Whenever I wear a skirt or a dress I almost always wear either pantyhose or leggings of some kind. But recently I’ve been paying attention to a very vocal debate about whether or not pantyhose are acceptable anymore as a part of one’s wardrobe. On one hand you have many fashion experts like Stacy London and Clinton Kelly of “What Not to Wear” saying that natural or tan colored hose should never be worn ever. But then you see a very vocal chorus of women fighting back against that rule in posts like this recent one over at MORE Magazine with comments like, “I’m so glad to read other women fighting back against this silly rule!” and, “This is the most ridiculous article.”
While the debate rages on in the genetic girl community, the issue seems to be more clear cut in the crossdresser and transgender community. Many genetic girls (and men) are quick to point out that a good pair of hose can make your legs look great, and that if properly fitted they aren’t uncomfortable. On cooler days, or in cooler climates hose can keep your legs a little warmer, and many hose improve circulation making it easier to stand on your feet for long periods (if your job requires it.) For transgender women or crossdressers though I think the single biggest benefit is that hose can help smooth out the appearance of the legs and help them look more feminine.
If someone has great skin, and great looking legs I can totally see feeling good about going without hose. There are also many who have confidence to show off their legs, even when they don’t feel they have nice skin. But for me anyway, I need to play down my masculine features as much as possible – and like many women out there I think hose really improve the look of my legs. This might be one area where the fashion police may be out of touch with a lot of women in the world.
Normally, when it comes to my feminine appearance I do try to avoid as many a fashion faux pas as possible, but when it comes to hose I just can’t make a break away from them. They help my figure look a little smoother, and they help make the imperfections in my legs (like the red bumps) less noticeable. This is a huge benefit for me, big enough that I’m willing to risk a fashion faux pas.
At least I know there are lots of genetic girls out there pointing out the many benefits of wearing hose, and exposing some of the more silly rules of the fashion police.
I’m curious, what do you think of pantyhose, and do you wear them? Is it really a fashion faux pas, or is this just a silly rule?
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
While I see nothing wrong with pantyhose, I prefer tights in the winter. Tights add the extra warmth needed. However most times during the summer months hose do have a place,
especially those in tan or sheer. Sheer is probably the closest shade for legs for the average white guy or girl. While brown
or darker colors are for black guys or girls. I have used black at night with my navy blue skirts or skorts.
The other thing, although lightly mentioned here is the use for
those with circulation problems. The Sheer Energy hosier is the best. Whether it be knee-highs or full pantyhose. I do not have a circulation problem but I do have three types of arthritis. The hosiery aid in massaging my legs. They allow me to walk further with the pain associated with the arthritis. Wifes and girlfriends of males with this ailment should encourage their
husbands or boyfriends to wear them. It has nothing to do with being a sissy, its for the health of your loved ones. Yes I wear skirts and I am a male and that in itself has nothing to do with wearing hose. If you watch the NFL during the winter months
you will see that the players wear pantyhose. Those tears are caused by the cleats brushing or scrapping the legs. Look carefully at their legs you can see the tears in them, sometimes even the runs.
So as to pantyhose, I don’t think they are just a fashion item,
but a necessity for those with medical conditions, a inexpensive way to stimulated the legs and lastlya inexpensive way to warm the legs during cold months. Children even, boys or girls should have them as part of their winter wardrobe. Especially those childreen who walk to school.
I totally agree with you Robert about using tights in the winter. Even though I haven’t gone out yet in public (still working on getting up courage to go out en femme) I find that wearing some leggings or tights around the house helps keep me warm.
When I lived in New York, I used to wear tights under my work clothes in the winter and liked the feel much better than long underwear. Tights are a LOT more comfortable than long underwear in my opinion because there are so many textures and fabric types to choose from. Thanks for your comment.
I’d love to have legs good enough not to worry about tights, but alas I don’t… My shins are fine, my thighs less so, and tights hide the fact well. I think the point is to go for something natural looking rather than something that screams tights. Something that goes for genetic girls as well…
Stace
Hi Stace,
What it is about your thighs that you’re unhappy about?
Personally I am working on dealing with ‘red bumps’ on my legs (mainly upper) that I think are Keratosis Pilaris. No luck treating them yet. Are you dealing with the same thing?
If women can go without hose, so can the rest of us. Have you noticed how these young gals don’t wear hose, even to the office. I say we wear them if we want. Summer though can be a pain with hose. Thank goodness it’s starting to get cool again.
I love to wear pantyhose because I love the sheer feeling and I love too the way they look. I began crossdressing as a young boy many years ago when nylons were in fashion, and I loved those too. But when pantyhose came along in th 1970′s,and women began wearig them, I quickly switched. I regret that more women don’t wear pantyhose today but I surely still do.
I think too many of us worry about what the fashion police think. Fashion and style should be a personal choice and so it is with the decision of whether or not to wear pantyhose. Personally, I think hose add a bit of polish to a girl’s look (that’s my opinion). My real fondness for wearing pantyhose though is the way they feel. Ultimately, we should be free to choose without feeling pressured by what others think.
Heavens above, why bother what the fashion police think! Bear in mind that most of the population would consider that a male person wearing pantyhose, stockings, tights or whatever was wrong. So ignore them. Sensually I prefer stockings and a garter belt or basque but sometimes tights (pantyhose) are more practical – like now when it’s damn cold.
Im male and wear tights most of time that help from muscle weak mainly from arthritis so been told to wear it with either shorts or short skirt – Ive wear black opaque tights and grey cord mini skirt that help my legs with plenty of air – I shave my legs first then put E45 milk body cream to make smooth then put tights on (usual Wolford Fatal 50 or De Luxe 66 – very softy) and put skirt on that look nicely and I have 100 deiner luxury tights for warm in the winter season – feel soooooooooo good. Men can wear what to wear as it unisex
as a guy who likes to blur gender lines i will never give up my hose. i don’t care what the fashionistas say.
i love my tights for the winter. there’s nothing like getting home and stripping off my pants and sliding on a denim mini skirt and hoody and glancing at my pink argyle legs while i relax. in the summer i love knowing that if i cross my legs my garter will show.
its the colours that really add to it. from nude to black to hot pink thigh highs, these are the things i love. i for one will always wear nylons or tights or leggings or thigh highs.
no one over 5 years old should wear hot pink anything I am a genetic girl (a gg?) and I can’t wear hose or tights that aren’t cotton – the forst pair I put on 12 or 14 I tihnk I broke out in a rash from tip of toe to top of thigh so that was that my 1st husband seriously got off on wearing my clothes which was fine w/me- unless he didn’t tell me and he put holes in my stockings – very expensive to replace cheers all!
I agree with Sharon. I am a mature transvestite and I still wear nylons, but pantyhose are my daily wear. I love to wear them because I just don’t feel dressed without them. The sensual feel of sheer pantyhose is unequaled. Men will stumble over each other just for a quick look at a girl in sheer nylon clad legs. I know, because I have caused minor stampedes myself. LOL
Do as you choose girls, but I will still wear pantyhose. I can’t let the guys down
hi i found your story and just wanted to comment.i to am a crossdresser.i think that the panty hose are just wonderful,they hide little imperfections on your legs if the proper shade and especially the hair.not everyone of us girls can have the luxury of shaving.they control my tummy a bit which is good.as far as i am concerned there is nothing more comfotable, for me anyway.
i have an older sister which in years past i would go to her home and she would help me dress.she once told me that i have nicer legs than any women that she knew.i think that clinched it for me.would not trade my panty hose for all the garter belts and nylons in the world.Kathy
It totally depends upon the outfit, but as a general rule this girl says “yes” to pantyhose. They improve our figure and the fit of our outer garments, not to mention the appearance of our legs. Even if you have young, flawless legs, a lady should think twice about bare-legging it with anything other than shorts, swim- suits, or capris.
Gartered nylon stockings are also nice, but pantyhose are just more pracical. Plus, they wear better. Tights in winter are great. They are a stylish alternative to pantyhose with many outfits–I have several pair. They are great because you can match certain patterns with specific outfits creating a fashion flair.
In closing, I believe some form of leg covering is necessary with most outfits. Is there anything worse than a beautiful dress or suit ending with yuckie , unadorned legs? Plus, its much nicer and moe comfy slipping into dress shoes with stocking feet.
Well my wife always wear pantyhose or stockings even on her days off she is always slipping into some stockings and heels and one of her many miniskirts she has over 100 so I encourage her to wear nylons we both love it and the looks she gets from men is awesome. I really enjoy her love of nylons she also has over 200 pair of nylons
No man should ever wear female clothing or hosiery, it’s not right. I don’t know why women wear pantihose, tights or stockings, they’re a turn off. The only reason I think women do wear them is to show off their legs. Socks on women look nicer, I reckon. I wonder was nylons invented by a woman Like a women invented the “BRA”
I agree with everyone about ignoring fashion police..
but here’s my personal approach =)
I have hairy legs, and like to cover them when dressing as a girl. I’m not a fan of pantyhose, I find it too conservative for my style. But, I think that coordinated tights are ultra stylish…fine fishets, lace tights, coloured tights that match an outfit, or pattern tights are the way to go. I say, why skip the opportunity to add colour or style to an outfit? But then again, I’m about looking busy and colourful, not as into the understated look. =)
Sooooooo Mr. King,
Why is it ok for women to wear mens clothing then? Women wear pants, shits, ties, etc, and it is fine for them and nobody is allowed to say anything?! I just don’t get it.
I love my pantyhose and the way they look and feel. Men say they don’t like women in them, riiiight. They are always staring at a womans legs when they have them on and if you have ever felt a pair of legs covered in silky pantyhose or stockings, you would love it.
Ummm as a natural female, First I want to say I totally support you. That’s why I’m here. Now on to stockings comment…
I prefer garter belt and hose. Can’t stand pantyhose restricting the crotch. Also I just think garter belt and hose are sexier.
I’ve been wearing hose as a t-girl for years; I love them all year long. I’ve been told that I have better looking legs than most gg’s, so lately I’ve been dressing without hose. I get lots of compliments with bare legs, but I still prefer hose. I don’t care what anyone thinks, they feel good and they look good–and they make a lot of legs look better than they do bare.
When I was pre-op I rarely wore pantyhose but now its simply easier for work to pop them on and keep my legs looking and feeling good alll day.
I love wearing tights. I am a trans girl figure skater, and live in my tights. When I go from on the ice to off, I just slip off my skating skirt and put on a regular skirt.
I wear hose whenever I can, mainly Leggs active support. I have arthritis and wearing hose in the winter keeps my legs from hurting too much. My wife thinks it’s a little weird but she’s ok with it. She will also let me wear them to bed on occasion and I also crossdress whenever she lets me. I just wish she would let me shave my legs but she feels it’s going too far, especially since we have three young boys.
when ever it gets below freezing,i like to wear either pantyhose or heathered tights. i’ve learned the hard(and costly) way is to spend a bit extra for good quality…they feel better and are warmer as well as lasting longer….peace