Hosiery/pantyhose is part of a type of style.
The see through hosiery was created to:
· Smooth the look of the legs
· Filter /coverup any imperfections
· Bring attention to the legs
Stockings/tights are opaque and were utilized to keep women warm and assist with functionality for shoes.
While hosiery retains the functionality for shoe wearing, the primary reason was for aesthetics. Additionally, one could not observe any of this without the shortening of the length of the skirt.
The lack of hosiery seems to be an example of the relaxation of dress, manners, and etiquette in society overall.