Bodystocking
Encyclopedia
A bodystocking is a one-piece article of lingerie
that covers the torso, legs and sometimes the arms of the wearer. Similar in texture and look to stockings or pantyhose
, a bodystocking is not a unitard
, which is worn as an outfit or article of clothing, or a leotard
, which is used as a practice garment or performance costume for acrobats, gymnasts and other similar performers. Designed to be revealing, bodystockings are worn by as undergarmets for a belly dancer
or as an exotic dancer
's costume.
Designed to replace underwear, a bodystocking can be worn with nothing underneath it, though one may chose to wear undergarments underneath it, such as a bra
or panties
for extra coverage or support. Due to the close-fitting and one-piece aspect of bodystockings, one may have to remove the entire garment in order to use the restroom. Due to the sheer look of a bodystocking, they are generally not worn by itself. Opaque bodystockings are made, which can be worn in replacement of tights
and a blouse. Bodystockings also come in lace
, fishnet and satin
, the latter which may just consist of the top portion of the bodystocking, allowing it to be worn underneath a suitjacket to serve as a blouse. These types of bodystockings are also made sheer, allowing for one to wear a more revealing outfit coupled with sheer coverage for line smoothing, similar to Spanx
.
Lingerie
Lingerie are fashionable and possibly alluring undergarments.Lingerie usually incorporates one or more flexible, stretchy materials like Lycra, nylon , polyester, satin, lace, silk and sheer fabric which are not typically used in more functional, basic cotton undergarments.The term in the French...
that covers the torso, legs and sometimes the arms of the wearer. Similar in texture and look to stockings or pantyhose
Pantyhose
Pantyhose are sheer, close-fitting legwear, covering the wearer's body from the waist to the feet. Mostly considered to be a woman's and girl's garment, pantyhose appeared in the 1960s, and they provided a convenient alternative to stockings...
, a bodystocking is not a unitard
Unitard
A unitard is a skin-tight one-piece garment with long legs and sometimes long sleeves. It differs from a leotard in that a leotard does not have long legs. The garment can be considered to be a combination of a leotard and tights...
, which is worn as an outfit or article of clothing, or a leotard
Leotard
A leotard is a skin-tight one-piece garment that covers the torso but leaves the legs free. It was made famous by the French acrobatic performer Jules Léotard ....
, which is used as a practice garment or performance costume for acrobats, gymnasts and other similar performers. Designed to be revealing, bodystockings are worn by as undergarmets for a belly dancer
Belly dancer
A belly dancer is one who performs a belly dance. The phrase may also refer to:*"Belly Dancer" , a single by R&B singer Akon*"Belly Dancer" , a hip hop song*The Belly Dancer, a 2001 Turkish drama film...
or as an exotic dancer
Exotic dancer
The terms exotic dancer and exotic dance can have different meanings in different parts of the world and depending on context. In the erotic sense, "exotic dance" is a often used to refer to practitioners of striptease...
's costume.
Designed to replace underwear, a bodystocking can be worn with nothing underneath it, though one may chose to wear undergarments underneath it, such as a bra
Bra
Bra may refer to:-Places:Italy* Bra, Piedmont, a comune in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont* Piazza Bra, a piazza in VeronaUnited States* Brattleboro , a rail station in Windham County, Vermont-Other uses:...
or panties
Panties
Panties are a form of underwear, usually light and snug-fitting, designed to be worn by women or girls in the area directly below the waist. Typical components include an elastic waistband, a crotch panel to cover the genital area , and a pair of leg openings which, like the waistband, are often...
for extra coverage or support. Due to the close-fitting and one-piece aspect of bodystockings, one may have to remove the entire garment in order to use the restroom. Due to the sheer look of a bodystocking, they are generally not worn by itself. Opaque bodystockings are made, which can be worn in replacement of tights
Tights
Tights are a kind of cloth leg garment, most often sheathing the body from about the waist to the feet with a more or less tight fit, hence the name....
and a blouse. Bodystockings also come in lace
Lace
Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was...
, fishnet and satin
Satin
Satin is a weave that typically has a glossy surface and a dull back. It is a warp-dominated weaving technique that forms a minimum number of interlacings in a fabric. If a fabric is formed with a satin weave using filament fibres such as silk, nylon, or polyester, the corresponding fabric is...
, the latter which may just consist of the top portion of the bodystocking, allowing it to be worn underneath a suitjacket to serve as a blouse. These types of bodystockings are also made sheer, allowing for one to wear a more revealing outfit coupled with sheer coverage for line smoothing, similar to Spanx
SPANX
Spanx, Inc. is a U.S. company that mainly manufactures footless pantyhose and other undergarments for women, particularly "body shaping" undergarments and bodysuit shapewear intended to give the wearer a slim and shapely appearance....
.