Bodystockings are the whole outfit in one piece of sheer fabric. Lace, fishnet and mesh from the shoulders down, in open styles, cutout designs and full-length gowns, worn in bed, on camera or layered under a festival fit.
A bodystocking turns your whole body into the outfit. It is a single piece of sheer fabric, usually lace, fishnet or fine mesh, and it covers you from the shoulders down while hiding close to nothing. You put on one thing and you are dressed, which is most of the appeal and the reason people who own one usually own several.
It gets worn in more places than people expect. In bed, obviously, and it is the shape most often described as a sexier version of a teddy, with legs attached and usually cut open at the crotch so it does not have to come off. But it is also a favorite for photo and boudoir shoots, because the pattern reads on camera in a way plain lingerie does not. It works as a costume base under a bikini top or shorts, and it layers under a sheer dress or over a bra and thong for a rave or a club night.
Most run one size with a lot of stretch, and the measurement that matters is torso length rather than dress size, because a knit stretches around you far more readily than along you. Two practical things after that. Sheer knit snags on a fingernail, a ring or a rough heel and one pulled thread runs, so take rings off and roll it up your legs like hosiery rather than yanking it. And underneath, a plain bra and panty beats full lingerie, because layered lace fights the pattern and you end up looking at the underwear instead of the stocking.
Grouped by fabric and cut, with the rest of each one next door.
If you want one piece to be the whole outfit: a bodystocking, not a set. You put on one thing and you are dressed. That is the entire reason people buy them and it is worth more than it sounds when you are getting ready.
If it is for a shoot: pattern over plain. Lace motifs, fishnet and cutouts read on camera. Fine nude mesh photographs as almost nothing, which is the opposite of what you want in frame.
If you are wearing it out rather than in: layer it. Under a sheer dress, over a bra and thong, or with shorts and a bikini top for a festival. See festival and rave for what it goes with.
On sizing: torso length matters more than dress size. One size stretches wide easily and tall badly. If you are long in the body, size up, because one that is short on you pulls at the shoulders all night.
On coverage: check where it ends and whether it is open. Footed, footless, sleeved and halter are all bodystockings, and open or crotchless is not always obvious from the photo. Read the description, not the category name.
Getting it on without wrecking it: rings off, roll it, do not yank. Gather it into a doughnut and roll it up the leg like hosiery. Hand wash cold afterwards and keep it out of a machine entirely. See all lingerie for the rest of the range.
