Be careful when putting on and taking off your hose. Rough hands, fingernails, toenails and rings can ruin an expensive pair of nylons in a split second.
Nylons, whether stockings or pantyhose, are an essential part of your wardrobe and deserve significant thought. Both stockings and pantyhose have their advantages and disadvantages and there are those who love or hate each one. My own preference is for pantyhose; I find them more comfortable. The hardware needed to wear stockings, garter belts or girdles with garters, seems cumbersome and unnecessary for some of us. Others love it. Some feel stockings are more feminine, but there's a lot to be said for the sensuousness of being encased in filmy sheer nylon from the waist down in pantyhose. The choice is yours, and you can choose both!
In this section, I usually refer to pantyhose, stockings and nylons interchangeably. In the stocking section, stockings or nylons means just stockings. OK? Here is an elementary guide to what's available, how to shop, and how to wear hosiery.
Pantyhose, or panty and stockings all in one, have been with us since the early sixties. Like all fashions, they have evolved in terms of styles, materials, and overall quality. Anyone visiting the hosiery section of a large department store for the first time will feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of different styles, brands, colors and types. You'll eventually settle on one or more favorites of the above, but the process of finding one's favorite is time- (and dollar!) consuming. Also, it can be great fun if you have a particular penchant for hosiery. Personally, I like few things better than coming home with a dozen or so new pantyhose to try on. So lets look at what's available: types (sheer or opaque,) brands (just a few based on my preferences), styles, shades and price.
Price - Like most things in the marketplace, with pantyhose you get what you pay for. Pantyhose are available for less than a dollar at bargain-basement stores for very basic quality nylons. And, you can spend fifty dollars per pair for Wolfords; so, in between, there's something for everyone. Supermarket brands like Leggs that can be had for less than five dollars per pair, are a good value, and even less if you shop the online store for closeouts and irregulars. Better quality brands like Hanes, Round the Clock and Jockey for Her will run about five dollars and up for most styles. Designer labels like Donna Karan, Christian Dior, Wolford and CK go from there on up. If you have money to burn, check out Wolfords' line of exquisite pantyhose. The average working woman goes through at least a dozen pairs of pantyhose per month, so the expense of keeping your hosiery wardrobe complete can be significant.
Brands - This covers some brands available in the US, Canada and some other countries although each country has its own regional brands, too. As mentioned above in the price section, there are three main levels of quality and price: supermarket brands, quality brands, and designer brands. Where you start your search depends on your resources. Buy the best you can. For a start, Hanes has a good selection of basic and special styles, a range of sizes from petite to 4X to fit almost anyone, many shades, and generally good quality. Their Silk Reflections line has served me well; they are finely fitted to the leg, very smooth to the touch, have a nice sheen, wear reasonably well and can also be found in online outlet stores. Alternatives include Round the Clock - good, traditional hosiery and Jockey for Her - very good quality and a unique sizing system based on hip size and height. All of these have a selection of different styles. Leggs, made by the same manufacturer as Hanes, is the best of the supermarket brands in terms of relative quality and selection, and the pretty painless to buy for male shopper. If the sky's the limit, Wolford is in a class by itself. The fit is incredible (if you're 5'8" or under), the quality is unsurpassed, and they even last a long time with care.
Types - Pantyhose are available in sheer or opaque materials. Different levels of sheerness, from ultrasheer 10 denier to heavyweight 70 denier support styles can be found. For everyday wear, choose 20 denier, or "day sheer" weight. For evening or special occasions, or if you just want to feel good, choose 10 denier styles. They're much more delicate - most run easily - but if you have the legs for them, they look great. Support hose come in a variety of weights from ‘light support’ to industrial-strength surgical stockings. Good support pantyhose can make a difference in how your legs feel if you spend a lot of time on your feet. Just be sure they fit properly. Also, if you spend an extended time seated in one position, like during a long airline flight, wearing support hose can help the circulation and tone in your legs. Opaque hose are opaque - surprise! - and available in different weights. Shop around.
Styles - Pantyhose come in a dizzying array of styles, based on the type of panty or top and the type of leg and toes. Panty styles include sheer-to-waist, reinforced, control top and shaper. Control top weight and firmness varies with brands, so experiment. They smooth you out, and if you wear very sheer hose, a control top will help to hold them in place. Sheer-to-waist can be sexy but sometimes fit is a problem. Experiment. Reinforced panty is the basic style, with the top of the pantyhose constructed of a heavier material. Shapers (body smoothers, body sculpters) are an amplified control top, usually longer in the thigh, attached to support legs. Good for lumpy figures but hard to put on and take off. There is even a special type of shaper panty that lifts your buttocks and sucks in your stomach for a shapelier look. I haven’t tries these, but it seems like a good idea. Leg styles include all-nylon sheers, lycra (or “silky”) sheers, and various support styles. All-nylon legs are becoming scarce; they te nd to not fit as well as hose with lycra, feel rougher and bag at the knees and ankles. However, some of the more expensive ultrasheer styles are 100% nylon, so you should try them to see if you like them. They're kind of retro. The exception is in most very inexpensive pantyhose, usually made of all nylon. The fit on these is bad to begin with and the material makes it worse. Lycra sheers are relatively new, with different percentages of lycra added to the nylon fibers. This gives a resilient fit, a silky appearance and feel and longer life due to less snagging and bagging. Look for the percentage of lycra on the hosiery package. For example, Silk Reflections contain about 16% lycra, about average for everyday brands. Some of the sheerest pantyhose - Donna Karen The Nudes - have a lycra content of 58%, so go figure. Again, experiment. My own everyday, basic pantyhose usually have a control top and lycra legs. Microfiber is a relatively new material in sheer hosiery. It gives a matte (versus shiny) appearance, is very soft and quite comfortable. However, microfiber pantyhose tend to be less sheer than nylon. Support styles are covered above. Toe styles include sandalfoot and reinforced toe. If you tend to run your nylons from the toe, consider reinforced toes. They also can fit better.
Fit - In pantyhose, fit is everything! You'll be miserable in an ill-fitting pair of pantyhose. The perfect fit means you forget you're wearing them. Each pantyhose manufacturer has their own sizing scheme from one-size-fits-all (avoid these) to several individual sizes. Most systems are based on height and weight, so check the chart on the package for your size. If you have extraordinarily long, slender, short or full legs, make the appropriate adjustment. If in doubt, go for the larger size. Different brands and styles will fit different people better, so again, experiment. You want the legs to be long enough without binding or bunching at the crotch and the panty to be comfortable and to stay in place without coming up to your armpits or down to your thighs. A warning: if you're a size B (or 3, or medium, or small-tall) in one brand and style don't assume you'll be the same size in all brands and styles. Like all clothing, pantyhose are subject to inconsistencies in sizing, so read the package and be prepared for trial and error.
Shades or Colors - Nylons come in a range of shades from white through neutrals and skin tones, suntans, taupes, and blacks. Opaque hose come in the usual colors. I prefer skin tones; they look better on most people. Also, current fashion emphasizes a natural look in hosiery; classic fashion has always called for neutral sheer nylons with most outfits. Check the color samples in the hosiery department against your skin to find the right one. I have some ultrasheer lycra nylons that are so close to my skin shade and so transparent that you can't tell I'm wearing pantyhose when they're on. Very sensual. Black and taupe tones can really set off a good pair of legs and tend to be slimming. White does just the opposite. If you choose, you can match your hosiery shade to your outfit and shoes. Use common sense. You'll probably want a variety of shades in your wardrobe: skin to nes for most wear, taupe and black for particular outfits (or if you have great legs and just want to show off), and perhaps navy blue to match that color skirt or shoes A few additional comments. Specialty styles can be fun. Try some back seams to slim your legs and for that 40's look. Glimmer hose are an idea for the holidays. Crotchless? Suspender? Have fun! With the exception of bathing suits, you're better off wearing nylons than going barelegged. Some woman feel undressed without stockings. Personally, I like the feel of nyloned legs and wear pantyhose nearly all the time. You'll develop your own preference.
Stockings - Nylon stockings, for most women, are a thing of the past. But, they are making a come-back. The comfort and convenience of pantyhose has surpassed garters, girdles and stockings, and for good reason. Try sitting on a metal garter button for a few hours. Or adjusting your nylons periodically for take up the sag. Or getting in and out of a girdle when nature calls. For most, its not worth it. On the other hand, some women feel much more feminine in sheer nylon stockings and the accompanying hardware. And, their are some really exquisite stockings available that are undeniably sexy: a very sheer black, full-fashioned seamed stocking makes almost any leg look good. Try a garter belt and a few pairs of stockings in your wardrobe for variety or when you want to be a little wicked. Here’s what’s available. Stockings are of basically two types, full-fashioned and circular knit. A full-fashioned stocking is made from one piece of material, fitted and sewn up the back leaving a seam. These are usually sheer, all nylon, and have a reinforced heel and toe. Circular knit hose are everything else, knitted in a tube shape. They can have any combination of reinforcements in the toe and heel. Most modern nylon stockings are circular knit with a plain heel and a reinforced or sandal toe. The exotic stuff is full-fashioned; you pay accordingly. Most stockings are made from either all nylon or a nylon-lycra blend. The same comments as to sheerness, fit, feel and durability apply as pantyhose. A warning: if you buy all nylon stockings, be sure they fit properly because their is very little stretch in them. Stockings are sized to foot size and occasionally, length. Choose accordingly. Try to find the longest stockings that fit you properly; stocking tops and garters should not show at any time. The same shade/color advice as in the pantyhose section applies to stockings. An alternative to gartered stockings is the self-gartering stocking, also known as "thigh-highs" or “stay ups”. These have an elastic band at the top to hold them in place without a garter belt or girdle. Some women find these more comfortable than pantyhose in hot weather. You can choose if the feeling of having a large rubber band around your thigh is worth the convenience.
Tips and Other Stuff
Here are a few tips on buying, wearing and caring for nylons:
1. Fit is everything! Let me say it again. Fit is everything! Be willing to experiment in the beginning of your life in nylons. Don't be satisfied with a bad or mediocre fit. There is the right brand and style for almost everyone, if you look.
2. Be careful when putting on and taking off your hose. Rough hands, fingernails and rings can ruin an expensive pair of nylons in a split second. You can buy special hosiery gloves, usually white cotton or nylon, to wear when putting on or taking off your hose, and I recommend you try them. This is especially true for the more delicate and sheer nylons. Keep your toenails trimmed and filed to prevent runs from the toe.
3. Nylons should be washed by hand in warm water with a mild soap and dried on a rack. You can also buy a mesh hosiery bag, put your hose in it, and through the whole thing in the washer on delicate cycle. But don’t put them in the dryer.
4. The traditional way of stopping a run is with a dab of clear nail polish at each end of the run. This is a temporary fix; runs in your nylons are tacky. Change your hose as soon as possible.
5. To put on pantyhose, gather each leg from the top to the toe, slide in your foot, position the toe seam just under the tips of your toes, and slide the nylons up and over your leg, being sure to stretch the fabric as much as possible without ripping it. Do the other leg. Now, pull the panty up over your crotch and hips, positioning the waist band near your waist comfortable. Carefully smooth out any wrinkles or binding points. To take them off, do the opposite.
6. For most, nylons are expensive. Watch for sales and free hosiery deals on your favorites. Some major brands, like Hanes and Leggs are available in discontinued and irregular styles at outlet malls and online. You can save nearly 50% this way if you can deal with outlet malls and the occasional manufacturing faux pas. I once bought a package that contained three pair of pantyhose, each pair with one leg about 50% shorter than the other. For the price of a very good pair of pantyhose, I got three pair that were worthless.
7. For some, shopping for and buying nylons can be an anxiety-provoking experience. What will the clerk think? They'll know they're for me. I can't browse through and read a bunch of pantyhose packages with all those people around! For those who can't tolerate this experience, there is mail order or online shopping. Check the catalogs or web sites. But the real news is, most clerks couldn't care less. And if they do, so what! You're giving them your business, and you're in charge.
Hosiery is part of your life, so you needn't feel strange about it. The embarrassment will pass!
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