Kate Chopin, born Katherine O'Flaherty (1850 — 1904), was an american author of short stories and novels. Now she is considered by some to have been a forerunner of the feminist authors of the 20th century of Southern and Catholic background, such as Zelda Fitzgerald. From 1892 to 1895, she wrote short stories for both children and adults. Her major works were two short story collections, Bayou Folk (1894) and A Night in Acadie (1897). Chopin also wrote two novels: At Fault (1890) and The Awakening (1899), which are set in New Orleans and Grand Isle, respectively. The people in her stories are usually inhabitants of Louisiana. Many of her works are set in Natchitoches in north central Louisiana.
A pair of silk stockings by Kate Chopin is a short story where main character Mrs. Sollers came into a small fortune of 15 dollars. Thinking about the question of its investment was for her a strong issue. She didn't want to be in a hurry and to act hastily, do something she might afterward regret and after a few days she decided to use money to purchase clothing for her children so they may look fresh and new for once in their lives. But then she found a pair of silk stockings for sale which entranced her by their smoothness. Suddenly she disregarded her plans of purchasing clothes for her children and made her mind to act radically another way.