Pantyhose, commonly referred to as stockings, leggings or tights have been accepted by women world over as an important fashion accessory.

Invented in 1959 by Allen Gant in North Carolina, pantyhose are basically a combination of underpants and stockings all in one garment. The name “pantyhose” was coined through joining the words “panty” and “hosiery”, to represent a merger of the two garments. The main catalyst for the invention of the pantyhose was of course women’s fashion.

During the 1920′s, skirts would get shorter and shorter, and the traditional silk stockings would come under pressure to reach higher on the wearer’s legs in order to prevent exposure of ‘too much skin’. It became apparent that there was need for a garment made of similar material as stockings, yet capable of covering the entire lower body. Early pantyhose were rather cumbersome: they weren’t exactly stretchy, they sagged and they cost a lot.

It wasn’t until the 1960s that pantyhose became a mainstream fashion item. The use of nylon and lycra has made pantyhose more comfortable and advances in knitting technology has allowed for various styles to be created. Today, pantyhose are still growing in popularity as newer and hotter styles and models are churned out by designers at an unprecedented rate.

So how and when should you wear pantyhose?

Fashion gurus believe that pantyhose are the leg-wear of true style and finesse; they are the very expression of femininity. As designers continue to re-invent this important piece of accessory, so does its applications continue to vary. Before and above everything else, pantyhose are designed to make the wearer’s legs more attractive, slim and stylish.

Through their shiny and perfect texture they cover up small imperfections such as varicose veins, blemishes, scars and just about everything else. The fact that they also keep legs and feet warm is secondary to that objective, but rather important nonetheless. Pantyhose are also supposed to reduce friction between the legs and thighs as well as between the foot and footwear, thus eliminating chaffing. Women generally have the freedom to decide on which shoes to wear with pantyhose – either with heels or flats, depending on their individual fashion sense. However, one cardinal rule that is touted by fashionistas is that women should never wear pantyhose with open-toed shoes, including strappy sandals. Still, not everyone wants to or is able to subscribe to that particular fashion rule. This is especially true if you need the support of pantyhose and would like to wear a skirt and strappy sandals. It is however important to wear pantyhose that as much as possible match your skin color. The closer they are to your skin tone, the less likely it will be that people will notice them. Make sure that the pantyhose are as sheer as possible.

How to extend the lifespan of your pantyhose

Pantyhose do seem to get runs extremely easily: Some women say they can’t get more than 3 wears out of a pair before the ominous and utterly unsightly seam shows up on their nylons. The remedy for this is quite simple. All one needs to do is to wash the hose in lukewarm water right after removing it from the package. A bit of hand-moisturizer can be added to the water as well as to the “high-risk” areas of the pantyhose, like the toes and the heels, as that’s where 90% of the runs begin.

According to the gurus, the bottom line is that if you have less than ideal legs, pantyhose are going to make them look acceptable. If your legs are average-looking, they’ll look great in hose and if you have phenomenal legs, panty hose are going to make them out-of-this-world fine. Style and beauty comes at a cost, and if you buy the right size and know how to handle them, your pantyhose will last much longer and the wearing experience is going to be a much smoother one too.

For more on pantyhose visit http://www.pantyhose-pantyhose.com/