Panty Hose

I love, love. love the panty hose sold at Penney's. They are made of good quality material and they hold their elasticity and you can launder them. They last a good while.
Then you have the other side of the tracks.. hosiery sold at your local beauty supply stores. These usually are so poorly made that you can put your foot in and they're already damaged OR your foot goes straight thru the bottom, never stopping at the end of the hose. They take on the shape of your feet and legs, never go back into their original shape and FORGET about laundering them. You can usually spot them from a mile away because they normally have millions of 'thread pulls' in them and make you look like you've snagged them on something since you've had them on. But really that's how they come sometimes. Another way to spot them is that they will be sagging, gathered or twisted at the ankle. Again, that's just how they come sometimes. You can also hear someone approaching you that may be wearing a pair because of the not so soft material they're made of. The more expensive pairs can be as quiet as a mouse.
Years ago I purchased a shimmery silver/gray pair at Marshall Fields, oh maybe about 15 years ago. Guess what... I still have them! No runs or tears at all. Then I paid about $12 for them, now at Carson's they run $25. Would I buy another pair at that price? Absolutely, but why when they're so well constructed and I can get months to years worth of wear out of them.
I occassionally go into Penney's during a good sale or clearance to stock up. While Macy's and Carsons also carry several different designs and patterns. Very elegant!