Seamed, silk, fishnet or nylon, whether you like it or not, the stocking-clad leg has become synonymous with female sexuality.
From the iconic poster for The Graduate, featuring a petrified Dustin Hoffman trapped behind Mrs Robinson's languidly stretched, stockinged limb, to the pairs regularly soaked in Dita Von Teese's gigantic martini glass, these scraps of fabric pack an undeniably sexy punch.
And guess what? Friday is National Stockings Day. Yep, as declared by hosiery giant Charnos, it's all about the stockings - and what's more, it's in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Scroll down for a gallery of beautiful women (and one man) in stockings
Burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee shows us exactly how to wear stockings
But what have sexy stockings got to do with the horror that is breast cancer, we hear you ask?
Well, allow director of fundraising and marketing Judy Beard to explain: "One in eight women in the UK will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and many women feel that they loose their femininity during treatment.
“Charnos National Stockings Day is a great excuse to get together with your friends, have fun and treat yourself by wearing beautiful stockings, while helping to raise awareness about breast cancer.
SEE ALSO:
- Halloween 2012: Scary Yet Sexy Pin-Up Girls (PICTURES)
- Cats That Look Like Pin-Up Girls: LOLcats Get Sexy
"Breast Cancer Care wants to be there for anyone affected by breast cancer and we couldn’t do this without the support from companies such as Charnos and their customers, so thank you."
So, whether you do a Bettie Page or make like Immodesty Blaize, just join in. And to get you in the mood, here are 30 pictures of ladies (and one man) looking bloody fantastic in stockings.