An (almost) scientific research into current British Tights wearing trends
(is that even good grammer?)
This is all a bit of fun, brought about by finding myself marooned, far from home, on a busy British railway station in the early evening rush-hour.
I’m sure many people will recognise the situation; trains cancelled or delayed and no way home for hours – the joys of the great British public transport system!
So, as I sat eating my traditionally stale sandwich (purchased at exorbitant cost from the monopoly franchise at the station) I indulged in a spot of people watching – always fun and it helps while away the hours.
I tried to see if any of the hundreds of passengers, who’s journey was progressing (lucky them!), would be worthy of a mention in Ra’s forum.
After a short while it then occurred to me that I had an ideal opportunity to do a spot of almost scientific research.
For a 15 minute period I would attempt to record what style of tights where being worn, their colour, patterning, and denier (finally classed as ‘sheer to around 20den’ or ‘opaque’), and for added interest I would add in shoe type (flat, heeled (up to 3cm), high heeled (3-6cm), very high heeled, boots and trainers). Also anything else I spotted of interest would be recorded.
I did consider taking a few photos, but given the fact that tourists in London are genuinely having their film and digital memory cards confiscated by the police for taking pictures of landmarks (anti-terror laws gone mad!) I decided against it - Could you image the conversation;
Police: “What’s going on here then?
Me: ’‘Well officer. I was undertaking a study of women and their tights…ARRRGGGHHH! Why did you Taser me!”
Police“You’re nicked! I’m charging you with sexual harassment, terrorism and wasting police time”
I found a seat (a miracle in itself in a British railway station), took out my pen and notebook, set my watch timer for 15mins and began.
It was quickly apparent that the vast majority of people (I didn’t distinguish between male or female – thought not one male was ‘observably’ wearing tights, stockings or pantyhose) wore trousers – I estimated that aside from 100% of men, more than 95% of women had also shunned the opportunity to air their legs in public.
My next non-statistical conclusion was that skirts are being worn short this season, with the vast majority being above knee level and a small, but delightful, number being very short indeed!
On to my findings:
People observed during 15 minute period = estimated 1000+
Men observed wearing tights = 0
(Ok – they could have been wearing anything under their suits or jeans… but who’d ever know? And, before anyone asks, none of them wore skirts either! For the record I do often see a male cyber-punk at a station, who not only wears a very short latex skirt, but frequently fishnet stocking, finished off with a pair of very macho boots – good for him!)
Women observed wearing tights = 41 (plus a smaller number who sported bare legs)
Break-down of tights being worn:
By colour:-
x7 nude/pale (but no Tan – boo!)
x3 grey (hmm – not sure about this colour, always reminds me of elderly secretaries or hospital matrons)
x1 purple (surprisingly attractive look!)
x 30 black (always a favourite)
By style:-
x20 Opaque (some horrible, wrinkly, cotton – a few shinny and very sexy)
x16 Sheer (all of the nude and the rest where black)
x4 patterned (3 black – one pair fishnet and one very peculiar pale pair that had a pattern which even at second glance looked like multiple ladders, even though they weren’t)
x1 seamed (Oh my! Sheer black, very high heels as well – I’m sure these were not stockings because the skirt was too short… I did spend some time checking though!)
Footwear:-
x3 very high heels (but never combined with opaque…)
x5 heels (not as exciting as the very high heels but, I guess, more practical)
x14 boots (nothing exciting at all – low heeled, knee-high and generally dull)
x17 flat heeled shoes (I absolutely hate these – they do not flatter a woman’s feet and always look terribly shabby. I’ve also read that they can cause feet harm over time)
x2 trainers (or sneakers, if you prefer – I kind of like this look and always image the woman will have a pair of killer high heels under her desk, at her office)
Other observations:-
Though I deliberately made no distinction about any person’s general appearance, there were a few examples of bare legs that really should have been covered over (and I mean covered by jeans! Urggghhh!). And, far too many opaque tights had seen better days, looking worn out and threadbare – not attractive at all.
And, one final point: Should you ever find yourself stuck for a hour or so in a public place and ponder about undertaking your own survey, if you’re in the UK you’d better keep a keen eye out for those charged with protecting the masses. After only 20 minutes sitting in one spot and scribbling in my note-book I was a
eady being watched by several security personnel and had at least one stand close to me and glance at my notes (I wonder what he thought of BO+HH, N+LH, BO+F, etc?) I bet my face will be on Crimewatch UK TV next month…
‘Do you recognise this man? He was spotted acting suspiciously outside…’
Could I seek asylum in Holland do you think?
MJ
(is that even good grammer?)
This is all a bit of fun, brought about by finding myself marooned, far from home, on a busy British railway station in the early evening rush-hour.
I’m sure many people will recognise the situation; trains cancelled or delayed and no way home for hours – the joys of the great British public transport system!
So, as I sat eating my traditionally stale sandwich (purchased at exorbitant cost from the monopoly franchise at the station) I indulged in a spot of people watching – always fun and it helps while away the hours.
I tried to see if any of the hundreds of passengers, who’s journey was progressing (lucky them!), would be worthy of a mention in Ra’s forum.
After a short while it then occurred to me that I had an ideal opportunity to do a spot of almost scientific research.
For a 15 minute period I would attempt to record what style of tights where being worn, their colour, patterning, and denier (finally classed as ‘sheer to around 20den’ or ‘opaque’), and for added interest I would add in shoe type (flat, heeled (up to 3cm), high heeled (3-6cm), very high heeled, boots and trainers). Also anything else I spotted of interest would be recorded.
I did consider taking a few photos, but given the fact that tourists in London are genuinely having their film and digital memory cards confiscated by the police for taking pictures of landmarks (anti-terror laws gone mad!) I decided against it - Could you image the conversation;
Police: “What’s going on here then?
Me: ’‘Well officer. I was undertaking a study of women and their tights…ARRRGGGHHH! Why did you Taser me!”
Police“You’re nicked! I’m charging you with sexual harassment, terrorism and wasting police time”
I found a seat (a miracle in itself in a British railway station), took out my pen and notebook, set my watch timer for 15mins and began.
It was quickly apparent that the vast majority of people (I didn’t distinguish between male or female – thought not one male was ‘observably’ wearing tights, stockings or pantyhose) wore trousers – I estimated that aside from 100% of men, more than 95% of women had also shunned the opportunity to air their legs in public.
My next non-statistical conclusion was that skirts are being worn short this season, with the vast majority being above knee level and a small, but delightful, number being very short indeed!
On to my findings:
People observed during 15 minute period = estimated 1000+
Men observed wearing tights = 0
(Ok – they could have been wearing anything under their suits or jeans… but who’d ever know? And, before anyone asks, none of them wore skirts either! For the record I do often see a male cyber-punk at a station, who not only wears a very short latex skirt, but frequently fishnet stocking, finished off with a pair of very macho boots – good for him!)
Women observed wearing tights = 41 (plus a smaller number who sported bare legs)
Break-down of tights being worn:
By colour:-
x7 nude/pale (but no Tan – boo!)
x3 grey (hmm – not sure about this colour, always reminds me of elderly secretaries or hospital matrons)
x1 purple (surprisingly attractive look!)
x 30 black (always a favourite)
By style:-
x20 Opaque (some horrible, wrinkly, cotton – a few shinny and very sexy)
x16 Sheer (all of the nude and the rest where black)
x4 patterned (3 black – one pair fishnet and one very peculiar pale pair that had a pattern which even at second glance looked like multiple ladders, even though they weren’t)
x1 seamed (Oh my! Sheer black, very high heels as well – I’m sure these were not stockings because the skirt was too short… I did spend some time checking though!)
Footwear:-
x3 very high heels (but never combined with opaque…)
x5 heels (not as exciting as the very high heels but, I guess, more practical)
x14 boots (nothing exciting at all – low heeled, knee-high and generally dull)
x17 flat heeled shoes (I absolutely hate these – they do not flatter a woman’s feet and always look terribly shabby. I’ve also read that they can cause feet harm over time)
x2 trainers (or sneakers, if you prefer – I kind of like this look and always image the woman will have a pair of killer high heels under her desk, at her office)
Other observations:-
Though I deliberately made no distinction about any person’s general appearance, there were a few examples of bare legs that really should have been covered over (and I mean covered by jeans! Urggghhh!). And, far too many opaque tights had seen better days, looking worn out and threadbare – not attractive at all.
And, one final point: Should you ever find yourself stuck for a hour or so in a public place and ponder about undertaking your own survey, if you’re in the UK you’d better keep a keen eye out for those charged with protecting the masses. After only 20 minutes sitting in one spot and scribbling in my note-book I was a
eady being watched by several security personnel and had at least one stand close to me and glance at my notes (I wonder what he thought of BO+HH, N+LH, BO+F, etc?) I bet my face will be on Crimewatch UK TV next month… ‘Do you recognise this man? He was spotted acting suspiciously outside…’
Could I seek asylum in Holland do you think?
MJ
