Leg Work : Women’s Hose Give the Bottom Half Top Billing; and Now Men Can Kick Up Their Heels Too
All eyes are on legs this season, thanks to flamboyant hosiery designed to let the wearer stand up and be noticed.
Once leg wear was the neutral accompaniment to one’s wardrobe. Now leggings, tights, pantyhose and socks have become less an afterthought and more the focal point of a fashion statement for women and men.
For women, sheer neutral pantyhose have been replaced by colorful opaques and tights with patterns and textures.
Feeling wild? Try tights with leopard spots and zebra stripes. If it’s the menswear look one wants, pin stripes, herringbone and plaid hose are an easy way to cop the look without investing in a three-piece suit. Feminine tights with tapestry and floral prints are also running strong.
Some leggings have achieved the status of fine apparel--with a price tag to match.
For luxurious legs, there’s nothing like tights of pure cashmere or silk, available at Fogal Hosiery in Fashion Island Newport Beach. But watch for snags--the ribbed cashmere pair sells for $295.
“They’re like wearing a cashmere sweater on your legs,” says Joan Wills, owner of Fogal.
ther high-class hose at Fogal come embellished with tiny crystals or intricate embroidery, including a pair made of fine black tulle covered in hand-embroidered flowers ($230).
Men’s leg wear has also taken a step toward high fashion. Instead of wearing solid black or navy socks, many men are expressing themselves with footwear festooned with lively graphics.
“Socks that make a statement are really big,” says Connie Gualiano, manager of the Sock Market in MainPlace/Santa Ana. To prove it, she has a wall full of men’s socks ranging from the serious to the silly. Her inventory includes socks with images of bananas, slot machines, paper clips and pencils and toilet plungers ($7-$12).
“Men will wear these with business suits, and people will say, ‘Let me see your socks,’ ” she says.
In a nod to the election, she has socks with Republican elephants and Democratic donkeys ($9). Undecided voters can pick a pair with a ballot marked “None of the above.”
“The funkier, the better,” Gualiano says.
ore conservative types can choose trouser socks with subtle paisley, stripes and polka dot prints in muted shades of taupe, plum and gray.
Cows that bowl and ski, pink pigs, flamingos, Halloween themes and tropical fish adorn campy socks for men, women and children ($4-$12).
“Boring old navy socks are out, out, out,” says Gayle Goodman, spokeswoman for Hot Sox in New York City.
What’s in are crazy, kitschy socks, especially a line of women’s ankle socks by Hot Sox decorated with images of lipsticks, sunglasses or cups and saucers, available for $7.50 at the Sock Market. The company’s vintage-looking floral and paisley trouser socks ($4.50) and tights in all colors and varied textures ($9-$18) are also satisfying foot fetishes.
This new emphasis on leg wear stems in part from the confusion over hemlines.
“Women aren’t sure what hemline to wear. The one constant is the leg,” says Lisa Ferraro, marketing director for Hue Inc. leg wear in New York City. “The leg can draw the whole look together.
“It started with the mini-skirt. Women felt they needed to cover their legs. That’s where the black opaque hose took off. Then they started experimenting with colors and patterns. Now they’re used to accessorizing their legs.
“Leg wear isn’t just a necessity but an accessory. Women don’t feel comfortable just throwing on a neutral hose,” Ferraro says.
Long skirts, with their thigh-high slits, also have drawn attention to the leg.
“Breaking up a long black skirt with pattern and color is exciting--it’s a tease,” Goodman says. “What shows is intriguing. It can be as subtle as a micro-check or as wild as a cheetah print.”
In addition, leg wear can offer an inexpensive way to hop on a trend when money is tight, Ferraro says.
Leg wear follows closely on the heels of most major fashion trends. Hue has cheetah lace tights ($58) inspired by popular animal prints, “Easy Rider” leggings with faux leather bottoms that resemble over-the-thigh boots ($80) and an array of menswear-influenced tights, including a pair with diamond stripes ($14.50) that resemble men’s socks. The company has even produced a black-and-white pin-stripe legging with cuffs ($65).
“Wear those with a crisp white shirt and a tie or vest and you’re saying menswear,” Ferraro says. Hue tights are carried at Nordstrom, I. Magnin and Broadway.
The holiday season promises more glitz and glitter for legs. Already one can find black nylons with back seams and a bow at the heel, as well as rhinestone-studded hose, available for $12.50 to $16 from Parklane Hosiery in Mission Viejo Mall, Brea Mall and South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa.
“More and more women are into their leg work,” says Mary Ellen Lovett, hosiery buyer for Parklane in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.
Wills expects the heavier opaque hose and tights to replace pants for fall. Her parting words to those who want to step out in a pair of cheetah-print hose:
“You should have nice legs.”
