Pantyhose vs Stockings?

Question

Consider my background and please clarify the difference between Pantyhose and Stockings

Thanks!

Answer 1

In the USA, Pantyhose are a one piece garment consisting of two sheer hosiery legs woven or sewn into a panty portion. They resemble tights, except that the hosiery portion of pantyhose is much more sheer, and the panty portion is often, but not always, thicker than the leg portions. Pantyhose were introduced in the USA in 1959, and by 1970, sales of pantyhose surpassed that of two piece stockings, and have done so to this day.

Stockings are sheer legs of hosiery in two pieces. Before pantyhose became dominant, stockings ruled the day. Stockings were/are held up by a garter belt or girdle with garter straps attached.

Thigh-hi's are two piece sheer stockings that can be worn without a garter-belt to hold them up. Elastic bands at the top of each stocking hold the stockings up.

While knee-hi's worn with slacks are technically stockings because they are in two pieces, they are almost always referred to as "Knee-hi"s or "Knee-hi stockings", but rarely, if ever just "stockings".

The confusion between pantyhose and stockings began after the early 1970's. Before pantyhose became dominant, a woman wanting to buy full length sheer hosiery for her legs between 1965 and 1975 HAD to specifiy either "pantyhose" or "stockings". Both products were popular and widespread, both served a similar purpose (sheer, elegant leg coverings for grown women), and yet they were distinctly different. After stockings virtually disappeared from the mainstream hosiery scene, there was no need to differentiate between the two.

Sometime after the early 1970's, some American women began to refer to "pantyhose" as "stockings". Despite being techincally incorrect, other women with a similar mindset know that "stockings" mean "pantyhose", because two piece stockings had vanished from the everyday life of most women. For many women, "stockings" simply equal/refer to "pantyhose", and for these ladies, that is that. Many, many women who wear pantyhose, but have never, and will never, wear two piece stockings with a garter belt, continue to call pantyhose "stockings".

Answer 2

Stockings are like long socks... 1 for each leg.  They can be short, coming just below the knees, slightly longer for just above the knee, or they can be "thigh high."  To keep from rolling, sagging or slipping down, they either have a silicone or rubber material lining the elastic band at the top that grips the leg, or a garter with suspenders that clip to the tops of the stockings...holding them up.  

Pantyhose are basically stockings that are connected to a panty with a waistband.  The all-in-1 construction of pantyhose eliminate the need to wear panties beneath them and can give your hiney a much smoother appearance beneath your clothing.  

Most professional women that wear hosiery tend to wear pantyhos for general day-to-day attire, but the extra effort that stockings with a garter and suspenders involve can be a fun and s**y alternative for special occassions.  

Answer 3

Stockings are either thigh-high or knee-high. Made from the same material as pantyhoses. These are either held up by garter belts or stay up on their own (for thigh-highs).

Pantyhoses are those that comes with the panty portion (up to the waist). Comes in various panty portion ... control tops, sheer-to-waist (non-control top), and shaper tops.

However, I sometimes hear ladies use the word stockings and pantyhose inter-changeably. Not sure why as these are two very different types of legwear.

Pantyhose and tights are essentially the same thing. Pantyhose is used in the US , whereas in the UK, they are called tights.

Answer 4

From the leg on down to the foot they are the same thing (sheer, made of nylon & spandex).  The difference is how they stay up.  Pantyhose have the legs sewn to a panty (made of similar fabric to the legs) while stockings are just the leg part and require help to stay up.  For the stockings to stay up they are either connected to a garter belt or have elastic around the thigh area which keeps them in place and from falling down.