One way to evaluate the cost of clothing is based on number of wearings it provides. Winters are long here in the Midwest! Wet them until damp, put in a plastic bag, then place in the freezer overnight. Let them come defrost and dry at room temp, then wear. Oh, and you only have to do this once, when you first get your tights. The rationale is that the freezing makes them more durable by strengthening the fibers.

The story of pantyhose runs in the Gant family. Since the late Allen Gant Sr. Three generations of women have now experienced waist-to-toe stockings, and few would be surprised to discover that a man invented pantyhose. According to Allen Gant Jr.

Pantyhose can take a big bite out of your budget if you need to wear them every day. They never seem to last very long whether you buy the cheapest or the most expensive brands. Keep your toenails and fingernails neatly trimmed and filed to reduce the chance of snagging the hose.

Pantyhose — or stockings or nylons or tights, which are not exactly the same things but are often used interchangeably — are one of those items of dress that seems innocuous and unimportant, but is actually a giant generational, occupational and cultural lightning rod. For women of a certain age, they are simply a part of girding yourself for the world; for others, they are a symbol of old-fashioned female repression and outmoded gender rules. Indeed, if you ever want to start a lively discussion during a lull in a dinner party, bring up the question of pantyhose. Even when they are invisible or skin-tone, no one is neutral on the subject.