Patterned Toeless Hosiery

patterned toeless pantyhose

a lady wearing patterned toeless hosiery

As I was browsing the grocery isle I saw a very well dressed woman with her daughter (probably in her 20’s), both wearing black pantyhose.

The younger one had her pantyhose just black and basic with no design, but her mom looked like a real hosiery connoisseur.

The woman was dressed in toeless patterned pantyhose to my big surprise.  I’ve never saw toeless hosiery with a pattern, so I came up to her and asked where she got it from and what brand it was.

Coincidentally, I was also wearing black pantyhose with flats and shorts that day.  So all three of us were standing together dressed in black pantyhose and having a very intense hosiery discussion.

Turns out she got her pantyhose in Toronto at some Asian store, but she had no recollection of the brand or the name of the place where she bought it.

I explained to her that I have never seen such design before – pattern and toeless option combined.  That particular style she bought like that, already designed to be toeless, but turns out that she had a way to make her own toeless designs before just by cutting the seam.

I lifted my foot out of my shoe and standing in this position asked how it’s possible to cut off the toe section without creating runs.  The lady leaned and touched my foot, showing me that I only need to cut the seam and the toe itself must be reinforced in order for this to work.

Finally, I asked her if I could take a photo because I run a blog and she happily agree to pose and show off her nice legs.  Wow, that was such an informative trip to the grocery store!

*Friends, the only funding for this blog is from the shop section.  Please indulge your pantyhose obsession and show some support for my work!  Your purchases make this blog possible.*

Are there any reliable garter belts out there that won’t unclip?

Vegas garter belt unclipping problem

Did you know that metal clasps with high quality rubber are best for holding up stockings?

I love garter belts and stockings!  It’s so sexy, but how come I always end up wearing pantyhose instead?

The answer is that I feel that many garter belts are  constantly unclipping.  Last time I wore a garter belt for the whole day, it unclipped 9 times.  Even at some point the welt fell below the hemline as a result and I’ve heard women hissing behind me.

So I turn to the hosiery expert at Gigi’s Intimates (site no longer exists) to find some answers on how to find some sexy and reliable garter belts that won’t let me down.  Can they help?

 

Answer by Gigi’s Intimates: 

I think that garter or suspender belts used to be more of a functional piece of lingerie. So they were simple and plain as were other types of under garments.  As hold ups or thigh highs have become more prevalent, they have become less functional and more of a fashion accessory.  As the fashion trends have changed over the years matching lingerie sets have become popular, so garter belts have started to become more fashionable to become a part of the set.

Most garter belts that you find in department store are made with plastic and cheap rubber, that will just not hold onto the slick nylon and lycra.  What we have found is that metal clasps with high quality rubber hold onto the stockings very well.

Cervin Rivoli Suspender Belt by Gigi's Intimates

There are also several other reason garter, even the metal clasp garter, come unclipped.  Most women can adjust the belts too tight and put to much pressure on the stocking while standing up. When they sit down, there is no give left and they will become unclipped or even worse tear the stocking.  I have also see the fashion top stockings with thick lace are harder to clip and sometime results in “clip failure”.

The trick to having a reliable garter or suspender belt is to get a high quality belt with metal clasps and easily adjustable straps.  The six strap belts work very well and are much more comfortable for every day wear as well.  When you are putting on the clips, make sure that you tighten the adjustable straps after clipping them. Different materials need different adjustments, such as Non-stretch Nylon or Silk used in fully fashioned stockings require a little more tension than the Nylon/Lycra blends that can pull at the suspend belt.

Fantasy Stockings currently carries 2 styles of garter belts from Fiore. Vision and Vesuvio.

 

Almost dropped my garter belt on Valentine’s

I used to have garter belts of different sizes for different fits – waist, hip, and low rise. Now I am only keeping the smallest one.

Sexy Ideas for Valentine’s Day?  Garter belt seemed just right!

I decided to dress up and wear non-stay up (regular old fashioned style) stockings and a garter belt under my knee high skirt on my Valentine’s outing to dinner.

Everything looked excellent when I put it on and my garter belt rested gracefully just above my hips like a pair of low rise pants.

As I was walking to and from the restaurant, I ran into complications.  Stockings began to pull on the garter belt and due to stretchy fabric my belt began to slide down past my hips.

I kept on trying to pull it up, but I was afraid that it may just fall down together with the stockings.  This style would work great in the bedroom for a decorative purpose, but not when you are actually planning to wear it out and do some walking. Later I learned that proper garter belts have at least 6 straps, like those from Gigi’s Intimates.

suspender belt

My stockings were tugging on the garter belt and almost pulled it past my hips as I was walking.

At that point I realized why the other garter belt that I have (comes in a matching set with stockings) is supposed to sit on the waist.

I didn’t like that idea at first since I prefer more of a low rise fit, but now I understand that at least this way it stays where it’s supposed to and won’t slide off my hips.

Later I also realized that some suspender belts tend to unclip, so it’s also important to wear it for half an hour or so at home before going out to see whether suspender straps actually hold on to your stockings.  Once I wore a garter belt and it unclipped 9 times throughout the day.  I counted!

*Friends, please check the hosiery shop section, that’s the only source of funding for the blog.  Please have a look at all the lovely stockings! There are also a few good garter belts there that were not available at the time that I wrote this post. They are new additions – Vision by Fiore and Vesuvio by Fiore.*