Beauty in Pantyhose 2

fashion tights skirt dress high heels

        How to Put on Pantyhose

Pantyhose are made of delicate nylon fabric that covers you from the toes to the waist, helping to even skin tone and reduce friction. They're notorious for ripping and running when you try to handle them, but once you successfully get them on, they can make your outfit look polished and sleek. Using the proper technique to put on pantyhose will extend the life of your hosiery and ensure a smooth, comfortable fit.

1

Prepare your hands, feet and legs. To keep from snagging a hangnail or patch of rough skin on your pantyhose, prepare your hands, feet and legs to make the process easier. Here are a few things you might do to get ready:

• File your fingernails and toenails.
• Shave or wax your legs (especially if your hose are sheer).
• Moisturize your hands, legs and feet.
• Take off any rings and bracelets that may catch on the nylon material and damage the pantyhose.

2

Position the pantyhose front-forward. Check for the tag and position the pantyhose so that you'll be putting them on with the tag in the back. They're constructed to be put on a certain way, and putting them on backwards could make them look and feel strange.

3

Gather one leg of the pantyhose to the toe. Starting on either the right side or left, hold the waist of the pantyhose and gently bunch the leg so that the inside of the toe is exposed. The point is to create an easy pathway for your foot, so that you can place it inside the length of the hose leg without tearing the fabric.

4

Point your toe and slip your foot inside. You might need to stretch the opening a bit to make sure your foot can fit inside without catching on the fabric. Pointing your toe will help prevent your toenail from snagging the hose. Put your whole foot inside and arrange the bottom of the hose leg so that the seam at the toe runs across the tip of your toes.

• Make sure the leg isn't twisted when you put your foot inside. If it's twisted, it will be difficult to pull the pantyhose up your leg.
• You can be in either a sitting or standing position when you put on your pantyhose. If you find it difficult to balance on one foot, you might want to sit!

5

Gently pull smooth the fabric up to your thigh. Ease it on carefully and slowly, making sure the fabric doesn't pull or rip. Keep the hose leg centered and pull it up until you reach your thigh. If the fabric is twisted or bunched at the knees, straighten it before proceeding.

6

Repeat with the other side. Gather the waist and the toe of the other leg so that you create an easy path for your foot to fit through. Point your toe and insert it, then line up the toe of the hose so that the seam runs across your toes. Pull the hose leg up over your calf and knee until it reaches your thighs. Make sure it's not bunched or twisted.

7

Finish pulling the pantyhose up. You should have enough fabric left to easily finish pulling your pantyhose up around your waist. If you've been sitting, stand up and pull up the pantyhose so that the elastic at the top sits around your waist.

• As you finish pulling the pantyhose up, you may need to alternate legs to ensure that the fabric is evenly distributed and doesn't twist.

Take a look and make necessary adjustments. Check for areas where the pantyhose are bunched, or places where your skin feels pinched. The pantyhose should feel snug, but not uncomfortable. If you see a place where they're twisted, it's worth it to take them off and repeat the process more carefully - especially if you'll be wearing them all day long!

• If you're wearing patterned or seamed hose, try putting on a pair of rubber gloves to make small adjustments for a flawless finish, rather than pinching the hose with your fingers and risking a tear.

Beauty in Pantyhose

fashion tights skirt dress high heels

10 Tips All Tights Wearers Must Know

Whether you go for sheer, opaque, ribbed, dotted, or metallic, this tight wearer's guide will keep your tights on-trend and snag-free.

Don’t be afraid of color

Brightly colored tights can add a pop of color to any outfit, according to the fashion blog manrepeller. However, if you wear tights that aren’t black, make sure the rest of your look is neutral—like army green tights with a black dress—or wear the same color as your tights for a head-to-toe monochromatic look.  Keep in mind that if you go bold with your tights color, all eyes will be drawn to your legs.

Know when to wear opaque

The shorter your hemline, the more opaque your tights need to be. “By wearing thicker tights, you’ll not only visually elongate your gams but also minimize the risk of showing an inevitable run,” says fashion editor Kasey Rowe on the Rue Now blog. Few people know that there’s an industry term for the opaqueness of tights, called a “denier” number. The higher the number, the more opaque the tights are. Generally, opaque tights have a denier of 40 or more; a denier of less than 30 is likely to be sheer. Sheer tights are fine when you’re wearing knee-high boots and showing only a sliver of leg. These fashion hacks can make you look expensive.

Check for damages

To ensure that your outfit looks sophisticated, do a once-over to check that your tights are in good shape. Before put them on, examine them closely for any unsightly runs or holes. If you see even the tiniest snag, don’t kid yourself that it won’t become a shredded mess before the end of the day. The safer choice: Choose a fresh pair.

Make them match

If you’re not going for that isolated pop of color on the legs and you’re not sure how to coordinate, here’s a good rule to remember: Match your tights to the color of your shoes, or to the predominant color of the outfit you’re wearing to ensure that you look put-together. Here’s how to accessorize your outfit like a boss.

Know how to stop a run

If you’re out and about and notice that your tights have a run, break out some clear nail polish or hairspray. According to rockettes.com, a blog dedicated to dancers who high-kick in tights on a nightly basis, applying these products will stop the hole from getting any bigger. Here are more fast fixes for frustrating winter fashion problems.

Wash them wisely

Of course, hand washing is the best way to wash your tights. The more wear and tear you put on the fibers, the more likely they are to run. However, if you don’t have time to do a dedicated hand wash at the sink, put your tights in a mesh laundry bag and wash them the delicate cycle so they don’t develop snags in the washing machine.

Never put them in the dryer

Rockettes.com also notes “hot dryers can damage the elasticity of your tights and weaken the fibers that prevent runs.” Make sure to always air-dry your tights instead.

Buy a size up

The smaller your tights are, the more pressure you place on the fibers and the more likely they are to snag and rip. Instead, get a size up from the one you typically wear. And if it makes sense for your body type, consider control-top tights, like Spanx. They’ll act as a body shaper and also tend to hide underwear lines. Need to ditch a pair of old, worn out tights?    

Try freezing your tights

This sounds like an odd tip, but wait till you try it. According to refinery29.com, freezing your tights before wearing them for the first time may extend their lifespan. “When you buy a new pair of tights, run them under water for a few seconds, squeeze out the excess, then freeze them overnight in a plastic bag,” writes Leann Duggan. Let them gradually unfreeze before wearing. Don’t miss these other tricks of the trade to make your clothes last longer

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You can go toeless

If you’re aching to wear open-toe booties or sandals but still want the look of tights on your legs, there’s a solution for that—open toe tights. According to an article on BeautyXpose, they are regular tights that typically stop mid foot or ankle, to allow your toes to emerge without the weird seam of tights over them. Just make sure if you’re baring your tootsies that they’re ready for prime time.