Oh the Stigma with wearing seamed fully fashioned stockings!

[BonnieJean]

Good for you Leah! And what a nice way for things to turn out for you.

Since I started this thread with my tale of woe of an experience wearing FF stockings, I've read a lot more positive experiences. At first, I was a little hesitant about wearing them, especially after the leering man in the store, but I now wear mine with pride and definitely feel more "classy" wearing them and apparently, as you have noted, a lot of the general public agrees.
The more that women wear FF stockings, the more that people will see that they really do complete an outfit and women who wear them do not have a seedy occupation on the side, if you catch my drift!

And I'm so glad you found a really beautiful cane too!

 

[BegintheBeguine]

I just have to vent about something that happened to me yesterday at work. I am a manager in a customer service department at a local bank. It is a Call Center; we have no face-to-face contact with customers. My boss, who works in a different building, came to me and said that my seamed stockings were inappropriate for the workplace, and that I could "never get away with wearing outfits that draw so much attention to myself if I worked in a branch". Now, of course I asked her if I was breaking any dress code rules, to which the answer was no. Apparently, a female employee in my department (I supervise about 25 people along with another female supervisor) had gone to her to "express a concern that all of the men in the department find reasons to come into my office to stare at me because of the way I am dressed". First of all, this is completely unfounded; one, because all of the employees in our department go to whichever office is closest for help, and two, because my co-manager is much more attractive (and closer to their age) than I am . Well, I was obviously surprised and a little miffed that a style that I consider to be more ladylike and dressier than the styles of today is now being deemed inappropriate for the workplace because it draws too much attention! Of course, I know that it draws attention, because it is different. But is it inappropriate simply for that reason? Has this happened to anyone else?

I still think the anti-seamed-stockings attitude stinks. I wish more gals wore them to work. It's appalling this happened to you, Bubbles. Your avatar is too cute.
Lovely Leah, I'm glad your experience was so positive.
Ashley

 

[Lovely Leah]

Good for you Leah! And what a nice way for things to turn out for you.

Since I started this thread with my tale of woe of an experience wearing FF stockings, I've read a lot more positive experiences. At first, I was a little hesitant about wearing them, especially after the leering man in the store, but I now wear mine with pride and definitely feel more "classy" wearing them and apparently, as you have noted, a lot of the general public agrees.
The more that women wear FF stockings, the more that people will see that they really do complete an outfit and women who wear them do not have a seedy occupation on the side, if you catch my drift!

And I'm so glad you found a really beautiful cane too!

Bonnie Jean,

I do get your drift. I appreciate your comment about a "seedy occupation on the side". Ironically, when I got dressed today and put on my FF stockings and "sensible shoes", I hardly felt that I was engaged in a "seedy occupation". Instead I felt a little dowdy and feared that some people would view my outfit as that of a spinster school teacher. The wonderful and apparently sincere comments by the woman who helped me today made feel very fashionable and "classy".

Regarding my new cane, for the first time, since I starting using a walking aid, I feel that I have something that is a true fashion accessory instead of a medical neccessity. http://www.exquisitecanes.com/servlet/the-277/ladies-rhinestone-lady-crook/Detail

 

[Bubbles]

Thanks, everyone. I understand both sides, and if the way that I am presenting myself makes any of my employees uncomfortable, of course, I will change it. I have no desire to rock the boat or cause any kind of a stir at work, so if my boss says that I have to stop wearing them, I will stop. I was mainly surprised when she picked out my stockings as inappropriate, but I was upset about her comment of me not being able to "get away with my outfits" if I worked face-to-face with customers, as if I am trying to "get away" with something. I have had issues with this boss in the past, so I think that this is probably carrying over. My co-manager and I work very hard to manage a large number of employees, work 50-60 hour workweeks, etc., and all we ever hear from her are things like this. My co-manager dresses very fashionably, but still very professionally. We have come to the conclusion that our boss feels that if you care about the way you look, then that is all you care about. If you draw attention to yourself in a fashionable way, it means that all you think about is clothes, hair and makeup, but if you are unfashionable, it is fine. We have many other department managers, who are the same age or younger than we are, who wear LOUD floral prints, mumus, 80s prom hair, even low-cut shirts etc., which draws a lot of attention to them and does sometimes break dress code, but which is apparently fine. It is very frustrating!
Whew! Sorry for the rant! Does anyone else have this issue at work? KittyT, working in a male-dominated field, do you feel that you are not taken seriously if you wear a skirt and heels? I hope that it is just my company, and that it is not the norm!

 

[Bubbles]

Oh, and a funny thing did happen at work regarding my stockings: One of the girls that I supervise told me that it "looked like I spilled ink down my legs" lol
Most of them are teenagers (not that there is anything wrong with that), and I don't think that they have ever even seen them before. I haven't gotten any negative comments from them at all, but I have gotten a lot of curious ones!
BegintheBeguine and princessofcandl, thank you for your nice comments regarding my avatar. It is hard for me to find a picture of myself that I like!

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

Oh, and a funny thing did happen at work regarding my stockings: One of the girls that I supervise told me that it "looked like I spilled ink down my legs" lol
Most of them are teenagers (not that there is anything wrong with that), and I don't think that they have ever even seen them before. I haven't gotten any negative comments from them at all, but I have gotten a lot of curious ones!
BegintheBeguine and princessofcandl, thank you for your nice comments regarding my avatar. It is hard for me to find a picture of myself that I like!

Oh yeah, I third the compliment, you look super cute.

 

[KittyT]

KittyT, working in a male-dominated field, do you feel that you are not taken seriously if you wear a skirt and heels? I hope that it is just my company, and that it is not the norm!

Well I've pretty much always worn skirts to work because I find them more comfortable. I used to dress more casually tho, wearing flats and less fashionable clothes. Then I realized that if I wanted to keep working in a professional environment with my funky blond and black hair and piercings, that I should probably compensate for those unconventional aspects of my appearance by looking a little bit nicer at work. Then I started getting really into rockabilly and vintage clothing, and now I dress up almost every day (except casual Fridays).

I work for a non-profit, so I'll admit things here are a little laid back, and the company itself is not IT, but my department is. I've never really gotten any comments about my clothing, except for positive ones about how nice I look or certain vintage dresses I wear.

 

[Bubbles]

Oh yeah, I third the compliment, you look super cute.

Thank you! Since I can never find any pictures of myself that I like, I have to stage them

 

[Josephine]

I was reading an article about a book of illustrations drawn during WWII and a paragraph about them said: One image portrays two prisoners pausing in their work to doff their caps to a soldier escorting a prostitute - intimated by the seam on her stocking.

 

[phyllis1753]

Well, was it explicit that the woman was, in fact, a prostitute? Many women saved their hard-to-get hosiery to wear only on dates or some other important occasion. This was common and there was no stigma attached to wearing socks or going without hose altogether. In any event, hosiery seams were the norm in those days so I start to smell wartime propaganda. I'd like to know more about it.

 

[Josephine]

Well, was it explicit that the woman was, in fact, a prostitute? Many women saved their hard-to-get hosiery to wear only on dates or some other important occasion. This was common and there was no stigma attached to wearing socks or going without hose altogether. In any event, hosiery seams were the norm in those days so I start to smell wartime propaganda. I'd like to know more about it.

Here's the link from AOL News, the line I quoted was the only bit about it in the article. I don't know how they determined the woman was a prostitute. The book is a collection of drawings done by a Dachau prisoner after the Allies came and freed the camp. He drew scenes from camp life, and they ended up in an album, along with photographs, that another prisoner somehow got.

 

[Lady Day]

Oh, and a funny thing did happen at work regarding my stockings: One of the girls that I supervise told me that it "looked like I spilled ink down my legs" lol

Are you wearing contrasting seamed FFs or skin toned FFs? I find the latter to be a good compromise in the work place. I wear my FFs all the time (3-5 times a week). Thats why I have them. But also, most of the ones I have are meant for day/office wear.

LD

 

[phyllis1753]

Here's the link from AOL News, the line I quoted was the only bit about it in the article. I don't know how they determined the woman was a prostitute. The book is a collection of drawings done by a Dachau prisoner after the Allies came and freed the camp. He drew scenes from camp life, and they ended up in an album, along with photographs, that another prisoner somehow got.

I read that article so I can only assume the writers associate seamed hose with being a prostitute[huh] . I can only mutter something lame like how perceptions have changed in 60 years. Go figure!

 

[kamikat]

I think I may have found some nice FF stockings for the curvy gals (http://www.stockingshowcase.com/detail.asp?product_id=F545 ), so I plan on placing an order after the next payday. My question is on color. What color is appropriate for period stockings? Was a natural look more in fashion or tanned look? I'm quite fair skinned and tend towards "nude" in modern pantyhose. Also, this site sells "beigetone" and "suntan". Would you think "beigetone" to be lighter or darker than "suntan"?

 

[BonnieJean]

kamikat,
I have several pairs of original stockings from the 30s and 40s and they're in all different shades of beige and a couple pairs in black. So I think whatever color you prefer would be right. Every manufacturer had their own "color scheme" because one pair that is called "beige" might be called "suntan" in another brand.

 

[cherry lips]

Because if I wear stockings and actually intend to move anywhere my thighs rub together. The best I can do is stockings and garter belt over tights (pantyhose - I cant get used to using that word)

TKG, if it's of any comfort you've got a fellow thigh rubber in me I can never have bare legs, in the summer I always wear nylons or capris. Even in high school when I wasn't curvy it was like this; it's the way I'm built, with narrow hips and soft thighs.
Edit: On second thought, I have gone occasionally bare-legged with the help of baby powder. The problem with that was I ended up having to powder under my skirt in public, not very ladylike.

 

[Polka Dot]

TKG, if it's of any comfort you've got a fellow thigh rubber in me I can never have bare legs, in the summer I always wear nylons or capris. Even in high school when I wasn't curvy it was like this; it's the way I'm built, with narrow hips and soft thighs.
Edit: On second thought, I have gone occasionally bare-legged with the help of baby powder. The problem with that was I ended up having to powder under my skirt in public, not very ladylike.

This is why I like Spanx. Sure you get a bit of control-top action, but in the summer it's so nice to have the bottom half of your legs free and not worry about chafing issues.

 

[LizzieMaine]

A reminder that men are not permitted to post in lingerie threads. Cooperation of the gentlemen is appreciated.

 

[miserabelle]

I wear my seamed nylons quite a lot, and I get quite a lot of responses... I had one lady in the supermarket actively stop to stare at the seams on my legs and she'd asked me how I'd got them so straight! I don't really mind but it was a bit unnerving before she said anything.






ps Where do you UK ladies buy your FFs from? I've bought some nylons from What Katie Did before, but I'm not sure if their FFs will fit me... I'm only 5"2 and pretty slim.

I'd seen some at http://www.touchable.co.uk/ but I don't know anyone else who orders from there.

xx

 

[Brooksie]

I wear my seamed nylons quite a lot, and I get quite a lot of responses... I had one lady in the supermarket actively stop to stare at the seams on my legs and she'd asked me how I'd got them so straight! I don't really mind but it was a bit unnerving before she said anything.






ps Where do you UK ladies buy your FFs from? I've bought some nylons from What Katie Did before, but I'm not sure if their FFs will fit me... I'm only 5"2 and pretty slim.

I'd seen some at http://www.touchable.co.uk/ but I don't know anyone else who orders from there.

xx

I have some FF's from what Katie Did and they fit me very well - I am five foot one and a half & 105 lbs...

Brooksie