pantyhose

Pantyhose are sheer, close fitting coverings of the body from the waist to the feet, most frequently worn by women. Like stockings they are usually made of nylon. The one-piece pantyhose garment appeared in the 1960s and provided a convenient alternative to stockings (nylons).

The term 'pantyhose' originated in the United States, referring to the combination of 'panties' (an American term for women's underpants) with sheer nylon hosiery. In the United Kingdom, they are called tights, a term that refers to all such garments regardless of whether they are sheer lingerie or sturdy outerwear. In the U.S., the term tights is used for non-sheer garments typically made of a stretchy material like spandex, and worn during exercise or atheletic activity, or as utility clothing.

History

In the 1920's the fashionable hemline for women's skirts and dresses began to rise enough to show a woman's legs and sheer hosiery that covered the legs was only available as stockings. They were typically made of silk or artificial silk (now known as rayon), and after 1939 with nylon.

In 1959, Allen Gant Sr. of Glen Raven Mills introduced pantyhose. Stocking manufacturers began using circular knitting machines to reduce manual labor and create seam-free stockings. In 1965, Glen Raven Mills introduced a seam-free version of pantyhose, which coincided with the introduction of the miniskirt. The miniskirt made it unfashionable to show the tops of a woman's stockings, and by the end of the decade pantyhose had replaced stockings almost entirely. In the same period hosiery started adding spandex or elastane to give it stretch superior to crimping nylon. Glen Raven Mills still operates in North Carolina, U.S. as Glen Raven Inc.

Benefits of wearing pantyhose

Pantyhose are worn for a number of reasons. They can hide a woman's natural complexion, covering spider veins and blotches. Sheer pantyhose that match the skin color of the legs can enhance the appearance of legs, making them look smoother. Darker pantyhose can enhance the legs by outlining the shape and by making the legs seem slimmer. Brown colored pantyhose give the illusion of tanned legs; an 'instant tan'. Pantyhose also has a practical use, as it can provide warmth in colder weather and let one appear "bare-legged" even in the winter. Pantyhose might also be worn simply for comfort. Pantyhose that are knitted with lycra enhance blood circulation by applying even pressure on the legs throughout the day.

Pantyhose are currently a standard sight in offices worldwide, where they have been accepted as part of a professional dress code for women. Though a barelegged trend is now popular amongst younger women, hosiery is still common in offices and places where formal dress is required. Schools with uniforms often require some sort of hosiery as a part of the uniform (usually pantyhose or tights).

Pantyhose styles

Pantyhose are available in a wide range of styles. The sheerness of the garment, expressed as a numerical 'denier'/'dtex', ranges from 3 (extremely rare, very thin, barely visible) to 20 (standard sheer) up to 30 (semi opaque) until 70 (opaque).

Pantyhose are sold in a variety of colors and textures (patterns). In business wear, the texture is usually neutral and the most common shades are beige, gray, white, and blacks, while fashion styles popular among younger women include a wide range of colors and textures.

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In Japan, a new kind of pantyhose involves separate encasement for each toe in the same way as toe socks.

The composition of pantyhose

Most pantyhose are composed of nylon and a mixture of spandex, which provides the elasticity and form fitting that is characteristic of modern pantyhose. Unfortunately, the nylon fabric is somewhat prone to tearing and it is common for very sheer hose to 'run' soon after snagging on something rough or sharp.

Pantyhose worn for fashion have a standard construction. The top of the waist is a strong elastic. The part covering the hips (panty area) is composed of a thicker material than the legs. The gusset or crotch is also a stronger material, sometimes made of cotton. The legs of the pantyhose are made of the thinnest material which has a consistent construction down to the toes, which may be reinforced to guard against wear. However, a constant complaint of pantyhose is that they "run" or tear frequently, which ensures that wearers must constantly purchase new pairs.

Pantyhose and men

Hose for the legs were part of European male fashion from the time men's tunics began to be worn shorter in the 14th century until hose were replaced by stockings in the 17th century; meanwhile women hid their legs from public view. This trend reversed, however, with men wearing trousers and women exposing their legs. In the 20th century, pantyhose have been mass-marketed to women exclusively. However, in recent years some versions for men 1 have appeared in the marketplace, touted for warmth as well as for appearance, improved blood circulation, and comfort. See how it looks like. It has been suggested that these male versions, which may or may not incorporate a fly, be referred to as "boxerhose", since men do not wear panties and the term sounds less feminine. Although the garment bears little resemblance to boxers, they supposedly resemble boxer briefs with hosiery added. Currently, no manufacturer uses the term.

Pantyhose for male horseback riders are recommended by such riders as William Shatner for protection against blisters and abrasions on the man's thighs and buttocks. Surprisingly enough, pantyhose for men have been part of the War in Iraq. "One item U.S. military personnel in Iraq are asking for is pantyhose. Dating back to his days as a professional football player, Bart Starr said he wore pantyhose for warmth during games. Now, that might give some people pause, but pantyhose are one way that military personnel can protect themselves from pesky sand fleas". 2. Article from Entrepreneur MagazineAthletes now wear a form of compression pantyhose for men to assist in muscle performance and recovery. These are also thought to reduce the risk of DVT on long haul flights - See [1]. Pantyhose have also been worn by divers and lifeguards to protect themselves against the stings of jellyfish[2].

Decline of Pantyhose Since the late 1990s, more and more women have pitched pantyhose in favor of bare legs simply because they find pantyhose uncomfortable. Also, the popularity of strappy sandals and other open-toed shoes have helped fuel this trend of going bare-legged.

For Occupational Health & Safety - a 2005 study and report by Workcover South Australia and Flinders Medical Centre recommended that all workers who stand for long periods of time should be issued with this type of support legwear as part of their normal uniforms. see full report. Sometimes men wear the pantyhose over their face as a disguise when committing criminal acts.

Men also wear pantyhose as an aspect of pantyhose fetishism.

Famous pantyhose wearers

• Joyce DeWitt, who played Janet Wood on '70s television show Three's Company, famously declared that she would not work barelegged on the show. Therefore, on all of her Three's Company episodes, she wore pantyhose or tights. It is unknown whether or not DeWitt wore pantyhose or tights under pants or floor-length dresses. DeWitt also endorsed a line of L'eggs pantyhose at one point.

• Mary Hart, hostess of news program Entertainment Tonight, is renowned over the entertainment industry for her legs. In her twenty-plus years of hosting Entertainment Tonight, she always wears either tights or pantyhose. As such an enthusiast, Hanes chose her to endorse its brand of pantyhose.

• Tina Turner, singer of such hits as "What's Love Got to Do With It" and "Proud Mary", frequently wins polls regarding celebrity legs in such magazines as Vanity Fair. Turner often wears pantyhose to enhance her look.

• Fran Drescher is an American actress most famous for her role as Fran Fine on the hit TV show The Nanny, where she was usually seen wearing miniskirts and hosiery. She also endorsed Hanes pantyhose in the mid-1990s.

• Joe Namath is the most infamous pantyhose wearer of all time. He did a commercial for Hanes Beautymist pantyhose, which featured the line, "Now I don't wear pantyhose. But if Beautymist can make my legs look this good, imagine what they'll do for yours!"

• Bettie Page, 1950s bondage and clothing fetish model. Featured on the cover of The House Of Whacks, by Matthew Branton, souftbound, 1999, wearing fishnet pantyhose, and in Leg Show magazine (August 1993) in sheer black pantyhose.

• Jennifer Aniston is quite frequently found in pantyhose in the popular '90's show Friends, as well as throughout the entire movie Derailed. The movie puts particular emphasis on her legs.

• Jessica Alba is frequently seen wearing pantyhose during red carpet events, such as the MTV Movie Awards 2006.

• Hooters girls of Hooters restaurants wear them as part of the uniform

See also

• Pantyhose for men

External links

• How pantyhose are manufactured