Women’s Hosiery

Hosiery is a term used to describe garment coverings for the legs and feet. Women’s hosiery has been in circulation for hundreds of years, with the most popular items now being ‘tights’ or ’stockings’. Hosiery tends to be talked about in terms of thickness, with ‘denier’ being the accepted scale – anything up to 15 denier is quite sheer, around 40 denier are quite dense while anything around 100 denier will be virtually opaque.
The original – and some would argue, the best – form of women’s hosiery are ’stockings’. These are sheer, thin items which go over the foot entirely and reach up the leg. They are then secured into place by a traditional garter and suspender belt system, or in some cases are ‘hold ups’, which are self-supporting at the thigh using silicone and elastic to keep the stocking on the leg.

Stockings are, historically, one of the few garments of clothing that is considered both functional and fanciful. A rare thing indeed, stockings do have a functional use in covering the legs and creating a sophisticated look, while they also play a part as fun or sexy items, too. And even better, the same pair of stockings, made from any material, can play both roles depending on what they are worn with. When it comes to versatility, stockings and hold ups have it all.

There are other types of women’s hosiery in circulation, the next best probably being known as socks. These are usually woollen garments which cover the foot, and sometimes ankle, of the leg. Mainly used by women playing sports, the sock has nevertheless undergone something of a fashion revolution in recent years. A long sock is referred to as being knee-high and though generally associated with school girls, ever since popstar Britney Spears wore a pair in the video for ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ they have become popular among adults as a garment that is seen as particularly coquettish and fun. This trend spread to the fashion houses – a rare case of the public dictating the catwalk – and now knee-high socks are part of many high-fashion outfits.

There is also an alternative to traditional garter-belt stockings and hold ups, known as tights in the UK (or ‘pantyhose’ in America). Like stockings, tights are very thin woven material that covers the foot and legs, but unlike stockings they do not end at mid-thigh. They are instead designed to continue up and cover the pubic bone and waist entirely, rather like standard trousers do but at a much tighter fit made from a much thinner material. They are seen as less fussy than suspenders and more applicable for day to day wear, in which they are as popular as ever.

However, whatever form you choose, women’s hosiery can be a wonderful way of completing a look and giving it a final, defining edge. Go gossamer thin (below 15 denier) for a look of sleek leg perfection or almost opaque to give the hosiery a place in the outfit themselves, as a starring role and not just a compliment. Whichever way you go, you’re guaranteed to look and feel fabulous.