Men’s Hosiery
It may sound odd in today’s society, but hosiery – that is, garments that are designed to encase the legs and feet, such as stockings or tights – were actually originally designed for men. In history, showing the legs and ankles was seen as vulgar and unfashionable, something which wasn’t a problem for women in their long-flowing dresses. It was, however, a problem for men as trousers as we know them today did not exist. So in came what we would today describe as stockings and hold ups, specifically aimed at men. These were usually thick and opaque and fashions of colour changed over the years, but it wasn’t until the 17th century that trousers really began to replace hosiery.
That may have been then, but does male hosiery have a place in modern society? Oddly enough, it does. One frankly astonishing fact is that, since the early 1990s, women’s hosiery has suffered a decline in sales where men’s hosiery has experienced a huge increase. Of the two markets, strange as it may seem, male hosiery is seen as the more viable for the future. This is partly due to a change in female fashion, as bare legs have become not just acceptable but normal, whereas the benefits of men’s hosiery are ever-increasing.
While men’s hosiery is yet to become a popular fashion item – except for with transvestites, who have long been confirmed fans – it is nevertheless becoming popular in it’s own niche. To begin with, men’s hosiery is designed to be beneficial to health. Studies have claimed, and been confirmed by medical experts, that correctly fitting men’s hosiery is a very good idea for any man who spends a lot of time standing or sitting. This works by helping to increase circulation. The idea for this began with so-called ‘flight socks’, specifically designed items for long-haul air travel which help prevent deep vein thrombosis, a potentially life-threatening condition caused by long periods of inactivity. Manufacturer’s of flight socks noticed men were buying them more than women and began to manufacturer more lightweight alternatives designed for men who sit at a desk or similar for long periods of time. To pretty much everyone’s surprise, they were a huge hit.
From this realisation it was only a matter of time before men’s hosiery was produced to enhance sports performance, which of course it did. Hosiery designed for sports is said to help circulation, aid recovery, prevent bruises and even in some cases improve performance. Some are claimed to also help energise tired legs and support the muscles.
Other benefits include warmth and leg protection, particularly for someone who has recently had some kind of leg injury. In these instances, male hosiery is used more as a comfort than a physical aid, but one that has nevertheless proved psychologically effective.
These types of hosiery are slightly firmer in their grip on the leg than women’s varieties, but the differences end there. Most men’s hosiery is made from the same materials as the female option and men’s hosiery is still determined in thickness by denier, just like women’s. So perhaps it’s time for the modern man to embrace hosiery all together, and who knows what we may be seeing on the catwalks of male fashion designers in years to come?