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Sheer, sexy, black, silk, with or without a seam...

... stockings have come a long way since their early predecessor, the hose - from which hosiery derives its name. From the thick and comfortable to the sleek and sexy, stockings today are once again a popular item. Hosiery saw the introduction of new materials such as nylon and other man-made fibres in the forties, and challenged the then lasting status of silk as the first choice of material used.

Although fully-fashioned stockings were still available in silk, nylons rapidly took the market after the war. The first tights or pantyhose became the height of fashion in the 60s, but the stocking had not gone away for long. Stockings slowly returned in the 70s, and throughout the next decades there was an explosion of colour, with a multitude of prints, knits and yarns available. Tights grew ever more daring, appearing with animal prints, stripes, delicate floral patterns and a kaleidoscope of colours. As the 80s progressed, textured nylons became all the rage and sheer thigh highs or hold ups increased in populaitry too.

By 1990, women could buy stockings or tights in any colour or weight they desired, and nostalgically RHT stockings became a popular item once again. As the 90s ended, no hosier at the start of the century could have imagined the choice of texture colour and pattern found on stockings today.

The major knits for stockings are:

Regular flat knit
The original knit until 1945. It is smooth, silky and soft to the touch.

Micromesh
Gives matte finishes to stockings and is not as silky as a regular knit.

Textured
Stockings are soft, and come in a variety of styles such as diamonds.

The latest craze to hit Japan is the spray on silk stocking from a can. Its called the Air Stocking and you can get about 20 pairs to the can. We can only wait and see on this one.

Bras

Camisoles

Corsets

Girdles

Panties

Stockings

Thongs

The main types of stocking are:

• Knee High
• Thigh High
• Seamed
• Fully Fashioned (the original seamed stocking)*
• RHT (Reinforced Heel & Toe)
• Fishnet
• Silk
• Tights or Pantyhose

* The presence of a key- hole together with the seam can identify a fully-fashioned nylon stocking. A rarity now, in today's stockings.