There is nothing quite so effortlessly timeless as silk stockings when it comes to lingerie. Just the description conjures images of luxury, sensuality and the body beautiful – and what UK woman doesn’t want a little of that in her life? Silk itself is regarded as one of the most luxurious items a woman can own and is an incredibly popular choice when it comes to high-end lingerie. Although the stocking has it’s basis in nylon material, silk stockings have been in production since the second World War, and demand for them is not likely to stop any time soon.
Perhaps the most instantly recognisable of silk stockings are those that come up to mid-thigh and are secured in place by a suspender belt. When made of silk, these stockings are glamorous and sensual to the extreme. A woman dressed only in silk stockings, a garter belt, a bra and a pair of killer high heels is just timeless in its elegance and, of course, it’ sexuality.
If you’ve never owned a pair of silk stockings, I strongly recommend you try them and see what all the fuss is about. There is a very good reason the concept is a byword for elegance, glamour and sexual appeal.
Another of the more well known type of silk stockings are those referred to as ‘hold ups’. Rather than needing an accompanying suspender belt, these are satin stockings that hold their place on the leg by themselves, usually using elastic or silicone. These are used to a varying degree of success, and you may need to try several different sizes and brands before you find a pair that fit your legs correctly and do indeed ‘hold up’. They are, however, infinitely more suitable for day-to-day life than stockings and a suspender belt, and are usually more comfortable than tights (which are basically stockings with underwear attached).
It is true that silk stockings are not the most practical of garments and are perhaps not ideal for wearing to the office, but for a night out or a special occasion, they are a supreme choice. Firstly, the feel of the material against your bare legs is incredibly thrilling. It just brings to mind images of extreme luxury and indulgence, so allow yourself to have a small ‘I’m worth it’ moment. During the World Wars, due to rationing the supply for nylon stockings was at an all time low. Women were so desperate to achieve the look a variety of ways of creating the false impressive of stockings were devised, the most popular being women simply drawing a line down the bag of their legs to create the impression of a seam being there and thus indicating the presence of stockings – and that was just nylons! There is a little guilty pleasure in not only wearing stockings so frivolously, but them being silk no less, that most high-end of materials.
One of the most established holiday traditions in Western society, the Christmas stocking is synonymous with the anticipation of the big day. Anyone who takes a moment to picture the scene conjured up in their mind by the phrase “Christmas stocking” will almost inevitably picture a roaring fire in an old brick hearth , with tinsel and holly taking prominent positions as the “halls” are “decked” in preparation for the 25th of December. There are few things more Christmassy than that, when it coes down to it.But where does the idea come from? Do you know the full story? Until recently I didn’t, and it’s a shame because the story is a lovely one. A poor man had three daughters, but despaired of ever seeing them marry because in those days the bride’s father was expected to pay a dowry to his daughter’s fiancé. Unable to raise a dowry, the old man believed they would remain single and feared for his daughters’ happiness (which goes to show how old the story is – many women these days would give anything to be single again).
Anyway, one evening the daughters washed their clothes and went to bed. While the family slept, a young man named Nicholas visited the house and looked in the window, where he saw the daughters’ stockings hanging by the fire. At this, Nicholas reached into his money pouch and drew out three small bags of gold. He threw one nag into each stocking, and when the daughters awoke in the morning and went to get dressed, they found enough money in their stockings to allow them to marry. You see, Nicholas was the young man who would go on to become Saint Nicholas, who we know better these days as Santa Claus.
As a result of this story, children have taken to hanging stockings close to the fire, and into these stickings go small presents (generally not enough to pull together a dowry though). In many places you can buy special small bags of chocolate “coins” wrapped in gold foil as a “stocking filler”, as a nod to the old story. Of course, the world being what it is, “stocking fillers” these days tend to be more in the order of CDs and jewellery, but hey – at least they’re still shiny and mostly circular. But there’s no reason it has to be that way . why not use your imagination this Christmas and give someone a truly thoughtful stocking filler?
The word “stocking” describes a close-fitting elastic garment - much like a sock but longer and (usually) made of thinner fabric. The word comes from “stock”, which in times past used to be the word used to describe the lower part of the body. You learn something new every day, and perhaps this can be our new thing for today. Anyway, that’s where the word comes from, but as we all know language is constantly updating itself and, in the present day, stockings tend to be a shorter form of what we know as “tights”. Combined with suspenders, stockings are famously thought of as a rather racy form of underwear. Their shortness exposes a few inches more flesh while importantly still keeping a bit hidden – giving them an aspect of titillation in comparison to the longer, more demure tights. Held up by suspenders, a pair of stockings are likely to have an effect on a man (or, indeed, a woman) that is hard to match.
Because there is an element of intricacy to a set of stockings and suspenders, they send out the message that an effort has been made – although technically this is an item of underwear, it is worn largely for the purpose of being seen, which gives out the suggestion of liberation and barely suppressed intent. And because it’s just a suggestion, nothing is overtly said or promised, leaving everything to the imagination. The imagination, as we all know, is a very powerful thing, and when you want to make an impression you can confidently expect it to do a lot of the work for you.
The other thing about stockings is that they’re not straightforward. To hold them up, they mostly need to be clipped to a suspender belt and if they can be clipped on, they can also be clipped off – in some ways it is as though the garment is being worn as much for the joy of taking it off. Again, this is left unsaid, the imagination is allowed to do the work and there’s a kind of cheeky exhibitionism to it all. Knowing that you are being looked at, being desired and admired, can be more thrilling than any physical touch.
Finally, while a set of stockings is well-known as an erotic stimulation, there’s a bit more to them than that. As they tend to be made of sheer fabric – often lace – there is a touch of class to wearing stockings which doesn’t need to have anything to do with being seen. No-one else absolutely has to know that you are wearing them. Just having such a classy item in close proximity to your body can be a real boost to your confidence, giving you that extra ten per cent that can make you feel like the most important person in the room. Either way, if you’re wearing a good pair of stockings, you’re the one in control.
The bodystocking is a prime example of how a very functional idea can become something entirely different when put into mass production and sold to an inventive general public. A bodystocking is an all-in-one garment that is skin tight. It tends to have long legs and traditionally had sleeves, but this now varies. It is usually made from a sheer fabric and is often crotchless, originally for ease of use but this is generally different now. It was originally intended to be an extra layer in cold weather, a fully functioning garment that was designed to the keep the wearer warm and little else.
However, the bodystocking has had something of a reinvention and is now seen as a primarily erotic item of lingerie – and it’s easy to see why. The close, snug fit is perfect for showing off curves and the crotchless aspect is particularly… useful… in this department! It has strong links with the S&M scene, where it tends to not be made from sheer fabric but from PVC or similar, and there are even groups of people with a specific fetish for bodystockings.
So we have one garment which has two very different uses, but there is no reason why both cannot be applicable to the average UK woman. You don’t need to be a fan of sado-masochism to enjoy the extremely sexual effect of a body stocking. Plenty of lingerie designers have recognised it’s sexual advantages and continue to make bodystockings from the traditional sheer material, but these are designed for style rather than function. They tend to be adorned with lace, ribbons or sequins and would be immensely impractical during cold weather, but guaranteed to provide a little heat in the bedroom. Yet bear in mind these items are intended for seduction only and finding them comfortable enough to wear in everyday life is rather unlikely – but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider one. The difference of how it feels on your skin can give you a new level of confidence. And, of course, you can dabble with other fabrics without completely going down the S&M route and bear in mind the aforementioned fetish applies to both the wearer and the audience, so you just might get a thrill you hadn’t expected!
Then there is the more functional and almost dull side of the bodystocking, which is still applicable. Plenty of retailers in the UK sell bodystockings designed for warmth, some even offer thermal versions. There is no doubt that an all-in-one garment which covers the entire upper body and right down the legs is going to keep you warm. Yet as with the sensual bodystocking, it isn’t particularly productive for everyday wear, where people may find it restrictive and also quite difficult to disguise underneath clothes. A bodystocking is really worth careful consideration for cold-weather activities such as skiing or even as an item of nightwear if you live in a particularly cold area.
In essence, the bodystocking’s various uses are as different as night and day – but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a lot of fun with both.
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.