Thigh high stockings are stockings that stay up by themselves, without the need for a garter belt and straps. These types of stockings are also called "hold-ups" or "stay-ups." Thigh highs contain a silicone band on the inside of the top welt of each stocking. The top welt may be relatively thin, or it may be rather wide. Typically, a thin top welt is the basic design, while thicker tops are often comprised of stretch lace and contain more silicone bands for added staying power.

One of the easiest mistakes one can make when buying one's first pair of stockings is confusing thigh highs with traditional stockings. Traditional stockings do require garter belts to keep them held firmly onto the leg, or else they will fall down. Thus, if you don't own a garter belt and purchase regular stockings, you'll be out of luck when it's time to put them on.

Thigh High Stockings and Garter Belts

On the other hand, there is no harm in wearing thigh high stockings with a garter belt. If anything, they will just hold up more dependably. In fact, thigh highs, while they tend to stay up nicely on thin legs, do have a tendency to roll down on wider thighs. For this reason, those with larger upper thighs often choose to wear a garter belt with thigh highs.

Besides the choice of feminine, ornate stretch lace tops, thigh highs offer other design options, such as regular knits or patterns. Popular patterned knits include fishnets and their variations, such as the wide and sexy fence net. Other patterns include circular net designs and the classic back seam.