Unlike the laddies, ladies have many hosiery options (unless, of course, you are a laddy who dresses like a lady).
I started femulating when ladies wore stockings with seams that were suspended by garters, typically, the garters built-into the girdles they wore.
That's how I started, but shortly thereafter, my hosiery supplier (Mom) switched to a new type of hosiery: stockings without seams. Since Mom switched, I also switched to stockings without seams, which were still suspended by “my” panty girdle (“my” because my girdle was “borrowed” from Mom).
A few years later, Mom switched again – to a another new type of hosiery: pantyhose. I switched too and wore pantyhose for over 35 years.
About ten years ago, I switched to thigh-high stockings with built-in stay-up support (I prefer the Berkshire brand). In general, I am very happy with the switch. During warm weather, they are cooler than pantyhose. In all weather, they are sexier than pantyhose and when nature calls, thigh highs are a non-issue unlike pantyhose.
My only complaint with thigh highs is that sometimes there is slippage and I have to find a ladies’ room to pull them back up, although, I do admit to sneaking a surreptitious thigh-high adjustment outside the confines of the ladies' room if the coast is clear.
I am curious.
What type of hosiery do you girls wear when you are dressing up?
Leave a comment or e-mail me with your answers.
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| Wearing A.L.C. |
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| Irakli femulating Alena Apina on Russian television’s One to One! You can view the femulation on YouTube. |
I'm still and will always be a pantyhose gal. If having nylon up two thirds of your leg is great, having it all the way up to your waist is amazing! Plus, a control top both helps keep "the boys" out of the way and gives needed firming for this 45 year old gal. Brandwise I usually do Donna Karan, but bought some Hanes Silk Reflections recently and they're a lot better than I remembered. The big shame is good luck finding patterned or unusual colors in pantyhose--and tights just aren't the same.
ReplyDeleteI love Wolford hosiery,,,pantyhose and thigh high styles,,very silky and soft on my legs. Trina
ReplyDeleteNothing beats a great pair of L'Eggs! But recently, my Girl Friends have got me to venture out naked - that is, bare legs. I'm not terribly comfy wearing shoes with no stockings, but I invested in some cute sandals to help. (Hey - ANY excuse to buy shoes!) Still, my preference is pantyhose. I did try stockings and garter belt one night - 1 Night. Gimme my Sheer Energy any day.
ReplyDeleteBTW - have any of you ladies tried the "pantyhose garter stockings"? (like the CK pictured above) I tried them a couple of times, but after 2 wearings (and a wash) the "belt" doesn't seem to hold up as well. Thoughts?
DeleteNever the Calvin kind but regular garters because they're independent of the hosiery and sturdier.
DeleteVelma is predominantly a thigh-high gurl. There is an outlet here that sells the 'seconds' for $1.79/pair.
ReplyDeleteMost of us older gurls fondly remember the hose with the seam up the back, which gracefully delineated the lovely curve of a ladies leg. Certainly a moment of psychic/subconscious imprinting for the budding young emulator....
Velma
I prefer thigh-high except when wearing some of my shorter dresses, then pantyhose.
ReplyDeleteStockings with garters are what I find to be the best. They are just so much more practical! Plus my wife loves them on me. I buy regular, non-seamed types directly from Poland where they are still popular and available cheaply. Stay ups/thigh highs have an element of uncertainty: I remember coming out of a cinema after watching a film and right there in the middle of the throng my right stocking failed and slipped down. Embarrassing to say the least! As for pantyhose, they are ok but I find them too easy to put on incorrectly unless they have been fully boarded. Although I do love the combination of warm tights and a skirt in the winter.
ReplyDeleteI'm so envious! I'm stuck with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and can't wear the wonderful stockings most of you girls can wear. CHF is a condition that can be managed (20+ years for me) with diuretics and compression hose. The reason for those is the big symptom of edema and, gravity being what it is, my legs swell up.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't let edema get in my way! There are many brands of support nylon/spandex sheer stockings, along with other options. But they're not inexpensive. When I wear slacks I use mostly unisex knee- and thigh-high hose. When I wear sandals I use toeless compression hose, some feminine and some unisex, depending on the circumstance. But when I wear dresses and skirts I have the option of using as-sheer-as-they-can-make thigh highs or -- my preference -- Active Support L'Eggs pantyhose. I'm glad my edema isn't chronic or those L'Eggs wouldn't be strong enough.
The important thing to me is that I'll always find a way to be Mikki! Cliche' warning!!! When I get lemons, I make lemonade!
I've almost always worn pantyhose, they help hold my hip pads on. I have switched to a shaper in the summer when it's too hot for hosiery. Thigh highs always slide down on me and I don't like the feel of the rubber grip. I do have a garter belt and stockings for special occasions.
ReplyDeleteWhen I started thigh highs were the norm, when pantyhose came later, I never switched. Like you, I prefer thigh highs, though nature calls were not a problem at the time 'cos I was closeted. I like thigh highs for the fact that they left my inner thighs bare, which made me feel comfortable!😉
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately thigh highs seems to be rare in my country (SG) now 😞, so I'm usually bare-leggged...
i have always worn stockings attached to a garter belt - as Tina mentioned, the thigh highs never seem to stay up - and i wear back-seamed stockings for special occasions
ReplyDeleteMy preference has always been pantyhose. My favorites are from Cecilia de Rafael - along with Levante, Platino, Hue and others. One has to find the right fit which unfortunately varies. They make me feel "put together" and wonderful - truly one of life's simple pleasures. I accept the inconvenience as uh, well, inconvenient at times...😉
ReplyDeleteWow, hosiery is my favorite womanly item and it's the article of clothing that lets me know I'm on my way to being a woman when I slip them on. So lets see, I generally wear Legg's sheer to the waist PH for everyday, when wearing a corset I opt for a pair of high-waist Hanes, as they provide a bit of a perspiration barrier and make it a bit more comfy - I like DreamGirl lace top stockings when I want to feel sexy and I've recently discovered stockings by Mila Muratti (sp?) that have a contrast top (silver grey and black lace top, and other colors as well). I like to wear tights with my black suede boots - matching the color with my top and a black suede skirt. So I'm a gal who really loves all types of hosiery (except knee-highs!). Thanks for asking this question Stana, lots of responses!
ReplyDeleteOf course, I enjoy wearing black stockings attached to a garter belt. Thigh highs are just as sexy but never seem to stay up sometimes. I also enjoy Panythose. As a retired secretary I prefer to wear higher brands like Donna Karan and Italian brands whenever possible. I found Wolfords the most luxurious.
ReplyDeleteFishnets are nice for special occasions but can get torn sometimes too quickly
Stockings n Heels is what works best for me
Brenda
I'm one of those south of I 10 gals that find wearing stocking or pantyhose a little too warm, especially during the day. When I'm going out at night, I prefer sheer pantyhose. When I'm feeling a little naughty or wanting to feel sexy, I do wear stockings with a garter belt.
ReplyDeleteHi Stana
ReplyDeleteI went through the same steps as you did & at the same place you are.
Great dames think alike! LOL
DeleteI love Hanes Silk Reflections pantyhose and have worn them for over 20 years.
ReplyDeleteWell I've been dressing seriously for over 30 years. Like most of us I began with my mom's stockings and girdle. When I began to dress and go out in the late 80's I wore both stockings and panty hose. Then for the last few years I've rarely worn skirts or dress in order to dress as other women my age find fashionable. Now I shave my legs and normally don't wear any hose like many women. Of course in Summer I ware capris with sandals or if I going to a club with wedges or heels. I do miss the sexy look and feel of stocking.
ReplyDeleteI have been a pantyhose "girl" ever since I first wore them.
ReplyDeletewhen i first started rummaging in my mother's underwear drawers in the late 70's, the only choice of hosiery there was tights (aka pantyhose). even when i later had the option, i rarely wore stockings as i was always hopeless at doing up the back suspenders on a girdle or corselette. so tights were my standard hosiery attire whenever i dressed until only 3 or 4 years ago, when someone bought me a pair of what we in blighty call "hold ups". i was initially extremely sceptical of what i saw as an unwanted gift, as i thought they wouldn't last five minutes before gravity brought them down. with the consequence that i would look like a battleaxe character called "nora batty" from an old british comedy called "last of the summer wine" who was renowned (in an unflattering way) for her wrinkled stockings!
ReplyDeleteanyway, one night i thought i'd give them a try as i was starting have difficulties getting into tights thanks to my advancing age. and it was the best thing that ever happened in that regard! not only do they seem to "hold up" most if not all of the time(but without stopping blood circulation either), as stana points out they make life much easier with regard to the practicalities of answering the call of nature when out and about. not to mention making any sexual interaction a whole lot more convenient ha ha
Pantyhose 90%
ReplyDeleteGarter belt the rest!
I followed a similar pathway. When I first started wearing women’s hoisery I borrowed my mothers seemed stockings. Overtime I became a pantyhose girl and a thigh high girl about 5 years ago. I still use garters occasionally and pantyhose when wearing short miniskirts to protect my modesty! I wearing some version of nylons every day so I think I must definitely have the “nylons” gene!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post on hosiery !
ReplyDeleteThankyou
For me, it's always been pantyhose. I simply adore the uninterrupted caress of that silky fabric from toes to waist:) I've tried many brands and styles over the years, and always come back to L'eggs Sheer Energy...although I have quite a collection of patterned sheers and colorful tights to embellish my outfits. Nothing beats a great pair of legs!
ReplyDeleteCiao! Elise
This post is sooo helpfull
ReplyDelete