Nylons are so much more than just pantyhose. After they were invented in 1937, they became symbolic of women entering the workforce, and according to Smithsonian Magazine, they marked the start of the “age of synthetics” and laid the groundwork for our society’s reliance on plastics.
Today, though, nylons are often considered…a major pain. They’re restrictive. Sausage casings for legs! They rip, snag, and run, and some people fail to see the sex appeal of an old-fashioned undergarment worn by their great-aunt and all the secretaries on Mad Men.
To the doubters, I say: Imagine Don Draper ripping a hole in your nylons with his teeth. I’ll wait. For those with a nylon fetish, they’re sexual dynamite. But why are they such an explosive turn-on? Unclip your garter belt and make yourself comfortable as we explore the silky-smooth world of the nylon fetish.
What is a nylon fetish?
Sex educator Lucie Fielding, author of Trans Sex: Clinical Approaches to Trans Sexualities and Erotic Embodiments, defines a nylon fetish at its most basic as the sexual interest in various facets of nylons. It can be narrow or broad, sometimes inclusive of garters and fishnets, stockings and tights, or other leg coverings. It can be limited to plain, flesh-colored nylons, or it can extend to designs and patterns of all different hues.
Some people have a fetish for wearing nylons on their own bodies, while others prefer to see someone else in a pair. But no matter where you fall on the nylon fetish spectrum, it’s generally about more than just the nylon aesthetic.
“People are aroused by the many different sensations that come from nylons, whether it’s the touch or the smell,” says Jasmine Johnson, a Florida-based clinical therapist and an adult entertainer who performs as Jet Setting Jasmine. “Some of my clients like the stockings in their mouth. It has to do with sensations.”
Related terms:
Why nylons?
Johnson, who creates adult content for all kinds of kinks and fetishes, says most nylon fetishists have really narrow and granular interests. She says she’s seen people who want to see Johnson, who is Black, in beige nylons. Other nylon fetishists might not care about the shade but might prefer a high-end, designer pair. And for some people, it’s about wearing the nylons themselves. For example, for a “man with leg hair, it allows him to have that feeling of sleekness,” she says, highlighting the bondage that stockings create and the “emasculating constriction” someone with a penis might feel.
Fielding says nylons can also be an important tool in a person’s gender exploration, especially when playing around with varying femme expressions. Like any form of underwear, nylons can be as overt or discreet as you want them to be—no one has to know you’re wearing them unless you want them to. Especially for queer people, Fielding says, nylons are a way to feel gender euphoria.
“Some might think nylon fetish is purely about cross-dressing or that it’s about cis male desire,” she says. “But there’s so many of us who are non-binary, who are trans, who are queer, who have different entry points for appreciating these things.”
Do nylon fetishes overlap with other fetishes?
While most fetishes are nuanced and specific to the individual, plenty of nylon enthusiasts overlap with fetishes involving cosplay, boudoir and pinup styles, age play, teacher-student dynamics, and other power-based fetishes.
Johnson also says that foot fetishes don’t always align with nylon fetishes. Stockings smooth out the ripples of the soles and enclose the toes; certain foot fetishists prefer nothing to cover the feet so they can see the details and the separation of the toes.
The connection that Johnson most often sees between these two fetishes is the attraction to the smell. “I have lots of clients who love the scent of my sweaty feet or even the idea of an object that has been that close to the bottom of my feet,” she says.
What are some different nylon play variations?
Fielding’s favorite thing about nylons is their versatility. For a great gag, stuff a pair of nylons in somebody’s mouth, she suggests. Alternatively, as a form of bondage, you could use your nylons to tie someone up. And nylons are easy to combine with other fetishes or kinks, like the worship of somebody’s legs or body, forced feminization, or acts of service, like removing the nylons for your partner or detaching them from their garters.
For anyone curious about nylon play, Fielding encourages two things: First, buy yourself an inexpensive pair and experiment with different styles. Second, especially if your interest is part of a larger gender exploration or interrogation of power, work with a skilled, professional dominant, like Johnson, who can safely nurture you and your stocking desires.
Some nylons to play with if you’re interested in exploring for yourself…
Adam & Eve Back-Seam Stockings
Hanes Hanes Silk Reflections Lace-Top Thigh-Highs
Hanes Hanes Silk Reflections Women’s Alive Sheer to Waist Support Pantyhose
Emma Glassman-Hughes (she/her) is a freelance writer for Cosmopolitan and a part-time editor at the Boston Globe. She was formerly a staff writer at Elite Daily, where she covered sex, intimacy, and queer topics. She is a graduate student at Boston University, where she’s pursuing a master’s in journalism with an emphasis on narrative and investigative reporting. She has a Twitter but her website is way more fun.
