For generations, pantyhose have been a must-have undergarment for any well-dressed woman wearing a dress or skirt. Nowadays, one often sees women choosing tights over traditional hosiery. Is this a trend that’s here to stay, or do stockings still have a place in the modern woman’s wardrobe?
Tights have definitely become more popular in recent years, and they clearly do replace hose for some women. Younger women may wish to wear shorter skirts, and feel more comfortable wearing opaque tights that provide more coverage than sheer hose do. Tights can also be useful for warmth. Because they are made from a thicker material, even lightweight tights are warmer to wear than hose. You can even find thick, woolen-type tights for extra warmth during the cold months. This allows many skirt-loving women to continue wearing their favorite outfits even in the autumn or winter weather.
Tights come in fun patterns, colors, and textures as well. For a bold and stylish look, you can match vibrant colored tights with a same-shade bright skirt. Or, layer ribbed or knit-textured tights under a denim skirt, then pair with tall boots for a cozy fall outfit that will keep you warm and looking cute.
Tights also last longer and are less delicate than their notoriously fragile hosiery counterparts. While sheer hose can easily snag and get a run, tights tend to resist these accidents more easily, have greater durability, and last longer.
But do tights work as well with more traditional or dressier pieces? True, opaque black tights coordinate with most skirts and dresses, especially when paired with black shoes to create a continual, long leg line. They make many women feel securely covered and comfortable. But don’t give up on pantyhose just yet. Certain stylish celebrities, such as the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, have created a new buzz about sheer, nude-colored stockings.
For some time now, many fashionable women have chosen to go bare-legged when out and about in dresses or skirts, particularly for fancier occasions. However, there seems to be a recent resurgence in the popularity of stockings. Sheer, nude stockings create a lovely and smooth appearance for one’s legs. They camouflage imperfections and blur any skin tone flaws or inconsistencies. They give a slim appearance and flatter all skin tones. Of course, women have known this for generations, which is why hosiery has endured all this time. But lately more young women are rediscovering its merits.
Pantyhose may feel more appropriate to certain outfits. A decorous occasion such as a wedding or funeral, for example, may call for a demure look. In these situations, an elegant suit or dress pairs well with sheer hose. At other times, a woman may wish to show off her legs with a livelier or dressier look; pantyhose can help elevate her appearance to classically beautiful.
Still, it seems that much like hose, tights are not leaving the fashion scene. There will always be women who prefer one type of leg-wear over the other. Tights may be the new pantyhose for some women, but sheer hose will always be around for women of a different fashion persuasion, or for certain occasions when a particularly dressed-up, classic appearance is required. Either way, every woman wants her legs to look lovely!