Japanese women have long been attached to nylon pantyhose, wearing them even during the hot and humid summer months. Despite the fashion for bare legs and sandals, many working women continue to wear pantyhose to the office in the sweltering heat.
Recently, however, a great number of them have actually switched to hose.
Yes, stockings are back, but not the ones your mother used to wear. Leading the trend is an Italian import, called Stay Fit in Japan, that stretches thigh-high and is kept in place with silicone bands that stick to the skin -- no need for garter belts. Since April, 300,000 of the Stay Fit stockings have been sold at 1,200 yen a pair. Sales are expected to increase even further as the mercury drops.