What could be more feminine than a pair of silky smooth pantyhose?
While many women opt for the bare-legged look these days, pantyhose (and tights) give a much more polished appearance.
The secret is to choose hosiery that makes you look sexy and stylish – not like you stepped out of a time warp from the 80s.
Follow these 5 transgender / crossdresser / femboy pantyhose style rules and I guarantee you can’t go wrong!
A Quick Note About Pantyhose vs. Tights vs. Stockings
Before we jump into the rules, let’s quickly discuss terms:
- Pantyhose – This is a term used in the U.S. to describe sheer hosiery with a denier (a measure of thickness in tights) of 8 to 30.
- Tights – Tights are thicker than pantyhose, with a denier of 40 to 100. (That said, most other English-speaking countries use the term “tights” for all hosiery, from sheer to thick.)
- Stockings – Stockings differ from tights in that they only extend to the upper thighs. They stay up with elastic or are secured with a garter belt.
Rule #1: Only Wear Nude Or Black Pantyhose
For the most sophisticated look, I recommend sticking to the basics and only wearing nude or black pantyhose. (Colored tights are a different story. See Rule #5.)
If you wear black hose, make sure that they’re jet black – not gray-black or brown-black.
Rule #2: Go For Sheer Nude Hose That Matches Your Skin Tone
The #1 rule for nude hose is to match your skin tone as closely as possible.
High-end hose brands (like Donna Karan and Calvin Klein) offer lots of nude shades to choose from, so you should be able to find a perfect match.
The #2 rule for nude hose is to buy the sheerest hosiery you can find. Nude pantyhose should be like the foundation you wear on your face: invisible, but enhancing.
Rule #3: Buy The Best Quality Pantyhose You Can Afford
Most trans women, crossdressers, and femboys have great legs, so it pays to show them off with nice pantyhose. There’s a big difference between drug store brands and department store brands.
My favorite high quality hosiery brands include:
- Wolford
- Spanx
- Donna Karan
- Calvin Klein
- Nordstrom
Rule #4: Coordinate Your Pantyhose With Your Shoes
If you wear black pantyhose, wear black shoes for the most streamlined look.
Nude hose gives you the most options: You can pair them with any color of shoes. For the most leg-lengthening look, try wearing nude hose with nude shoes.
Just remember: NO pantyhose with sandals or open toed shoes! (A small peep toe is fine.)
Rule #5: Try Tights
Semi-sheer and opaque tights are a great alternative to transgender / crossdresser pantyhose – especially when it’s cold out.
Tights are less formal, but they tend to look more modern and youthful than pantyhose.
The pantyhose rules DON’T apply to tights, so experiment with different colors, styles, and textures. Funky tights can totally make an outfit!
Let’s continue the conversation…
Do you love to wear pantyhose, tights, and/or stockings? If so, what are your favorite styles and brands?
Please share your comments below!
Love,
Lucille
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I prefer Stockings with garter belt
Hi: I have bought Hane’s Thigh highs for years. size CD, I thought that was apropos. They don’t last long but are not expensive, and I’ve learned how to turn the torn part or toe runs to the bottom so I can get one more wearing. Also, Thigh highs, if you get a run in one, the other is still good!
Do thigh highs really stay up well. Like, if you wear them all day long to work? xxx Selena
Here’s what I do with both thigh highs and pantyhose.
I put them in the freezer.
They will last much longer.
Of course the makers of all types of nylons wont tell you about this.
I was sketable at first,but said let’s see.
Yep sure made a difference.
Julia
I DO prefer the super-sheer in the warmer days. My Mrs. prefers and has taught me that the look should be ‘natural’ as possible. As a very TALL gurl at 6’5″ I need the ‘JUST MY SIZE’ or a brand with 3X-4X size. I have pretty long legs. Being a cyclist they stay very toned.
Twinkie
Oh, I DO tend to wear a nude or beige in summer…
I love black or suntan hose from thigh highs to support hose
Um, could someone please power down and stow my Time Machine for me whilst i adjust my tights. I think I might be one of those people who came from the 80s, but that’s my style! I adore very high Denier with bright colors to match or contrast my outfit. The best tight makers are Bonds of Australia: they make every conceivable color, especially bright ones that last a long time (don’t fade in the wash), they make them in cotton and with very, very high D. Often i wear double layers with black tights underneath to enhance the opacity and give even more depth to the color. Color, like scent, is EXTREMELY important to my mood, but i tend to like floral and and sometimes strong and unusual scents that are not everyone’s cup of tea so i have to stay away from perfume at work. Colorful tights are something that doesn’t give other people an allergic reaction that i can wear at work. And cotton high D tights are super warm, especially if you can get hold of polypropylene thermal tights to wear underneath. It’s sometimes hard to find those, though, without ugly looking seams that spoil the bright surface of your tights. A couple of specialty camping stores in Berlin and Australia sell really smooth, super warm (300 weight), thermal tights. Berlin can do its Winter worst to no effect on me when i wear those under high D tights with a woollen knee length pinny dress and cashmir layering. I must say, though, that Berliners don’t really know the meaning of cold until we visit the northeastern United States.
Below is a typical work outfit for Winter for me. Matches my gorgeous green Citybike that makes me feel so like an echte Berlinerin!
I wasn’t aware that “pantyhose” meant something of needfully low Denier in the US.
I certainly agree with the idea of higher quality tights and pantyhose.
On some occasions i love to wear the low D, silky pantyhose, but i realize that’s more about the feel of them on my skin than the look. For me, that nude look is quite formal and i don’t really feel comfortable with it unless at a very formal event.
I love cutesy nude pantyhose with patterns, though, for Summer informal wear. I have some white Alannah Hill ones with polka dots, stripey patterns, very cute little hearts and pussy cats on them. Actually quite a few different patterns. Very cute but very sheer and therefore i have to be terribly careful with them putting them on and off – i have ruined some of my favorites in the past being clutsy.
Um, could someone please power down and stow my Time Machine for me whilst i adjust my tights. I think I might be one of those people who came from the 80s, but that’s my style! I adore very high Denier with bright colors to match or contrast my outfit. The best tight makers are Bonds of Australia: they make every conceivable color, especially bright ones that last a long time (don’t fade in the wash), they make them in cotton and with very, very high D. Often i wear double layers with black tights underneath to enhance the opacity and give even more depth to the color. Color, like scent, is EXTREMELY important to my mood, but i tend to like floral and and sometimes strong and unusual scents that are not everyone’s cup of tea so i have to stay away from perfume at work. Colorful tights are something that doesn’t give other people an allergic reaction that i can wear at work. And cotton high D tights are super warm, especially if you can get hold of polypropylene thermal tights to wear underneath. It’s sometimes hard to find those, though, without ugly looking seams that spoil the bright surface of your tights. A couple of specialty camping stores in Berlin and Australia sell really smooth, super warm (300 weight), thermal tights. Berlin can do its Winter worst to no effect on me when i wear those under high D tights with a woollen knee length pinny dress and cashmir layering. I must say, though, that Berliners don’t really know the meaning of cold until we visit the northeastern United States.
Below is a typical work outfit for Winter for me. Matches my gorgeous green Citybike that makes me feel so like an echte Berlinerin!
I wasn’t aware that “pantyhose” meant something of needfully low Denier in the US.
I certainly agree with the idea of higher quality tights and pantyhose.
On some occasions i love to wear the low D, silky pantyhose, but i realize that’s more about the feel of them on my skin than the look. For me, that nude look is quite formal and i don’t really feel comfortable with it unless at a very formal event.
I love cutesy nude pantyhose with patterns, though, for Summer informal wear. I have some white Alannah Hill ones with polka dots, stripey patterns, very cute little hearts and pussy cats on them. Actually quite a few different patterns. Very cute but very sheer and therefore i have to be terribly careful with them putting them on and off – i have ruined some of my favorites in the past being clutsy.
Hi Lucille 🙂
My choice of of nylons are : pantyhose, tights, thigh highs and knee highs in almost ALL the shades and textures like the kind of nylons that have really cute patterns to them…. 🙂 I LOVE wearing MY choice of nylons ALL the time 🙂 they’re GREAT 🙂 🙂
Personally, I like Hanes for hosiery. Foundation garments I like Rago and last but not least Spanx.