Pantyhose

What is the purpose of vintage pantyhose?

Pantyhose combine hosiery and undergarment into a single piece, worn for a smooth, seamless leg from waist to toe without a garter belt. Where a stocking is a separate leg garment that must be attached to something else to stay up, pantyhose are self-supporting. Pull them up and the look is finished. The entire appeal is actually the vintage leg silhouette.

Vintage pantyhose vs. stockings: What's the difference

The two are often used interchangeably, but they're made differently.

Stockings are individual leg garments that stop at the thigh and require a garter belt to stay up.

Pantyhose are a single one-piece garment that covers both legs and the torso, with no garter belt required.

If you're drawn to the garter-and-stocking look specifically, our full stocking collection covers fully fashioned, thigh-high, and reinforced-heel styles in detail. Pantyhose are the one-piece alternative for when you want the finished leg without the assembly.

The Secrets In Lace vintage pantyhose collection

From fishnet to seamed and sheer, this collection covers the range of vintage pantyhose styles Secrets In Lace carries. Each created with the same attention to sheerness and detail as our stockings, just in the one-piece shape.

Fishnet pantyhose are woven from fine mesh for a delicate, textured leg. It is a statement piece often layered over a plain pair of pantyhose for a more dramatic finish rather than worn alone. 

Glimmer Seamed pantyhose use a sleek faux back seam in a 15 denier nylon-spandex blend, so you get the classic backseam silhouette without a garter belt. The Black style keeps the seam tone-on-tone, while Beige contrasts it in black for a bolder line. 

Glimmer Sheer pantyhose drop the seam entirely in favor of an ultra-glossy, satin-sheen 15 denier finish with flat seams and a reinforced heel and toe, made for a smooth leg where shine is the focus. 

And the SIL Signature style sits between sheer-to-the-waist with flat seam sewing and a reinforced heel and toe, in a nylon-lycra blend available in Curvy sizing up to XL.

Every single vintage pantyhose style is created on the same 15 denier base Secrets In Lace uses across its stocking collection, so the choice between fishnet, seamed, sheer, or signature comes down to the look you want on your leg, not a difference in quality.

Secrets in Lace: Authentic vintage pantyhose since 1984

Discover nylon vintage pantyhose inspired by the elegance of 1940s and 1950s hosiery. Made with premium fabrics, each pair captures the sheerness, shaping, and distinctive feel of authentic vintage stockings. But entirely without the thin, generic finish of mass-market styles.

Since 1984, Secrets in Lace has been creating authentic vintage reproductions, with decades of expertise reflected in every detail, from classic seamed designs to beautifully sheer finishes.

Frequently Asked Questions: Vintage Pantyhose

Can you wear a garter belt with pantyhose?

No. Pantyhose are self-supporting and cover the torso, so there's nothing for a garter belt to attach to. If you want the garter belt look, choose stockings instead. Pantyhose are the one-piece alternative made to skip that step entirely.

How do you stop pantyhose from running or laddering?

Trim nails and remove rings before dressing, roll the pantyhose on rather than pulling them up, and avoid rough contact with fastenings, jewelry, or textured fabric. Storing pantyhose flat rather than balled up also reduces stress on the nylon at the seams and toe.

What denier is best for vintage-style pantyhose?

Lower denier (around 10-15D) gives the ultra-sheer, glass-like leg associated with 1950s hosiery, while higher denier offers more coverage and everyday durability. The right choice depends on whether you're dressing for a fully sheer vintage look or for daily wear.