Stockings

Stockings are a fashion item that are commonly worn by women underneath dresses or other outfits. They have been very popular since the 1920s, and have been made from a variety of different materials including woven cloth, silk, knitted wool, nylon, and cotton. When the fashionable hemline grew short enough in the 1920s to show women’s legs, stockings became popular because, for the first time, they were visible.

Stockings were outsold by their major competitor, pantyhose, for the first time in 1970. Both garments have their advantages and disadvantages, but the advantages of pantyhose made them a lot more convenient for women to wear then stockings.

While stockings are usually considered more aesthetically pleasing than pantyhose, especially when used with garters and lace, pantyhose are easier and more comfortable to wear. They also leave less of a line underneath form-fitting clothing. Also, pantyhose are warmer in cold weather.

A lot of stockings are troublesome because they slide down after being worn for just a little while. Some methods used to keep stockings up on the leg include the use of garter belts, stay up technology, and even garters that hold the stocking to the leg.

These methods have all met with marginal success, but not enough to make stockings more popular than pantyhose. Traditionally, panties are worn underneath a garter belt, though in some cases, the panties may actually be worn over it.

Stockings are still sold in many retail stores, but both pantyhose and stockings are losing ground to the bare-legged fashion, as well as the new trend to wear tight-fitting stretch pants instead.

Sales of stretching, tight-fitting pants are expected to continue to grow as they become more and more popular. Stockings are still very popular as a part of many lingerie sets, as are garter belts and garters.

More information on stockings can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stocking.