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Choosing a Comfortable Yet Flattering Bra
Todays bra is not only designed to make you feel pretty and sexy, they are designed for comfort and practicality. You can choose from an underwire bra for support or a bra without underwire. Need some help with adding a little extra to your...
Creative Costume Ideas for Kids
(ARA) - Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love the outdoor decorations and I enjoy seeing the creative and clever costumes our neighbors dream up for their children -- everything from superheroes and pop divas to cartoon and fairy tale...
Discover The Latest Hairstyles Before The Celebrities!!!!
Modern, Stylish Cuts for Women and Men
Like clothes and cars, hairstyles are constantly changing. A cut
that was once the rage begins to look dated as a fresh, new
hairstyle takes its place. Here are some of the most modern,
latest...
Is it Self-Esteem or Self-Confidence or what lies in between?
Is it Self-Esteem or Self-Confidence or what lies in between? I was driven towards looking to the self-confidence and self-esteem in ourselves on a deeper level. How do we evaluate the two? On a human level and perhaps whilst growing up, our...
Plus Size Bridal Gowns - What's Right For Your Big Day?
Every woman wants to look her absolute best on her wedding day.
With more choices in plus size bridal gowns than ever before,
the variety of different styles can be overwhelming. Your
answers to the following wedding planning questions will...
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Stocking and Hosiery Manufacturing
A narrow calf that leads down to a well-turned ankle has something that men find difficult to ignore. When the same leg is covered in a sheer stocking, ignoring it becomes practically impossible!
Women's hosiery as we know it today -- whether the tantalizing Cuban heel seamed stockings that's carefully rolled on for those special evenings or the practical pantyhose worn to the office -- are a far cry from the coarse, hand-knitted wool stockings worn by the peasants of the 17th century.
Not only have the machines invented in [when] been improved upon, a variety of style changes have also been made to women's hosiery during the past half century.
A 1950s invention marked a temporary disappearance of seamed stockings, and the short skirts of the 1960s led to the invention of pantyhose -- passion killers as far as male stocking enthusiasts were concerned.
Modern women seem to have settled on a mixture of the practical with the aesthetically pleasing, with a greater selection of pantyhose being available for day-to-day wear along with a welcome renaissance for seamed stockings.
Modern hosiery manufacturing has to accommodate the high demand for quality goods. From the finest 7 denier sheer stockings, through multi-colored and wildly patterned hose and onwards to practical 60 denier pantyhose, women want the best.
Modern stockings and pantyhose are produced on circular machines that eliminate the need for back seams by knitting tubes that are then 'set' to the shape of the leg. While the first circular machines produced sheer stockings with a reinforced heel pocket, modern machines have eliminated this, offering a better fit regardless of the wearer's shoe size.
The addition of lycra to the stocking yarn is possibly the biggest break-through in hosiery manufacturing; the result being stockings and pantyhose that combine elasticity with the ability to cling perfectly to the leg.
Unfortunately, the addition of lycra to
women's hosiery has one draw-back.
"While lycra's great," says Janine Burke, a beauty consultant and regular customer at www.stockingshopping.com, "I really miss that sheer stocking effect you get with old-fashioned style stockings." A sentiment shared by many a true stocking connoisseur.
Seamed stockings, having made a huge come-back in recent years, are still available but are manufactured using a different method -- one that was used before the invention of the circular machine.
Following the original hosiery manufacturing techniques of the 30s - 50s, flat knitting is used. After the fabric has been produced, each stocking is individually seamed. The top of the seam has a 'finishing loop', a small hole that every seamed stocking has as a result of the machinist turning the welt -- the stocking top -- inside out, in order to finish off.
Once sewn, the stockings are 'boarded'. This is a process where each stocking is stretched over a flat metal leg form and 'set' with steam. The knit tightens, creases are eliminated and the leg is correctly shaped.
Because the process is time consuming, seamed stockings are never cheap. Couple this with the fact that around a third of production -- especially during the production of sheer stockings -- is discarded during quality control and you'll understand why.
While the women's hosiery manufacturing process will undoubtedly continue to evolve, there will always be a demand for the sheer stockings of bygone days that are equally as loved by the women who wear them as the men who appreciate the sight of a 'bit of stocking top'.
Hosiery manufacturing has come a long way -- wear your stockings with pride!
About the author:
Mike Michaelsen is the owner of http://www.stockingshopping.com, an online specialty stockings shop with over 2000 item numbers on stock.
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| fashion net - the guide to all things chic |
| Directory of selected chic fashion, art, luxury, shopping, and work sites. [English and Japanese] |
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| Fashion TV - HOME |
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| Style.com: the online home of Vogue and W; Fashion, Fashion Shows ... |
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| Vogue Articles, Features, and More on Style.com |
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| Fashion for women -- fashion designers, latest trends, fashion tips |
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| fashion.about.com |
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| Fashion & Style - New York Times |
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| Fashion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
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| fashionoffice.org : trends in fashion - Europe . America . Asia |
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| Fashion, from the concrete to the catwalk | fuk.co.uk |
| London designer interviews and runway archive, photo shoots, street style, weekly updated news and a fashion clinic. |
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| FASHION Magazine |
| The web component of Canada's general fashion title, with fashion, beauty, gift ideas and online competitions. |
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| Telegraph | Fashion |
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| Telegraph | Fashion |
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| Fashion Jobs | Fashion Jobs at 24 Seven Inc. |
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| Fashion History Costume Trends and Eras, Trends Victorians - Haute ... |
| Pauline Weston Thomas and Guy Thomas place costume alongside the social history of an era, focusing on fashion from 1800. Includes undergarments, haute ... |
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| Fashion Planet: Summer |
| New York-based site looks at collections, trends, personalities and global lifestyles with monthly updates. |
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| New York Fashion -- New York Magazine - Designers, Fashion ... |
| Fall Fashion. rachel weisz The Sexes Get Dressed. For her? ... Spring 2007 Fashion. philosophy and versace European Shows. The best of the big collections. ... |
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| New York Fashion -- New York Magazine - Designers, Fashion ... |
| The recently maligned country struts its stuff at a fashion show in Manhattan. ... Fall Fashion. rachel weisz The Sexes Get Dressed. For her? ... |
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| Fashion Icon |
| Features latest trends, dressing tips, an ask the fashion experts column, and fun craft projects. |
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| Fashion News on Yahoo! News |
| Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet Shine at "The Holiday" Premiere Fashion Wire Daily ... JAKARTA (Reuters) - Mention the words Islamic and fashion and most people ... |
| news.yahoo.com |
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| Hint Fashion Magazine |
| Hint Fashion Magazine, featuring fashion news, model pages, photo shoots, designer interviews, beauty reports, party pictures and message boards. |
| www.hintmag.com |
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