HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR HOSIERY

 

The types of items you can find in a hosiery shop are the following:

• PANTYHOSE
• STAY UPS
• STOCKINGS
• KNEE – HIGHS
• SOCKS
• OVER – KNEES
• LEGGINGS
• FOOTSIES

All product types can be basic or with fashion patterns.

PANTYHOSE:

the final consumer looks first of all sheerness or opaqueness when choosing a pantyhose to wear. The sheerness or opaqueness is expressed in decitex or in deniers. Deniers define the transparency; the look of the tights on leg:

• ULTRA SHEER: 5-15 den
• SHEER:15-20 den
• HALF-SHEER: 20-40 den
• OPAQUE: 50 den and over

The multiple combinations of yarns/elasthan enables to have different levels of sheerness/opaqueness. Thanks to the use of heavier Lycra and to the strengthened texture, it is possible to obtain different levels of compression that favours the blood circulation on leg. This compression normally is gradual; strong on ankle and light on thigh. The level of the compression is expressed with grades of pressure (mm/Hg):

• LIGHT: 5-7 mm/Hg
• MEDIUM: 8-10 mm/Hg
• STRONG:11-13 mm/Hg

WAISTBAND:

INTERLACED: textured with the circular machines. It can be of different thickness and height. It can be also anatomically formed.
OVER-SEWED: sewed afterwards on the pantyhose. Commonly used for fishnets.

PANTY:

the panty is different related to the leg of pantyhose when inexpensiveness is required (the applied yarn is more economic), except when the panty is made particularly heavy and gives a special modelling and slimming effect (then the texture on panty is not more economic than leg).
REINFORCED: panty is heavier than leg. The reinforcing can be bikini-shaped or shorts-shaped. The reinforcing can be in tiny fishnet texture without Lycra (economic) or a shaping support panty with heavy Lycra.
ALL SHEER: panty is constructed with the same yarn than the leg. The pantyhose has only a light reinforcing under the waistband and the T-band. Particularly elegant version of pantyhose.
SHEER WITHOUT T-BAND: panty is constructed with the same yarn than the leg. Completely without reinforcing, even under the waistband and the T-band. Extremely sheer and elegant.
LOW WAIST: panty has a particular anatomic construction with lower panty than the normal one. Particularly the anterior part results lower, while the posterior part is more voluminous.
CLASSIC WAIST: it is constructed with the classic form.

SEAMS AND GUSSET:

SEWING can be automatic; that is the most economic method to unite the parts of pantyhose and to sew the gusset, or manual with flat seam which is smooth and thin, the most important sign of the quality pantyhose. All OMERO articles have flat seams.
GUSSET gives a better comfort to the pantyhose. Usually made in cotton that is more hygienic. Cotton gusset is an important sign of quality as well. BACK PANEL WITH DOUBLE SEWING is used on bigger sizes, for better fit without tightening. Usually indicated on sizes with letters XL.

STAY UPS:

the stay ups are stockings with an elastic silicone band that adheres on the leg. The band can be of different types of fabrics:
LACE that can be more or less precious (Macramè lace for Superb 20 stay up), SMOOTH (Minimal 20 stay up), height of the lace can be variable between 5 cm (Retina stay up) and 13 cm (Superb 20 stay up). The standard height of 8 cm is ideal for every day use, the higher one is suitable for special occasions.

STOCKINGS:

stockings, an elegant and seductive accessory, has to be worn together with the suspender belt because they are without silicone band.
There are normally two types of stockings: with LACE BAND; very sophisticated ones,  and with SMOOTH BAND.

KNEE HIGHS:

knee highs have an elastic band that keeps them up under the knee. Comfortable to wear under the trousers. They can have different types of elastic bands: DOUBLE COMFORT BAND (Musa Comfort 15 gambaletto), ANATOMIC BAND (Alpha 20 gambaletto) and OVER-SEWED BAND (Rete gambaletto).

SOCKS:

socks are usually with elastic band on ankle. They are comfortable to wear under trousers and nowadays more and more women choose to use ankle socks also with skirts.

 

OVER-KNEES / PARISIENNES:

over-knees are long socks that arrive over the knees and they are ideal to wear with mini-skirts and shorts.

LEGGINGS:

leggings are footless tights. They can be sheer or opaque.

FOOTSIES:

footsies are hidden and invisible inside the shoes. They are suitable to use with sporty shoes on summer time. Usually made in cotton or in microfiber, lately also in lace.