A Guide to Hosiery

Although "Casual Fridays" are slowly - and thankfully - retiring from the corporate world, many women continue to go to the office or an evening out barelegged. Dresses and stilettos may still be in vogue, but where is the legwear? As a career woman who considers tights, stockings, pantyhose, and their cousins de rigueur, I want to take this opportunity to sing the praises of legwear.

I know that some women argue that legwear is as constricting for women as neckties are for men, but I find it liberating. What I wear on my legs is an extension of the clothes, shoes, and accessories I choose to wear. Just as I wouldn't want to go to work without my make-up, I wouldn't dream of going to work with bare legs.

The sheer variety of women's legwear that is available is enough to blow your socks off (no pun intended). There's something out there for every mood and every occasion. If you're in doubt, simply peruse one of the online stores that is dedicated to providing women with high quality products. When you do, here's what you'll find:

Tights: Today's tights come in an incredible variety of fabrications, from warm wools to velvety cottons to silky microfiber blends. You can find fashion tights in dozens of colors and prints that can complement every outfit in your closet. Whether you want to ward off a winter chill or show some spunk in the summer, tights are a wonderful way to express your fashion sense and your sense of style.

Pantyhose: There's little question that pantyhose put the finishing touches on any outfit. From ultra-sheer to opaque, from neutral colors to brazen hues, from industrial reinforced toes to shimmery gossamer, pantyhose can reflect your mood, your apparel, or your aspirations.

Thigh-Highs: If you love the silky feeling of hose against your legs but don't want to bother with either garters or the panties in pantyhose, holdups are exactly what you need. Whether you choose wide lace bands or soft silicone tops that lay flat against your skin, thigh-highs will never let you down.

Stockings: The allure of stockings is legendary, not only for the men they attract but for the feelings that women have when they wear them. Stockings and garters are the ultimate in femininity, but when you go one step further and choose a silk stocking, you'll never go back. Wearing stockings is like being privy to an inside joke.... No one else need know you're wearing them, but they will bring a smile to your face all day long.

Bodystockings: Some women would never dream of buying bodystockings, but that's likely because they've never worn them. Granted, they may not be appropriate for every occasion, but like stockings, they will make you feel both chic and sexy.

When there are so many options available to complete your outfits and make you feel good all under, leaving your legs bare is a crying shame.