Hosiery in the 2000s

The 2000s represented hosiery's lowest point since its invention. Bare legs dominated, sales plummeted, and major manufacturers struggled. Yet the decade also planted seeds for hosiery's style-driven revival.

The Decline

Market Collapse

• Sales dropped 50% from peak
• Major brands consolidated or closed
• Sara Lee sold hosiery division
• Retail space reduced dramatically

Causes

• Casual workplace dress codes
• Celebrity bare-leg influence
• Improved spray tans/self-tanners
• Generation unfamiliar with hosiery
• Perceived as "old-fashioned"

Early 2000s (2000-2004)

Bare Leg Dominance

Hosiery practically disappeared from:

• Red carpets
• Fashion magazines
• Everyday wear
• Even many workplaces

What Survived

• Conservative professional settings
• Formal occasions
• Winter practicality
• Specialty/fetish markets

Mid 2000s (2005-2007)

Fashion Hosiery Emerges

A shift in hosiery's purpose:

• From necessity to fashion choice
• Statement tights appeared
• Bold colors, patterns acceptable
• Worn as visible accessory

Key Influences

• British fashion (London street style)
• Japanese Harajuku influence
• Indie/hipster aesthetics
• Vintage revival interest

Late 2000s (2008-2009)

Signs of Revival

Hosiery began reappearing:

• Fashion editorials
• Runway shows featured tights
• Duchess of Cambridge effect (early)
• Economic downturn = polished looks

New Perspective

Hosiery became:

• A style choice, not obligation
• Expression of personality
• Way to update outfits affordably
• Recession-friendly fashion

Style Trends

Pop Culture

Television

• Gossip Girl: High fashion hosiery
• Mad Men: Vintage hosiery interest
• Ugly Betty: Statement tights

Music

• Lady Gaga: Avant-garde hosiery
• Rihanna: Fashion-forward looks
• Amy Winehouse: Retro aesthetic

Industry Adaptation

Survival Strategies

• Focus on fashion, not function
• Premium/luxury segment growth
• Shapewear integration
• Online sales channels

New Brands

Fashion-focused newcomers:

• Falke expanded fashion lines
• Wolford emphasized luxury
• Pretty Polly reinvented
• Indie brands emerged

Technology

• Body-shaping technology improved
• Compression benefits marketed
• Better durability claims
• Seamless innovation

Looking Ahead

By 2009, hosiery had transformed from mandatory to optional—but this freedom allowed it to become a genuine fashion choice. The 2010s would see continued revival as style-conscious women rediscovered hosiery's possibilities.