About Stockings
Stockings (also known as hose or pantyhose) are tight-fitting elastic garments that cover both the feet and lower parts of the legs. Stockings vary from being transparent to being lightly colored. The main purpose for stockings is an aesthetic one. They often make a woman's outfit look more "put together" and professional.
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Types
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There are many types of stockings out there. Some popular types are fishnets (with wide open knits that resemble fish nets), matte (stockings with a dull finish), thigh highs (stockings that end mid-thigh), sandal (stocking with nude toes), opaque (stockings made out of yarn), ultra sheer (stockings made of fine denier fiber) and full-fashioned stockings (stockings that are knitted flat).
History
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Stockings used to be made out of woven cloth. Now they are usually made out of silk, cotton, nylon or knitted wool. The origin of the word "stockings" comes from "stock," which means the lower part of the legs, or the "stumps." Stockings were very popular until 1959, when pantyhose were invented by Allen Grant Sr. Since pantyhose do not have to be adjusted as much as stockings, many people started wearing pantyhose instead.
Expert Insight
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Stockings can be purchased at any large department store or women's clothing boutique. Many famous designer brands, such as Calvin Klein and Donna Karan New York, produce wide varieties of stockings, from knee-highs to opaque. Also, if you are looking for an even wider array of stocking varieties, check out the world-famous Austrian hosiery house called Wolford, which has been specializing in stockings for decades.
Warning
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Since stockings tend to be made of stretchy and sheer materials, they have a tendency to run and tear easily, which could potentially put wearers in embarrassing and awkward situations, especially in the workplace. The higher quality and more expensive the stockings, the less of a chance this should happen. Also, many people observe that silk stockings tend to run less than nylon stockings.
Effects
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Stockings can have great effects on the legs. One major use of stockings is to cover up unsightly skin conditions on the legs, such as spider veins (varicose veins), stretchmarks and even cellulite. If a woman wants to wear a short skirt, having varicose veins running all across her legs can be a major deterrent. However, simple stockings (even sheer ones) can solve this problem easily.
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