What Katie Did Seamed Stockings

1. If you need a garter belt, put it on now.
2. Make sure your feet are well moisturized, and that your toenails are trimmed and free of hangnails.
3. Take the same precautions with your hands. To be extra safe, you can use hosiery gloves to protect your stockings from your hands.
4. Grasp the opening of the stocking, and slowly gather the stocking into your hand. Continue down the leg until you have the whole leg bunched in your hands and your fingers have reached the toe.
5. Put your foot into the stocking. Make sure the stocking isn’t twisted. If you have a reinforced heel and/or toe, make sure everything is in the proper position. If your hosiery has a back seam, ensure that it is positioned correctly along the back of your heel.
6. Slowly pull the stocking up your leg. If you have a back seam (or other vertical decoration) you may find it helpful to do this in front of a mirror so you can check for squiggly lines as you go. If the seam is crooked, don’t pull on the stocking into position when it is already in your leg. Roll the stocking down to the area of the squiggle and carefully begin to pull the stocking up again with the line straight.
7. If you are wearing pantyhose, tights, or thigh-highs, you’re now done! If you are wearing stockings, it’s time to attach them to the garter belt.

I was surprised when the sizing chart put me squarely in a size larger than I usually wear. I went ahead and asked for the recommended size, but they did seem to run pretty large and I should have sized down. So if you’re in doubt or on the edge of sizes, try ordering a size smaller than chart recommends. When I first took them out of the package, I was concerned that the elastic was too easily seen though the lace and would ruin the look. As soon as I put them, however, on the elastic was invisible so I looked great! It worked, too – they didn’t slip or slide down all night. One thigh-high in each pair has a small pocket in the scalloped lace to hold personal items. It is the perfect size for my credit card and a key, so I can go out for a short night without carrying a purse full of things I don’t really need.

I appreciated that the heel and toe were not reinforced, and they were soft and comfortable to wear. You can get a pair for yourself in black, white, or nude for about $15 from the Secret Xentials website, Oh Cheri! (with free shipping), or some boutiques.

These would make a great bridal shower gift, giving the new bride a new way to carry that “something old” or “something blue” down the aisle. You can find them at lingerie shops or order online from the Secret Xentials website.

Secrets in Lace has been shipping their products around the world since 1995. Resisting requests from large retailers to sell their brand in stores, the company has continued to sell exclusively through their mail order catalog and website. Dita Von Teese herself is a customer, and chose the brand to create her line because she trusted the company’s knowledge and experience with full-fashioned stockings. In fact, Secrets in Lace has the largest selection of full-fashioned stockings in the world!

Secrets in Lace’s full-fashioned nylon stockings are manufactured on the same machines used in the 40’s and 50’s, and made in the same way – they are knit flat and sewn together with a backseam. The finishing hole and imprint found on the welt complete the glamorous stockings. Fans of sheer stockings will be thrilled to learn that Secrets in Lace also has the largest selection of finer denier stockings (10 denier and 7 denier). These are true fine deniers, too – they don’t try to win you over with “the appearance of fine denier” like some lesser stocking companies. Just to add to the list of exclusive products, Secrets in Lace also has the only true 10 denier fully fashioned stockings in the world. With a variety of heel styles and reinforcements, anyone can find exactly what she is looking for.

Of course, a world-famous stocking manufacturer would be amiss not to offer thigh highs, and they have recently introduced new lace top thigh highs, with one style being offered in seven sizes (because women are not one-size-fits-all)!

Trend setters will be happy to learn that Secrets in Lace has also been offering patterned stockings for over six years (pictured is the Vintage Dot print, which is their most popular print).

We’d love to hear from anyone who has experience with this brand in the forums – it has come up in conversation more than once. Secrets in Lace told me that several of their loyal customers brought The Lingerie Post to their attention, so I know you’re out there! Be on the lookout for future articles featuring the company. There is a lot more to tell!