5 Gorgeous Stockings with Beautifully Detailed Welts

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Seven and a half years ago, I wrote my very first lingerie blog post on the Falke Lunelle Thigh Highs. Since then, I've bought and worn these stockings at least a dozen times, and they continue to enchant me.

Almost a decade later, I still remember the rush of excitement when I first saw those embroidered peacock feathers. Despite a lifetime of wearing tights and pantyhose, I had no idea hosiery could look like this. For me, legwear had always been about practicality --- propriety even. But these stockings were something altogether different. They were sensual. Beautiful. Artistic. Indulgent. Glamorous. I was like Alice, and these were my looking glass.

One of the things that captivates me most about lingerie --- not just stockings, but all lingerie --- is its hidden nature. These delicate bits of silk, lace, embroidery, and nylon are almost always concealed from public view. Lingerie, unlike the rest of fashion, is not meant to be seen. A detail like an embroidered welt is, for most people, a private indulgence; the most beautiful part of the garment is visible by invitation only.

While I don't wear stockings as often I used to, I still enjoy and appreciate beautiful hosiery. A few weeks ago, I ran across the La Perla image at the top of this blog post, and it made me start thinking. While the welt of a stocking is meant to be functional above all, it's also a ideal place to display bit of extraordinary lace or embroidery.

One small thing before I continue, though. Lately, I've seen more and more companies use the words stockings, tights, pantyhose, and thigh highs interchangeably. While I'm sure this helps their SEO, it's also more than a little inaccurate and confusing.

The word stockings refers to legwear that ends above the knee, but that doesn't have the attached briefs or shorts of pantyhose. Purists will say that the word stockings refers only to hosiery that requires garters to stay up --- either in the form of a garter belt or old-fashioned garters. Thigh highs are like stockings, except they stay up on their own through the use of either silicone or elastic within the welt (thus their secondary name, "stay ups"). Pantyhose refers to sheer, usually skintone, tights. Tights, at least in the US, are opaque, heavier denier pantyhose, often in non-skintone colors. This particular blog post focuses on stockings and thigh highs (because to no one's surprise, I am a bit of a hosiery purist).

Do you enjoy wearing stockings? If so, do you have a favorite pair or place to buy? I'd love to hear what you think in the comments.

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