LEGGY ADVICE

7-Elevens aren’t the only places where we’re seeing less flesh these days. It doesn’t take a fashion consultant to tell you that supermarket fleshtones-pantyhose and knee-highs in shades of suntan, san-dalwood, and nude-have gone the way of gold lame”. Clerks in the hosiery department at Bloomingdale’s are told not to come to work in flesh tones. Betsy Hochstim Fijolek, owner of Something’s Afoot at Valley View, doesn’t even carry the “really-out” Q-T orange shades.

The alternatives to No Nonsense tawny are more than myriad, but they can be a little intimidating. Herewith are collected tips from hosiery experts about town:

Jeff Benham, Bloomingdale’s, on “what we’ll be pushing this season”: opaques. Black, navy, and brown hosiery that’s thick, almost the texture of tights, is Bloomie’s best bet this year, although Benham admits they tried to move opaques last year and the style didn’t catch on. Also to choose from at Bloom-ie’s, at prices up to $30. arc textured hose and jewel tones, emerald greens, and canary yellows. Some feature African scenes complete with slithering snakes. Ben-ham’s helpful hints: never put hose in an automatic dryer. Buy control top and extra support even if you look like Pia Za-dora. The stiffer construction helps the hose wear longer

Lucille Klein, fashion director at Sanger Harris, suggests matching hose color to hemline rather than shoes. Pair heavy, textured hose with equally heavy plaids and tweeds and enjoy evening looks with back seams, glitter, and fleur-de-lis.

Something’s Afoot owner Fi-jolek differs with Klein on color coordination, arguing that it’s best to choose hosier)’ colors with shoe color in mind “and work up from there.” Fijolek says whites, creams, grays, and shadowy blacks are today’s classic, year-round neutrals. And socks, she says, are the season’s special prize. They go with everything, she says. Crew socks are available at Something’s Afoot in a variety of solids, patterns, and textures, some bedecked with rhine-stones, others hand-painted.

Stanley Korshak is Dallas’s exclusive distributor of Zurich’s famous Fogal hosiery. Korshak manager/buyer Betty Jones says the variety of textures and colors available today means the rules regarding hosiery are not nearly as strict as they were years ago. Jones can think of only a few general guidelines: “Never wear a dark leg with a light shoe. Pay attention to proportions. With longer skirts, wear darker, even opaque hose. With shorter skirls wear more sheer or brighter hose instead of neutrals.” Korshak carries the full line of Fogal, including an assortment of holiday hosiery, lace body stockings, and their most expensive hose, a cashmere and silk blend selling for $185.