Today is Friday

[triskellian]

And I am wearing purple socks, as I have done in intermittent bursts since high school (worn them specifically on Fridays, that is. I've never stopped wearing them in general).

Comments

[sosoclever]

Yes, I believe it is. Nylons and pantyhose are pretty much the same thing, and they are relatively lightweight, skin-toned all-in-one things that are generally not patterned. Tights are all-in-one things that are colored (not skin-tone color), are sometimes heavier, and can certainly be patterned (either in stich or color or both). Knee-highs are like nylons/pantyhose, except that they are only knee-high (or sometimes not that high). Trouser socks are like tights (not skin-tone, can be patterned), but are only knee-high (or sometimes not that high). And while tights can be made of a sock-like material, trouser socks are made of a pantyhose-like material only. Otherwise, they're just socks, no matter how fancy they are.

Stockings are high enough to use a garterbelt, unless they're thigh-highs, in which case they have elastic to keep them up. They may be like nylons, or like tights. Over-the-knee socks are, well, socks that go over the knee. I don't think I've ever seen plain skin-tone colored over-the-knee socks.

Then there are footies (or Peds, but that's also a brand name), which are generally supposed to give a bare look while still letting you wear a sock/nylon, but why they are sometimes patterned then, since no one is supposed to see them, I don't really know.

Some day I will fork over the money for a paid account and have a fashion icon, or at least a clothes icon.

I should put a disclaimer on here that in other regions of the U.S., these distinctions may not hold true.

[sosoclever]

Stockings are high enough to use a garterbelt, unless they're thigh-highs, in which case they have elastic to keep them up.

Although they're still as high as non-elasticized stockings.

[triskellian]

We call all of your nylons/pantyhose/tights "tights"; our stockings either go with a suspender belt ("suspenders" for extra trans-Atlantic humour value) or come with elastic, in which case they're "hold up (stocking)s". Your trouser socks are our "pop socks", although that's a bit dated. Footsies are the same.

[leathellin]

Having generally become fed up with all this shennanigans I now usually just refer to "legs" or "short legs" which avoids much of this faffing with material and terminology. It has been known to slightly confuse people who aren't me but I think it is perfectly clear what I mean when i'm standing in a clothes or (more likely here) a legs shop :-)

On that note this is a great country for buying things to go on your legs in many many colours and patterns and everything.

[triskellian]

I just say 'feet' for socks-and/or-boots, and actually edited that out of one comment in this thread (can't remember which one) because it was ambiguous in context ;-) I sometimes say 'legs' for trousers or skirts, as well.

I'm envious of your shopping options!

[sosoclever]

Oh, and then there are those stocking/garterbelt combo things, but I think they're generally called "those stocking/garterbelt combo things" or words to that effect.

We really need to do a comprehensive (ha!) list of this sort of thing.