Am I a Weirdo? NYLONS! Introduced in 1940! Yay!

In My Humble Opinion
21

If I recall correctly, stockings (or “hose”) were originally cotton (or silk, if you could afford it). Nylon stockings, or “nylons” for short, must have come out before WWII, because supposedly nylon was rationed during the war (being used for parachutes). I remember old movies referring to GIs giving “nylons and chocolate bars” to pretty girls in Europe, as these were impossible to get. So “stockings” refers to the leg and foot part, that was held up by garters or a garter belt. “nylons” is a generic term for “nylon stockings”, the shape is the same.

Pantyhose, I think, were invented later and I think became popular when skirts became shorter in the 60’s (so the top/garters didn’t show below the skirt).

Stockings give your leg a smooth, finished look, even out skin tones and hide my pasty-white legs in the winter. To me, it looks more polished and “completes” the look, especially in a business setting or a formal occasion. I really don’t wear stockings much anymore, because it’s not in style to wear them; but it really feels odd to me to be showing bare legs at a business meeting - as if a man would go to a board meeting in a suit, tie, but no shirt. Something is just missing.

And it is especially icky to not wear stockings in the winter. I don’t understand why it’s better to show bare, pale legs, with shaving nicks, bruised shins, dry knees, spider veins, cellulite, etc. than to have a clean, polished leg.

I must add, though, that I have found MANY men who love to see a woman in heels and stockings (not so much pantyhose; seems to be something about the lacy stocking top…I have great legs, so I am happy to wear these for Mr. Divine.

22

Seriously? Why is this news?

In this century, we still have some people getting the vapours because our first lady wears sleeveless dresses. Not wearing hose is the equivalent of not wearing sleeves at formal events. It’s an informal look that’s gradually become common enough that hose look out of place. Showing skin of any amount has always been more informal than wearing stockings or sleeves, or gloves, or hats. (The exception being a lady’s ballgown, which ought to show vast tracts of arm and decolletage. But even fewer people wear ballgowns than wear hose anymore.)

I think bare legs look kind of boring, myself. Not quite as boring as the stringy-falling-down-hair look and less open to ridicule than the should-have-worn-a-slip-with-that look, but still. Meh. The only interest is checking to see if the bronzer’s on badly. I don’t know if Taylor Momsen’s pantless look will catch on but it’s got a lot to recommend it, imo.

23

Apparently it was more that once pantyhose became affordable, skirt hems shot up. When everyone had to wear garters, the skirts could only get so short. Pantyhose was invented several years before it became mainstream, but it was a while before it was possible for everyone to get them.

Stockings were simply considered necessary for every woman. You were not dressed without them. You wouldn’t go out with bare legs any more than you would go out in a bathing suit. Even during WWII when they were extremely difficult to get, women would do their best to look as though they were wearing them–they’d paint their legs with anything they could get.

For a long time, younger girls would generally wear cotton tights/stockings until they were old enough to wear nylons. Bare legs were for little girls! Nylons were a sign of growing up, just like wearing your hair up was until short hair became fashionable.

24

Nylons are warmer. At least, that’s why the majorettes and cheerleaders wore them. During the hotter part of the year, they wouldn’t. During the coldest parts, they wore flesh-colored pants.

25

Oh, Lord, you reminded me of a story my grandmother used to tell…that she had five daughters, and they could only afford one pair of stockings; so whoever got up first got to wear the stockings that day. My grandmother claimed that she would lay the other four girls face down on the bed, then use an eyeliner pencil to draw a seam down the back of their legs, so it would look like they were wearing stockings. I don’t actually believe this story, my mother would just roll her eyes when grandma told this to us; but I can imagine some women getting creative during the war.

26

Yes, my mother and aunts did the same thing during the depression and the war. Real nylons had a seam in the back, and in some movies from that era there’ll be a sexy close-up shot of a woman wearing heels and nylons, with a seam.

And yes, when I was a kid in the 50s, whenever my mother went out she wore nylons and a girdle (though at less than 100 lbs., she hardly needed one).

27

Real nylons wore like iron – you had to really try to get them to tear or run. Pantyhose, hell, they’ll tear if they touch a dry cuticle. I like the look, as long as it’s not shiny, and hosiery hasn’t been shiny for awhile.

I wore a girdle, garter belt, and nylons for my 8th grade graduation. Oh, and a nice tweed suit. This was circa 1960 and we all wanted to look like Jackie Kennedy. 8th grade! :smack:

28

It’s only been in the last 15-maybe 20 years that hose haven’t been the norm. Maybe less than that–ya’ll making me feel old!

29

Why did nobody tell me that it was no longer deemed necessary to wear pantyhose!?

30

As for the benefits of wearing stockings/pantyhose, isn’t there an element of “support” in there as well? Stewardess friends have told me they couldn’t fly 6+ hours, mostly on their feet, if they weren’t wearing extremely tight and durable hose.

31

Aye to the above; hose also gives you an extra day between shaves. But I’m very glad it’s not compulsory anymore. But bare legs=bare feet in shoes=stinky and sticky. Those little footie things stick out the top of all my shoes. So, sorry for the stinky feet, world

32

Hosiery has very little, if any, support unless you’re wearing hose specifically designed for that purpose.

33

Wow. That picture proves time travel. Scroll to the far right of the picture. The guy lying down on the sand, in the suit and derby is Eddie Murphy.
:cool:

34

That was very common. Here’s a great blog post with photos of women getting their legs painted. Check out the stories of what girls would use when they couldn’t afford anything else!

35

What are they supposed to be supporting?

36

Beats me. All I know is my girlfriend of the time would put on rather heavy, very tight stockings – so tight she needed my help pulling them on some times. She said if they weren’t so tight her legs would get unbearably tired after six hours.

ETA: Hey, if it works for Joe Namath . . .

37

I am a 34-year-old woman, I feel naked if I am not wearing pantyhose or tights with a skirt that is knee-length or above. I have very very pale skin, and dark hair, so even if I am freshly shaven, you can see my dark hair underneath the skin. Also being so pale, I always have some sort of bruises or nicks visible. That look just doesn’t feel professional in the workplace.

38

It does depend on the culture - the middle aged black ladies I work with cannot believe that young white women go barelegged these days. To CHURCH. The day after I broke the bad news to them, and added that I didn’t even own a pair of hose and that if I got an interview callback I’d have to go buy some, I wore a skirt. One of them gave me a look and touched my leg just to be sure I wasn’t fooling. Because that’s a crazy-ass tall tale.

39

Maybe it’s a regional thing, but to me the terms “nylons” and “pantyhose” are interchangeable. “Stockings” are the ones without the attached panty that are held up by elastic at the thigh or by garters.

When I was working, I wore them all the time. I would have felt naked going to court without them on (if I was wearing a skirt - I don’t understand women who wear pantyhose with pants). I still wear them with skirts and dresses unless I’m wearing open toed shoes.

40

Count me among those who LIKE wearing pantyhose* under knee-length or shorter skirts (and even also sometimes under particularly clingy pants). I’ve lost a bunch of weight over the past year (close to 70 pounds) and although things below the waist look much better, they still need a little help. Nylons tighten things up (including my jiggly butt) and smooth everything out. Plus, as others have said, they give a finished, polished look. And I just like how they feel, and they usually make my shoes (whether flats or heels) more comfortable. I’ll be 43 in a few weeks. (And yes, I’m female. :stuck_out_tongue: )

Maybe I’d feel differently if I had to wear them every damned day for work or something, but I don’t. I work at home so most of the time I’m wearing just T-shirt and jeans or whatever. And I like to dress up; to me, nylons say “special occasion” or “date night with hubby,” which are both things that I enjoy. Or even just “Hey, check out the tomato.” :smiley: They help me feel like I look good.

I also have to wonder, if nylons are “out of style,” then why do stores still sell racks and racks of them?

*When I was younger I tried stockings – legs only, no “panty” part – and I just didn’t trust them, whether the garterless kind or not. Plus, you lose the whole slimming-of-the-butt effect.