AIBU to be sad that stockings are seen as 'kinky' now? They'd be such a great tights alternative...

[twinkletwinklech0colatebar]

I hate hate hate tights. They're always slipping down, or getting laddered and it would just make so much sense to have stockings because just one can be thrown away and they're properly held up.

@enchantedspleen

Do tell me how a suspender belt fits over your bump then!

i used to wear holdups with a hospital dress uniform (year 2000). Much nicer than tights. less chance of thrush! no one knew .

@twinkletwinklech0colatebar you came on here at 11pm to ask about stockings 🙄

Stop picking on the OP, guys!

She's probably wearing hold ups that don't require a belt Bunny :)

I'm with you OP. I hate tights, I don't like anything up over my belly button and I find tights placed any lower don't look flattering. It's stockings for me too!

Hey? I wear stocking and hold ups all the time. Who knows and who cares?!

I've been wearing stockings since my early 20s and am now in my 50s. I have long leg and tights usually fall down so I spend the day trying to hitch the crotch past mid thigh level. To me it is more comfortable to wear stockings and a suspender belt but I've been lucky to find a comfortable suspender belt !

Snag tights are amazing! I'm tall with very long legs compared to most people (I know this because I had to have my legs measured at one inch intervals for a surgical garment a few years ago and she ran out of space on the form! ) but I am also very overweight and the Snag tights are the first I have ever worn that go right up to the crotch and also fit width ways.

So here’s my stocking question. I gave up on them and went for holdups.

Are you supposed to undo the belt to be able to pull down the underwear to go to the loo? I couldn’t get it to “work” because of the straps at the back. I felt like I was tangled up when I went for a wee and then I was worried something would get in the way of the stream...

@SpaceDinosaur Surely you put on the belt and stockings before your knickers so pulling knickers down is no problem. That's what I used to do back in the dim and distant past.

@BoreOfWhabylon I used to do that, to save money, but then you end up with double the amount of nylon around your bum so you end up doubly hot and uncomfortable, and have double the thrush risk I assume.

Cough cough

I’m surprised to hear that they’re considered kinky, given that my mum, grandmother and great grandmother wore them, and I’m middle aged. Your mum, grandmother and great grandmother didn't have a lot of choice - tights didn't come in till about 1960, and didn't take off until the miniskirt arrived.

Refuse to wear them now, after wearing them to work yonks ago as a waitress (nasty uniform, you could see the centre seam of tights, and I was young enough to give a shit) and one fell down round my ankle just as I arrived at a table laden with plates.

Had to deliver the food and slink away, with one covered leg, and one ankle crump. Not my finest moment.

The back straps you attach them to the stockings first. Once on you pop your knickers on.
Knickers under/over often causes confusion as that’s what you do with tights if you wear knickers.

It’s not just about the gap from the top of the stockings. It’s also about the feel of the stocking. The colour. The design. Unless the tights are ripped it’s not the same. Sometimes it’s about the ‘garter’ bit.

I love wearing stockings and suspenders. Even holdups get worn with suspenders. I only wear waspies type suspenders as they are thicker on the waist and help Reduce my bumps without the need for massive knickers 🤣

I wear them. I hate tights too much. No one knows other than me and dh. No biggie.

@SpaceDinosaur - Maybe there are too many pictures about depicting things wrongly. You wear the actual suspender drops under your knickers. And the so called back drops should be taken to the sides to attach to the stocking. Otherwise awkward to do up and you would sit on the suspender; not comfy! I can put on a suspender belt and stockings as quickly as l can put on a pair of tights.

John Lewis stockings are good quality and good value. Avoid any that are one size, one size fits no one. And lace tops are difficult to attach because of their thickness.

That makes SO much more sense!
Suspenders with knickers over

I used to hate tights until I tried Snag Tights. And I'm not being paid by the company to say that. I used to do either leggings or bare legs depending on weather.

I've only worn stockings a couple of times, I found them really fussy and uncomfortable especially with the bloody suspenders and they kept slipping/twisting around. I do have very short stumpy legs though, maybe that has something to do with it. Never really had any problems with tights beside laddering.

@Picklypickles - I think a lot of the problem is that there are so many cheap, or if not cheap, just plain nasty suspender belts on the market which are just made for the bedroom and not for day to day wear.

A good quality belt turns the uncomfortable inpractical to the comfortable practical.

@SpaceDinosaur - l might have nearly saved you from a wee disaster!!!!!

Just hijacking this threat to ask where do you get good quality suspender belts from? I really want to try one for daywear but all I can find is the very flimsy thin ones for bedroom use.

I get mine from Debenhams, Figleaves, Boux avenue and other places.

@ShadowMoonlight - l tend to wear Fantasie for day in, day out wear for work. That said I’m often in opaque tights at the moment (weather!) but l’ll be pleased to be out of them.

Remember that sussy belts have a job to do. Some are almost like string that wouldn’t hold up a paper coaster.

Try looking somewhere like Selfridges, John Lewis or Figleaves. As well as Fantasie l also tend to opt for Pour Moi (but watch Pour Moi sizing!) or Freya. Rigby and Peller are good if you can afford it too. I also gave a John Lewis own brand belt but when l last tried to get a second one, it had been discontinued.

In spite of the hand wash only label, all mine go in the machine at 40 degrees on a gentle wash.

Avoid anything you can step in to, it is not going to stop put. Likewise avoid single hook and eye fastening at the back, if they are too thin at the back they cut in and can twist. A comfy belt will sit on your back in the same way as your bra. Ideally look for 3 or 4 hook and eye fastenings so it sits flat and will not ride down. Oh and avoid plastic clasps. They tend to ping at the wrong moment. A metal clasp and a broad back fastening will keep everything in position and in place.

And there is less of a “gravity” problem than with tights!

Remember, they go under your knix!