Pull up your stockings on
National Stockings Day
20 October 2011

Whatever happened to good old fashioned glamour? National Stockings Day aims to put a spot of allure back into fashion. 20 October 2011 not only encourages all women to embrace hosiery but is celebrated in aid of Breast Cancer Care's Pink Day.

The stocking story began in 1589 when William Lee invented the very first knitting machine. From there hosiery manufacturing began and as the years passed stockings became steadily available in a range of materials. Nylons became extremely popular and eventually replaced silk stockings. When stockings appeared in New York shops for the first time more than 72,000 pairs were sold! Wowee! National Stockings Day has been created by hosiery specialists Charnos and in the past a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of a stocking specially designed for the ocassion were donated to Breast Cancer Care There is no doubt that stockings are synonymous with 'sexy'. Paired with a sophisticated pair of high heels they form the perfect combination to entice and beguile. For years they have been seen in classic films on actresses such as Marilyn Monroe and are seen to epitomise timeless beauty.

According to Charnos, some women in their 20s have never worn stockings and experienced that feeling of style and charm. So National Stockings Day is the perfect time to try them out for the first time.

I must admit, convenience often dictates my choice of tights over stockings but I have discovered that hold-ups can be just as sophisticated. During the second world war stockings were so coveted that in the absence of them women drew a line up the back of their legs to mimic the stockings' seams. Nowadays there are a whole range of designs with different coloured lace and even diamantes at the top. They really are a fashion statement in their own right.

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