The short answer: Yes. But only if you let them.

Stockings and thigh highs are much like us. If you treat them right, they'll treat you right. But, unlike us, their lifespan can extend to 10 to even a respectable 20 years if you know a thing or two about how to keep them in tip-top shape. But to get down to the nitty-gritty...

Do stockings expire?

Stockings generally remain in good shape – for the most part. Of course, we have nylon and spandex to thank for that. Nylon has no inherent stretch meaning it remains taut come rain, wind, storm, or tug-o-war competition. Spandex is also resilient in its own right but not quite so rigid. Together, they make for a product with some ‘give' yet an overall feeling of reliability. Peep inside the band, and you'll be treated with silicone or elastic. These synthetic materials are also incredibly strong … if you do your due diligence. Which leads us to:

Do thigh highs expire?

Ahhh, thigh highs. A bastion of romance, power, and sex appeal – it's hard to believe they could ever get old. But they do. And much for the same reason as stockings. That said, take care of them, and they'll stay young for as long as possible.

So, yes, sooner or later, after years of beauty, comfort, and fashion, we'll have to face that our favorite stockings and thigh highs just aren't what they used to be.

But it's nothing to write a complaint home about; instead, simply ask:

How do I help my stockings live longer?

By removing your stockings from their packaging, wearing them, and taking good care of them, you can outrun any lifespan. How exactly?

We're going to let you in a little VienneMilano secret recipe: Add premium materials to passionate, generational craftmanship with a dedication to quality and the result is an immortal pair of stockings (by stockings standards.)

Interestingly, there are some parallels between what prolongs the lives of both humans and stockings. First of all:

Don't hold them hostage

After a 6 year's stay within your closet, how do you think you'd feel? Decrepit, stiff, maybe a little grey toned and uninspired? Well, stockings would like to have a word or two with you! They suffer the exact same unfortunate fate.

Why?

Temperatures in closets fluctuate wildly. You may not notice because fabric tends not to hold heat, but misplace a chocolate bar in there during Summer, and you'll soon know what we mean. Likewise, on the opposite side of the thermometer – it gets pretty chilly in there sometimes.

Faced with these extremes, spandex and nylon persevere quite coolly. They emerge unscathed, probably looking better than ever. The silicone band, on the other hand - usually effortlessly reliable and mighty, holding fast around your thigh - begins to break a sweat. Typically robust, the synthetic material gets a bit bent out of shape. In other words, it changes. So, while plastic doesn't last forever, it does last a very long time and that's more than good enough for us!

Some other environmental enemies of silicon and elastic:

• Humidity
• Temperature
• Light

All the above might tempt you to leave your thigh highs wrapped up within their packaging.

Stop right there!

Please remove your stockings from the packaging and wear them. Don't even think twice about it. While they won't fare well left hanging in your closet for years, they'll shape up even worse if left wrapped up.

A behind-the-scenes glimpse

Here at VienneMilano, we know thigh highs. We admire their strengths and respect their weaknesses. That's why we're always on the lookout for any warning signs in our stock, keen in our abilities to support them, storing them with the utmost care – not that they hang around too long. Still, now and then, quality checks call.

Should we have any production leftovers, we examine them closely. And, in low season, we perform random checks on our packed stayups. No thigh-high is safe from our probing eye! On the off chance we happen upon something askew, we examine the entirety of the style's batch. What's not so hot goes; what's hot stays – simple!

Enjoy them!

Thigh highs are not like a fine wine. They're not meant to be aged before savoring. But, they are like prosecco – best enjoyed without delay and so good that they won't last forever. Stockings would much rather live life in the fast lane. So in stockings speak: the “worn once or twice a week” lane. If that's too often for personal preference, then once a month will do! Just like life is for living, stockings are for wearing.

And just like you'd be itching to burst out, stretch your legs, and bask in the sunlight after being stuck in the closet – so too would your stockings!

Love them

Put your stockings in the dyer, and you might need a dryer for your tears. But, once again, it's the heat. You don't want to subject your stockings to 125-135 Fahrenheit for an hour (or more) straight. That, and the general tumultuous environment in the dryer drum is a recipe for disaster.

Oh, and avoid storing them near sharp things at all costs (here's looking at you, hangers.)

If you're not sure how best to keep your stockings out of harm's way and looking fabulously fresh – we've got just the stockings care guide for you!

Finally...

Nothing good last forever – not even stockings. As much as we'd like to keep our thigh highs by our side forever, they eventually have to part for the closet in the sky. But, with a little TLC strategy (as covered above,) you can keep your favorites looking and feeling fabulous for as long as possible.

VienneMilano works with producers in Italy that have been in the hosiery industry for decades. As a result, we're confident in our collection's ability to withstand the test of time, be it decades or a couple of years. In fact, we have proof! Keen wearers (and collectors) of our own attire, we know just how well they react to being treated right. Our most keen customers tend to pick from our best sellers collection due to their style and quality that never goes out of fashion.

So, why not put our collection to the test and pick out a pair that works for you? Our stockings and thigh highs are tasked with making you feel gorgeous, flawless, and unstoppably your fierce self. Perhaps, after all, they both just burn so bright that they eventually fizzle out. That said, this isn't an issue we run into often. Most of those who buy are stockings can't wait to free them from their packaging and wear them right away!