h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A540028

This article evolved out of a discussion with Pheroneous regarding the Joy of Socks (see reference within the entry). It aims to provide the female angle by explaining those items of foot and legwear worn almost exclusively by women: tights, stockings etc.

What do you think? I was keen to be comprehensive, but this means it has turned into rather a monster entry. Would it be better split into three smaller entries (types of hosiery, variations in hosiery, how to wear) or would that be too disjointed? Or too pretentious come to that? I mean - a trilogy on hosiery - what would I call it for goodness sake? "Three Colours American Tan"? Hmmm...

Your opinions would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Cloviscat

*Phew*

Everything you never wanted to know about hosiery is in there. Complete, and well-written.

I do not have any profound background on this topic, for that reason: No nits to pick from my part.

Good job,

HELL

Thanks Hell!

OK, just a couple of additions, but otherwise a very comprehensive entry. There are a few in between sorts of hosiery I've bought in the past (in the UK) which you might consider representing.

Bodyfree tights - these, I believe a Pretty Polly invention, tho don't quote me on that, are basically tights with no gusset, allowing air to freely circulate and avoid the dreaded sweaty crotch. Very comfortable actually.

Stocking tights - I don't know any brands of these, my own having been bought from BHS department store but not neccessarily home branded, but they are an all-in-one stocking arrangement. Unlike the bodyfree, which just misses out the gusset, the stocking tight is essentially a pair of stockings attatched to a tights' waistband by a thin strip of nylon. Difficult to get on, and a tendency to cut in at the edges of the stocking section. They are in no way detachable from the waistband, so each pair is a complete unit...

Unlike this last one which I've only heard about but never seen...so you might like to check up on this.
Scantyhose - a sort of stocking and suspender arrangement but all
made out of tights material, with a special snap fastner, one half on the stockings and the other on the waistband arrangement. Like stockings and suspenders, you only need one belt of each colour, but for some reason these are supposed to be much more comfy. No idea why.

Anyway, some thoughts for you.

Pinkd...:o)

Thanks for this PinkD. I remembered the Bodyfree and Scantyhose, or whatever they were called, things being advertised a couple of years ago, but when I paid a visit to a 'top prestigious department store' to do some retail research for this article and I couldn't find them! I've done a search on the internet and no joy either (but some very dodgy sites! )

Can anybody help? Maybe they have been discontinued... I might put in a footnote about hosiery evolutionary dead ends, just to be comprehensive.

I did find a site which reminded me that some people recommend putting *gloves* on before putting hosiery on. I mean - who's got time for that? I might put it in though, jusyt for a giggle...

Thansk again!

Hi Cloviscat - an extremely good article I must say
Sheesh - one more reason why its easier being a bloke I guess
I must say I rather misunderstood what the article was going to be about at the begining. I was expecting an article on female underwear in general and was looking forward to a description of the pain involved in wearing various types of bra.
Oh well, maybe next article eh?

Typo
basques and bodies? bodices presumably?

Bye for now,

Orcus

Bras made of hosiery? What kind of fetid imagination do you have?

A body, BTW, is an item of ladies clothing, similar to a skinny-fit top, but finishing in a swimming costume type-shape which fastened under the crotch using press-studs (I leave it to your imagination to appreciate how awkward that can be!) Bodies are nowadays worn as undergarments but they were fashonable in the late-eighties early-nineties as a top that didn't come untucked. Of course being untucked is all the rage now

Hmm bras, that could be fun. Even I got baffled on a recent trip to M&S: did I want to be pushed up, pulled apart, pushed together, minimized, maximized or what?

Cheers Orcus!

Alas, I checked, there is already an edited article
Mind it's pretty thin so maybe one for Jimi's update clinic?

I stand corrected. What do us poor blokies know about the complex world of women's clothes in general - let alone the underthingies!

Answer - a lot more now

Orcus

What? Where? I checked before I wrote!

Don't Panic!

Aready an article on Brassiers is what I meant, sorry for the misunderstanding.

That's for winding me up!

...Would the above title be more attractive? Hmm?

Hmm - will have to have a look for those elusive scantyhose etc... I did buy some bodyfree ones a few months back. I'll see if they have a label in them when they're out of the wash :o)

Another thought, did you mention footsocks?

Hmm - will have to have a look for those elusive scantyhose etc... I did buy some bodyfree ones a few months back. I'll see if they have a label in them when they're out of the wash :o)

Another thought, did you mention footsocks?

You mean those ones that aren't supposed to show above the edge of your shoe but always do? Yes I did, it was in below anmkle-highs but it appears to have gone missing. Thanks for the prompt, I'll re-do it!

This is truly a great article. I've found no nits whatsoever, but there's a small thing to add (just in case this entry isn't big enough) to the very last part of the entry.

Old stockings or pantyhoses could also be used to prevent small children or pets to scratch the soil out of flower pots. Just pull the hosiery over the pot from bottom to top and tie one or more knots in it so that it fits tightly around the trunk(s) of the plant. (Hope this is comprehensible)

Footsocks, flowerpots and a couple of other tweaks now sorted

Excellent - you must be pretty much comprehensive now! No luck on the scantihose yet, but I'll drop you a line if anything turns up.

Pinkd.

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'Peer Review' to 'Hosiery'.

This thread has been moved out of the Peer Review Forum because your entry has now been recommended for the Edited Guide.

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