I think hosiery is an unique item of clothing. If you think about it, it serves many purposes maybe more so than any other item of clothing. First, and likely the most common, is it is just an ordinary item that one wears to accentuate an outfit or give one a more professional look. It is used as a compression garment to help those with vascular issues and other medical conditions. It is used in fitness to help muscles during performance (The NFL had players wearing pantyhose in the 70's). It is used in costuming, to help one achieve a desired look...like a superhero, cheerleader, witch etc. Some use hosiery for a layer of warmth. Some use hosiery to prevent blisters. There is also the fetish aspect of hosiery, some use hosiery to bring about arousal and pleasure in their lives whether they or their partner wears. There are uniform policies that require hosiery...waitressses, cheerleaders, flight attendants, and business executives. There are also those who just like hosiery and love sliding the smooth, soft material up their legs as they enjoy the silky sensation and transformation their legs take on.