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Highlights in Hosiery History
Imagine how ecstatic Queen Elizabeth must have felt when she received her
first pair of silk stockings in 1589. We know very little about how they
actually looked on her legs, but we do know that they must have felt quite
fabulous. Since then, stockings, and later, pantyhose have aroused the
passions of women (and men) everywhere.
Until the twentieth century, a lady's legs may have been talked about, but
were never seen. Men's legs, however, were in full view. The Egyptians wore
the first socks - bulky knits with separate big toes. Attila the Hun wore
colorful bands of cloth around his legs, And for sixteenth century dandies,
hosiery was a means of self-expression, they playfully wore layers of
brightly colored socks and tights in contrasting checked and striped
patterns.
On May 15, 1940, when the first nylons went on sale at stores throughout the
country, four million pairs sold out in four days. Women everywhere were
wildly enthusiastic about the new miracle fiber. But everything came to an
unfortunate halt with the outbreak of World War 11, when nylon production
was commandeered for the war effort. Women resorted to using makeup to
decorate their legs, like drawing faux seams up the back of their legs with
an eyebrow pencil.
World War 11 ended in 1945, but the nylon wars were just beginning! Peace
slowly brought nylons back into stores, but not fast enough. In New York,
Macy's sold out of it's entire stock of 50,000 pairs of nylons in six hours,
leaving a long line of unhappy, bare-legged women. Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh
a mob of 40,000 women stood all night in a torrential rain storm to buy
nylons from a tiny hosiery shop. By 1948, production of nylon stockings
returned to normal.
Hosiery took another giant step ahead with the development of spandex in
1959.
Pantyhose
Glossary
Hosiery is manufactured in a wide range of
fabric weights, knits and colors. In general, heavier weight fabrics are
stronger and more durable, but are thicker and show less of the natural skin
tone. Lighter, sheerer garments look and feel more luxurious but are not as
strong as their heavier cousins. Reinforced toes and heels will add to the
life of your hosiery, but it's a fact that the lighter and sheerer the
hosiery is, the more delicate it is and the more care it requires. All in
all, customers will find that price is not an indicator of durability.
Women's hosiery falls into the following
categories:
Sheers are made with lightweight
fabric composed of very fine yarn, usually nylon. Sheers are very flattering
to the leg but more delicate than hosiery made with heavier fibers. Ultra
sheers are the most fragile and allow the most natural skin tone to show
through.
Support hosiery comes in a range of
fabrics usually in a combination of nylon and spandex. They have gentle,
graduated compression to provide a massage-like fit that can reduce fatigue
in the legs.
Control Tops provide a slimmer
silhouette and add strength to a high-stress area of the garments
Opaques are heavier than sheers, more
durable and have recently gained tremendous popularity as a fashion
accessory.
Tights are even heavier than opaques,
more durable and are worn for dance, exercise or as a ready-to-wear
accessory, and provide added warmth during cold weather. Both opaques and
tights offer color coverage of the leg.
Maternity pantyhose are specially
designed to provide extra room and comfort in the top as well as support to
help blood circulation in the easily tired legs of mothers-to-be.
Run-Resistant garments are usually
made of thicker yarns and sturdier knits than sheerer pantyhose. But even
these will develop holes with wear. Many women prefer the appearance of
sheer pantyhose.
Pantyhose Fashion
Sense
The least costly way to update your wardrobe
is with a new pair of pantyhose: the key is versatility and style. Here are
some fashion "Dos" and "Don'ts":
DO: Wear dark, solid colors and ribbed
textures with dark clothes to slenderize and elongate your figure.
DO: Match hosiery and skirt colors to
elongate every silhouette.
DON'T: Wear pastels or white pantyhose
with a dark skirt unless you are six feet tall or want to cut your figure in
half
DO: Try something new. Want to look
clunky, chunky, of funky? Wear shoe boots or Oxfords with light opaques
covered with anklets to protect the hose and provide a fashion statement.
DO: Wear sheers for a touch of
sophistication and elegance.
DON'T: Be timid. Patterns, crochet and
lace pantyhose can add a touch of whimsy to your wardrobe.
DO: Go to the hosiery counter at your
department or specialty store. Check out samples/swatches for texture and
color. (If you're buying hose for a special pair of shoes, bring them along
so you can see first hand how they match.) Finding the right brand and style
of pantyhose is a little like finding the right lipstick - or the right man.
There's something to appeal to everyone, but you may have to sample a few!
DO: Mix it up. Sheers don't have to be
the standard for the work day. Even the most conservative offices are filled
with women wearing opaques and tights and other more durable hose.
The Right Way To Put On Hosiery
There is a right way to put on hosiery.
Most importantly, take a few minutes to put them on properly, and follow
these simple directions:
- Remove all jewelry, and check fingernails
and toenails for rough edges. (This greatly reduces those maddening "they
ran as soon as I put them on" mornings.)
- Roll each leg of the pantyhose down and
place the toe of the garment over the foot. Gently smooth one leg all the
way up, then repeat on the other leg.
- Pull the rest of the pantyhose up to the
waist - but don't pull too tight! Smooth fabrics while checking for twists
and sags.
- Lastly, take off your hosiery just as
carefully as you put them on.
Pantyhose Sizes
Selecting hosiery that fits properly is one
of the best ways to ensure maximum wear life. If your hosiery is too tight,
it is more susceptible to wear and tear, and it minimizes your flexibility.
- Most pantyhose have a chart on the back of
the package that gives height and weight ranges for each size. You may have
already discovered that a size A in one brand of pantyhose is not
necessarily the same as a size A in another brand. That's because many
brands use different yarns from different sources with different
characteristics, and also may use different machinery and knit fabric
constructions.
- It's all right to stretch the truth about
your weight when talking to a friend. But, you have to be honest with
yourself when buying pantyhose in order to ensure the proper fit.
- If you are at the upper end of a size
range, it's often wise to get the next size for maximum fit and comfort.
Larger or full-figured women should look for larger-sized products often
called queen size, which are designed for them.
Washing & Care Of Pantyhose
Care of your hosiery is a simple equation: if
you take good care of these garments, they'll last longer.
- Wash pantyhose gently by hand, using a mild
detergent that doesn't contain chlorine bleach, which will remove colors and
damage fibers. If you prefer the washing machine, place them in a hosiery
bag or pillowcase and wash on the gentle cycle with a mild detergent.
- To dry, place one or two pairs of pantyhose
on a towel, roll up and squeeze towel gently. This eliminates stretching
when hanging hosiery to dry. Never attempt to dry pantyhose in the dryer.
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SOURCE: The above
information was adapted from The Sheer Facts about Hosiery, developed
by the National Association of Hosiery Manufacturers (NAHM), which is a
voluntary organization of approximately 450 hosiery manufacturers and
suppliers. |
