Dear VienneMilano, There are so many terms to know when it comes to stocking. Can you tell me the difference between Reinforced Toe, invisible Toe, and Sandal Foot stockings? What do these terms mean?

-Betsy G.

Reinforced Toe

Reinforced Toe is a type of stockings that are made with a darkened area around the Toe.

Invisible Toe

Invisible Toe Stockings are a style of stockings knitted by the same thread from top to bottom, thus appearing in one uniform color. Compared to Reinforced Toe, Invisible Toe does not feature a dark color fabric around the Toe, earning the name Invisible Toe.

Sandal Foot

Similar to Invisible Toe Stockings, Sandal Foot stockings do not feature a darkened area around the Toe. The term Sandal Foot is used for women who want to wear sheer stockings with open-toe shoes such as sandals.

A long, long time ago, hosiery was created by sewing a sheet of fabric together, forming the shape of the leg. At one end of the stocking, a separate piece of fabric (made from sturdier material and darker in pigment) was placed to reinforce the end, forming the heel and Toe of the stocking. The terms Reinforced Toe and Reinforced Heel and Toe (also known as RHT) were established through this method for sheer stockings.

Today, with the exception of fully fashioned stockings (FFS), stockings are manufactured by a circular knitting machine. The area which surrounds the Toe is knitted together during the production cycle. Since no additional fabric is required to form the heel or the toe section of the stockings, the terms Invisible Toe and Sandal Foot are used. Some stockings are made without the toe area sewn in, thus allowing a woman to wear flip-flops with hosiery. This type of hosiery is called "toeless hosiery".

While some may prefer wearing hosiery that features an invisible toe, others may admire the reinforced-toe look as it reminds them of the days of yesteryear. Here at VienneMilano, all of our thigh highs are made with invisible Toe.