We all know the Queen of England would never step out in public bare legged! Goodness gracious no...she always wears nude stockings.
Ladies my age were brought up to wear nude stockings, especially to church, dressy functions, or in the workplace. I agree that in the heat of the summer, it's wonderful to wear a Lilly Pulitzer shift with a pair of Tory Burch Revas or Jack Rogers sandals...bare legged. Bare legs seem to be the new trend for young ladies; I see them at church, at weddings, and in the workplace. When did ladies stop wearing stockings? Do stockings age those of us who still wear them?
I think not! Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge always appears in public wearing nude stockings. Of course, Buckingham Palace enforces a strict dress code for women...they must wear stockings and closed-toed shoes.
Nude stockings are like a foundation for your legs and they also add a nice sheer finish to lilly-white legs. Suntan stockings are a definite no-no. Your stockings should match your skin tone. And please ladies, don't wear stockings with open-toed shoes!
I remember the day my Mama allowed me to wear stockings. I was so excited and have been wearing them every since! I even saved my garter belt and stockings from the Christian Dior store in Paris that I wore on my wedding day.
Opaque tights are really fashionable now and I love wearing them. I think black tights make heavy legs look slimmer and hide any flaws on the legs. It looks nice to coordinate the color of your tights with the color of your sweater/blouse/jacket, et cetera.
Do you think ladies look better when they wear stockings or do you think stockings age you?
I like the look of a good-quality stocking but hate wearing panty hose. The current trend of going bare-legged works for some gals but some look sloppy and unfinished. I totally agree with you about the color choice for stockings. Stockings should enhance the legs, not make them look like belong to someone else.
ReplyDeleteI am in my twenties and I wear panty hose to work most of the time. I think they're an essential part of a business formal wardrobe and I would be embarrassed to be seen in court without them. But I do not think most people seem to feel that way anymore. Part of the reason I wear hose is because I think they make me look more grown-up and responsible and that's what I want. But, I definitely think that wearing stockings that are too thick or are a bad match for your skin tone may age you in a bad kind of way.
ReplyDeleteSince I am always cold but like to wear skirts and dresses more so than pants I often wear hose to keep warm in air conditioned buildings and in the winter I wear opaque tights with long underwear underneath.
I am with you....if I'm sporting a Lilly Pulitzer skirt or casual dress, I will skip the stockings and wear a ballet flat or my Jack's, but any other occasion that I'm wearing a suit or dress, I have them on. I actually love the Spanx pantyhose....very helpful after having four kids! Definitely in the nude color...I also like black or navy tights in the fall and winter with my casual skirts and dresses.
ReplyDeleteI always wear stockings to work. I am appalled at the women who wear a nice suit and expensive shoes with bare legs. I've also heard that bare feet can ruin the inside of shoes.
ReplyDeleteI wear hose to church and dressy functions. It just makes you look more polished.
ReplyDeleteMiss Janice,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. Those of us who live 'up north' have never been able to stop wearing nude stockings, even if we wanted to! There events where the weather is just too cold to even think of not wearing nude stockings...you can only wear sheer black with some dressy outfits. I always felt a bit odd, but I always wear them when it's appropriate. I agree with all these comments, much more classy and polished and it just makes your legs look better. (no
blisters either). Thank you Donna Karen, The Nudes!
Warmly, Kathleen
Perfect timing for this post, as I'm wearing stockings for the first time since classes ended in early May. Somehow, after Labor Day, no matter how hot it still is here in Texas, stockings feel right for work.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad they are back. I wear them to church about 9 mos of the year and feel much more "together."
ReplyDeleteOh boy. While I think they are probably appropriate, I haven't worn hose in 15 years - unless you count tights in the winter with boots? I can honestly say in Arizona, I NEVER see anyone wearing hose unless they are 60+. Again, I might not agree with it. I will say I do not like the feelign of wearing hose.
ReplyDeleteDepends on where you live, I believe. I personally hate them but wouldn't be caught dead without them on a January day in N.Y.C. But imagine your legs ( and other personal areas) wrapped in them on a 115 degree day in Scottsdale. Most stockings sold today are hideous and few of us have the inclination to spend $50+ for Wolfords when the $ would be better donated to the local food bank or animal rescue.
ReplyDeleteAging? Absolutely! It's interesting that, about a year ago, a few obnoxious gentleman at the club were guessing women's ages. One particularly attractive gentleman (who was obviously full of himself) made the comment that "if they're wearing stockings, they're over 60". On the topic of stockings another followed up with " it's dating my granny".
Miss Janice, I concur with your post. Being over 50, I believe there is a time and place for nude nylons. I feel they are classy, and are a definite flaw hider for most ladies.
ReplyDeleteI do not typically wear nude stockings (my Cajun mother does not leave house without them on), but I definitely wear navy and black opaque stockings in the winter.
ReplyDeleteWhile I certainly admit to not always wearing stockings when it's warmer weather.....I would say that stockings don't age my legs as much as the ugly veins do....and of course, without stockings they show all the more. I try to wear slacks often.
ReplyDeleteI think the popularity of fake tan is making bare legs look better. But the skin has to be pretty flawless to really carry it off. I know stockings or hose isn't very comfortable on hot days, so Sally Hansen airbrushed legs works wonders to hide imperfections, even skin tone and add colour, while still letting you go bare legged.
ReplyDeleteDepending on the industry you work in, bare legs may not be acceptable in the workplace. And I certainly wouldn't attend a religious service or a formal occasion with naked pins.
Tights for the Winter are nice. Keep your legs warm and they come in so many colours and patterns, they are almost like another accessory.
Ali x
In the past I wouldn't have step foot out the house without nude hose even when wearing pants. Now I've given in to the heat and wear them less but still to church and brunch. I hate fake tans and flip flops except at the beach or the spa.
ReplyDeleteWhen I see a woman in a suit without pantyhose it always makes me think that she must have had a huge run in the ones she was wearing and had to take them off. It's not a polished, professional look.
ReplyDeleteNordstrom has (or at least had) a dress code policy that if a female sales associate's legs were showing, she had to wear some kind of leg covering. I talked to one woman who dealt with the heat of the summer by wearing a very large weave fishnet hose in a nude color.
In winter a wool skirt with matching tights is a great look!
Oh my! I have my hose and garter belt from my wedding as well.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a MUST.
Oh my definitely YES! I, too, have my garters and stockings from my wedding in 1989! ♥
ReplyDeleteI think that stockings make you look polished. However, personally I am glad that bare legs are now acceptable. I spent a fortune buying hosiery when I worked. In Florida, they are just unbearable in the heat and humidity. I do keep a couple of pairs around just in case I need them, but I do everything possible to avoid them.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...I have noticed that the younger ladies in the organizations I'm in are bare. But the ladies 60 and over are usually in nude stockings. I agree that the stockings do look better but I just can not stand it in the humidity.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen anyone wearing panty hose in 10 years, wow, don't send us back to the dark ages...
ReplyDeleteDiana shocked the Establishment when she showed up without stockings to a BP garden party and Jackie Kennedy was famous for wearing her Lilly shift to mass without stockings. As for royal women only being able to wear closed-toe shoes, the Queen's wedding shoes were open-toed, and she wore the style often in the early years of her marriage/reign. Princess Margaret was always wearing them as did the Queen Mother. Diana wore them once.
ReplyDeleteI haven't worn pantyhose in years. I put on leg makeup for summer occasions and wear pants in the cold winter.
Diana shocked the Establishment when she showed up without stockings to a BP garden party and Jackie Kennedy was famous for wearing her Lilly shift to mass without stockings. As for royal women only being able to wear closed-toe shoes, the Queen's wedding shoes were open-toed, and she wore the style often in the early years of her marriage/reign. Princess Margaret was always wearing them as did the Queen Mother. Diana wore them once.
ReplyDeleteI haven't worn pantyhose in years. I put on leg makeup for summer occasions and wear pants in the cold winter.
I do like stockings for dressy occasions in the colder months. I wore them to my daughter's wedding which was in February in the south. I think I looked much better for having done so. Now, I will admit to liking summer dresses with none. I hate that we got away from them for everything though. They do put a polished look on some outfits.
ReplyDeleteI keep a French Pedicure at all times and I think it looks better with stockings and open toed heels or sandals. Even in the summer I wear stockings at work and to church because I feel my look is put together.
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