It's quite a hot topic here in the editorial office, as opinions are wildly divided. I'm talking about the pantyhose, and whether or not it should be allowed. Or well, ‘allowed,’ that sounds so directive, but I still want to know if I should be ashamed when I step out the door in my 20 denier pantyhose. May-Britt, for example, is horrified by the low denier pantyhose and believes that only “pantyhose with a twist” should be tolerated. Then there's Danie Bles, who preaches that pantyhose are only acceptable if they add something to your outfit and are therefore not practical. The standard black 10 to 40 denier pantyhose is thus rigorously sent to the trash by these two. Personally, I have nothing against the so-despised 20 denier pantyhose and sometimes even find it quite sexy (although it turned out that I don't know much about it, but that's beside the point). Moreover, if I'm not allowed to wear pantyhose, how am I supposed to wear a skirt on those 354 days a year when it's not warm enough to go bare-legged? 'Comfort' and 'practical' are forbidden words in the world of fashion, but come on, frozen legs and black-colored toes don't seem particularly appealing to me. I don't know much about it but that's beside the point). Moreover, if I'm not allowed to wear pantyhose, how am I supposed to wear a skirt on those 354 days a year when it's not warm enough to go bare-legged? ‘Comfort’ and ‘practical’ are forbidden words in the world of fashion, but come on, frozen legs and black-colored toes don't seem particularly appealing to me. in de mode. Colleague Jet thinks so too, “It's 1 degree above zero, so I have to walk around with bare legs because that black Wolford pantyhose supposedly adds nothing?” Who is right here? And how did the pantyhose get such a bad reputation? Time for some research.

‘Comfort’ and ‘practical’ are forbidden words in the WORLD of fashion.

As we learned from the series Mad Men, the rules for what women could wear in the office were quite strict for a long time. Pencil skirts, sober colors, and; pantyhose. Going out in public with bare legs was not done, no matter how warm it was. When in the 1990s the rules for office attire became less strict, it was the pantyhose that first came under attack. Wearing pantyhose was seen as sexist (especially since there is no male equivalent) and the power women of that time shouted the loudest that pantyhose really could not be worn anymore. There was even a group of influential socialites in Manhattan who, as a statement, happily went outside with bare legs even at 10 degrees frost.

In some circles, however, pantyhose have never gone away, as they are part of the protocol. Indeed, at the Royal House, for example. A clever boy who catches Maxima wearing bare legs during official occasions. And our almost-neighbor Kate Middleton always wraps her slender deer legs in pantyhose, even in a skin color. The immense popularity of Kate and the fashion trauma of the 1950s and 1960s that is increasingly behind us, ensure that people will look at pantyhose with different eyes. In fact, entire generations can hardly imagine the woman-unfriendly years of then and therefore view pantyhose with much less biased hatred than those who have experienced it. Figures from an American research agency support this. In 2010, pantyhose worth $900 million were sold, in 2011 this had already increased by 10%, and that increase has continued. Add to that that Kate is possibly even more beloved than the Spice Girls or other famous pop idols (pantyhose manufacturers cheerfully speak of ’the Kate effect’) and there you have it; that pantyhose is not so crazy after all. It is important to mention that those who want to wear skin-colored pantyhose must fight very hard. Such specimens must never ever be shiny and finding the perfect color can be quite a ten-year project. Many skin-colored pantyhose are either color Oompa Loompa or color sawed-off trophy of serial killer Dexter.

And our almost-neighbor Kate Middleton always wraps her slender deer legs in pantyhose, even in a skin color.

So, are you hoping to catch a prince soon? Then definitely stock up on some extra pantyhose. And for those like me who are just staying in cold Netherlands this winter and still want to pull a skirt out of the closet occasionally, no problem, that can just happen. It's a generational thing, just think of it that way.