Stockings
As traditional stockings (held up by garters) have gone the way of black and white movies, some people view them mainly as a fetish item reserved for wedding nights, Halloween parties, and the lairs of dominatrices. According to Wikipedia, however, stockings (as opposed to pantyhose) are making a gradual comeback as women begin favoring their more "open-air" structure to the stuffiness of pantyhose. They cover your legs without constricting your middle (except for the garter belt, unless you use hold-ups) and give you a little bit of classic style. They're also super sexy!
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Denier
- Denier is a measure of sheerness of a stocking. A lower denier is more sheer; higher denier means more opaque.
 Sheer stockings usually have a denier between 10 and 20; ballistic nylon has a denier of about 840.
- Sheer stockings may be more appealing, but a higher denier will make a stocking stronger.
- This model is wearing sheer stockings.
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Fishnets - Fishnet stockings have an open, diamond-shaped weave.
- They come in black, nude, and many other colors (like the red ones above).
- Usually an opaque fabric.
- Nude fishnets are fashionable and fun, and can really add a little fun to an outfit.
- Fencenet (sometimes "large fishnet") is a much larger weave -- generally worn over a contrasting color stocking.
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Seams and Heels - A cuban heel (pictured, with a seam) is a particular type of reinforced heel -- very vintage.
- A "full fashioned " stocking, also known as a seamed stocking, has a seam up the back -- also very vintage!
- A reinforced toe or heel are just that -- thicker yarn in high-wear areas.
- A sandal toe means that the stocking is sheer all the way down.
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Fun and Festive - Some stockings are enhanced with bows (above), patterns, rhinestones, and all kinds of other decorations.
- Bows may look like a strange bulge in your skirt -- use common sense before wearing these on a day-to-day basis.
- Subtle patterning and rhinestones may give you a hint of glamour without too much unwanted staring; it all depends on what's right for you.
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Staying Power
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Garter Belts - The "old-fashioned" way of holding up your stockings is to do it with a garter.
- Generally work best with thigh-high stockings that are meant to be worn with a garter belt -- stockings with elasticized tops may not work well with the garter clasp.
- The English call them suspenders; for example, in the Lumberjack song.
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"Stay-ups" or "Hold-ups" - Modern technology has created garterless stockings.
- Held up by an elasticized band with a silicone lining.
- Requires no additional garter belt.
- Sometimes have fun, lacy tops.
- The band may dig into your leg, causing discomfort and leaving red marks.
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Garter - AKA circular garter, wedding garter, tossing garter.
- The least popular of all methods of holding up stockings; this one is basically a do-it-yourself version of a stay-up.
- The constricting band is not that comfortable -- it basically clamps the stocking to the leg.
- You'll see these at weddings because they're the only kind that can easily be removed and thrown, but they're not usually used.
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Faux Garter - There are some stockings available that have a waistband, built-in "garters" of fabric, and a normal stocking.
- Get the look without investing in the equipment.
- On the other hand, these tend to be more expensive than any other kind of stocking.
- Good for special occasions, but probably not a good choice for regular use.
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Shopping Suggestions
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