I’m continuing Fashion Questions and Condundrums Week (I said it again. Co-nun-drum), because, frankly, last week got away from me and questions kept pouring in. Okay, maybe not pouring. More like trickling. But still, I got questions. And some of them I get over and over again. So this week I am going to answer some of the frequently asked fashion questions, the ones that keep you up at night. For example:
“How is that you claim to be in your 40s but look 19?”
Okay, no one has actually ever asked me this question, but plenty of people have thought it. I’m sure. Plenty. And just a couple of weeks ago, when I jokingly told a friend of a friend that I was 21, she believed me. She still thinks I’m 21. It pretty much made my week, so I stopped writing and taking the kids to school and stuff, and decided to just lay around and be, you know, 21.
“How can I be as pretty as you are when I grow up?”
Technically, the only people who ask me this question are my daughters, and while they haven’t used those exact words, per se, they have alluded to it. I’m pretty sure Lola thinks I’m the prettiest person ever. After Selena Gomez. So, basically, the second prettiest person.
Well, that was fun. Now, for the question du jour:
Should I wear pantyhose with this outfit?
No. I don’t even need to see the outfit. The short answer is always no.
When in doubt, which should be always, do not wear hose. I’m feeling inspired to break out into a Seussical rhyme.
Do not wear them with a dress. Do not wear them with your Sunday best. Do not wear them here or there. Do not wear them anywhere.
Wear pantyhose ONLY if they add something to the outfit and make a strong style statement. Examples of this include opaque tights in black or cool colors, black hose with patterns like polka dots or stripes, and very fine fishnets. That about covers it. There are no other acceptable forms of hosiery.
Pantyhose in any color other than black are pretty much unacceptable.
In every case, your bare leg is going to look younger, fresher and more contemporary than your pantyhosed leg. If you feel your bare skin is too pale, apply a little bit of bronzing cream (Jergens makes a great one) or spray (Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs) to your legs for a little color. The contemporary look is, and has been for years, to go hose-free. Plus, pantyhose are uncomfortable and get runs. Who needs that?
The other answers are: No, never, and, and this one’s important: Don’t make me come over there. Questions are below.
Can I wear pantyhose with peep toe shoes or sandals? No. Never. For clarification, see above.
Can I wear knee highs with a skirt? Answer: Don’t make me come over there. Nobody needs to see the top of a knee-high. Ever.
I’m telling you this because I love you.
Note: If you absolutely feel the need for sheer leg coverage, or if you need to wear them due to a dress code, professional norms or some other setting, then find the sheerest, lightest pantyhose you can find in a color that exactly matches your skin, and pick the toeless version if you plan to wear them with open shoes. Buy the best quality you can afford (Donna Karan, Wolford), not the drugstore kind. And again, if you have the option to skip them, do.
To recap:
YES
Pretty Polly Diamond Dots hose, $18, Amazon
No
Never wear knee highs.
In case I’ve been ambiguous on the subject, let me sum it up: Skip the pantyhose pretty much all the time.
Nada Manley says
I’m glad you are finding them helpful for psoriasis and comfortable as well. They have come a long way. Kate Middleton is bringing them back a little. I do think if they are sheer and match your skin tone well and make you feel more comfortable than they are a great option.
Inge says
I just re-discovered pantyhose. Due to psoriasis on my shins and knees I can only wear maxi dresses or in the winter opaque tights and boots.
Recently I wore bare nude pantyhose with a summer dress and it looked great and was surprisingly comfortable.lt was harder to find them than it had been in the 90s when the were standard issue in my former corporate life. I had to go online.
alicia says
I wear hose depending on the weather. Winter I wear tights, but between seasons, anything under 70 degrees is just too cold to go with bare legs. https://www.apparelshopusa.com/12_leggs
Nada Manley says
Hi Kristy! I know I took a hard line in this article, but it seems like you have managed to pull off hose in a chic and not dated or frumpy way. Wolford is amazing, and if they are a really good match for your skin and give you the coverage that you want and need, then that is great. Most hose do not look like Wolford. Also right about Kate. She totally makes pantyhose relevant again. Thanks for the comment!
Kristy Howard says
I respectfully disagree. I’m a 39-year old professional woman, and I wear nude Wolford hose with my dresses/pencil skirts and pumps. I am fair skinned and have some varicose veins, so I feel like Wolford hose (which are very high end) give my legs an airbrushed look. Friends are always surprised if I mention that I wear hose- they just think my legs look great. 😉
By the way, Kate Middleton (who is about a year younger than I am) wears hose regularly. She looks elegant, chic, and completely put together.
In my opinion, hose can be a great asset for a woman who wants to look timeless and classy.
Nada Manley says
They have definitely improved them lately! I prefer bronzing cream but if you find sheer hose that looks natural on you that is awesome. I haven’t found that yet. 🙂
Kat says
Hi I did the trendy thing back in the 00’s and gave up stockings but then spider veins and mid age came along so I do them again especially when I don’t have time or freshly shaven legs for tanning lotion. Honestly my legs look great in them. I wear a lot of tights too but in hot summers they get uncomfortable. sheers are just right for the season.
Nada Manley says
Thank you Valerie! I agree about the cold too. Glad fun tights are back!
Valerie Gwara says
I wear hose depending on the weather. Winter I wear tights, but between seasons, anything under 70 degrees is just too cold to go with bare legs. (I’m over 60)
I do like the idea of patterned hose though.
Love your posts on how not to dress old! And I wish more people read about how to wear leggings
Nada Manley says
I know this is controversial, and it’s just my opinion. Pantyhose are still required in many settings, but I still feel that if you don’t have to wear them, then a little bronzing gel or tinted body lotion is a more contemporary option. But I love your perspective. I know that there are many who agree with you!
ClassyLady says
I personally think that pantyhose is like makeup for legs and an essential finishing touch to a semi-start / smart / formal outfit. It is there to enhance the look of the wearer’s legs and smoothen out imperfections. Just like makeup, it’s not used if a woman is really ugly or looking like a monster. It is worn even by the prettiest of pretty women. It is there to give you that 5%, to make you look your best. And pantyhose, exactly so, looks like you’ve pul a little effort, that you’ve thought about your appearance before you step out of the door.
I just don’t get it, seriously I don’t. A bunch of fashionistas gradually decided that pantyhose was “too delicate, not practical, uncomfortable, grandma-looking and other nonsense like that. Just because they simply could not be bothered to care about their appearance! High heels are also uncomfortable, will they be banished too? Their great advantage is not in their practicality, similar to pantyhose. But they do have a purpose. Instead, chicken – ah ahem – bare legs are suddenly so incredibly “in” that it’s cool not to care about your appearance. Anyway, I have ranted enough, I think 🙂
Nada Manley says
Hi Ashleigh! Thanks for the comment! Okay, I totally get that, and black sheer hose are fine… As a matter of fact, they are pretty trendy right now, I’ll admit. And I am also an organic girl. I sometimes mix my mineral powder makeup with my regular (organic) body lotion, but it can get messy. There are all natural body bronzers to check out, like this one. https://www.sephora.com/product/matte-bronzer-P404797?skuId=1898162&om_mmc=ppc-GG_192086559_15347128239_pla-81624014919_1898162_49113164199_9011499_c&country_switch=us&lang=en&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-8b8nO7W2QIVQoezCh23hA53EAQYBSABEgKWzvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
I am a little spoiled to live in a warm climate, but tights or black hose in the winter are often a necessity, and I get that. I still don’t love the skintone pantyhose, though. LOL
Ashleigh says
Okay, here’s my dilemma: I’m 41, a size 0-2, but I have serious age spots on my legs! I love winter dressing with tights to cover up my spots – I’m little miss organic, so I’m not crazy about all the chemicals in various beauty products (many of which are banned in Europe, for a reason!). I have a couple winter formals to attend and I don’t want to freeze! I have a darling black cocktail dress I’m planning to wear, preferably with black sheer hose. Please, why can’t I? It’s February!!
Nada Manley says
I’m so glad you are firmly in the no pantyhose camp with me! It’s so much more fun over here. 🙂
Crystal says
I LOVE IT! Thank you for addressing this! My mom used to make me wear panty hose when I was a kid. Gasp! I hated them. Eventually switched to knee-highs because I had NO hips and just could not stand having to excuse myself to go yank the panty host back up every 30 minutes 😉 LOL!
I know older women who still insist that hose are the epitome of class. I think it makes legs look fake, especially the cheap ones. But I can understand where they’re coming from, a world in which bare leg skin was still a new thing for women, and hose helped to hide it a little and make it look more tanned since women didn’t bare it all at the beach to GET a tan. It also provided a little more modesty (albeit a bit false) until bare legs became accepted in society.
That said, I am SO glad hose are not a requirement anymore! I DO love those black tights you recommended!
Nada Manley says
Thanks for the comment, Linda! I still stand behind my proclamation that hose-free is best, but in the winter, I am a big fan of tights. 🙂
Linda Tripp says
I cannot, or rather should not wear panty hose due to a chronic bladder conditions (too much pressure on the belly)…however, I do wear hose. My hose of choice if thigh high hose. I think woman to do not wear hose because “fashion” dictates it is wrong, are foolish. Going out in bare legs in mid winter looks stupid. Then pair that with a sleeveless dress. Yup you’re stylish!! Until you have to replace those garment in your closet because next year long sleeves will be trending.
I’m almost 70. I do not want to look 20, 30 or 40. I want, and do, look classy, classic and elegant…all the time. Some of these young ladies ought to look up Coco Chanel. Timeless, and she wore hose every day, and so do her models on the runway.
Nada Manley says
Who knew men had such strong opinions about something they never wear?
James Mason says
You couldn’t be more wrong about wearing pantyhose. They add a total touch of class to any outfit and are a must. Pantyhose are making a comeback. Deal with it.
Aja says
I can’t tell you the number of pairs of hose I have left over from my days at Stetson. Unopened packs since I left my job about a year earlier than I expected to (hyperemesis pregnant w/Holder). I guess I figure sometimes I’ll wear them to church? Which I never do, so I don’t know why I hang on to them!
kristy wagner pattaras says
Hi Nada! Love Beauty Mommy! Thank you for all your wonderful advice! I always enjoy your writing and have truly benefitted! You’re really great at what you do!
Hope you and your family are enjoying the spring 🙂 Kristy