Pantyhose
 

When I was younger, it seemed most girls wore pantyhose when getting dressed up. It seems that fewer and fewer women wear pantyhose these days, preferring to go with bare legs or maybe thigh-highs when wearing a dressy outfit.

I feel like something's missing if I don't wear pantyhose with a nice skirt or dress. Maybe it's just me....what are your thoughts?


....deedee....

I love having bare legs or wearing thigh highs. But some outfits just require me to wear pantyhose. They help smooth out all the bumps left by my weight loss.

This may be regional. My sister live in the Midwest and is required by her office dress code to wear hose if she's wearing a skirt. I lived in Florida for years and owned maybe one pair of hose that whole time - I never wore them, and neither did most women (although the "older" generation - 60 and up, I would say, did).

I like panty hose when wearing a dress and heels, but I went to a wedding this last weekend all the bridesmaids wore streetlength dresses and toeless and heeless shoes. They all looked great. Of course they all had great legs and beautiful tans.

Nylon hose make one's legs look sleek and beautiful. I still love them. I've had nice legs at any weight, but I would never dress up w/o them.

Bag 'em! Pantyhose age you (and show your age)! It was a conscious decision on my part to divorce myself from pantyhose and the first few times without them was difficult. I was pretty self-conscious. But I was also very much more comfortable so it was worth the change. I spend the money I would have used for hose on pedicures so I can show off my bare legs and cute toes with great sandals. If I feel like I need some smoothing, I bring out the Spanx.

So I say shave, lotion up, and join the revolution! ;)

I haven't worn pantyhose since I was about 12 years old... I switched to the thigh-highs during my teenage years, but only when it was cold outside. These days, it could be -20 degrees and I still go bare, just can't stand them. It also lets me show off my tattoo on my ankle. :)

If I'm looking particularly pale, I'll just fake tan in advance (or use that lotion that has a little bit of tanner).

Thanks for the opinions! These days, I usually wear pantyhose only when really dressing up. It just makes me feel more "dressed", if you know what I mean. I have a 12 year old daughter, and she thinks I'm nuts to be wearing those "awful things". When I was 12, my mother made it mandatory if we were going out anywhere...times change!

In the summer (I live in upstate NY, so winters are COLD) I often go with bare legs. I like to get a pedicure 2 or 3 times in the summer, and it's nice to show off my toes with capris and a pair of sandals.

In winter, I wear jeans and longer skirts a lot, so I usually wear pantyhose or even tights so my legs and feet feel warmer.

I know what you mean by "regional". You lucky southern girls have summer all year, and you see a lot more bare legs.

....deedee....

I live in the south but in the winter, i prefer stockings with dresses. But in the summer, i like to wear some self tanner and go without stockings. Usually as long as it isn't an above the knee skirt or dress. My company doesn't seem to mind the bare legged dress....i see lots of bare legs.

I'll wear tights in the winter to keep warm. I work with little kids who grab my legs all day, lol, so I need something more run-resistant than hose. But yeah, growing up, hose was the grownup thing to wear.

I've lived in Florida most of my life and I'm not over 60. I also think hose looks dressy and finished. I wore pantihose even after my company went to business casual - I even wore them under pants. I switched to knee highs at some point.

It was very hard for me to see women barelegged at work and accept that as professional. I still classify some of the outfits I see especially with bare legs and flip flop type sandals as beach attire and inappropriate for work.

But, hey, I'd rather deal with that than be stuck in the past (before my time) with gloves, girdles, corsets or other restrictive clothing.

My mom still gets on me about wearing hose when in "dressy" situations, but she's starting to accept that times have changed and it's not a requirement anymore!!

I, too, am INCREDIBLY pale, but it doesn't really bother me. It used to, but so many people have commented on my "porcelain" or "alabaster" skin that I figure it's just a different, less mainstream beauty :).

In terms of figure flattering-ness (yeah, I said it!), Spanx all the way, man. I also frequently wear Spanx when doing a show where I KNOW I'm going to be doing a quick-change backstage during applause or a scene change. That way everything's smooth on stage and nothing's too out-there backstage! Bonus: it gives me something REALLY secure to fix my mic pack to!

I hate panty hose. I can't ever buy ones that are long enough. The crotch part never sits at my crotch. I need to find a good pair of spanx for under dresses though.

I don't think that pantyhose age you...I think that if they are appropriate or not, or if they age you or not, depends on the actual outfit, and the occasion in which they are being worn.

Now when I see an older woman wearing pantyhose with shorts, housedresses, and other CASUAL attire, especially if they are orangey-suntan in color, then yes, they definitely age you. On the other hand, if you are a lawyer, or a secretary in a professional office, I think that hose with your business attire are completely appropriate.

If you are a lady with great legs wearing a mini dress and heels out dancing, or shopping in a mini skirt or summer dress with sandals...then go bare legged. On the other hand, if you are a young lady doing an internship in a professional setting, wear hose or tights and nice dress shoes. (NOT flip flops or Doc Marten leather sandals with big, thick heels!)

If you are attending, or IN a wedding, I think that the style of gown should decide. An autumn or winter wedding with a more formal style (especially with darker color schemes such as forest green burgandy, navy, or black) would say to me "wear hose"...on the other hand, at my SIL's wedding 2 years ago, it was more casual, outdoors, and there was a lighter lavendar/lilac color scheme. Our dresses were more "summery" in style, so we all wore matching sandals with the dresses and bare legs.

Just like with anything...it is going to depend on the occasion, the time of year, and the actual outfit.

I think that wearing pantyhose with your housedress to the grocery store is going to age you...but on the other hand, wearing a mini skirt, bare legs, and informal sandals to a professional setting makes you look unprofessional and underdressed.

Just my opinion :)

Had to LOL at this! This cracks me up. I actually saw an elderly woman at the gym recently with pantyhose on (not special compression ones for health reasons either) under her shorts!:?: Personally, I ONLY wear pantyhose for special/formal occasions. Hate them!!! I work outside of our home 2 days a week, but wear scrubs. I'm not sure if I could work in a profession that required them!

I am guilty of wearing black leggins once with my shorts because I hate my cellulite legs lol. I haven't worn them again. Besides that one time, I hate pantyhose, but I do like the tummy sucker shorts by Spanx lol

LOL! Speaking of leggings I actually saw 2 teenage girls working out with leggings under their shorts the other day at the gym. I figured it was a fashion statement. They didn't have anything to cover up - if you kwim.

Oh it is totally a fashion statement at my university. I was stupid at first because I would ask oh did you just work out and none of them would say yes LOL. It was really hot outside too so I did not understand the logic of leggins under a mini skirt or the shorts *shrugs*. If it were cold, it would be understandable, but 110 heat index and 100 percent humidity..no thanks.

A girl did tell me once that she felt more comfortable with leggings because she could be more comfortable doing weight machines like the inner and outer thigh machines where the whole world can say hello. She also felt more comfortable with the elliptical and didn't have to worry at the guys staring at the booty lol.I understand that p.o.v.

I'm 40 and haven't worn pantyhose since ... oh ... '92? I think that was the last job I had that required them. And I live in the oh-so-conservative deep south, where ladies still wear hats and gloves to church. ;)

I have worn thigh-highs, but that's more for the sexy factor, than for the need to wear hose.

And in the winter I wear dark patterned tights.

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I FREQUENTLY wear leggings under skirts, just because I think it's more comfortable. Also, it sort of smooths things out, which is GREAT!

My roommate freshman year of college wore spandex under her shorts to the gym for that same reason -- she didn't want to have to worry about being caught doing an unflattering exercise and give the college community a free show!! I've always worn longer, knee-length stuff to the gym so I don't have to worry abou tthat, but I totally get where she's coming from.

But tights under shorts?? Walking around in public? Not in the gym? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

I agree with Aphil. There's a time and a place where pantyhose are (or should be) expected and give a more dressed up or professional look to your outfit. Thigh highs don't cut it for me... they're always sliding down my legs. And to go with the whole garter/tape/thigh high thing is just ridiculous when you're going to work.

Personally, I think it's kind of gross when I see all of the women at work with bare legs--most of them have thick pasty legs that I think would look better (not to mention more professional) with pantyhose. But then again, this is just one symptom of the "de-formalization" of society, isn't it? Personally I think it's a shame that nobody dresses up anymore. We look like a country of slobs.

And just for the record, there are some good pairs of nude pantyhose out there that make your legs look fantastic and don't make you look like the old lady at the grocery store. ;)

Oh yes-when I do wear hose, if they are not a dark colored tight (black or chocolate brown) then I always go for the very sheer nude color. The suntan-orangey color is so 70's. :lol:

Wow. Nice.

When I wear a nice skirt and top and cute heels, and no hose, I CERTAINLY don't look like a "slob".

Wow.

.

I don't think she meant anything personal. ;)

I think that it is just a general thing. For instance, when I go to the mall shopping, I see tons of people who look like "slobs" for a lack of a better word. Even if they are wearing $100 pants and $200 shoes, the in look a lot of times is still sorta "slob". :lol:

I mean, if I were a foreign exchange student from India or somewhere where clothing styles were completely different...and I came here to see:

~The mass of bare legs.
~Men and teenage boys in their "4 sizes too big pants belted UNDER their bums" with their underwear hanging out 5 inches.
~The women walking around in tanks and tees with no bras.
~Low rise jeans with tight baby t-shirts and bellies and muffin tops hanging over.
~The Doc Marten sandals or flip flops as "dress" sandals with chipped toenail polish.
~Brand new Abercrombie and other premium jeans selling for $80 that already looked like my husband drug them behind his Harley for 20 miles.
~Women with the t-back of their thongs peeking out of their low rise jeans.
~The "cut off" jean shorts
~The "cut off" flannel shirts and t-shirts made into tank tops


I would probably have the same perception at a glance, too. ;)

Obviously it does not mean that every single person dresses that way, but you know how it is, and what you see when you are out somewhere.

It is just the fact that our society is so less formal (and even proper) in some ways than others are...and what is acceptable now, the standards just keep getting lower, and lower.

If you look at the generations of our parents and grandparents...things were just different, and everything just keeps getting more and more relaxed, and I don't think that it is always a good thing. No one in my grandfather's generation would go into a business in super casual attire, talking slang, and expect to get hired. Now, they do. People go into a business in ripped jeans, with children, or their "ride" (instead of driving themselves) with them, acting unprofessional, and expect to get hired. People go to weddings and funerals and church in jeans-something that people used to dress up for. Dinnertime used to be family time, not time to shovel it in while talking on the phone or text messaging someone. Child rearing, and what is acceptable, has even changed. I see 5 and 7 year old kids running around the neighborhood at all hours...with no adult in sight. Instead of great television programming, we have mindless reality shows about bimbos and players.

It is a shame, really...

I can totally see why some, at a general glance, would see us as slobs. I do.

It doesn't mean that there are not well educated, well dressed, and well mannered members of our society out there-we just are not the ones often seen on the media.

I think the slob comment was a generalization, and definitely not anything personal. :D

BINGO - Well stated Aphil.

I love the boys & some girls who look like they have never seen a hair brush. Very matted cave man. And to think they actually spend time to make it look that way. My kids think its funny that I have a hair brush by the door and they all get a quick brushing before we leave any where.

You live in the appropriate weather for the leggings/mini skirt outfit. When I see it here in very hot, humid weather, I cringe because it is not good for circulation if you get my drift :o I wish I lived in colder weather, so I could do it lol.

I never wear panyhose.. only because alllll of my dress shoes are "thong" style.. So if I wore pantyhose I wouldn't be able to wear my shoes.. Other than that I like how they look & almost everyone I know won't dress up w/o them!

Not living all year round summer, of course I wear tights, mostly opaque black, in the cold months.

As for bare legs or not with formal dress - I've usually gone bare legged in the warmer months, and worn sheer hose in the winter (bare legs in freezing temperatures is just plain wrong IMO). But the last time I needed to dress up I found some sheer glossy hose that made my legs look fabulous. So I might be going with hose in the future, regardless of season.

I agree with Aphil; I don't think it was meant personally. But sometimes, you do see some people who may be wearing the same outfit, but one person looks nice, and the other looks sloppy.
And, ugh, there is no excuse for people's thong underwear to hang out of their jeans. I think thongs are fine, but I don't want to see anyone's underwear in public.

I personally prefer pantyhose to bare-legged. I have a fair amount of varicosities on my legs and I don't think any amount of self-tanner is going to cover that up. Wearing pantyhose just gives me a smoother look. I know there are leg make-up products out there, but I really don't want to mess with them. I also like the control top to help hold tummy in. Guess I'm just an old fart anyway.

I agree with Aphil's comments too. I'm a nurse and while I would never advocate to wearing caps again, the way some gals dress for work is appalling. Wrinkled & unpressed clothing, inappropriate hair, pants dragging on the floor and stained from walking on them, thongs peeking out when bending over. Very unprofessional looks.

Today at church there was a couple whose son was making his First Communion. The dad had on shorts and a casual short sleeve shirt. Sorry if I sound like I'm ranting, but I think the casual look has gone too far in some situations.

I agree our style of dress has been going down hill for some time. I have seen women in the grocery store in pajamas, no doubt about it they were pajamas,I have seen teen age girls at church in short shorts and a bare midriff top. There is a time and place for everything, I am sitting here bare footed in bermudas and a tank top. but that is not what I wore to church this morning.I love to dress up in heels, panty hose and a nice dress, and I like to wear jeans and a tee shirt, too.Just depends on the occasion.

I can't stand the restrictiveness of pantyhose. No matter what size/brand, they always feel too tight in the waist and by halfway through the day I feel like I'm suffocating. I prefer tights. Much more comfy. ;)

I think one of the reasons I became a social worker and then a professor is so I dont have to ever wear pantyhose again in my life.... I dont own any.... I dont own a slip, I dont own a pair of high heels..... give me my khakis and a sweater any day of the week..... tights are ok.... if I could find some that fit properly for someone tall like myself.... but when I am trapsing (spelling) all over campus and teaching.... I just can't be bothered.....

i wore pantyhose a few times before but it's uncomfortable. Altho i admit that it makes my legs look smooth and long, but compare to the uncomfortable feeling when wearing it >.<" nah. I'll pass.

Pantyhose is soooo uncomfortable!! Ick! To me it's just not worth feeling very uncomfortable the whole time. Fortunately now I live where it's almost always chilly so I wear pants to work almost all the time.

I have worn pantyhose a few times in my life. I never thought they were comfortable. I have always worn silk stockings. They are the one luxury I have always given myself. I personally think garters and such are very feminine and make me feel good no matter if my outer wear is a business suit or a sexy dress.