Pantyhose are a crossdresser’s best friend when it comes to beautifying and feminizing your legs. They became a fashion staple post World War 2 as hosiery manufacturing processes improved and consumers needed a more convenient nylon alternative to nylon stockings and garter belts. Unlike stockings and stay-ups, pantyhose for men cover the entire leg of the wearer from the toe up to the waist.
When will you wear pantyhose?
Most crossdressers are not blessed with smooth, seamless legs since we spend our time wearing trousers/pants for the most part. First and foremost the right style of pantyhose will improve the look of your legs, giving a more feminine appearance. They should always be worn as an accessory to dresses, skirts and crossdresser lingerie. Not only will they make a crossdresser look more feminine, but the sheer nylon enclosing the legs to give a sheer touch to the hand makes the wearer feel like a woman too. Many beginners start with crossdresser pantyhose or tights as they have all the aesthetic values of stockings but are more convenient for the wearer.
How to choose the right pantyhose
This will usually be determined by when/where you intend to wear your pantyhose and as a crossdresser and how much coverage you need for camouflaging your male legs. Any male with hairy legs and/or blemishes, veins etc will require an opaque pantyhose to cover all the male tell-tale signs and so give a more authentic appearance when dressing en femme. Opaque pantyhose have a higher denier (thickness) and so will hide hair, unlike sheer pantyhose with a lower denier (thickness). Daytime wear for most crossdressers will mean using a thicker, opaque pair of pantyhose.
For crossdressers able to shave there are more options depending on the time of day and situation with regards to wearing more sheer styles. Evening and cocktail dresses afford the option of more sheer pantyhose to accentuate already smooth, clean-shaven legs. Even for those unable to shave, there are opportunities to wear more sheer hosiery at night like our crotchless pantyhose when wearing sexy lingerie styles in subdued lighting. More exciting options here can also include our range of sexy crossdresser stockings.
Other considerations include when wearing sheer nude pantyhose, always try to match as close as possible the natural skin shade. With black skirts, lingerie and dresses also try to match as close as possible and if you can wear a more sheer style. When wearing different colored dresses and skirts we recommend a more opaque pantyhose. Don’t forget, the colder it is where you are, the more comfortable you will be wearing a thicker pair of tights.
The correct way to put on pantyhose
Follow these simple steps to safeguard your pantyhose from ripping or laddering when putting them on:
- Remove any and all jewelry including rings, bracelets, necklaces, anklets, etc. One of the most common causes of damage to hosiery is the sharp edges of jewelry.
- Ensure all finger and toe-nails are neatly trimmed and use a nail file to smooth any sharp edges.
- Roll up one leg of the pantyhose. Sitting on a chair, bend the knee and bring the thigh towards the chest. Point the toes straight and carefully insert into the rolled up foot of the pantyhose leg, pulling the pantyhose over the heel.
- Repeat for the other side and now pull the pantyhose carefully over the knees.
- Now stand and pull your pantyhose over the thighs, hips, and waist until correctly positioned.
Pantyhose comes in measures of denier which denotes the thickness of the material – the higher the denier the thicker and in general, the stronger the material. Sheer pantyhose tend to be the lower denier and opaque pantyhose or tights are of the thicker and stronger denier.
Finding the right size pantyhose
Most pantyhose sold are made for women of a size considerably smaller than the average crossdresser. For most of us, men’s pantyhose will need to be in larger sizes to ensure the correct fit. It’s therefore important to find the right retailer like Glamour Boutique, who specialize in products that fit and flatter the different shape and size of crossdressers. We are a business that focuses exclusively on the transgender and cross-dressing community and all our products, including pantyhose are selected for our shoppers.
All of the hosiery offered on our site will clearly state what size person it will fit. Many pantyhose are sized by weight of the person (e.g. One Size = Up to 170lbs, Queen or Plus Size = Up to 220lbs), some by height and some using a combination of both height and weight. Our website description clearly tells you what size you need.
As a dedicated retailer for crossdressers, we also offer products like corsets, shapers, and girdles that help transform your male shape to a more authentic female hourglass appearance. Many of these styles can be worn with or without hosiery.
Looking after pantyhose
Male pantyhose can easily be damaged so take care when wearing and storing your hosiery. Remember that the more sheer styles have a lower denier (thickness) and so are more prone to tearing than a thicker, opaque pantyhose. Keep your nails neatly trimmed and take off all jewelry when carefully putting on your pantyhose so you get no snags.
All-hosiery should be carefully hand-washed and not put in a washing machine and they should never be placed in a dryer but air dried. If you simply do not have time to do a hand-wash, then you must ensure you place in a small laundry bag to minimize snags when machine washing on a gentle cycle.
When storing your tights and pantyhose the most effective method to protect them is by placing individual pairs in a sandwich bag. The next best alternative is to gently roll them and then place in a clean drawer where they will be protected.
Make sure to read our extensive guide on how to make your pantyhose last for further tips on the correct way to wear, wash and store your hosiery.
Pantyhose for men really are a crossdresser’s best friend. For less than $10 you can transform you male legs into a pair of sleek and sexy female ‘pins’ when dressing en femme. Some models even help re-shape the waist area as well as the actual legs. They offer different options according to when and where you will be wearing them and they are convenient and easy to wear. For an affordable product that will transform half your body length within minutes, browse our selection of crossdresser pantyhose or call us on 1-973 226 5588 where one of our fitters will make personal style and size recommendations for you.