Run out for a pair of toeless hose

THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM PRINTED VERSION

Toeless pantyhose have two ringlike openings to achieve a more polished look with slides or sandals.(PHOTO) (Scripps Howard photo)

To pump up flagging sales, hosiery designers have gone back to their drawing boards in an effort to introduce exciting new products. One such innovation: toeless pantyhose.The idea, said Hanes Hosiery spokesman Caroline Wilkes, is to achieve a more polished look during warm weather months by wearing slides or strappy sandals with hosiery.

Sounds like a great idea, but does the concept work? And is today's woman willing to wiggle into pantyhose with cutout feet and a ring-like opening that wraps around the big toe to keep the darn things from riding up? (Note: There is nothing sexy about these stockings.)

To find out what some women think, we recruited a trio of volunteers from the Naples, Fla., area for a toeless pantyhose run-off. All recruits frequently wear pantyhose, except when wearing sandals.

"There is nothing as unattractive as stockings with open-toe shoes," one tester said, "so this new product really appeals to me."

Each women was given three pair of unmarked hose -- which ranged in price from $6.95 to $18 per pair -- and a questionnaire to complete over a 10-day period.

Stockings tested included Berkshire Hose Without Toes, style 5115, $6.95, purchased via the Internet; Hanes Silk Reflections Beyond Bare Toeless Hose, style 0A085, $9.95, purchased at Dillard's; and Donna Karan Toeless Control Top, style 0A069, $18, purchased at Jacobson's.

Here's the verdict in Q&A format.

Q: Describe fit and comfort level.

A: Comments concerning Hanes Silk Reflections ranged from "very comfortable" to "reasonably comfortable."

One tester wrote, "My pair must have been an irregular because there was a hole in one leg and one of the toe holes was sewn too tight."

The least expensive brand, Berkshire, fared worse. "Waist band rolled slightly and was binding after a few hours," one tester said. "No support in legs," noted another.

"Not as comfortable as the other two," said the third.

Donna Karan was the clear winner -- and went on to best the competition in all categories.

Remarks ranged from "perfect fit and extremely comfortable" to "made my legs look more shapely."

Surprisingly, none of the testers found the flip-flop, between-the-toe style uncomfortable, at least after initially pulling on a pair. ("You quickly get used to the feeling," one woman said, "the way you do after wearing a new pair of thong sandals for the first time.")

Q: Describe looks. Were hose flattering? Did toe seam show?

A: Hanes was rated "very average" by one woman. "The Berkshire brand," she added, "was too pale and not fitted, so it was obvious I was wearing pantyhose."

Berkshire also lost points for "unpleasant texture" and "lack of silkiness."

"The waistband kept rolling down on these," noted one wearer.

When it came to the Donna Karans, "Most people couldn't tell I was wearing hose," echoed our trio of testers.

They also applauded the wearability of this brand. "Did not snag or run easily," reported one woman. "Neither did they stretch," added another.

Since all brands have basically the same type toe seam, they all worked well with slides or any open, airy shoes with a band across the top.

Most strappy-style shoes were less forgiving. Regardless of maker, a bit of the toe seam peeked out -- a rather unsightly line of demarcation.

When testing the hosiery, we also evaluated color in an effort to determine the most natural looking pair. All stockings tested were chosen in neutral shades designed to blend with a fair to medium complexion. They did, but women with suntans or darker skins may have a problem finding the right color.

According to manufacturers, all our test products are enjoying brisk sales.

"In fact, toeless hosiery is going out faster than we can keep it in," said Karen Woodfields, spokesman for Berkshire.

When the Donna Karan line was introduced at Jacobson's in February -- replacing an inexpensive toeless import from Brazil, sales took off and haven't slowed down, according to Christine Gorton, director of special events.

However, even though our testers all said their hose wore well, Gorton added a caveat.

"This product is part of Donna Karan's Nudes Collection, which was developed to complement the leg and look like you are not wearing hosiery at all. The important thing to remember is that they are very sheer and should be treated with care. They are not bulletproof like opaques."