This article is about stockings with an elasticised band at the top for support. For other uses, see Hold up (disambiguation).
Woman wearing Hold-ups
Hold-ups or stay-ups (in the United States also referred to as thigh-high stockings or simply thigh highs)[1] are a form of stockings with an elasticised band at the top. They are designed to hold themselves up on the thigh when worn, without the use of a suspender or garter belt.[2]
Typically made of nylon or elastane; the top of the stocking is lined with a silicone or rubberised strip and may be covered by lace or decorative fabric. Some manufacturers refer to this style as garter stockings.[2] First popularised in the mid-20th century, hold-ups are now widely used in fashion, performance, and entertainment contexts.
Fashion
Hold-up stockings gained popularity in Europe and North America from the 1960s onwards, marketed as a modern alternative to traditional gartered stockings.[3] Unlike tights or full-length pantyhose, hold-ups leave the groin area uncovered, which some wearers find more comfortable, especially in warm weather.
In fashion, hold-ups are often positioned as luxury items, commonly sold as part of lingerie sets or for formal wear under dresses. Lace-trimmed versions are popular for bridal, evening, or boudoir settings. Their dual role, both practical and decorative, has contributed to their continued commercial success.[3]
Hold-ups have also seen periodic revivals in retro or vintage-inspired fashion, associated with 1950s and 1960s styling. In mainstream advertising and consumer culture, they may be used to signify elegance, femininity, or sophistication.
Medical use and hygiene
While hold-ups are primarily marketed for fashion, they are occasionally favoured in clinical or post-operative contexts where less restrictive garments are required. Their open design may assist with air circulation, which some clinicians consider beneficial following gynaecological procedures.[4]
In hospital settings, compression variants of hold-ups are used to prevent blood clots in patients with limited mobility, although these differ in design and function from fashion styles. Some wearers claim that hold-ups are more hygienic than tights due to improved ventilation, although peer-reviewed studies are limited.
Matched lingerie with Hold-ups
Erotica and media
They have long held a place in erotica, glamour photography, and adult entertainment, used to accentuate the leg or suggest sexual availability with a combination of partial coverage and exposed skin.[5]
In adult films, burlesque performances, and glamour photography, hold-ups are commonly worn as part of lingerie outfits. Their ability to be quickly removed or adjusted makes them popular in performative or staged contexts. The presence of hold-ups in visual media often reflects broader cultural narratives around femininity, glamour, and sexual agency. In some feminist and body-positive discourses, they are reinterpreted as symbols of confidence and control rather than mere sexual display.[5]
While often considered fetish wear when styled provocatively, hold-ups also appear in more mainstream fashion shoots and film costumes, especially when referencing retro aesthetics or pin-up imagery.
History
In 1967, the British brand Pretty Polly marketed its hold-ups model.[6]
The following year, Le Bourget introduced its first Top model with an adjustable garter.[7]
In France, the market for self-supporting stockings expanded with the launch of Dim's Dim Up in 1986.[2][8]
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