The GS Style Guide: 4. Leg Types

THE MOST COMMON LEG TYPES AND HOW TO DRESS THEM BEST

Hosiery is a wonderful way of adding style personality to the leg line or simply showing off beautiful shaped legs. But as always not everyone is blessed with a perfect set of legs. It's best to be careful to choose the right style to wear for the different leg types and consider proportional dressing as well to create a visual balance of the look for the body shape.

Dressing the calves requires a strategy, to have an understanding of the build and put the size of the calves in context with the bust, body shape, height and proportion. By choosing the right style of hosiery a visual balance is created whether for small or large calves when short or tall in height. Meaning small
calves can be dressed in attention seeking styles and colours, which will add volume to it. But big calves benefit from a slimming effect by avoiding any styles and colours that will add visual volume to it or will highlight the size and it could be be simply unflattering.

SMALL CALVES
Aim: Add roundness to the calves by adding visually volume - clutter here is essential.

MEDIUM CALVES
Aim: Underline the shape of the calves without going over the top - don't clutter - less is more.

BIG CALVES
Aim: Minimise and lengthen the calves visually. So, never ever highlight the calves or ever think of cluttering them.

Create a visual balance with the proportions and Calf size. If the upper body is longer in comparison to the lower body or visa versa, this needs to be taken into consideration when finding the ideal style guide for calf shape and size.

Naturally when the legs are shorter and the body is longer, create visual balance
by lengthening the leg line and avoiding any style features that will do the opposite. That also means that with longer legs compared to the upper body, avoid any style details that will make the leg line even longer and opt for styles that will shorten it instead.

KNEE HIGH SOCKS
In general ideal for summer but best left to the younger generation e.g. kids and teenagers unless they are worn under trousers. In that case any age group and body shape, calf size can wear them.
FEATURES
Reaching to, or just under the knees and available in a variety of weights, colours, textures, and patterns . They will dress the ankle without full leg coverage.
LOOK & FEEL
Versatile and fashionable to wear under trousers, with skirts or dresses. They will give an instant style to the look.
WHO CAN WEAR IT BEST?
As mentioned this is something for the very young wearers and teenagers when they can be worn as desired. This is the time to have fun and to experiment. For those who choose to wear them under trousers, the body shape, proportion and height don't matter since the high socks are covered up.

OVER THE KNEE SOCKS
Worn under trousers on a cold day or with a skirt or dress for that sassy cute look.
FEATURES
Reaching past the knees, not quite to the thighs, and include some of the sexiest, comfiest styles around.
LOOK & FEEL
Wear with high hemlines: mini dresses and skirts, or mid length skirts for a more casual look. They have become the bold accessory for making a style statement.
WHO CAN WEAR IT BEST?
These are again best left to the younger generation in terms of look and trend. Even with perfect legs, calves and body shape but not in teenage or 20's anymore this style could age the wearer who has passed the appropriate age group to pull this style off.

HOLD-UPS OR THIGH HIGHS
Hold-ups, also sometimes called Thigh Highs or Stay-ups
FEATURES
These come without the safety of a suspender belt but are held up via an elastic or silicon band at the top of the leg. Beautiful deep lace bands or soft flat silicone tops made to lie flat against the skin. For the best fit, the hold-ups should be worn half way up the thigh, and it should be snug, but not a tight fit.
LOOK & FEEL
They are a great choice for business attire. Also they can sometimes be easier to wear under close fitting clothes than stockings.
WHO CAN WEAR IT BEST?
In general every size and shape of wearer can wear them.

STOCKINGS
The ultimate in classy feminine legwear.
FEATURES
From the original, coveted silk stockings to today's stockings made with a wide variety of materials including nylon, lycra, and microfibers, these are a great alternative to tights.
LOOK & FEEL
Worn with a suspender or garter belt, stockings are great for warm summer days or for evenings.
WHO CAN WEAR IT BEST?
The guide lines are the same stockings as they are for hold-ups since the type is the same and the only difference is how they are attached.

Choosing the right denier for Calf size and Occasion.

LESS THAN 10 DENIER
LOOK
Ideal for achieving a bare leg look and are available in a wide variety of deniers and shades to suit the skin tone.
OCCASION
These will keep the legs cool in warm weather and are a perfect choice to wear to work or formal and special occasions.
CALF SIZE
They are not ideal for big calves, because they won't slim the calf visually, but are best for wearers with a small or medium size calves.
STYLE ADVICE
Lower deniers don't hide anything, they simply smooth the legs. They won't cover up blemishes, veins, scars or other marks. They won't slim bigger calves down visually. Best worn by wearers who have small to average calf size and have perfect skin that can be shown off in these "bare leg tights". They look best on wearers with a younger skin than with more mature skin. Be careful when putting them on since they are prone to suffer runs easily. Best to buy in a size bigger to avoid overstretching as this will result in runs or ladders. If possible, put on with hosiery gloves to avoid the nails causing damage too.

10 TO 20 DENIER
LOOK
Slightly thicker in denier and therefore are a little more durable for everyday wear.
OCCASION
Choose a matt finish for a natural look and go for shine for a more noticeable appearance. This denier is ideal for work or formal occasions and can be worn all year around indoors. Not an ideal choice for any cold weather clothing indoors or outdoors since this denier will look too "summery and thin" when pairing it up with wool or any other cold weather outfits.
STYLE ADVICE
They are suitable for all wearers, but as they are thicker they are great for wearers with more mature skin, because thicker denier will "energise" a dull, tired and a less elastic skin. Plus if they are chosen as well in a darker colour they will have a visual slimming effect on a bigger calf and can provide a small cover up for any markings on the leg. Choose them in a bigger size to avoid overstretching and ultimate runs or damage, but always keep a spare at work, so as not to run around all day long with runs in the tights!

21 TO 40 DENIER
LOOK
They are a stronger and longer lasting than and will provide your legs more coverage but the skin will remain still visible.
OCCASION
They are great choice for cooler months and will work with any cold weather outfits and make a great choice for skirt suits to work in the colder weather and will keep the look elegant and professional.
STYLE ADVICE
This denier is suitable for an age group and when chosen in a darker colour, Due to the higher denier they are a great choice for wearers who want to visually slim down the calves & knees and provide a good cover up for skin irregularities. These tights are popular with wearers who are more on the go and prefer a low maintenance with the hosiery, because they are more resistant and less prone to runs.

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