Is this a by-product of the women's movement? Perhaps a bit but I also think it is largely because of the economic times we live in today.
A pair of nice stockings is expensive and most women today only 'dress up' for special occasions. Personally, I think us women have short-changed ourselves in this way and I feel that many men think so too.
Once upon a time when a man was the bread winner in a household he used to enjoy seeing his wife all dressed up and used to feel proud that he was able to provide her with nice clothes; and he was the lucky bloke who was married to her. I know, that is very old fashioned thinking but I'm lucky enough to be one of those women who remembers.
On the upside the stockings of today are considerably more comfortable and durable than they were in times gone by. Today's stockings have had a technology revolution, probably about the same time as the women's movement gained momentum. Today an average pair of stockings can be purchased with the groceries but a non-standard pair of stockings is also more expensive but more readily available to those who have the disposable income to buy them.
So all women who want to wear stockings today need to educate our menfolk to take us to the nearest lingerie shop and buy us a pair of nice stockings for those special types of occasions. Alternatively, we could invite them to measure our legs and buy us a pair off the Internet?
