Thigh-highs

Hold-ups or stay-ups (in the United States also referred to as thigh-high stockings or simply thigh highs) are a form of stockings with an elasticised band at the top. They are designed to hold themselves up on the thigh when worn, without the use of a suspender or garter belt.Jean Feixas, ''Le bas'', Paris, Jean-Claude Gawsewitch Éditeur, October 2012, p. 178. ISBN 978-2-35013-361-4.

Typically made of nylon or elastane; the top of the stocking is lined with a silicone or rubberised strip and may be covered by lace or decorative fabric. Some manufacturers refer to this style as ''garter stockings''. First popularised in the mid-20th century, hold-ups are now widely used in fashion, performance, and entertainment contexts.

Fashion

Hold-up stockings gained popularity in Europe and North America from the 1960s onwards, marketed as a modern alternative to traditional gartered stockings.Finkelstein, A. (2002). ''The Rise of Self-Supporting Hosiery''. ''Fashion History Quarterly'', Spring Edition. Unlike tights or full-length pantyhose, hold-ups leave the groin area uncovered, which some wearers find more comfortable, especially in warm weather.

In fashion, hold-ups are often positioned as luxury items, commonly sold as part of lingerie sets or for formal wear under dresses. Lace-trimmed versions are popular for bridal, evening, or boudoir settings. Their dual role, both practical and decorative, has contributed to their continued commercial success.

Hold-ups have also seen periodic revivals in retro or vintage-inspired fashion, associated with 1950s and 1960s styling. In mainstream advertising and consumer culture, they may be used to signify elegance, femininity, or sophistication.

Medical use and hygiene

While hold-ups are primarily marketed for fashion, they are occasionally favoured in clinical or post-operative contexts where less restrictive garments are required. Their open design may assist with air circulation, which some clinicians consider beneficial following gynaecological procedures.Marshall, R. (2018). ''Compression Stockings vs Hold-ups in Post-Operative Care''. ''Nursing Times''.

In hospital settings, compression variants of hold-ups are used to prevent blood clots in patients with limited mobility, although these differ in design and function from fashion styles. Some wearers claim that hold-ups are more hygienic than tights due to improved ventilation, although peer-reviewed studies are limited.

Erotica and media

They have long held a place in erotica, glamour photography, and adult entertainment, used to accentuate the leg or suggest sexual availability with a combination of partial coverage and exposed skin.Weitz, K. (2021). ''Dressing Desire: Hosiery in 21st-Century Erotica''. ''Journal of Gender & Media Studies''.

In adult films, burlesque performances, and glamour photography, hold-ups are commonly worn as part of lingerie outfits. Their ability to be quickly removed or adjusted makes them popular in performative or staged contexts. The presence of hold-ups in visual media often reflects broader cultural narratives around femininity, glamour, and sexual agency. In some feminist and body-positive discourses, they are reinterpreted as symbols of confidence and control rather than mere sexual display.

While often considered fetish wear when styled provocatively, hold-ups also appear in more mainstream fashion shoots and film costumes, especially when referencing retro aesthetics or pin-up imagery.

History

* In 1967, the British brand Pretty Polly marketed its ''hold-ups'' model.
* The following year, Le Bourget introduced its first ''Top'' model with an adjustable garter.
* In France, the market for self-supporting stockings expanded with the launch of Dim's ''Dim Up'' in 1986.

See also

* Fully fashioned stockings
* Knee highs

Bibliography

* Jean Feixas, ''Le bas'', Paris, Jean-Claude Gawsewitch Éditeur, October 2012, 240 pp. ISBN 978-2-35013-361-4.

References

Hosiery
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