surf fish

surf fish: see surfperch.

Pantyhose (also called tights) are sheer, close fitting coverings of the body from the waist to the feet. Like stockings, pantyhose are usually made of nylon. The one-piece pantyhose garment appeared in the 1960s and provided a convenient alternative to stockings (nylons).

The term 'pantyhose' originated in the United States, referring to the combination of 'panties' (an American term for women's underpants) with sheer nylon hosiery, meaning they are usually worn without other undergarments. In the United Kingdom, they are called tights, a term that refers to all such garments regardless of whether they are sheer lingerie or sturdy outerwear. In the U.S., the term tights is used for non-sheer garments typically made of a stretchy material like spandex, and worn during exercise or athletic activity, or as utility clothing.

History

In the 1920s the fashionable hemline for women's skirts and dresses began to rise enough to show a woman's legs and sheer hosiery that covered the legs was only available as stockings. They were typically made of silk or artificial silk (now known as rayon), and after 1939 with nylon.

The actress-dancer Ann Miller devised pantyhose in the early 1940s as a solution to the problem of continual torn stockings during the filming of dance production numbers. The common practice had been to sew hosiery to briefs worn by Miller. If torn, these had to be removed and resewn with a new pair. At Miller's request, hosiery was manufactured for her as a single pantyhose. The first attempt was too short for Miller's long legs; the second try got it right.

In 1959, Allen Gant Sr. of Glen Raven Mills introduced pantyhose. Stocking manufacturers began using circular knitting machines to reduce manual labor and create seam-free stockings. In 1965, Glen Raven Mills introduced a seam-free version of pantyhose, which coincided with the introduction of the miniskirt. The miniskirt made it unfashionable to show the tops of a woman's stockings, and by the end of the decade pantyhose had replaced stockings almost entirely. This also contributed to a marked shift in foundation undergarment sales: younger women stopped buying girdles around this time. In the same period hosiery started adding spandex or elastane to give it stretch superior to crimping nylon. Glen Raven Mills still operates in North Carolina, U.S. as Glen Raven Inc.

Starting sometime in the 90s, pantyhose went almost completely out of fashion in the female market but began to rise in the lesser known (not talked about) male market. Until recently, women, in general no longer wore pantyhose unless it was mandated by dress code, typically found at corporate companies and executive level. An exception to this was the wearing of special pantyhose such as fishnet or various pattern types, but this was a rather rare occurrence.

However, in the mid-to-late '00s of this century, pantyhose have been appearing once again in fashion and in public, indicating the recurring cycle of couture once again bringing the leg covering back into vogue, especially in the form of thicker, dark tights and shades of black pantyhose. Pantyhose have even made a return to Paris runways and Haute Couture as indicated by many premier designers such as Jean-Paul Gaultier's Fall/Winter 2006 (http://www.unmanifest.net/wp/?p=81 ).

Pantyhose styles

Pantyhose are available in a wide range of popular styles. The sheerness of the garment, expressed as a numerical 'denier'/'dtex', ranges from 3 (extremely rare, very thin, barely visible) to 15 (standard sheer) up to 30 (semi opaque) until 100 (opaque). Examples of opaque tights showing mostly 40 denier opaque tights upwards.

For people who want a slimmer form, they may opt to get "Control Top", which has a reinforced panty. The downside to Control Top Pantyhose are the panty lines that may appear when wearing high cut skirts or shorts.

Sheer to Waist are just that—sheer from the toe to the waist. The "panty" portion is same thickness and color as the leg portion. Often, but not always, sheer to waist pantyhose will be reinforced along and on either side of the seam in the middle of the panty. They are perfect for high slit gowns, mini-skirts or lingerie.

Also for the person who wants a bit more support on the top half, there are pantyhose that have panel gussets incorporated into them. These are either single or double types. In the single type, there are two seams instead of the usual one, with a single one on the opposite side; with double panel gussets, there are two seams on either side. The single type can be worn either way. They both help to expand the top panty area. There are also types of pantyhose which have a lacy panty area which is normally floral in design. Many pantyhose brands now produce pantyhose that do away with seams completely, so that the outline is smooth from top to bottom. These are very expensive to produce, and therefore are expensive to buy in retail. They generally have a very wide lacy waistband to compensate for the smooth panty area.

The composition of pantyhose

Most pantyhose are composed of nylon and a mixture of spandex, which provides the elasticity and form fitting that is characteristic of modern pantyhose. Unfortunately, the nylon fabric is somewhat prone to tearing and it is common for very sheer hose to 'run' soon after snagging on something rough or sharp.

Pantyhose worn for fashion have a standard construction. The top of the waist is a strong elastic. The part covering the hips (panty area) is composed of a thicker material than the legs. The gusset or crotch is also a stronger material, sometimes made of cotton. The legs of the pantyhose are made of the thinnest material which has a consistent construction down to the toes, which may be reinforced to guard against wear. Men's pantyhose are manufactured the same way and have many of the same options. They are simply designed to fit men.

Advantages of pantyhose

On mildly or moderately cold days, pantyhose help keep the legs warm. Above all, pantyhose hides blemishes, bruises, scars on the legs, leg hair stubble, and varicose veins. On cold, dry days, pantyhose can help prevent the legs from becoming too dry. Some companies regard wearing skirts or shorts without pantyhose as unprofessional and thus require women who wear skirts or shorts to work to also wear pantyhose or sheer tights (UK). Many professionals believe that pantyhose in the workplace are a must because it creates a "finished" look.

Dark pantyhose, and pure black pantyhose in particular, can create the illusion of slimmer legs. Another flip side depends on the wearer's skin tone - dark hose shows runs when worn over light skin, whilst lighter hose show water spots flipped up from the heel after walking in the rain. Whilst, as detailed below, the material is not absorbent, it is quick drying (for example after walking in heavy rain/being puddle splashed by a car).

Support hosiery can be worn to support the leg. Regulating blood circulation in the legs, it helps those who work on their feet with preventing/helping varicose veins and resolving pain in the back and legs.

Disadvantages of pantyhose

The nylon fabric of pantyhose is extremely prone to 'runs' (laddering in the UK). The wearer can even cause a run in the hose by catching the toenail of her big toe in the fabric when the hose is put on, by catching it on a rough desk, car, and by numerous other 'risks'. Some women use clear nail polish to prevent runs from growing.

Unlike cotton, nylon is not an absorbent material. As a result, perspiration from the wearer's feet is more likely to remain in contact with the feet, which may feel unpleasant, unless the wearer choses a hosiery product which has silver in it. The silver helps to prevent odour and sweating of the feet, thus making the wearing of hosiery a more pleasant experience. Wearing natural fibre silk stockings and tights is another means of reducing perspiration and keeping the feet feeling fresh all day.

Men and pantyhose

While traditionally considered a women's garment, pantyhose are occasionally worn by men for thermal protection and therapeutic relief. It is not widely known either that race horse jockeys also wear pantyhose under their silks so that their jockey silks glide freely over the legs and waist when the jockey's body moves at a rapid pace. Some fishermen who surf fish from the beaches may also wear pantyhose. This is for protection in tropical waters that have marine stingers and jellyfish. The stingers cannot pentrate the pantyhose, thus protecting the fisherman. In the late 1990s several small manufacturers introduced pantyhose styles designed for men to cater to this niche market.

Crime applications

Pantyhose are an occasional choice for criminals (such as bank robbers) who wish to hide their identity. When worn over the head, pantyhose make the face difficult to identify but still allow the wearer to see fairly clearly. A satirical experiment about pantyhose masks as a fashion statement in public was performed by The Chaser's War on Everything.

See also

• Pantyhose fetishism

References

External links

• How to Put Tights on
• How pantyhose are manufactured
• Hosiery terms