6 Features to Look for in Good-quality Hosiery

Hosiery has always been an essential item for every fashionista. Unfortunately, finding good-quality pantyhose can be easier said than done. Year after year, women find themselves throwing out their stockings for one reason or another. Whether it’s because the color has faded or the fabric has lost its elasticity, keeping ruined pantyhose around simply isn’t an option. That said, hosiery is still a delicate piece of clothing, and so it’s almost expected that they’ll tear or rip sooner or later.

Luckily for you, modern hosiery has come a long way. Nowadays, manufacturers have figured out ways to make pantyhose much more durable and comfortable. These developments have not only solved common hosiery concerns, but also improved upon hosiery as we know it.

Not all hosiery is created equally, however. So, before you pick up just any pair from your favorite online store, you may want to do a little research first. Listed below are some of the features you want to be on the lookout for the next time you shop hosiery.

Shrink Resistance

Hosiery’s main function is to provide coverage for the legs, especially when you’re wearing a dress or skirt and don’t want to feel too exposed. At the same time, you want your pantyhose to feel like a second skin. Unfortunately, some types of stockings tend to shrink in the wash, making them too tight or unusable.

A key feature that solves this problem is known as shrink resistance. Hosiery with adequate shrink resistance qualities will maintain their shape even after washing, which means you can use them for much longer. Also, be on the lookout for hosiery that features consistent stitch patterns, as this helps give hosiery more rigidity and dimensional stability. Often, hosiery made from shrink-resistant fabrics like nylon are your safest bet. 

A Firm Waistband

If your hosiery comes with a firm waistband, you can rest assured that your pantyhose will stay put all day, thus preventing you from constantly having to pull them up every couple of minutes. Essentially, you want the garment to be able to hold itself up without any effort. That said, check that your hosiery of choice has a waistband that’s just the right fit for you. The waistband shouldn’t be too taut or too loose. It should hug your waist without constricting it or digging into your skin, nor should it fall down all the time or lose its shape after only a few uses.

Durability

Durability is a feature everybody wants in clothes, most especially when it comes to their hosiery. After all, nobody wants to keep spending money on garments that don’t last very long. Though hosiery is extremely fragile and prone to tears, rips, and losing its shape, you still want your hosiery to last quite a bit before throwing them out. 

Generally, a pair of standard market hosiery should last about six months. If you wear pantyhose frequently, it’s advisable to have more than one pair on hand. Also, try going for more durable types of hosiery such as those made with premium hosiery yarn. While they may cost a bit more than regular stockings, this type of yarn is sure to provide high tensile strength, allowing the pantyhose to better withstand breaking and tearing.

The premium hosiery yarn should also be abrasion-resistant to lessen friction and prevent your legs and thighs from chaffing. Your stockings should also feature high pilling resistance, which means no balls of fiber should form on the surface of the fabric due to regular wear.

All these features combined will mean that your hosiery of choice will last longer than most, allowing you to accentuate your gorgeous legs with them for longer. 

Elasticity

Hosiery is made to stretch and completely cover up your lower half. As such, your stockings should be elastic enough to cover every inch of your legs without tearing or ripping. Once you’re done wearing them, they shouldn’t become stretched out after only a few uses. 

When checking for hosiery elasticity, see if your hosiery can be pulled up with ease for a smooth, struggle-free wearing experience. Once on, your hosiery should be able to stay up on its own even as you move around. Your hosiery also shouldn’t sag or bunch up anywhere. Common spots where stockings may sag or bunch up include around the knees, crotch, and gussets.

Colorfastness

Good-quality hosiery shouldn’t lose its color after only a few washes. Otherwise, your pantyhose may no longer match your outfits’ palettes, much less your skin tone. 

This is where colorfastness comes in. Put simply, colorfastness is a fabric’s ability to maintain its color when exposed to external factors such as heat or moisture. To consider a pair of pantyhose as colorfast, its color shouldn’t run in the wash or fade under direct sunlight.

Overall Comfort

Above all else, make sure to choose hosiery that’s comfortable to put on. While hosiery is meant to highlight your lower extremities, that doesn’t mean that you should have to suffer through a lot of pain for the sake of stylishness. In short, any pair of pantyhose that looks good but feels wrong means that it’s not the right fit for you.

As mentioned above, your hosiery should sit comfortably on your waist without digging into your skin. Comfortable hosiery also shouldn’t rise up whenever you move around, and its material shouldn’t feel scratchy or rough against the skin.

These are just some of the many features that you’ll want to find in any pair of modern-day hosiery. After reading this article, you should now know how to identify good-quality pantyhose for your needs.

It’s also a good idea to learn how to care for your hosiery. As a rule of thumb, pantyhose should only be washed after every one to two wears. To be safe, always check the product packaging for the manufacturer’s care instructions. Follow these instructions closely and you should be able to keep your stockings in great condition.

Whatever you do, though, don’t rush as you shop for the best hosiery possible. Take the time to find out which styles work best for you. With the perfect stockings in your possession, you can walk around with confidence and watch people’s heads turn as you go about your day-to-day life.