Wonderful, silky, sexy hosiery
Perhaps it’s because Secretaries’ Day is fast approaching, or perhaps it’s because with warmer days, those lucky ones amongst us, have already started to roll away those wonderful silky sexy stockings. Love them or hate them, stockings have never really lost that sensuous appeal. There’s a certain je ne sais quoi about stockings. Harking back to those romantic World War 11 movies when movie star soldiers like Cary Grant, Marcello Mastroiani, and Harry Belafonte would offer female protagonists puff of cigarette, a bar of chocolate and nylons. There was nothing like a soldier in uniform, nothing like Sophia Loren, Ava Gardner, and Carmen, effortlessly elegant.
As many women roll out a new pair this Monday morning, the start of yet another week, it’s hard to imagine that until the Twentieth Century, a lady’s legs may have been talked about but never seen. It was men’s legs which were in full view. The Egyptians wore the first socks — bulky knits with separate big toes. And for Sixteenth Century dandies, hosiery was a means of self-expression; they wore layers of brightly-coloured socks and tights in contrasting checked and striped patterns.
On May 15, 1940, when the first nylons went on sale at stores throughout the United States of America, four million pairs sold out in four days. Women everywhere went crazy about the new miracle fibre. The hype was shortlived however, with the outbreak of World War 11, when nylon production was commandered for the war effort. Women — always resourceful creatures — used make-up to decorate their legs, and even drew 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! Macy’s sold out its entire stock of 50,000 pairs of nylon in six hours. Meanwhile in Pittsburg, a mob of 40,000 women stood all night in a torrential rain storm to buy nylons from a tiny hosiery store. By 1948, production of nylon stockings returned to normal.
Hosiery took another giant step with the development of spandex in 1959. This highly elastic fibre has repeatedly revolutionised fashion ever since.
In the sixties, Twiggy, that skinny rail of a model, stepped forward in trendy London, with Biba lips and a mini-skirt. The rest as they say is history. Stockings as we knew them had to go, there was now need for a hosiery product to travel all the way up their legs.
Solution: hosiery manufacturers simply took the old seamless stockings that they had been running for years and let them run a little longer at the top.
Two legs were then paired up and scissors used to cut a slit in the top of both, then they were simply sewn together and voila! the forerunner of today’s Sheer Hanes Silk Collection. A collection which embraces every woman, but in particular the women of colour.
Stockings are now bought in a scientific manner.
Height, weight, size…
Hosiery tips:
Never put on stockings in a rush.
Search for the heel and toe section and then slowly match toes and heels
Work stockings all the way up one leg at a time stretching gently along the way.
Pause at the crotch section. Here you’ll need a little more tug. Be careful though for it is at this particular juncture that many a stocking has been lost, and many an expletive uttered by the most conservative of woman.
Work the silk over the thighs slowly … easing the legs in and allowing a bit more pull. Finally the waist and an audible sigh of relief.
Go back to the crotch and ensure a proper fit around this area.
Once in place stockings should allow the wearer total mobility.
Caring for your stockings:
Some wearers swear that a first wash in ice-cold water ensures durability.
Tea bags are great if stockings are too light. Draw tea and place stockings in the tea water for at least two hours.
A liquid detergent, should be used to wash your stockings, and stockings should be rinsed thoroughly.
Dry in a shaded area.
Nails, on toes and fingers, must be kept smooth to prevent snags.
Clear nail polish still stops a run, as does a bit of soap from a soap bar.
A spare pair is a must for stocking wearers.
Sheer silk stockings are perfect for evening and a veritable must for a formal function.
A black cocktail dress lends itself to Hanes Silk Reflections.
Coloured stockings look great in the fashion magazines and when worn in winter climes: black stockings, boots, sweater, skirt and gloves. The same applies to burgundy, yellow and navy. This type of colour co-ordination is best suited to those in the airline industry.
Our advise is to leave it alone here in the tropics. Full ensembles in pink, yellow, white, green and purple (shoes are oftentimes included) are we’re sure you’d agree a bit much.
Have yourself a great nylon week!.
