What do we think about stay-up stockings?

Aziraphale

Hi all, I'm seeking opinions on stay-up stockings -- you know, the ones that have a lace garter with clingy, stretchy plastic underneath so you can wear them without a garter belt? I think are the answer to my "segmented worm" problem caused by ordinary hose: they feel great, stay up just fine, let my nethers breathe, and as an added bonus, look hot (although only my honey gets to see them!). However, I remember hearing once that you're not supposed to wear them too often or they can contribute to varicose veins in your legs. Does anyone know if this is true?

15 years ago

Dressing

11 replies

Latest reply was from Aziraphale

Diana

Veteran

Your mileage may vary, but I personally find that type of plastic band exceedingly uncomfortable. It's tight (has to be to stay up), itchy, and does not breathe at all. I'm pretty sure that if I wore it for a long period of time (like, all day) I'd end up with a rash and major skin irritation where the band is, but I have very sensitive skin in that regard. I have a pair of OTK socks with the tight elastic band, and I can't wear them for more than a few minutes without wanting to claw them off. Plus, they just segment me on the thigh rather than the waist.

15 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

No, I've got muscular thighs with very little fat on them, so the band doesn't leave much of a dent. It's my midriff that's the problem.

I've never tried wearing them all day, but I've worn them for evenings out (so for, say, 8 hours max) and I haven't had any discomfort or irritation. I do get rashes on my neck sometimes, though -- I wonder if eventually my legs would become sensitized to the plastic and cause a reaction? hm. Thanks for the input. Something to keep in mind.

15 years ago

amyreh

(website)

Veteran

I wore these in winter with a cocktail dress one time and really liked! Mine were from Victoria's Secret.

15 years ago

(website)

Veteran

On me, these make my legs segmented worms. My midriff fares much better with traditional nylons than my thighs do with thigh highs. Although, I have not worn them in a good 20 years, so perhaps they are made better now?

15 years ago

rosee

Veteran

The best thigh-highs I've worn so far are from a support stocking brand Mediven; they were 15-20mmHg (about medium support) but fairly sheer and I got them in the colors wheat (light nude) and smoke (light charcoal). They don't look like support hose at all. And they won't give you issues with varicose veins b/c they are made for them. BUT they are pricey. I loved them but they don't fit me now b/c I am heavier than I used to be and I haven't bought new ones in a bigger size. I never had the segmented problem unless my dress was really clingy on my thighs (then I would wear a shaper anyway). I have had the segmented problem with other thigh-highs.

I bought them from a support hoisery company in the southern states but don't have that link right now. This is the link from Amazon (I think it's the same pair):
http://www.amazon.com/Mediven-.....B002BK6HF4

15 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Mo, I guess our bodies are all different! My extra squish is at my waist. If you want to give thigh-highs another whirl, though, the ones I've been using that I like are DIM black and nude fishnets. They don't feel to tight to me.

Rosee, thank you so much for the suggestion! I will try them. I'm OK paying higher prices for a garment that is actually superior. It's only when you pay a higher price "just for the name" that annoys me.

15 years ago

rosee

Veteran

I searched my old emails (I didn't want to recommend unless I was sure it was the same product):

http://www.themedicalzone.com/.....ckings.htm

They have an 8-15mmHg (light support) thigh-high as well, so this should be even sheerer than the medium support. But no "smoke" and smoke is pretty. BUT they're only about $16 instead of $45!!! A flight attendent first told me of these hose.

I do recommend Medical Zone -- great customer support and stand by their product, easy returns too (especially since I'm in Canada and they are in the States).

15 years ago

Anonymous

I used to wear the stay up hose all the time and really like them. I didn't get any veins from them; they aren't that tight. They were so much more comfortable in summer and, if one got a snag, you could pair the good one with with another.

15 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Joy: when you say you "used to wear them all the time," does that mean you no longer wear them? If so, why not? I'm just curious. I find them so much better than regular hose, in terms of comfort (and, it must be said, sex appeal, because regular hose are the most seriously unsexy garments in the history of humankind -- although since the unsexy part is not seen by anyone, it doesn't matter so much) that I can't understand why everyone else doesn't talk about this all the time.

15 years ago

Anonymous

I said I used to wear them because I wore nude hose all the time, especially the stay-up kind. Now I understand that bare legs are the trend, so seldom wear nude stockings anymore. If I could find these in microfishnets, I'd definitely buy them. You are right that they are much more comfortable and sexier than one piece hose. In a black microfishnet they'd look fab on.

15 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Joy, the only ones I have are microfishnets -- three black pairs, and one nude pair. I got them at the Bay, which is the Canadian equivalent of Nordstrom's, I think. The brand is DIM, and they are clearly european, because the writing on the front of the package is in french (and there is writing in about six other languages on the back). However, they are not pricey and I'm pretty sure they're widely available -- I've certainly seen this brand all over the place at department stores in Vancouver. Not sure where you live, but I bet you could find them easily.

15 years ago

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