Clothing Definitions — definitions of garments and clothing terms from Apparel Search
A body stocking is an article of clothing similar to a leotard or a catsuit. It usually has long legs, but it may have long, short, or no sleeves. It is typically made from a sheer or stretch knit fabric that follows the body's shape in a single piece from torso to feet. This page explains how body stockings are constructed, the materials commonly used, and their practical uses — as a smooth foundation layer under garments, in dance and costume, and wherever an unbroken line from shoulder to ankle is wanted.
A bodystocking is an article of lingerie, similar to a leotard or a catsuit.
It usually has long legs, but it may have long, short, or no sleeves. It is usually made from a sheer fabric similar to those used for stockings and tights, or from fishnet material. Many people consider bodystockings to be an erotic garment.
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The practical value of a body stocking is the unbroken surface it creates. Under a costume or a sheer dress it removes the visual interruption of separate undergarments, waistbands and hems, and in dance it allows free movement while keeping a single clean line. Fit matters more than in most garments: because the fabric stretches over the full length of the body, a body stocking that is too short in the torso will pull at the shoulders and legs, so sizing by height as well as by body measurements gives the best result.
Care follows the fabric. Sheer hosiery-weight knits snag and ladder much like tights and are best washed by hand or in a mesh bag on a gentle cycle, while heavier opaque stretch knits tolerate normal gentle washing. Fastenings vary — some styles pull on, others close with snaps or a zip — and that choice affects both comfort and how smooth the garment lies under the clothes worn over it.
Body stockings are sized by height and body measurement together, because the single piece must stretch over both torso and legs at once. Styles close with snaps at the crotch, a back zip, or simply pull on; the snap and zip versions are easier to wear for long periods. Whichever closure is chosen, the test of a good body stocking is that seams and fastenings stay invisible and unfelt beneath the garment worn over it.
A body stocking is a one-piece garment similar to a leotard or a catsuit, usually with long legs and with long, short or no sleeves. It is made from a sheer or stretch fabric and covers the torso and legs in a single continuous piece.
A leotard covers the torso and ends at the hips, like a one-piece swimsuit, while a body stocking continues down the legs to the feet. The body stocking therefore gives a continuous covered line over the whole body, which is why it is used under costumes and sheer garments.
Body stockings are used as a smooth foundation under clothing, as a base layer for costumes and dance wear, and to give an even appearance under sheer or close-fitting garments. Choice of fabric — opaque stretch knit or sheer hosiery-style material — depends on which of those jobs the garment is doing.