It’s “Tricky Tuesday,” a way for me to share some of the tricks, tools and techniques that I use for shooting portraits in my home studio or as in today’s case, on location in my former home’s living room, since it’s National Legwear Day.
Today’s Post by Joe Farace
I grew up watching old black and white movies where Marlene Dietrich or Jean Harlow would go walking down some cobblestone street in ripped stockings and head into some smoky boite and sing for a pathetic living. That’s so what I wanted to be. —Ellen Greene
Since National Legwear Day occurs on September 22’nd and coincides with the changing seasons. The air is getting cooler–it was 48 degrees F on Daisy Hill this morning–and fashion magazines are covering the best style for fall.
HanesBrands founded National Legwear Day to encourage everyone to express their style with sheers, tights, leggings, anklets, and men’s, women’s, and even kid’s socks. Consumers wear legwear (and keep my feet warm) to enhance their outfits and can use it to make any occasion an opportunity for personal expression.
Legwear offers everyone comfort, quality, and value. And whether on Mainstreet or the runways of Fashion Week, everyone turns to legwear to put a kick in their step, complete a look and add individual style to any outfit.
Legwear Styles
Legwear offers some of the most important ways to express personal style. In 1598, the Queen of England was presented with her first pair of stockings. Now, women can choose from numerous types of legwear. Depending on the occasion, their options include opaque, brightly colored tights, textured anklets, and foundation finishes. In addition, sheer hose, like Liz is wearing at left, offer a more subtle approach in shades for all skin colors and tones.
Before the 1920s, stockings were worn for warmth. During the Roaring 20s, as dress’s hemlines rose and central heating became more common, women started to wear flesh-colored stockings to cover their exposed legs. Those stockings were sheer and were first made of silk or rayon and after 1940 of nylon.
The introduction of nylon in 1939 by DuPont created a demand for stockings with up to four million pairs being purchased in one day. Nylon stockings were cheap, relatively durable, and sheer when compared to cotton and silk. DuPont ceased production of nylon stockings after America entered World War II, retooling their factories to produce parachutes, airplane cords,and rope. This led to a shortage and the creation of a black market for stockings. At the end of the war DuPont announced that the company would return to producing stockings.
How I Made this Portrait: I photographed Liz in the living room of my former home with a focus on her legs and stockings. The image was made using available light from the windows that are behind her and the large North-facing, second floor windows that were behind the camera. The camera used was a Canon EOS 10D with my go-to available light glamour lens, the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 lens with an exposure of 1/60 sec at f/1.8 and ISO 200 with a plus one-half stop exposure compensation but. to tell the truth, it could have used a little more..
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