Stockings, Tights or Pantyhose?

We aren’t going to enter into a debate about which is “best” but there is a need to explain exactly what we mean by stockings.  As far as this site is concerned stockings are single leg hosiery that comes to near the top of the thigh and is either self supporting or attached to a suspender belt.  The self supporting type will usually be called hold-ups, stay-up or thigh highs, the styles needing a suspender belt, or a they are known in some countries a garter belt, will be simply called stockings.

A couple of tips when buying stockings:

Always buy two pairs of the same style and colour at the same time.  That way if you get any holes, runs or ladders you will still have a matching pair until the third mishap.

If you are buying stockings that need suspenders wear a quality suspender belt with metal clips, and ideally six or more straps.  We test all stockings with a Nylon Dreams six strap belt. As one reader put it “plastic clips are OK for the bedroom, but if you want your stockings to stay up all day they must be metal”.

Buying Tights, Stockings and Lingerie as a Gift

There can be few areas in life more fraught with danger than buying tights, stockings or lingerie for your lady.  We receive lots of e-mails on the subject of what to buy, particularly in the run up to Christmas and Valentine’s Day, so here are a few pointers.

• Remember who you are buying for. This a gift for your lady not for you!  I am sure most men have at some time or another bought their wife lingerie because it looked great on the slim young model in a picture without a thought for whether it would suit their wife or be comfortable. 
• Buy what she normally wears. Take discrete look in her drawers and wardrobe and if you find tights don’t buy stockings.  Most women will wear one of the other, buy a tights girl stockings, or a stockings girl tights and they will stay unworn.   If you don’t know her well enough to know which she wears you don’t know her well enough to be buying hosiery and lingerie for her.
• Check her size carefully... don’t ask!  Women lie about their weight and dress size.  Look at what she wear and check the size label in something that fits her well.  Tights and stockings with Lycra give some flexibility on sizing (see our reviews for details by style) but a bra or suspender belt needs to be right.
• If you are buying a suspender belt be sure you get one with metal rather than plastic clasps. Wider straps are more comfortable and 6 straps work far better than 4.  Take a look at Nylon Dreams, Sassy or Stockings and Romance for belts that will look great and work well.
• Buy the right colour, black and tan shades are safest for tights and stockings.  Red is for danger in lingerie.
• Buy quality... but don’t go mad.  You can buy tights and stockings at almost any price from £1 to £30 a pair. Don’t buy cheap rubbish that will not be nice to wear or look good.  Very expensive hosiery does not always equal strong and durable hosiery... remember too that if you buy tights or stockings that are very expensive they may get put away for a “special occasion”. Our tip is to spend £6-£12 a pair to get good quality and value.
• Don’t go too sheer.  Very sheer hosiery, 10 denier or less, is gorgeous but often fragile and nobody likes a present that doesn’t last out the day.
• Buy her something else as well, not just tights and stockings, because to be honest the gift of hosiery will always be partly for you.

One final thought.. what is right for a girlfriend and what is right for a wife are different... don’t mix up the packages!