I was doing some housecleaning over the holidays, and I found some old pantyhose in a drawer. Remembering the rule of purging, I asked myself Have I worn these in the last year? Would I wear them in the coming year? And the most important question Is there an expiration date on these things, because I’m pretty sure they’re from the 80′s?
I responded to myself with a resounding No, No, and Probably. So I tossed them.
But not before reflecting on how fortunate we women are that pantyhose have, for the most part, fallen by the wayside for many of us. Aside from those still required to sport these nylon contraptions in the corporate world, who wears them now other than 80-year olds, those who are fashion-challenged, or those with less-than-perfect gams?
And do THEY even wear these things any more? What happened to that drugstore aisle that was filled with so many sizes, shapes, and shades of Hanes, No Nonsense, and L’eggs that it would take us 42 minutes to find our “perfect” pair? Have we all shed our sheers, spending countless hours shaving, exfoliating, moisturizing, self-tanning, and shining ourselves up all in an effort to put our wannabe Malibu Barbie legs in a pair of open-toed shoes?
It sure seems that way.
And who can blame us? For years we felt obligated to wear these circulatory-restricting contraptions that could only have been designed by men who hate women (Control Top comes to mind). We always kept a bottle of clear polish in our purse for that inevitable run that would surely sabotage a perfectly good work day, date, or night on the town. We paid the price literally as we hoped we would get to wear them at least twice before disposing them or using them to line our flower pots. We froze in the winter. Then we roasted in the summer as we couldn’t wait to tear them off, peeling the nylon from the layer of sweat on our legs.
And we celebrated the day the bare-legged look became the norm.
But now Kate Middleton has gone and ruined all of that. Yes, she’s sporting sheers and looking great in them to boot. And the fashion world has taken note.
So after 15 years of plummeting sales, L’eggs is on a major push with a new ad campaign to market their sheers to a new generation of women, as they convince us that pantyhose are back with a vengeance. They’re targeting the 18-35 year olds whose only memory of pantyhose may be that this is the stuffing that came out of those home-made toys they grew up with.
I have my doubts. At the very least, they should have kept that egg as the packaging.
A little web research shows that, as I would have expected, women have mixed feelings about the return of the pantyhose. True, they make your legs look great. They add an element of class, providing the wearer an illusion of thinness, perfect skin tone, and legs free of bruises and varicose veins. But they still have to be the most uncomfortable garment of clothing since the bustle. In this age of casual attire, I just can’t see this fashion trend going mainstream again, at least not in America. Yes, we women often sacrifice comfort for style, but a line must be drawn. And there are plenty of women who feel the same.
But the men seem to be on the other end of the spectrum. When discussing the subject, they’re throwing out words like feminine, sleek, sexy, and sensual, as they seem to be drooling on their keyboards at the very thought of this returning fashion. Apparently, what we’ve written off as a not-worth-the-trouble fashion accessory has been a sorely missed source of, um, fantasy for our male counterparts.
And so it goes. The men will note that Kate looks hot…making us feel a little less-than-hot. Eventually, we’ll succumb to the pressure, restock our hosiery supply, and start sporting those blasted things again.
Thanks a lot, Kate.
Pantyhose can actually make a woman’s legs look very sexy.
The point here is that most of us find it very uncomfortable.
I do not find them uncomfortable at all and – you will notice a savings in pedicures if you’re a regular hose wearer. Fewer calluses !!!
That’s interesting. But, once again, it depends on the individual and the climate. Personally, I don’t get callouses. Maybe it’s the high humidity and heat here in Florida.
Another good argument for hosiery!
Thank you!
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Sheer hosiery is hot!!!! Along with heels, pantyhose make the legs of ALL ladies (I.e. all shapes and sizes) an attractive asset. Being the base creature he natively is (regardless of how politically correct and enlightened he pretends), the heterosexual male adores every part of the female form that can be seen; and what can’t be seen is often vividly imagined. Female legs are rather nice but it has to be said that pins, like facial beauty, aren’t always as exquisite on their own as they are with ‘enhancement’. Hosiery draws attention to the legs that wear them. A woman who wears black micromesh pantyhose to a ‘do’ will be significantly more popular with the male attendees than the bare legged lady. All the best.
Point taken! Thanks for the comment.
Hmmmm “adores every part that can be seen.” Does that mean men would have better control if women covered up more?
I just thought of another more probable reason pantyhose replaced garter belts and stockings. It was the invention of the mini skirt.
On the subject of the mini being the principal reason for the adoption of pantyhose, it should not be forgotten that phose were welcomed by non-mini wearers as well due to the freedom from uncomfortable and unreliable suspender/garter belts. Comparing the design of the modern suspender-belt to its 1960′s counterpart, the latter is heavier, thicker, and of an altogether different design insofar as the physical placement of the suspender straps.
Just want to say that the hose debate is a great topic to discuss, and your opinion is respected. I am from Canada where hose is pretty much in fashion due to our different culture and climate than the USA. Last month, I was on the bus in downtown Ottawa where I spotted 8 women in their early twenties all wearing hose. Five of them were in nude hose, while three were in black opaques.
I have a friend who is from Poland, and tells me that Eastern European women including Russian women wear pantyhose a lot during the colder months of the fall and winter, and in business and formal settings. They wear them as a culture and tradition of femininity as oppose to it being a fashion statement or attracting men. A woman not wearing hose during cold weather, or at a business or formal setting would be mocked at as being poor or lazy in dress up. Wearing hose is taken very seriously in some Eastern European countries.
I don’t think that pantyhose has been out of fashion, nor out of style. It has been pushed away from the mainstream in the last decade, due in large part to the fashionistas, and media pushing the no hose/bare legs agenda towards the entertainment industry, and women in general. It is not just Kate Middleton that wears hose frequently. There are also other celebrities that are frequent hose wearers such as Beyonce, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, Nina Dobrev, and Nicklodeon stars Miranda Cosgrove, Victoria Justice, and Ariana Grande who are in their early 20s. Zooey Deschanel is also a frequent hose wearer and has praised Kate Middleton for wearing nude hose at Royal events during an Red Band trailer interview on Youtube. Zooey has also been seen wearing nude hose at various events. These celebrities have worn hose even during the Sex and the City bare legs era and long before Kate and Pippa Middleton entered the spotlight, and these women are under the age of 35, so hose seems to be alive and well in the younger generation.
I think its going to take some time and more convincing towards American women to get To me, wearing pantyhose should not a generational, cultural, or geographical issue. It comes down to a matter of preference.
You are so right. I’m still surprised at the response I’ve received and the debate that continues on this subject. When I originally wrote this, I had not idea what would follow or that many people would ever read this. Yet it’s my highest-viewed post. Go figure. I’m still trying to figure out what the next big debate is, so that I can get the same type of discussion flowing again on something else. Any ideas?
You said it well. And I thank you for your well-written comments, the fact that you commented at all, and that you wrote a great contribution to the discussion. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. You are welcome here anytime.
And so goes the debate. Any other opinions out there? I’m still trying to figure out what to wear for a job interview, haha. Not that I’m looking or anything…
Thanks for the response. Sorry about the last typo since I was in a hurry. I was going to mention that it is going to take some time and more convincing towards American women to get them to wear hose again since a number of young women are wearing hose again.
Hi again,
I think the reason why women in America don’t wear pantyhose as much than they do in Europe is because American hosiery brands do not make quality hosiery for women nor invest in new technology when it comes to sewing, textile manufacturing, and processing. Instead, they stick with old fashioned way by stitching the nylon fabric in order to gain profit, but could lead to problems. Some hose packages even dollar store ones also mention that the hose is 100% nylon but do not mentioned the denier nor if its run resistant or comes with spandex/lycra which is key for women to buy hosiery. If the nylon does have any of those things, the hose could have a low denier either under 10 or 10-15 that could be prone to run, snag and itchiness. That is why women dread wearing them.
European brands use new technology such as microfibers create run resistant by knotting the fabrics together and incorporating it with lycra/spandex in order for it to be soft, silky and run resistant. Stitching the fabrics alone would lead to runs and snags. Its too bad Americans can’t learn from their European counterparts when it comes to producing hosiery.
I agree that quality makes a huge difference. And in fact, I did don some pantyhose this past weekend to a wedding after reading all the mens’ comments here about how the bare-legged women just don’t cut it at weddings. I was the only one in hosiery–the only one. Granted, I’m in the South and it was an outdoor wedding. But I have to admit the hosiery completed the look. That being said, the first thing I did after the ceremony was rip those things off and go bare-legged for the reception. (My daughter told me it was then dark enough to hide my lily-white legs, haha.) I know I’m off topic with your comment and am not really sure of my point here, but I had to point out that I have hosiery a change (again!). Maybe I’ll try it yet again, but not for an outdoor event!
But I did wear higher-quality hose and didn’t get a single snag or run.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
48 year old guy here. I get the whole in the summer pantyhose are too hot, hey when it’s humid, the last thing anyone would want to do, is get into a hot car with hose on, not good. But let me take you into the corporate world a moment. I hire men and women for my organization. Simple fact. When a women shows up for a job interview in a business apprpriate suit and she is sporting the bare leg look, for me it’s a deal breaker. It shows a lack of tact and class. It’s usually the under 30 crowd that does that, just like the 20 something guy that came in with tattoos and a fishing lure earing in his ear lobe. My wife is 13 years younger than me, born in 1977, why is it at age 35 she gets it and slips her gorgeous gams into stockings or hose when she goes to work or we go out? She wants to look her very best and truthfully she has great legs without hose on. She just wants to look polished and professional. I greatly respect a woman who takes the time to do her nails, hair, makeup and shows that she cares about her appearance, the legs are part of the total package and the majority of the guys I know like the look of hosiery. Just one opinion in the world, not the only one and not necessarily the correct one, just an opinion.
You bring up a good point–the job interview. Who knows what to wear anymore? I definitely agree that the bare-legged looks is not appropriate for the job interview. But what about slacks and a blazer. Can’t that substitute? How do you dress for the job interview when business casual or even casual is the normal work attire?
This pantyhose debate goes on. And I start to wonder if there are some regional preferences. The men are defintely into hose and have strong opinions. Women are all over the board here. Is this a regional thing?
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, by the way. The debate goes on…
Lucky man, having a woman that much younger than you. When I was a youngster, the big turn on was a garter belt and stockings. Pantyhose were developed as an easier alternative but I think the garter belt and stockings were more comfortable and cooler. If hose were necessary, that would be my choice.
Agreed. I did do the garter thing, and that was way better. And on a hotness level, I’d think men would agree. Any thoughts out there from the men on garters?
Kate can wear whatever the hell she wants. I could purchase her entire wardrobe and still have the charm of a hibernating groundhog compared to her. She will not be re-introducing the tyranny of pantyhose to my chubby little legs.
Thank you for the chubby little legs comment because it describes mine as well. My weight is in my legs including my calves. I’m happy to wear pants. Now another tyrrany has occured called skinny pants. I can’t even get them over my calves. Suddenly it’s become very difficult to find any style BUT these skinny legs.
I’m so with you. I need to write about dreaded skinny jeans next. And for the record, I’m the apple-shaped gal who can’t get rid of the belly. So these low-rise jeans are also an issue for me. Muffin top has gotten the best of me. Ugh.
Yes, the low risers were/are awful too for most anyone who isn’t straight up and down. I’m a pear. The low risers which fit my legs are huge in my waist. If a designer came along who made fashionable clothes for women who aren’t shaped like runway models, she or he might be worshiped as a god.
Agreed. And the challenge goes out to the real designers who can dress the real woman, not the size 0 woman who wears clothes like a hanger!
Indeed! That would be the mark of a truly gifted designer.
Well said, haha.
I live in Florida where virtually every woman looks like a fashionista in comparison with the men who look like they don’t care about anything. Pantyhose here make me sweat, probably even more offensive to most than bare legs.
I live in Florida where the women dress so much better than the men, pantyhose is a moot point. As for pantyhose, it makes me sweat here which probably is less sexy than bare legs.
Thank you–my point exactly. I find them too hot in the summer and not warm enough in the winter. And while I may not have the most perfect legs to go the bare-legged route, that doesn’t mean I flaunt them either. In winter, I opt for longer hemlines and boots, or maybe tights. In summer, I can afford to go more casual and I don’t think I go anywhere where hosiery seems necessary. A wedding or funeral could be an exception, but it just depends on the outfit. I never realized hosiery was so controversial.
Every time I see a woman with no hose on and a skirt or dress, I say to myself “she looks ragged” it is simply a horrible non-sexy look. I do not understand them at all. For crying out loud, I have worn them myself and think they are very comfortable if sized correctly.
I agree – most women who don’t wear hose SHOULD – legs that are not perfect, should be in hose; myself included. I’m made to feel old fashioned when I do wear a skirt with hose, but my legs look great. I don’t want to spray tan and I can’t stand the feeling of pumps on bare feet – I also feel more confortable in them so I don’t get what the fuss is about comfort – just buy the right size!
I don’t really get the fuss either and never expected the backlash, but so be it. To each her (or his, apparently) own, I say. As for the comfort thing, several comments refer to buying the right size. I never had an issue with size, but as another reader stated, they’re sweaty in the summer here in the South. And in the winter, I prefer more covering in general.
I find women to be interesting creatures. I will address a few statements you made and counter them. First, pantyhose do not constrict circulation. They are actually shown to benefit in terms of blood flow. This is the reason elderly citizens wear them. Second, drawing a line is contradictory in this case as women do things much worse to their bodies solely in the name of looking good. High heel shoes, are both bad for posture, your feet, and they can be dangerous. Makeup, which is mostly chemicals and moisturizers, blocks every pore on your face and damages the skin. Hairspray and dyes? Also bad for you. I don’t see women removing that from their wardrobe/routine. I don’t think it’s arguable that pantyhose are worse than any of these. If you find them uncomfortable, it’s because you do one of two things. You buy them too small, or you buy lesser quality brands. Legs can look good without hose, but they always look better with. This isn’t an opinion, it’s what they were created for. You can be a beautiful woman, but will still put makeup on in the morning because why? You feel it makes you look better. So the same stands for pantyhose/stockings. I love the way they look and I’m sure others feel differently, albeit they are entitled to their own opinion. I could continue but a wall of text definitively will be redundant.
Thanks for the comments. Yes, I do wear make-up, and I dye hair, and probably countless other things that are harmful to me in the name of vanity. And you have a point, many actually. Yet personally I don’t like pantyhose, and for the record, I can’t tolerate heels any more either. Call me old or old-fashioned, but that’s me. They can look great, yet I’m over them. But I applaud the entire hosiery industry and all who support them.
I do appreciate the feedback. This comment thread has been interesting. Men looove women in hosiery. And I’ve decided that if I ever do wear them again, which most likely at some point I probably will because I am a slave to fashion trends, I will go for the high-end stuff when I do. Like Ms. Kate.
Well written post.
A couple thoughts from a guy.
I think there is a time and place for everything.
I attended a wedding last winter – formal occasion – probably 200+ guests – held in an upscale convention center, below freezing temperatures outside. I wore a suit with tie Windsor knot. My wife wore a blouse & slacks with heels.
I noticed a few things:
To some of the men’s credit – half wore suit w/ ties, but the remainder were mixed combinations of dress shirts with and without ties (those without were mostly teens or younger) and a few of the ridiculous loud-print collared shirts the metrosexual types favor. Regardless, the occasion called for suit and tie… The laziness of a FEW spoke volumes.
Not one women under age 70 donned any sort of leg wear. Some (probably a third – mostly the older ladies) had the good sense to wear trousers given the weather; but for the rest it was a mix of long skirts and dresses – but no hosiery of any sort or fashion – none. I’ll be blunt; that convention center was a sea really bad legs. Pasty white or streaked self-tanner, bare, bumpy, veiny… bruised. I know this isn’t nice to say- we (men) are supposed to stay tight lipped or lie – but this is the truth… It was gross… just really gross.
Another observation:
By the time the wedding party and guests had made the short walk from the cermony hall to the dining area for the reception, almost every woman under age 70 had replaced whatever shoes she had on, with beach flip-flops… My wife included. This laziness… practiced nearly UNIFORMLY from woman to woman… was (and is) inescapable.
American women celebrated the day when the bare-legged look became the norm? – Men have been quietly cursing it.
Regards,
Jeff
You have a point. I do think a formal occasion calls for something a little classier. You’re actually making me rethink the whole pantyhose issue. Apparently, men don’t like the bare-legged look. Or is it many women think they’re getting away with it and really aren’t, haha.
I must say your image of veins, bumps, bruises, streaks and paleness makes a case for covering up!
Thanks for the comment. Loved it!
Thanks Szabo-
Glad for the opportunity to speak up! The “relative” anonymity of the net does provide a chance to speak truths and opinions that one otherwise might not.
Again, I think there is an appropriate time and place for everything. I think the hosiery question is part of a much larger trend (especially in the US).
I’m an engineer, so was my father… I interned in his office in the late 80′s- early 90′s… so much different now. Even in the first 6-10 years after I entered the profession, the standards of an individuals professional and formal presentation were well understood, unspoken really, for both men and women. There was no uniform other than good taste. From Mon-Thursdays the guys wore slacks or khakis with a shirt and tie; the ladies wore a similar ensemble, with the occasional dress or business appropriate long skirt (and more often than not, they did attempt to wear some form of hosiery with a dress or skirt) – everyone male or female wore closed-toe shoes, and except for the arms and face there was no skin shown.
Any attempt to enforce the above standard today is a waste of time; I know this goes against accepted stereotypes – and few women would ever believe me – but it is much easier to get the men to abide by the current dress code: closed-toe shoes, socks, slacks, blouse or dress shirt with tie.
We’ve gone so far as to rent off-site meeting space on the days we are making client presentations. Even the folks my age (good scientists and engineers) can no longer fathom the style difference between an office and a Jimmy Buffet concert. Convincing most of these folks to wear jeans Mon-Thursday is a mean feat!! On Fridays, I’m just happy not to see Jim Belushi (or his sister) walk in wearing a toga…
I’ve had several clients in Europe in the last 6 years – England, Denmark and Germany – very different standards of personal presentation (especially on the continent). I’m going out on thin ice again here with uncomfortable truths – but the difference is most notable in women’s public attire… and it’s not a matter of sex-appeal; it’s finished, polished, serious – but still maturely feminine. There are probably dozens of practical and cultural reasons for this contrast – I’d wager there are anthropological studies on it. Regardless, there is a real difference – and not necessarily a good one…
Regards,
J
I love this discussion. In fact, I’m considering a couple of additional posts on corporate “dress codes” and the effect of a prospect, as you mentioned, that requires everyone to suddenly figure out how to dress professionally. I suppose there’s no going back to the business suit of the 80′s, at least for women. For me, it conjures up images of Melanie Griffith making her transformation in Working Girl. I see pantyhose, pumps, and really big shoulder pads.
I must admit that I love the convenience of the casual dress code. Yet as you state, I see it going way too far with flip flops, torn jeans and football jerseys. I work in the IT industry and I think as a whole, we’ve helped it decline as we model ourselves after Google and all the start-ups. I don’t think professional attire is necessary every day, although when you have client contact, you need to step it up a few notches–dress tastefully (if that can even be defined), pass on the jeans, cover the legs, don some proper shoes, and for goodness’ sake, cover the tattoos! A completely different subject, haha.
As I’ve had some writer’s block for a few weeks, I really appreciate the inspiration you’ve given me! And I appreciate your input and interest here. Hope you have a great day!
Seriously, if you find GOOD pantyhose (Pretty Polly, Aristoc) in the right sizes, they are an absolute pleasure to wear!
Good to know. I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks for commenting.
Yes, Kate, Thank You. Thank you for bringing style, class and appropriate dress back.
Maybe now when attending the opening night fundraising reception of a musical she’ll understand that the faded skirt she wore on “Casual Friday” is not the same thing as dressing for a theater opening fundraiser.
Maybe now when a woman receives an invitation to an event and it says “formal” that means a gown. Semi-formal doesn’t mean jeans, it means a dress or dress pants.
Maybe now for some women, “dressing up” won’t mean wearing your cleanest jeans and the pair of beach flip flops that are in the best condition.
Maybe now women will start to realize that you don’t wear the same shoes to work that you wear to the beach.
Maybe now both men and women will realize that work promotions might come faster if you dress professionally and not like you’re headed to an amusement park for the day.
If your hosiery are not comfortable then you are wearing the wrong size or style. Stop buying cheap and start buying quality. Don’t even think about a spray on tan – they are FAKE and we all know it and can tell because your legs don’t match the rest of you. Especially when you do it yourself using a cheap product and leave part of your tan everywhere you sit. At least most people understand hosiery is a clothing accessory worn for one reason or another and not an attempt to abide by some idiot’s idea of current fashion trends. And face it; most women do not have the legs to go without hosiery, especially if you’re over 35.
Yes Kate, thank you. Maybe you’re bringing back some common sense approaches to appropriate fashion.
No question about it that Kate looks great. And I agree that as a society, we’ve gotten sloppy when it comes to our attire. And I get that guys like women in hose. Who knows, maybe I’ll change my mind when the trend catches on again here in America. Tights in the winter are fine, but I still say pantyhose, particularly in the summer are not comfortable and the size and the quality has nothing to do with that. More expensive hose run as do those that are cheap and replacing them was a burden.
Overall, cheap hose look bad and quality hose look elegant. Yet I’ve put in my time and would never go back to wearing them on a daily basis. Nor will I go back to wearing business suits to the office. I’m relieved that those days are over for many of us. I’m all for comfort now, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be wearing flip flops in the office.
I agree that spray on tans are not the solution. It does not serve as a cover-up for unattractive legs. It’s a “to each her own” thing, I think. Hosiery is not a garment that is necessary by any means and we can certainly still look fashionable without them. Longer skirts aren’t as revealing, and we have boots in the winter so it’s a non-issue, although I do like to wear tights with boots to fill in the gap and keep warm.
But to say “most women do not have the legs to go without hosiery, especially if you’re over 35″ is up for debate. There may be a cutoff, but it can’t be a hard line at 35. For every 40+ woman who looks great bare-legged, there’s a 20-year old who doesn’t. Perhaps there’s a line to be drawn, but it can’t be as young as 35, can it? And age can’t be the only criteria, right?
Thanks for your comments, TampaGuy. I always appreciate anyone keeping the conversation going. And actually, I’ve been surprised at the feedback. Men seem quite interested in the return of hosiery, and women not quite so much. This is also keeping in mind that most of the feedback has been from America. I’d love some comments from Englanders, where Kate has made them popular again.
First off, not entirely sure why woman would not want to wear something that men found made them look attractive. Are we that far gone as a society that we have lost all self respect for ourselves? I think yes the style with our pants half way down seems to be a great look, I see CEO’s sporting that all the time. And woman will not wear PH but wear skinny jeans that look extremely uncomfortable. Perhaps PH are more worn outside the US because those people are not overweight and can actually fit into them. In America we seem to like the grung look and it’s all about…ME mentality. So not only are PH the most femanine article of clothing a woman can wear but also comes with a label of I’m proud to be a woman, I love feeling sexy, I care about how I look, I want to be noticed, and I am in shape enough to wear them. Viva pantyhose!
I always say “to each his (or her) own”. Fashion, or lack of, is a matter of personal choice. But you raise a few points, not necessarily all points I agree with, but I don’t need to. First, there may be women who dress solely for attracting a man, but I don’t know any of them. At least not in everyday life, maybe for a date. For those of us who don’t dress based on what a man wants us to wear, does that mean we have no self-respect? C’mon. Perhaps this depends on where someone lives, their age, their financial status, but I tend to think most women dress either for themselves or for other women. Not many men I know really care that much about what a woman wears, as long as it’s tasteful. Maybe it’s different in more urban areas, but not where I’m from. I don’t think not wearing pantyhose is the end of femininity, by any means. By that logic, we’d all still be wearing corsets. Is the bare-legged look that bad? I would think that’s actually more sexy, as long as someone has the legs to pull it off. I’m not into the grunge look either. It’s not an either/or issue, I think. I may want to wear a hot dress one day and shorts and flip flops the next. If that’s considered ME mentality, then so be it. I don’t get upset when my husband wears shorts and a t-shirt, so why would he expect me to be any less comfortable? Personally, I’m glad pantyhose are not a part of business attire anymore. They’re hot. On the flip side, I’m also glad for men that they don’t have to wear business suits to the office each day anymore. As for skinny jeans, they’re not the most comfortable article of clothing either, but they’re usually stretchy denim, which is much more bearable than nylons. On a final note, weight has nothing at all to do with anything. Pantyhose come in all sizes and shapes, and there’s no reason overweight people can’t wear them too. I fully expect hosiery to become trendy again in the U.S. Fashions tend to drift from England to us. I won’t be wearing them though. Yet I’m pretty sure I can find something feminine in my closet to pull off a look when I want to. If others do, that’s great, I’m all for it.
Thanks for stopping by and voicing your opinion. For all the men turned on by pantyhose, you should all be glad to know they’re back!
Thanks for your reply. U have brought some interesting points I had not considered. Corsets are a great point. I am always amazed at how much like sheep people are. Pantyhose have been around for a long time but now that Kate wears them…. sales go up. People love to mimicked their hero’s I guess. But I have seen in my office a younger lady in pantyhose and another co-worker makes a demeaning comment as “you wear those?!” Like she had a jock strap on. A lot is peer pressure not to wear them. But I would think a few woman would if they did not feel like a fool. Kate gives them that bridge that it’s ok…again great reply and blog u have here, thanks for discussion. And for the suits, yes I am glad woman and men have options on what to wear..it’s a great thing, but I have worked in a place where jeans were acceptable and I compare to my current dress code of casual but no jeans…..funny how it really makes the office feel a bit more professional.
I must say, I prefer a little more restrictions on dress attire. But that’s my opinion. Cheers.
I agree. Kate looks great in them, so now they’re in again. It’s funny. You can tell the lady in your office now that she’s actually a trend-setter. It’s amazing how these things go in cycles, isn’t it? In the end, I say wear what you want. Although I must admit to following some crazy trends…granny dresses, parachute pants, painter pants, tube tops! It’s fun to be trendy when you’re young. As you age, it just doesn’t work for you too well, haha.
Thanks again for stopping by and discussing. I love feedback! Cheers.
You see, expensive brands are made in such a way that they don’t fall off. They are quite OK in terms of comfort. Even some cheaper lines are alright too if they have a good control top.
I know what you are saying that when you wore it 20 years back it was uncomfortable – as a teenager I had to wear whatever pantyhose my mom would give me, so I constantly put a second pair of panties over the pantyhose to keep it in place.
Dentistry is not the same as 20 years back, neither is pantyhose. They improved. Wolford (and some other brands later) even came out with seamless pantyhose – no more gusset, seams, and so on. But of course, that’s why it costs a lot.
Also, between us girls, the big hype about Kate Middleton online is probably mainly from the fetish community. Hosiery is a strong fetish item.
I get a lot of compliments on fancy hosiery. If you make it like a piece of art, people will pay attention and comment. I think you’ll feel a little better wearing it when it looks so good.
For those of you who feel that they always get runs, see if you can wear fine nude fishnet. It became more acceptable over the years even in the office. (source – American Hosiery Association)
I try to discuss a lot of these points on my blog. I welcome you to check it out.
http://www.fantasystockings.com
Jessica
You’re so right. Whether I like hose or not, apparently a lot of people do, and they’ ve landed here. My advice? This lady is where you go to shop hosiery. Her site is awesome! Click on her link.
There is no way, no how I’m going BACK to this. I don’t care if Kate or any other celeb or queen or ANYONE does it. We suffered enough, but they do make one’s legs look more toned and tightened…hmmm, well maybe….NO, A THOUSAND TIMES NO!!!!!
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I’m with you! Hated those things and all the money I spent on them. The princess can have them all!
I see… someone posted a joke here from my blog. Well, I’ll take it as a compliment!
OK, about pantyhose, I personally find it comfortable and durable, but it took a while for me to learn as a teenager how to wear it properly.
I address the comfort issues about wearing it on my blog.
http://www.fantasystockings.com
Yes, it’s a compliment. And as soon as I figure out which image, I promise to post a link to your site. I took a quick peek and liked it.
I hate to disspoint you but pantyhose were invented by a woman. She attached stockings to a pair of panties and gave them to her husband to manufacture. In new brunswick NJ I constanly see Rutgers students wearing pantyhose which are now called tights because most older (moms) women hate pantyhose. If woman aren’t wearing pantings how can Wolford and Falke stay in busines selling $50-$90 pantyhose?
Don’t get me wrong. They look great, but I’m all about comfort now. And at $50-90, I’ll gladly pass! Very interesting that a woman invented them. I have to wonder what would have ever made her attach stockings to panties. An aversion to garters? Sliding stockings? Guess it doesn’t matter, because I would think she made a fortune.
Pantyhose Joke for Friday Night!
The couple are on their first date and end up in the back seat.
Guy: Wow, if I’d have known you were a virgin, I would have been a little more gentle
Girl: If I’d have known you were in such a hurry, I would have taken off my pantyhose.
Sorry.
Like your site too!
I hate to say I’ve heard the joke before, however it’s still worth a chuckle, and I like it posted on my page. Thanks!
Great post!
jleesblog.com
Thanks!
Oh man. I didn’t know that pa those ever went out of style! And I’m only 24. To me there is nothing more embarrassing than seeing a girl wearing a skirt with bare legs in the middle of winter. Gross.
Or you could look at as you’re fashion forward, since they’re coming (or have already come) back. I don’t like bare legs in winter either. I do like tights, boots, and the easiest of all…pants.
I am all about tights and boots, too. When I buy pants the question is: Can I tuck these into boots? Right now it’s skinny jeans, boot socks, boots. Casual Fridays are the best!
You need to check out my latest post, then, on the drop crotch skinny jeans. Let me know what you think.
My friends and I seriously just had this discussion. We voted NO MORE HOSE! At least, I think we were talking about pantyhose…
Haha. It’s unanimous!
I like them personally, but, I’ve only ever HAD to wear them for more formal occasions so they have a positive spin in my mind (prom, weddings etc). I also just can’t tan so they always made me like how my legs looked.
Yes, I can see them for weddings, funerals, etc. I guess I should have saved a pair now that I’m thinking about it.
Yeah, I’m totally with you there. I’ve got a huge basket full of pantyhose from the 90′s. Can’t quite bring myself to throw it all out but certainly don’t want to wear them again…at least not very often. I will admit that keeping something you haven’t worn for 20 years is a bit ridiculous, but what can I say…I’m thrifty
Me too. Another reason I hate pantyhose…I can’t take care of them and they cost too much.
It’s inventions like Pantyhose that make me wake up in the morning and think the universe that I was born with two distinct chromosomes.
I couldn’t agree with you more, haha.