can cause a reaction in people with a known sensitivity to synthetic yarns or to elastic.
• Colours can read slightly differently between a photograph and daylight, particularly on an open mesh where skin tone shows through the gaps.
• For adults 18 and over.
• All orders ship in plain, unbranded outer packaging with no description of the contents on the outside.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the Shirley 90013 thigh highs stay up without a garter belt?

Yes — the deep floral lace band at the top is a stay-up band, designed to sit against the thigh and hold the stocking in place on its own, so no garter belt or suspender clips are needed. There are no clip tabs on these stockings. How securely any hold-up band sits does vary with individual thigh measurement and with how high on the leg it is worn.

What exactly is the back seam on these stockings?

The back seam is a decorative dark line running up the rear of each leg from the heel into the lace top. It is a styling detail borrowed from mid-century hosiery, when stockings were sewn from flat pieces and the join was visible; on the 90013 it is purely cosmetic and is worked in the same black as the mesh so it stands out against the open net.

How open is the fishnet weave?

The mesh is a fine-gauge fishnet — small, closely spaced diamonds rather than the wide, chunky net used on costume hosiery. Skin shows through the gaps, which is characteristic of the construction, and the fine gauge makes the net read as a texture on the leg at normal viewing distance rather than as large holes.

How should I wash fishnet stockings?

Hand wash fine hosiery in cool or lukewarm water with a gentle detergent, then press the water out without wringing and leave them to drip dry away from heat. Machine agitation and tumble drying shorten the life of both the mesh and the elastic in the lace band. Washing them separately from anything with hooks, zips or velcro avoids snags.

How is this order packaged for delivery?

Every order ships in plain, unmarked outer packaging with no product names, images or category wording printed on the outside. The sender details on the label are non-descriptive, and nothing on the exterior indicates what is inside.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe product specifications directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Adult novelty device for adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.