How to Choose Stockings

The world is full of hose, not all of them a girl's best friend. A few key strategies can take the fear and mystery out of adorning your legs.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hosiery

1. Consider color. (See "How to Choose Stocking Color.") When in doubt, go with nude or black.

2. Consider texture and opacity.

3. Consider whether you want pantyhose or stockings. Wear pantyhose with short dresses and skirts, and with anything clingy. Stockings, especially the kind that stay up on their own, can be fun, sexy and more comfortable than pantyhose.

4. Consider price vs. durability. Good hose can be very expensive, but sometimes are worth it.

5. Consider flair vs. subtlety. Usually the right choice in stockings means no one will notice them. Occasionally, stockings can make a dramatic statement - a pattern or a seam up the back, for example. Use these judiciously as they can easily overwhelm an outfit.

Tips & Warnings

• Hand wash all hose or put them in a lingerie bag so they have a fighting chance.
• Put lotion on your hands before you reach for the hose to avoid snags.
• If you are wearing support hose, make sure the darker part of the hose doesn't show, even when you sit down.
• If you are wearing sandals, make sure your hose have a sandal toe. Sandals are even better without hose, if the weather allows.
• Sheer hose are generally considered sexier and more elegant. They're best for evening, higher heals, and summer outfits, and have the added benefit of slimming the leg. Opaque hose are heavier and warmer, so they're good for winter. They're also more durable.
• Wolford is famous for unusual patterns and construction, silky weaves and durability. A pair of their heavier stockings can last for years and is worth the investment. All sheer hose, however, will snag, run and stretch out with wear. When it comes to sheer hose, you are paying for a very delicate weave and smooth texture, not necessarily strength.
• Boots usually rub snags and marks into the shins of even top-quality hose. Avoid wearing your best new stockings with boots.

on 11/22/2005 There is a new type of pantyhose for sandals that are not toe-less, they are like mittens for the feet. The nylons are called Tohos.

on 11/22/2005 Fishnets are the perfect hosiery for someone who wants a versatile look. They can be found in different net widths (like fencenets, which are much thicker and spaced further apart), they are comfortable in all seasons, and are available in all colors and stocking styles, even ones with glitter material woven into them. They pick less easy than regular stockings and can look as wild or as tame as you want depending upon your outfit, and would be considered appropriate officewear paired with a nice, tailored suit.

Choosing a pair of good fishnets is pretty easy, as due to the design they are very sturdy. Make sure they feel soft and cloth-like rather than stiff. As they come relatively cheap, I'd recommend buying several different colors. Fishnets usually go all the way to the top rather than having a control built-in, so you can wear full length ones with a short skirt. Be sure that if you want thigh highs or knee highs that they have elastic around the band or else you'll have to wear a garter belt.

Full-lengths also feel nice under pants worn as socks since they allow air to go through unlike regular stockings which can make you hot. They also make your pants slide on easier and help to push down pantylines to a degree, although not so much as regular stockings.

on 11/22/2005 To wear stockings, you need a garter belt (in Europe the accessory is call a suspender). Good garter belts are comfortable and don't cost much more than the little lacy ones that are not practical for long wear. Worn on top of the hip, garter belts are usually 4 to 6 inches in length, measured from top to bottom (this measurement does not include the straps). The 8-inch garter belt has recently become popular. Wider garter belts, called full or girdlette (10 to 12 inches), can offer support for the waistline. Girdles, corsets and waist cinchers are other articles of lingerie that can have straps for stockings. You can easily incorporate stockings with different lingerie.

The straps from the garter belt attach to the stocking by clasps. The more straps, the better. The more straps are used, the smoother the stocking will look and on that rare occasion a clasp breaks, there would be no sag in your stocking. Metal clasps are better than plastic ones. Be sure the straps are adjustable so you can custom fit the amount of tension on the stocking. Most stockings have a top area that is thicker than the stocking itself. This is called the Welt and the clasps are attached to the welt. Don't substitute thigh highs for stockings because the thick rubber can bend the clasps. Stretch stocking wearers can use a four-strap garter belt but non-stretch stockings work better with at least six straps.

A good starting point for strap adjustment is to make the back straps 2 inches longer than the front straps and 1 inch longer than the side straps. Some garter belts are cut/shaped longer in the back than in the front to help in this area because when you sit down there is a farther distance to go on your back side to reach the stocking. When standing, there should be a slight pull on the stockings but the word here is slight (over pull will either damage the stocking or cause the garter belt to slide down). If you are wearing stretch stockings, you can keep the straps tighter, letting the stocking do some of the give.

The first few times you wear stockings, wear them around the house for a while before you leave to be sure you have everything adjusted properly. If you are wearing a short skirt, be sure to sit down and see if the stockings are long enough.

The most important rule is: don't look at the pictures. If you wear panties, put them on LAST. Think about going to the bathroom. If you have your stockings and garter belt over your panties, then you have to remove everything to go to the bathroom.

Rules for stockings are the same as for pantyhose: No jagged finger nails and toe nails. Remove rings if they are not smooth. Hands should be smooth or wear hosiery gloves. Roll the stocking down into an O-shape, place your thumbs inside, then start unrolling it over the foot and up the leg (pointing toes, foot forward helps). Hand wash them by gently swishing and squeezing the stockings (don't rub or twist) in lukewarm water using a product like Woolite (another great product is Hosiery Mate, and you don't need to rinse). Rinse in clean water, gently squeezing. Then lay it out flat on a towel to dry (room temperature, away from direct heat). You can also use a drying tree.

Attach the back straps first. This helps to keep the stocking straight (even ones without a seam). If you are wearing seamed stockings, place the back strap in line with the seam (seamed stockings are best worn with 6 or more straps which will keep the seam straight). Try sitting down, which makes it easier to attach the back straps. Another trick is not to pull the garter belt all the way up until you have attached the straps to the stockings. Better yet, have a friend/spouse/partner attach the back strap for you. To keep your stockings from twisting, attach the straps straight down from the garter belt. If you are wearing Full Fashion stockings, do not put the clasp in the finishing hole (this is a weak area of the stocking).

Most Internet sites that sell stockings give very good information about their stockings and sizing but you may have to try different brands/styles to get the perfect fit. So don't buy six pairs because you get a price break until you know they fit properly.

on 11/22/2005 They make a hose for sandals now with a split toe for thong type sandals. I think it is Hanes but I'm not sure.

on 11/22/2005 The hose must be very sheer and invisble against the leg. If you see a hint of color, they are too dark. They must fit very snugly, and if a short skirt or a dress wears sheer to the waist, avoid control tops!