Hosiery has been a staple in many wardrobes for years, but it’s only relatively recently that Lycra has become a common addition to it. But, has it been for the best?
The original hosiery was far less comfortable than it is today. Although called “tights” they were much more loose-fitting, and didn’t give the same level of comfort, shape and support that’s demanded in the current market.
In the early 1900s womens tightswas mainly confined to stockings made of silk or rayon; only in the 1940s did nylon become the material of choice. It was not until much later that tights as we know them today were seen on the shelves.
In the 1960s the new era of hosiery was born. Lycra was invented, and it was discovered that the properties of it would make a great deal of change in modern hosiery. Being particularly elastic, it was thought that the addition of Lycra to stockings, tights and pantyhose would make them much easier and more comfortable to wear and would make them, well, tighter, as was originally intended.
However the question one has to ask is does it make tights, pantyhose and stockings any better? Typically women all over the world have said that lycra has made a difference to tights. It’s made all types more comfortable and easier to wear on a daily basis, and now women (and men) the world over consider tights of all types an essential item of clothing to be used for a variety of uses, outfits and occasions.
Why has Lycra made hosiery so much more comfortable? It’s down to its elasticity. One of the main factors is it’s so elastic and stretchy, hosiery clings to the leg more and offers much more support and comfort. It not only makes it more comfortable to wear, but also more appealing to look at. Gone are the days of tights and stockings falling down the leg and crumpling in an unsightly fashion around the ankles; now they hold themselves up and stay there all the time.
Legs look sleeker and more defined. Indeed, many men prefer it when women’s legs in stockings and tights than when they’re bare. It shows legs off at their best, gives them a sexy sheen, and clings to them in all the right places.
So, has the addition of Lycra made tights, pantyhose and stockings better? Many say that yes it has and tights would not be the same today had it not been for lycra. It’s made them shape and cling better to the legs, and has made all types of tights very much nicer to look at. Lycra is something that women who wear tights could not do without.
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