Sources for Long socks/stockings

[AMM]

I'm always on the look-out for socks or stockings that I can wear with my kilt or my skirts. My preferred length -- at least in winter -- is thigh-high, although over-the-knee (like kilt socks) will do. And I like bright colors.

Unfortunately, it's hard for me to find ones that I like and that are big enough.

For socks, the only source I've found is Sock-Dreams, but they don't have a lot of selection in large sizes, mostly in cotton. I tried their N-40's (nylon thigh-high socks), but they were too tight. Even the cotton ones are too tight for me to pull up as far as I'd like on my thighs.

I've also tried "thigh-high" (UK "pull-up") stockings -- L'eggs has queen-sized thigh-highs -- but they're only available in sheer: I'd rather have thicker and opaquer ones. They also tend to slide down, despite the band of sticky stuff at the top.

I've tried tights, but don't really like them because I want more ventilation and don't like having all that fabric between my legs.)

What sources have other people found?

-- AMM

[Departed Member]

For stockings, I just go to the hoisery department at a nice department store like Macy's or Nordstrom's. They have all kinds of styles & textures, although most of it is pantyhose. Sometimes I'll buy an extra nice pair of pantyhose too, if I want something really pretty for a special occasion. Other stores that carry women's fashions would probalby have this sort of thing too.

For pantyhose and tights, I usually just pick up what I need at the grocery store of the pharmacy.

John

[Departed Member]

One other thought about stockings...

Pantyhose is so much more convenient than stockings for everyday use that it has come to dominate the market, at least in this country. This leaves stockings as more of a special thing, for extra sexy situations and so forth. Thus it makes sense that stockings would be available more often than not in sheer, delicate weaves rather than more opaque styles.

When the situation is right, stockings are great fun to wear with a short skirt. I've done this now and again, and it's very alluring to have some bare skin above the stocking but below the hem of your skirt. Having the garters show is also really cool. Have a look at the attached picture.

John

[Kilted_John]

AMM,

A lot of the regular sized socks @ Sock Dreams do stretch to fit larger legs... Usually, if I'm not buying kilt hose, trouser socks, or hosiery knee-highs to wear with my skirts and kilts, I'll buy socks from them. The Cronert Argyle OTK socks work well as both an over-knee and a knee-high sock for wearing with skirts/kilts... I wear'em as knee-highs, but that's because I prefer to leave my knees bare when I'm skirted or kilted. The trouser socks and hosiery knee-highs are usually purchased through Nordstrom, since I find that their nylons last a lot longer. Most of the pairs I have are from at least a year ago, maybe longer. Kilt hose, comes from the kiltmaker, of course...

-J

[AMM]

AMM,

A lot of the regular sized socks @ Sock Dreams do stretch to fit larger legs... .... The Cronert Argyle OTK socks work well as both an over-knee and a knee-high sock for wearing with skirts/kilts... .

-J

If it isn't too personal a question, how big are your calves & thighs?

My calves are 21" around and my thighs are 23--28". If yours are similar, then I'll ask you for additional specific tips as to which ones fit. (Argyle doesn't fit into my personal style -- yet.)

-- AMM

[AMM]

One other thought about stockings...
....
When the situation is right, stockings are great fun to wear with a short skirt. I've done this now and again, and it's very alluring to have some bare skin above the stocking but below the hem of your skirt. Having the garters show is also really cool. Have a look at the attached picture.

John

The problem with sheer stockings & hose for me is that they make the hair on my legs pretty obvious (I'm not willing to shave them), which, IMHO, spoils any "sexy" effect.

Plus, with my "spare tire" and balding head (and beard), I think the effect of visible garters and sheer stockings is closer to parody than sexiness, sort of like the sailor in the grass skirt and coconuts in "South Pacific."

For men with different bodies, it may be different.

-- AMM

[binx]

I've found that one can cut a pair of hose to become stockings using a hot knife, and are held up just fine with a good set of garters.

binx

[Saturna]

Sock Dreams has every kind of sock you could possibly want, in every length, size and style. If you've imagined it, they probably have it. Although they carry many brands, my favorites are their original brand which they custom make themselves. I have been a customer with them for years and they are hands down one of the best companies I have ever dealt with. All shipping is free (maybe not to you who are outside the USA), and once when I had a return they sent me a replacement IMMEDIATELY and with it a pre-postage paid package to send the return back to them in. That's a lot of trust for a company, and it's the way it should be... Not this screw-the-customer attitude that some company's are adopting these days.

Incidentally, Sock Dreams is owned and operated by less than a handful of people, headed by the Sock Queen as she is so dubbed by everyone at this point.

[Kilted_John]

Yeah, they did the same when a pair of socks had a hole in'em when I got'em... Immediate replacement and SASE to send the damaged goods back.

-J

[AMM]

Sock Dreams has every kind of sock you could possibly want, in every length, size and style. If you've imagined it, they probably have it.

Yes, I find them very nice to deal with. I've bought about 10-20 pairs of socks from them.

I wrote to them about my needs. Their reply was basically that they were sorry but they couldn't help. Specifically:

1. Their machines won't do larger (diameter) socks.

2. They have discontinued the M40's and M43's (which would at least fit over my calf.)

3. They have reduced the number of colors in the Super Ms (which also were among the few that I could wear) and they won't be adding more.

Hence my query on this group.


It sounds like no one knows of another source for thigh-high {socks/ opaque stockings} for guys with fat legs.

-- AMM