Style Q &A: Do panty hose make you look old?
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!
Guess what–The bare leg look is “out” (except for the most casual summer dress) and pantyhose with peep toes or sandals is back “in”. Wear the hose–it looks great! If you don’t believe me–google a fashion thread and you will see that the celebrities and models are wearing nylons again…with open-toe shoes! Thank goodness!
Women look better in hose or stockings. It is so much more sexy. If you want to attract the guys wear tights, hose or stockings. I don’t know who comes up with these stupid trends. The stupid boots with the toes cut out look like crap too!
Who comes up with those articles and opinions? Bare legs unless you’re 20 looks cheap and bad. Pumps always look great with sheer black pantyhose or knee highs if you don’t see the top. Opaque tights look great with peep toes and even opaques with shorts look great. if You don’t have shapely legs over 40, tights and pantyhose will shape them up and make them look nice. Wrinkled knees, spider veins and bumpy skin is out!
Opaque tights with shorts? We’ve seen then on some trendy teens but there’s no way we’d suggest them for grown-up gals!
Women look better in hose but except for tights in the winter thay are out of style.
My advice wear dark tights in the winter. Otherwise ask yourself, do you get more positive attention wearing them or looks like you are out of style?
If you look sexy and nice, go for it…
Guys love the way you look in tights and pantyhose or if your dare thigh highs..
Just an opinion
I drove by my old school..girls were wearing tights..maybe 5% of them..but I noticed.
Yes they are out of fashion but if you are single…men will notice and be turned on because it is unusual now. In Chicago you see dark tights on Lasalle and Wells. My advice is wear them and make a fuss…make people notice
wear a shorter skirt…be sexy
Deborah and JoJami: What do you think about the hose with peep toes? I have bad scars from melanoma removal and need “something” to diffuse them. Otherwise great leg shape and length. Winter = tights of course. What to do in warmer weather or dressy events when a dress is called for? I like the peep toe shoes to be trendy, can the hose be forgiven with great shoes? I feel like I need a sign “medical excuse for hose.” Have also tried spray tan for some coverage of scars.
Hi Jo,
We give you full permission (due to medical reasons) to wear hose!
The peep toe ones are fine with a hose too… probably no need to wear the open toed hose…. we are on the fence on those and think you should just keep it full hose or no hose!
I love to see women in sheer pantyhose… I think they’re the sexiest, most feminie thing a woman can wear.
I can not believe what I have just read. Since when is there an age limit on black tights?! Women’s legs NEED to have Pantyhose or Tights AT ALL TIMEs and AT ALL AGES with ALL OUTFITS. Bare legs are an AWFUL look. Please, If you are going to wear clothing at all you need to be in Pantyhose. And they are finally coming into fashion for MEN also. Its about time that men be wearing tights and pantyhose, We all have legs and they should all have Hose.
Hi Erin,
We really hesitate to ever use the word, “all” for anything to do with fashion.
I have found toeless pantyhose to be lovely with open toe sandals. They are thong style exposing the toes, with a closed heel. Of course they don’t work with the barest of sandals, but with many sandal styles they are great. I have found them at Nordstrom and on Amazon. (just type “toeless pantyhose” into search) I also use Dermablend leg cover when I go to evening affairs and don’t wish to wear pantyhose. Gives my legs a very evened out look and covers spider veins.
Did you really just say nude fishnets? FISHNETS? Picture please.
In Spring and Fall when it’s too early to wear black tights, I do wear an ultrasheer hose or my new favorite- nude fishnets. When nude fishnets were first suggested to me, I wasn’t sure, but really they are fabulous. They give your leg nice coverage and they are actually very subtle (unlike black fishnets!).
Did you really just say NUDE FISHNETS? Picture please.
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!
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!!!
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).
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!
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.
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?
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.