This is hard to even imagine how women lived without pantyhose before. I would probably go crazy if I'd have to clip the garter belt every single moment. By the way, if we talk about pantyhose, we should mention fishnet pantyhose as well. They have a completely different story. http://fiorehosiery.com/fishnet-stockings-and-pantyhose-origin-from-female-piratre/

Thank you, this article is such an inspiration. I would love to create a detailed history section on my hosiery blog and I'll use some info from here. I was recently in DC and I went to the museums, but haven't seen any vintage hosiery. I somehow assumed that if it is published here, you may have some on display. Let me know if there is actually any hosiery there in Smithsonian museums. J

I am 35 years old and I go without panty hose and I also wear them when I want to feel sexy and get the attention of the opposite sex. I feel in these times, its all about choice. No one dictates to me what I can and cannot wear. I wear whatever makes me feel good.

I seem to have come to this article late. Nevertheless...

I've been wearing medical compression hose for about ten years, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NO MEDICAL PROBLEMS!

By day I'm a carpenter, and my legs do a lot of work, stooping, lifting, climbing, walking. At the end of the day my legs are as good as "rested," and are ready for the rest of the day!

In spite of an occupation unusual for a woman, I'm a conservative dresser, and am prone to wearing, at home and out on the town, dresses and skirts. In modern ultra-sheer compression hose my legs GREAT!

And lastly, my Significant Other, another carpenter. and a guy no less, also wears them for their great support!

Most women would not think about leaving the house without their makeup on. Unless they are younger, have athetic, toned legs or never participated in sports most women should be wearing hose. There is nothing less pleasing to the eye than seeing an attractive, well dressed woman with bare, pale legs. Pantyhose/tights add that last bit of polish to any outfit.

Believe or not, I am a guy who wears pantyhose with pants or shorts. They are a lot more comfortable than cotton socks and cotton underwear, which can hold water.

When I was younger and working, the most I'd pay for a pair of pantyhose was .75 a leg. Now, after years at home raising my kids, I'm back on the job market and just this week picked up the first pair I've bought in years. $6! and that was a cheap pair.
I must admit I can't go to a job interview in pants, and hose do make your legs look better. I wouldn't describe myself as conservative by any means but I would never dream of going to a job interview bare-legged.
I remember as a young teenager a family friend stating that, "Nothing does more for a man that seeing a women's legs in hose and a skirt." I've always remembered that.

Quick comment to the gals saying, 'all the positive comments are from guys, but you don't have to wear 'em!"-
(I'm a gal and Luv 'em!)
1. If you are uncomfortable in Pantyhose, you bought a bad cheap pair- or the wrong size- or you need to shave your legs or you are far too fat.
2. Many men, including 2 guys I dated, wear or have worn pantyhose- and they are wearing because they feel good - or "Grrrreat!".
Buy yourself some high scale pairs and realize what you have been missing.
- 'bucky' said, "all these left-wing...not liking pantyhose". bucky, please don't bring politics into this- all you did was show hate and tried to use something you like as a vehicle for it (didn't work). (Cindy McCain wore an outfit to the debate that was valued in the 10's of thousands- yet went bare-legged, & most always does, so...)
-
This is a good article, but it left out 1 huge piece of info-... Pantyhose have been making a huge comeback- look at the sales at 2000 vs. 2008. And now in 2010 ! Sure, some girls and magazines will call them 'tights', but sheer pantyhose are in fact pantyhose no matter what they try to disguise them as. And some big thanks to Zooey and Katy P and Rhianna and Lindsay and Beyonce and all the rest of my gals unafraid to be classy and polished!

I like Michelle Obama as well as her husband,(I Voted for him and will again)but just because she doesnt like pantyhose dosent mean bare legs look better,I think the bare leg look looks horrible,I remember the days when most women wore pantyhose with everything from dresses, to shorts , to under pants and jeans,those were the days when women looked nice,if I see a group of women the one wearing pantyhose will always get my attention first,if I see a woman in a dress with bare legs I think YUK" no nylons and turn away.

As a man, I must admit pantyhose, especially silky, shiny ones have great appeal. The beauty is that they hide all sorts of blemishe plus they add a tan. Gives legs a firm youthful look and a wonderful feel. And finally pantyhose give a sophisticated, polished, finished or professional appearance. Remember looking really good takes effort and is not the same thing as wearing your most comfortable clothing............that is why most people today look like slobs.

I saw at least seven hot women today in pantyhose. They make a woman look sexy. Of course bare legs are nice too. It is funny with nude pantyhose. Sometimes you can't tell if they are bare legs or pantyhose. I like wearing them too. However, I have a problem with them ripping. I asked a lovely single lady worker in a store today if she has problems with her pantyhose ripping and she said she doesn't wear them. I do know one of her female colleagues wore some lovely black ones on Monday. ;) I complimented on how lovely she looked especially the black pantyhose and she was flattered. xoxo

I've been wearing them for decades now. Sounds funny for a guy to be wearing them eh? I can tell you this much, I came by them out of curiosity when younger, but in my late teens and early 20's I used them to ward of the cold, as a jockey in Canada. Riding horses, you need to keep your weight down and pantyhose were "the perfect fit" so to speak. They even felt good and served another purpose late on! I'm wearing them as I type this. They just plain feel good, not to mention the pain that used to run in my legs, for the most part they really help. No more throbbing veins! Girls, don't kid yourself, If your wearing hose on a set of legs, it doesn't mater how large you are up top or even if you have a bag on your head! Want a guy to notice you? Drape your leg over the other in a sleek pair of hose. If he doesn't notice.....check and see if he has a pulse! (Mini skirts are optional ladies..sexy classy dress always beats out chick!)

i have to do a report on pantyhose.i hate it. i wish they weren' invented.

can understand if the ladies find them uncomfortable to wear,but i do miss the days when ladies wore hose all the time,to me there was nothing finer than a nice pair of legs in hose,but i guess time and fashions move on

A completely different take on pantyhose:

When my sister and I were growing up in the 1960's we were tall, skinny, wirey tomboys. For some reason my mother associated garter belts with thoughts of sex and loose women and provided us with GIRDLES with clips attached for stockings. Now, my sister and I needed girdles like a giraffe needs pantyhose, but we had to wear the #*%*$&^ things to hold up our stockings. When pantyhose became available we thougt they were one of the worlds best inventions, right up there with the internal combustion engine.

Even now, as a liberated woman/tomboy of "a certain age" I don't mind wearing pantyhose for formal occasions. They are not uncomfortable unless you're fat...

I'm so tired of these left-wing fascist liberals who called themselves "fashion experts" who think hose for women are evil & taboo for dress, especially when wearing them w/open toed shoes, a look I personally don't mind at all. That was directed at all the style & women only magazines as well as pointless shows like "What Not To Wear." The "fashion world" has now imposed a ban on hose for women, which is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my entire life. I realize there are women who hate wearing hose & share they're testimonies about them being a scam & uncomfortable. But seriously don't all garments have their fair share of flaws? I find it totally incredulous that the "fashion world" is saying it's now ok for men to wear hose & women should no longer wear them. I'm a male & abhor the concept of man hose. I know there are men who like to wear them but these are not for me & I'll never wear them. I personally think hose look better on women, especially those who have the legs to sport them. To women who like & dislike them, hose are a must have in your wardrobe so don't "ban" them. As a man, I think hose make women look better than the dreaded barelegged look. They add attractiveness & professionalism to dress & no women should ever go without them, regardless of what the "fahion police" says. For women who still want to wear hose & dress responsibly, I say more power to you because you'll go far in life. All women should entirely ignore the "fashion world" & do what they feel makes them good about themselves.

Ihave a love for caressing a womens leg incased in silky smooth pantyhose or stockings. But the real turn on for this old guy is a garter belt and rht nylons . whats with these hollywood stars going barefoot to show their unattractive feet . God bless Sophia Loren & catherine zeta jones

It is sad that pantyhose have gone out of fashion, but we are doing our best to keep them alive and providing recommendations for both women and men (a growing trend). Like all fashion trends, this too will reverse itself.

http://www.pantyhoseaficionado.com/

Well, it may very well seem that women have left the wearing of PANTYHOSE too be desired. If they don't care to ever dawn them ever again, then don't knock it when we men bring the garment back around by wearing them ourselves which by the way I've been wearing over 30 years!

I find it interesting that the only positive comments, regarding pantyhose, are from men. You don't have to wear them! They were one of the biggest scams imposed on women; they were expensive, uncomfortable, they tore easily so you had to keep buying them. Women will not go back to them--bank on it!

Say what you want ladies, there's nothing that will get a mans attention as fast as a sexy pair of legs in pantyhose and heels.

I wore panthose for a couple of years and declared them "A gift from God . . . because it feels so GOOD when you get home and can take them off".

For many decades I have instead worn skirts with knee-highs.

For all you gents who love ladies in pantyhose, I suggest YOU try wearing them day in and day out. You too will begin to hate and dread them! Nice beautiful 100 degree August day with those heat retention devices! NEVER! Just like makeup, men want us to look better than we really are...in their eyes anyway. Get used to the natural look. It is how we truly ARE not how you want us to be! False advertising at best. I promise to not ask you to wear pantyhose and dresses (with makeup of course!) if you promise to not ask me!

Great article, I used to wear them everyday to work. Now that I am retired, I have retired the pantyhose. While they made me feel great in a suit and high heels, they don't work with jeans.

Great job, very interesting.

Pantyhose is really getting out dated but this is a kind of inevtiable result as fashion changes fast.But still thank Allen Gant Jr who once made a new choice for women.

From a guy who loves women's legs. Please let this bare leg thing be just a silly trend. Girls, pantyhose are sexy and this bare leg look has gone way too far! I can understand no hose in the warmer weather when wearing a sundress but eschewing sheer hosiery is just plain silly! Skirts and dresses have last their magic. I and many guys don't get this high heel and bare leg look. What's next? No make-up, high heels and ear rings.
And these fake tans that women think take the place of hosiery make me want to throw up. Save the tans for the summer and vacations! A tan 365 days a year is not necessary.
IMO a skirt and high heels with no hose is like drinking beer with no alcohol.

Bravo, bravo! Brian's July 11, 2009 8:39AM comments, Sweet’s July 11, 2009 9:29AM comments, & most particularly Erik's comments on July 13, 2009 @9:21 AM just about said it all!

I can only add that all of the Michele Obama references to pantyhose are overwhelmingly negative. The pantyhose bashers picked up on her pantyhose comments that she made on “The View” and they repeated them, again, and again, and again. They really beat this incident into the ground, as if to say, “See, even Michele Obama hates pantyhose, so they must be terrible”.

Remember, Michele DID say that she would wear them for special occasions. And she DID! Watch the footage leading up to and including her husband's inauguration speech. She wore pantyhose with her lime green outfit! Everyone went on and on about this outfit, but I did not see ANYONE mention the fact that she wore pantyhose with that outfit. She wore them, it was most appropriate to do so, and she looked GREAT!

My last sentence reminded me of something else. Despite the bother, discomfort, and expense, I think that there are three occasions where pantyhose are still appropriate: weddings, funerals, and most particularly job interviews. I do not understand women who do not "dress to impress" for their job interviews. If the dress code is relaxed, you can always ditch the pantyhose AFTER you're hired. Most female bosses are going to be 35 years old or older. These are the ladies who are most likely to believe that pantyhose are a must or a least appropriate for the office.

Thanks Smithsonian, nice job!

Attention Joseph Caputo: You forgot to include the last decade of the new trend in pantyhose for men. If any of you out there still believe that pantyhose is for women only, I shall prove you wrong. Please go to www.nylonegene.com and see for yourself. There is a growing trend for male legwear and even more women love it.

As Paul Harvey always says, there's "the rest of the story..." and that is, that men are taking up where women have been leaving off--with the wearing of pantyhose. I'd like to call the Smithsonian's attention to the existence of ActivSkin (www.activskin.com), the first company to sell pantyhose made exclusively for men. We have been in business for 10 years now, and the demand has grown consistently during that time. The trend appears to be poised on the verge of a 'tipping point' that will see it move more definitively into the mainstream.

A large number of newspaper and magazine articles have documented this emerging trend, beginning most notably with the Wall Street Journal on Feb. 19, 2002 (Kingsize, Not Queen: More Men Are Taking to Wearing Pantyhose). This trend is fueled by the recognition the men can benefit from the benefits provided by support style hosiery, for poor leg circulation, added warmth without bulk in outdoor pursuits, as well as improved stamina in athletic activities involving running or cycling.

Formerly, men were inhibited from openly wearing nylon hosiery because of its most recent association with women's wear (not originally so, of course, but it's been a couple hundred years since hosiery was initially considered a man's garment). Recent years have seen a small but growing number of men who openly wear nylon hosiery even with shorts, and consider it to be a truly unisex garment.

For more background on this, please visit my blog, called The Nylon Gene at www.nylongene.com

So many Men are afraid to admit just how much they adore a Woman in Silky Pantyhose, as this would be giving away something personal (or as Pantyhose are the most feminine article of clothing there are then the jokes and then the yelps of, "what, do you wear them? are you gay?" etc...)

'Tights' have been around for hundreds of years, mostly worn by Men, but so happy to see beautiful Women in silky sheer Pantyhose. It is truly one of the most alluring pieces of Lingerie.

We Gentlemen around the world, even when too shy to admit to it, love seeing you Ladies in Pretty Pantyhose!

And Thank you for adding this page.

Very interesting article, and a subject I can identify with --- but please, the phrase is "dresser drawers", not "dresser draws" --- I've come to expect more from Smithsonian.

I am not sure what is 'in' and 'out' in terms of fashion but one things for sure, ask any man and they will tell you they find legs dressed in nylons the most attractive.

Wonderful story. Thanks for sharing.

It is go great to see a high quality posting on pantyhose that reflects in a positive light about the history. I find it so interesting to learn some factoids about hosiery or as I call it, lingerie for the legs. Very well put I might add and it beats out the posting on how pantyhose are made article I read a few weeks ago!
Sincerely,
Sweet
http://www.bestpantyhosereview.com/hosiery/how-pantyhose-are-made-manufacturing-process

I don't really care what Michelle Obama thinks or prefers. When I was younger, all the women around me wore hose almost daily. I still prefer to see a woman nicely dressed with pantyhose on with her skirt or dress. It rounds out the look, not to mention pantyhose evens out blemishes and other "trouble" spots on thier legs.