A leg up
Hose, tights must-have accessories this season

By Cathy Wood Myers
Features Writer

It's the year of the leg.  With a riot of color and
an explosion of pattern and texture, women's fall
fashion 2003 is all about the leg.

"The hosiery industry is absolutely rejoicing this
season because leg covering is back," said Marigail
Mathis, owner of the women's boutique in Florence that
bears her name. "And consumers are rejoicing because
so many women who would not go out with bare legs in
winter time now have an option other than pants."

Leg wear has climbed to the top of the fashion
gotta-have charts in a big way this year after several
seasons of the bare-leg, no-hose look -- for even the
coldest winter day -- popularized on New York runways
but resisted by women everywhere else.

Corporate America's return to formal business dress as
well as fashion designers' emphasis on feminine and
ladylike have resulted in a hosiery rebound.

"Obviously, hosiery is back in a big way for fall and
winter," said Sally Kay, president of The Hosiery
Association, a trade group headquartered in Charlotte,
N.C. "Not only is hosiery a fun fashion accessory, but
there's a lot of functional aspect to the products, as
well. In fall and winter, leg wear keeps you warm and
comfortable."

Textures and patterns of leg wear appeal to the
adventurous this fall.

"There are wonderful textures that are tasteful and
interesting, such as men's wear looks like pinstripes
or argyles," said Mathis. "They are fairly lightweight
and are available from full-length to trouser socks."

One of the biggest splashes in leg wear news this
season is fishnets.

"Fishnets are back again, not only in a variety of
colors but in a variety of weave size, too, from large
and open to smaller basket weave," Kay said. "The
movie 'Moulin Rouge' launched the look a couple years
ago, and last year, 'Chicago' made it even more
popular. Those movies had a huge impact on leg wear.
What you see in movies and TV and theaters really does
relate to ready-to-wear."

Color is also important for fall legs.

"There is a lot of inspiration from nature, fruits and
vegetables," Kay said. "There are warm colors such as
reds, oranges, pumpkin colors, burgundy, greens and
brown. It's a full spectrum of color. How muted or how
bold depends on your age group and where you're
going."

Mathis agreed.

"When you get into sportswear, you can have some fun,"
she said. "Everybody starts out wearing brown or black
to match a skirt, then they eventually branch out and
wear a little bit of color. There are fun colors such
as red, aubergine and pink, too. The younger and
hipper you are, the more able you are to wear these
colors."

Patterned sheers are also appropriate for business and
evening wear, said Jestina Howard, corporate public
relations coordinator for Parisian.

Howard works out of Parisian headquarters in
Birmingham. There is a Parisian store in Florence's
Regency square Mall.

"You'll see a lot of herringbones, laces and ribs this
fall," she said, "and fishnets in nude and black
shades that you can pair with skirt suits or business
dresses. Sheer hosiery adds polish and a
pulled-together look to work wardrobes."

Hosiery is also an inexpensive way to add some pizzazz
to an outfit, Howard said.

"Boots from ankle- to knee-lengths and feminine-style
shoes are popular this season, which beg for trouser
socks, tights and sheers to accessorize the look," she
added.

Here are some other tips for wearing fall's new looks:

* To lengthen the leg, go monochromatic by matching
the color of your skirt or dress with the color of
your legs.

* To emphasize legs, show them off with a bold and
contrasting color.

* Mix and match for a truly trendy look. Pull fishnets
over brightly colored tights or layer tights with
socks or leg warmers – although fashion experts warn
that anyone who wore leg warmers in the 1980s should
opt out this time around.

* Textured hose and tights – thicker and more opaque
than hose – look great with loafers, boots, lace-ups
and sportier pumps. Save socks for clogs and athletic
shoes.

* If your toes show, don't wear hose. "This is an
unbreakable rule," Mathis said. "Plus, if your toes
show, you absolutely must have a good pedicure."

* If you're wearing sandals with closed toes, you can
wear hosiery as long as it's sheer and matches your
natural skin tone, Mathis added.

Fashion forecasters predict that leg wear will be
important for the next couple of years – for spring
2004, designers are showing colorful legs with short
skirts.

Cathy Wood Myers can be reached at 740-5733 or
[email protected].