Like pure silk stockings (5)

I believe the answer is:

sheer

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'like' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sheer that I've seen before include "Arrant" , "Deviate (from) - vertical" , "Unqualified" , "Very steep; utter" , "Very fine or vertical" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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