Hi there G.G.’s!
Hose with sandals-a No No!
I’d love to know what you think about the whole tights/pantyhose/knee high dilemma. When is a woman too old to wear tights, as in black, opaque tights or colored opaque tights? If she is too old for tights, do you recommend pantyhose? To me these just look dated and frumpy. What’s the solution? And what are your thoughts about knee highs with pants? If a woman feels that she needs them is it best to go with more of a “trouser sock” in black or a color, or to wear nude knee highs (which, again, I think look quite dated)
Thanks.
Michele Little
Hi Michele,
That is certainly one of those “grey” areas that does not really get much press! Since we are coming into summer, this is even more relevant,so here’s our response:
- What is your take on pantyhose? Are pantyhose aging? Yes, we sure do think that! However, if you have to wear pantyhose, try to wear nude that matches the color of your skin as best as possible. Donna Karan makes a few good sheer nude shades. If you are in between shades, choose the darker, but really nude should look “nude”. A great alternative is a nude colored fishnet. These look terrific. Wolford makes a great one. One final point, never wear pantyhose with a peep toe shoe or mule!
- When is a women too old to wear tights? Never. We love tights and wear black or brown tights all fall and winter but come Spring/Summer we switch to no hose or nude hose. However, we think leggings are fine and can be worn at any age.
- What are your thoughts about knee highs with pants? No, yuck. Don’t do it. That’ s our first reaction. I (JoJami) do not even own a pair of knee highs. However, we hate to say the word “never”…so here’s what we suggest… really it all depends on the shoes and pants and how dressy you are going.
If you are wearing:
- jeans and flats. No socks or hose
- jeans and heels or sandals. No sock or hose
- jeans and a loafer. Thin dress socks are good but in a dark color. (no white ones) Barefoot O.K. Do not wear knee highs.
- Khakis. (same rules as for jeans…however do not wear heels or dress shoes with khakis) Never hose with khakis.
- Dress Pants. If wearing closed toed pumps or flats you can wear knee highs or hose or go barefoot. If wearing “peep toed” heels or flats NO HOSE. If wearing any type of sandal or mule, NO HOSE.
Hope this clears things up!
Style Expert Deborah Boland specializes in helping mature women to Tweak their Chic®!
Hello. I recently discovered your site and find it fun and affirming. My pantyhose dilemma is truly vexing. Thanks to multiple vascular surgeries, I am forced to wear medical compression hose (15-20 mmhg). The problem is finding a brand that offers fashionable colors, a “nude” or “beige” that does not have an orange cast. I have invested a small fortune in ordering different brands and colors online only to be repeatedly disappointed. Have you ladies ever researched the topic? I would appreciate your guidance/recommendations. Many thanks.
Hi Joanne,
This is not anything we have ever looked at and we’ll keep our eyes open. Does anyone else have any suggestions?
Bare legs for women in dresses/shirts is, without doubt, the most ridiculous fashion trend I have ever seen. I still cannot believe that women slavishly bought into this look. Thank God Kate Middleton had the good sense to start sporting pantyhose! I teach college and even very young girls, unless they are tanned or are women of color, look incredibly unpolished sans hose in dresses/skirts. The look is too just too stark. Sheer nude hose on women over forty generally does not work, either. Age spots. spider veins, varicose veins? Seriously…
Amen Sister! I’m all for comfort but, come on! Bare legs are great if you’re heading to a beach party- but anything slightly formal… do us ALL a favor.
This whole discussion is ridiculous! First of all, trend setters are nuts, because you are just being a follower instead of dressing how you want. I am not out to pleae anyone. I am out to feel comfortable in what I wear. I want to celebrate my own person, not some trend setter’s. I will wear what I want, when I want, and where I want. Bottom line…dress should be a personal thing, not a fashion.
Notice the comments from the men who have posted in response to this question. They are right, of course.
Classy women don’t walk around with bare legs and bare faces. Thats why God invented Silken Mist and Mary K.
My opinion- Hose and heels always looks more attractive. I don’t go for that “raw” look.
Well let me say this. First, Deb, you say most woman over 40 cannot go bare legged? I do not know what part of the country you live but where I live, Central Florida, MANY women in there 40′s and even 50′s who stay in shape go bare legged in very slinky dress and look amazing.
Now onto the nylons. From a guy who is a “leg” man I can tell you that nylons are sexy and feminine and they also mix up the look for a woman who can go one night in nylons and the next without.
RE heels with them. Thonged Sandals, NEVER. Closed toe pumps..YES, Peep-toe pumps absolutely but of course have a good pedicure. Finally high heel sandals…that is touchy but it can be pulled off. Also all shades are sexy. Nude, grey, shear black. Very nice.
One thing ladies. A woman’s visual stimulus is like a drug to a man. It fires off all kinds of sexual chemicals in his head. Like any drug, no matter how good it is, if it’s always the same “strain” so to speak then he will go numb to it. Changing up your looks, even just subtly, can do wonders to the guy whos attention you are commanding.
:) Take care
Gntlmnwnedge@yahoo.com
No hose or pantyhose is so “teenage”. Why the fashion industry pushes toward the very young is beyond me. An elegant, classy line requires pantyhose. They preserve your shoes and prevent blisters. They complete a look. And, sorry, I don’t agree that light or natural color hose give a polished look to a dark dress…..somehow, it looks like you forgot something and the fashion line just does not flow. The classic look is always the best look.
In the northern states in the winter we wear some kind of socks with our shoes or boots! Shoes and no sock, no way. Yesterday it was 15 degrees out & heavens only knows what it was with the wind chill. I like the knee socks I wear with jeans to be colorful with dress pants, black, dark grey or navy. Some fashion depends on where you live.
I am late forties and will be attending an evening event late october. dress is black sleevless slip/sheath with overlay dress of lace look teal with silver threading and short sleeves (fringe at bottom of dress). It is about tea length with slit to knee on one side. I definitely need hose for my legs – not an option to not wear them.
SO…
1. what color hose? nude? sheer black?
2. what color and what type of shoes?
do i need to get closed toe pumps? can i do black sandals (without the toe split – just a strap across foot and at ankle with a closed heel?) should I get peep toe?
I believe hose will never go out of style. To me, I feel more attractive and sexy with a nice pair of thin sheer hose. As we age, our legs do not look they way they did when we were in our twenties, and hose makes our legs look sexy. Most men that I have spoken to will agree a women looks sexier when they are wearing hose. As for wearing hose with a peep toe shoe, there is nothing wrong with that as long as you’re not wearing hose with a reinforced toe. If that’s all you have then pull that part under your foot. I honestly don’t know who makes up these style rules, but panty hose are are forever…as for the knee highs, personally I will continue to wear them under my slacks when I wear pumps or flats. The key about style is, if it makes you feel good, feel sexy, and feel attractive, then go for it. Just remember, just because something has a designers name on it, doesn’t mean it’s stylish. Donna Karan hose are awesome, however it makes you feel like you’re stuffing yourself in a sausage. Control top hose should be outlawed.
Im going to a very formal wedding in October and will be wearing a black cocktail dress and found the most beautiful black peep to pumps. October is kind of cool in the evening and am not sure what to wear on my legs. should I go with sheer black or nude pantyhose? No reinforced toe of course.
Hi Deborah,
Your first choice should be the nude hose. Kate Middleton has made the nude hose popular again and we are so happy for that! Nothing like a nude hose to even out the legs! Just make sure to get a shade that is as close to your skin tone as possible, so they really look nude! Have fun!
My son is getting married in Sept. I have a champagne knee length dress with bolero jacket. Champagne peep toes pumps. Age 54. Nylons? What kind?
Sounds gorgeous! You should do a nude (very sheer and as close to your natural skin tone as possible) hose with no seam at the toe).
Agree that most women over 40 can’t do bare legs (maybe some can, but I haven’t seen many. In fact, I’ve seen a lot of under 40 bare legs that would have looked better covered! And sorry, the fake tans do not provide enough coverage for older women (You think your spider veins are hidden by fake tans? Not likely). One alternative I’ve found is the nude micromesh fishnets -they provide good coverage but have a subtle texture that looks more modern than nude hose, and I think they look chic even with smallish peeptoes (though I would not wear them with sandals or peeptoes that expose a lot). End result, I don’t wear sandals anymore unless I’m also wearing pants.
Hi Deb,
YES, yes!!! Miscromesh fishnets are really the best solution!!! We love them and were them often with our skirts and dresses. Thanks for commenting!!!
I use a light tan spray bronzer on my very fair legs in the summer when I wear a skirt or shorts. It covers spots and makes my legs look leaner. Thoughts?
Hi Carrie,
We love that idea… Deborah has fair skin and resorts to spray tan when she is going to bare her legs all the time. Thanks for mentioning spray tan as a viable option!