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!
This is not a rhetorical question: if they can’t be worn with sandals, why are there “sandalfoot” hose – ??
And what, exactly, is the definition of a “sandal”? Is it any shoe that bares the toes? I mean … there is a huge difference between Birkenstock “sandals” and the shoe you have pictured (which, by the way, I don’t think looks that bad with hose … so, shoot me!)
I don’t find pantyhose to be uncomfortable at all, no matter what the weather or temperature, and I wear them often. I also wear thigh-highs sometimes, because they are even more comfortable if it’s really hot, and the modern ones with silicon bands actually stay up quite well.
I agree with whoever said that many/most of the women running around with bare legs are fooling themselves as to how they look. I know I was … I am 55, and for the past few years fell for the “bare legs” trend, and thought I actually looked good (and I DO actually have pretty nice legs). Then, I saw a candid photo of myself and had to admit “Eh, not so much … ” I look much MUCH better wearing sheer hosiery the same color as my skin – which is pretty fair. I hate hate HATE self-tanners or leg makeup with a passion; it means you can never wear anything white, and I love to wear white.
Just my two cents’ worth.
Hello, I was just wanting to tell all how I love women wearing pantyhoe, it is a dying fad, but I wish more women would wear them. I love wearing them myself. Kreepy huh. Its my thing
chow.
Hi Patricia,
Since your event s in Northern CA, you should definitely go with a nude sheer hose or nude fishnet. Black will look too somber for a wedding!
Hope this is helpful! Have a wonderful time!
I have been searching for several months on what is appropriate/in style for me to wear with my black knee length dress to my granddaughter’s wedding, which is at the end of this month. It is an outdoor affair in a coastal town in northern California. I have not worn a dress in ages…always black pants for cocktail or evening wear. I am in my mid 60′s and although I am very petite (size 2), my legs do not look their best ‘bare’, even though I do use a self-tanner. I will be wearing closed toe black heels. Please tell me what my options are. Can I wear sheer nude or sheer black pantyhose? Thanks!
Hi Sally, O.K. that sounds fair enough!! We hope you will find our other info helpful though!
We’ll have to just agree to disagree. I’ll continue to wear suntan hose, because I know they look good. I recommend that everybody follow the trends that work for them, and the others discard. Some people like the skinny jeans, some do not. Some people like the low rise, some don’t. I like panty hose, so I’ll continue to wear them.
Hi Sally,
If you wear very sheer hose that matches your skin tone so that it looks like you don’t have them on, is highly recommended, if you are going to wear hose. If you wear suntan hose, and they are darker than your arms, then it can be aging!
I don’t agree that wearing hose ages you. Quite the opposite is true, actually.
I just don’t understand the bare-legged look. Why would any woman want to go without hose, when we all look better with them on. I wear suntan hose myself. What will we see next, the no-makeup look? Who thinks up these ideas?
Hi Dane,
Thanks for your opinion. We agree that hose might be the only option for those women who have saggy skin or lots of veins. However, for those women who still have the option to wear or not wear hose, we are going to stick with our points you mention above! Especially when it come to wearing hose with sandals, ooh, that look can really age you!
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.
Hogwash”Pantyhose can and should be worn with anything listed here,bare legs or feet do not look good and pantyhose should be worn no matter what the age.
Hi Terri,
You have a very good question. If it is true that your legs have a lot of veins and is saggy, we do suggest that you wear longer dresses and skirts if you are not going to wear hose.
If you are going to wear hose, then you can not wear a sandal. Hose must be worn ONLY with closed toed shoes. (except in the winter with the dark opaque hose, you can be more flexible)
That being said, since short casual dresses do not look good with hose, you might try to stick with a light weight pant or longer shorts.
Also, spray tan can make the legs look nice as well.
Hope this helps!
I’m 59…I have varicose veins also the skin is starting to look saggy. I feel I need all the help I can get…I see most of you feel that if you’re going to wear hose invest in the better ones. When I wear a longer flowing skirt I don’t wear hose…I tend to wear cute sandals with these…But!, I have a couple of sun dresses and a skirt that are more form fitting and come to mid-knee. My legs look really yucky with these…not sure what to do about these?? I think the hose with a sundress ruins the effect..Any comments? Naturally, I wear sandals with these…I’ve tried going without hose but legs look bad. I do tan in the summer…Also the skirt I have defintely demands hose…I’ve been wearing cork sandals with it which looks cute but obviously I wear the hose. Do you think I should wear a different shoe??? I haven’t tried the fishnet hose, nor am I familar with the toeless (I looked these up online and got poor reviews.) Any advice you have would be welcomed.
Even though I’m an olive-skinned Gen-Xer, I still find it looks really unprofessional to wear a suit without pantyhose. Sorry, but I think a lot of women are kidding themselves with the bare leg look. Regardless if women are older or younger, there’s not much attractive (or sexy!) about pasty legs and even tanned legs sometimes have unsightly bumps, veins etc. The only women I’ve seen who look halfway decent without pantyhose are Asian women because they often seem to have really smooth, flawless skin. I usually wear silk hose in taupe – that looks polished to me. Granted, I’ve never been one to follow trends unless I find them appealing. By the way, good to see the guys’ opinions.
Hi Jane,
Great idea! Deborah and I are working hard on getting something like that up and running for all you ladies! Keep your eyes peeled!
I just turned 60. I have always thought myself to be a young free spirit style. I find myself at my new age reflecting on whether or not i should continue this style… We need a style helper, to let us click on what we wear most, and what to wear with those pieces to look age appropriate.
Hi Lucy,
Yes, Sally Hansen airbrush for legs is a great product! Thanks for sharing that idea.
Have any of you ladies tried Sally Hansen airbrush for legs. I haven’t tried it but have heard good things. It’s like a fake tan but actually washes off, so more like a foundation for legs. Thanks
Dress clothes call for hose. Casual clothes do not. It’s as simple as that!
Hi Christopher,
We love your input and think you have some valid points. We are seeing LOTS of hose for fall and loving it! So fun… we are seeing colored hose with sandles, but don’t like to see nude hose with sandles…too old lady looking.
Just wanted to clarify that one thing!!
Cheers, to one of our favorite guys out there!!!
I like very sheer stockings in either off-black or taupe. And they must be good, as one guy pointed out above. I’m 56, not 26 with smooth, glowing skin, so find that these are for me age appropriate. Several years ago I saw a well-dressed woman, in winter, wearing black skirt with black pumps and bare legs. She was in her late 40s. To me, the bare legs did not look good: pale, veiney, flakey. She appeared to be catering to a youthful fad vs. adopting something (hose) what would have been far more flattering. I never forgot it, as at the time I was in the fence about the whole issue.
In summer, if the dress is light and I am wearing sandals (always heels), I will go without but select a lotion that will give some sheen. I don’t tan, but don’t feel I need to.
I’m still a proponent that beautiful legs are beautiful legs with or without hosiery.
However, aging, scaly, white, pasty, sun damaged, veined and bumpy legs, like many own, are best ensconced with nylon. If a young woman has psoriasis on her legs, for instance, she has to feel unattractive and unfashioanble because she wants to wear a dress and hosiery would help hide it, but because of the dictates of “fashion” she will feel unattractive. (Isn’t the point to HELP people feel attractive?)
Even leg make up or self tanner won’t fix or hide many problems.
We know it hasn’t been the trend, and hasn’t been fashionable for awhile. That doesn’t mean it isn’t still attractive to many, (including me).
A woman has a dress for her son’s wedding, she’s 60 with thick calves and sun spots. The dress is to the knee, it’s winter. She loves the dress and nude is the best option… should she feel unattractive with pressure to not wear hosiery because “it’s old ladyish?” It’s difficult enough this darn wedding, but now she’s less confident because her new daughter in law to be would be aghast if she wore nude stockings!
That’s my rant. But then again, I love hosiery. I love legs in hosiery. Always have. Every color every type (o.k. except white). I see colored and patterned hosiery with sandals frequently in fashion spreads, so I imagine the day shall return when sandalfoot hosiery will be acceptable with (what, they’re called sandalfoot?) sandals.
I found a really nice pair of lightweight pantyhose by HUE in Natural. They are very sheer, you can not even feel yourself wearing them, you can barely see them on and they make your legs look very smooth. I have also worn them with a small peep toe sling back and sometimes during warmer months, you have to make sure the seam is hidden. I am very pale and only wear hose with certain skirts and dresses (conservative type). I believe that if it is done right with the right clothes it is not aging. I should know… I’m 41 and people think that I am at least 10 years younger. Normally my feet are bare during the warm months with my open toe sandals and pants/skirts and in cooler months I wear a lot of closed shoes and boots. I have yet to understand the open toe boot, lol.
If you ask a guys opinion, Legs look much better in a good pair of Pantyhose.
An informal poll with the men in our NYC office provides a pretty unanimous opinion.
So if you are trying to impress the guys, here is our take. (Before anyone jumps on us, keep in mind, us guys dress to the office somewhat to look good for the opposite sex. We dont think we’re so venus and mars when it comes to this. It certainly no double standard by any means.)
Here is the wrap up.
1) The cheap discount beige ones for sure make you look granny. Spend on the quality pair. Us guys can tell the difference.
2) Pantyhose gives you a polished look. Pollsters in office say your appeal factor goes up.
3) Darker colors had higher rating.
4) You have to have really nice legs to pull off skintones.
5) Barelegs, OK if you are working in a sporty environment, but once you change from running shoes, go for the polised look. Guys notice.
The bare leg and uncovered toes have gone to far most just do not look good at all and need some kind of nylon stockings or pantyhose to help hide those white veiny exposed feet and legs, and of course no they do not make you look old or time stamped they hide all those imperfections and bring out your best looks. Ive been to many formal and unformal occasions to see a very sharp looking woman with gorgeous hair , make up and a striking dress with lovely heels and then look at her neglected legs and feet without the benefit of nylon hosiery I’m afraid it really does detract from her looks.
I hope all this debate about pantyhose is making the pantyhose industry stand up and listen. If someone could come out with a comfortable, attractive super sheer, super light, and barely there leg covering for us gals who do need a little something, they’d make a fortune. There must be a way to update pantyhose to something more modern.
I don’t see how anybody could wear sandals with panty hoses, don’t their feet slip down in the shoe? The picture you posted is a perfect example of someone wearing the wrong type of hosiery with their shoes. I mean, if you have to wear sheer hoses, at least get the toeless kind they have them in control top and they are only like $6 to $12 dollars. If someone is wearing sandals with pants they can get the footless hose.
Hi Budget Chic! We are so glad to hear your take on things…many women over 40 think no hose is not an option and we want to make sure they know it is totally fine! Glad to hear you can back us up on this point!
Cheers!
I hate sheer beige panty hose they itch me and I think wearing them with open toe shoes is a major no-no in my book (unless you have to wear them for circulation or other medical reasons). I like fashionable colored tights for the cooler months but that where it ends for me. Dislike panty hose, love tights.
Hi Melinda,
What we are saying is do what you feel comfortable doing. There is no one right answer for everyone. We just give our suggestions and advice and you all get to pick what you like and apply what you want or feel comfortable with. Thanks for asking for clarification on that!!!
Cheers!
I really think self tanner is the way to go. It’s amazing what it can do for you. Self tanner hides the blue veins somewhat. You can build up and get a little darker over time
So, are you saying it’s perfectly okay to self-tan blue-veined legs in the summer and go out in a dress without hosiery?
Hi Michele,
So glad you are going to heed our advice!! Get that self tanner out and your skirts and enjoy!!!
Thank you for this Q&A! I was just pouting because of a “fashion” article making fun of self-tanners and I thought – if I’m too old-ladyish (at 43) wearing hose with skirts/dresses but now I can’t dress my pale, blue-veined (yet shapely) legs with something resembling a healthy color, am I doomed to jeans and khakis all summer?? Will give my hosiery a good looking-at and cleaning out now to make sure I’ve got some appropriate items. After a long New England winter I’m yearning to get back into skirts and dresses again without looking “old.”
Okay, it makes sense to gauge the thickness of your sock/hosiery and the footwear by the texture of your slacks. I can see that. Thanks for taking the trouble to define that.
And I now see that the stylishness of socks is just a subjective one. Here’s how I understand it, after reading your thoughts: If you feel that socks are unstylish, you will feel unstylish when you wear them. If you don’t care, and if you assess your outfit appropriately, it won’t matter.
What do you think?
Hi Mom. Hubert,
We are grateful that you are pushing us to clarify! This is really a great topic to discuss because there are SO many variations on what is in style these days and what can be aging. Obviously climate, season and the color of your legs (and veins) all play a roll in this, so the answer is a long and complicated one. Moreover, we wanted to mention that the heavier the fabric of the pants, the heavier the “sock” and shoe should be. In otherwords, if you have a heavy wool pant, you will not want to wear a sheer hose and shoe.
Better to wear a trouser sock or even sock and boot or loafer.
If your wearing a lightweight pant, a sheer hose and delicate shoe will work together for a harmonious look.
We really think a regular sock is just not stylish. So when it is cold we stick with boots or a high cut “boot” type shoe, that we can wear socks with and no one will know! When we go skiing we live in our thick socks and boots!
I totally agree with the many wise women who still believe in pantyhose (tights for UK sisters). Hose is even more important as we age and our skin tone and colour is not that of a tan-sprayed runway model. I cringe when I see any leg with blue veining on pale skin. I love hose and I believe it distinguishes me as a professional;not a trend-follower. I wouldn’t wear hose with sandals, but I might wear a sheer seamless nude toed hose with small peeked toed shoes. Bare legs and feet are for the backyard and the beach. AND, if you don’t take care of your feet, please don’t wear sandals.
Glam Gals– In response to your response to my questions: I don’t wear pantyhose, or knee-highs, myself, but I wanted to know the “why” behind your rules. I also realize you did not outlaw socks, but I’ve noticed that pretty much no one who is stylish wears the kinds of shoes you need socks with. I would just like to know why it’s considered unstylish to wear socks. (Trouser socks are not “socks,” they are hosiery.) In winter time in Nebraska, in a house heated by a woodstove, it makes much sense to wear sensible shoes or boots with warm socks. I guess if that’s unstylish, then so be it. So sad.
I have pretty bad varicose veins around my ankles. I can wear sandals with jeans okay, but after awhile my legs ache. Summer weather always means parties where there are other women who have great legs, wearing dresses with pretty sandals. Then there’s me in jeans. If I wear a dress, it’s ALWAYS with hose. I think it looks horrible otherwise. I’m 50.
I posted a question about this on Twitter last week: Do professional women need to wear hosiery? I think not. Living in the mid-West, I think nude pantyhose in the winter with closed toe (and heel) shoes is a must. But when you want to wear open toe shoes, mules or sling back shoes, it’s time to shed the hose. If a company allows the casualness of open toes and heels, I would be surprised if they would require hosiery. As much as we want to, we can’t have it all. To me, hosiery – closed shoes like pumps. Don’t buy spring/summer shoes that make your feet sweat, stick to your foot or are difficult to wear without hosiery. Or go to http://www.summersoles.com/ for help in this area. Looking trashy has nothing to do with a trailer park. Its about wearing clothing that isn’t flattering, is ripped, wrinkled or dirty. Think you need to wear hosiery to look polished, just wear the proper shoe. Oh, and I can’t think of a situation where I would recommend black hosiery in the summer.
As a tight lover, I feel anyone can pull of tights, leggings, stockings, in whatever color, as long as you are confident in what your wearing.
Tights have pushed their way forward and can now be seen in crazy designs and colors on runways, people walking down the street, and various movies/television shows. for a wide variety of affordable tights, check Welovecolors , They also have blogs on how to wear certain tights with different outfits!
I work in a law firm and have to wear hose as Director of HR. Also in my 50′s and believe me my legs look better in nude hose. Living in a hot climate, great shoes become miserable when its 100 degrees and your feet get hot, blisters appear where none before. Another advantage of pantyhose is the “mild” shapewear advantage. Believe me it’s a lot more comfortable to wear an average control top pantyhose than a spanx.
Pantyhose are not aging! Mature legs look infinitely better with pantyhose. Women dressed up without them look classless. “Fashion” is getting to a point where too many women look like trailor park trash.
Pantyhose are aging when you don’t get the right shade ( IE: too golden) and everyone knows you are wearing them. They look like a throwback to the past.
I (Deborah) am the first to say I do wear pantyhose. I’m very fair and don’t tan, so my legs are quite pasty. My skin is also pretty translucent so you do see some veins and not so pretty things. I need coverage to smooth things out. In the dead of summer I’ll use a fake tanner and go bare legged wearing sundresses for a few short weeks, but that’s about the only time. In the winter I favor black tights. 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!).
Well if you have to wear a little hose footlet to be comfortable, the biggest thing is the fit of the the foolet and the shoe. If it shows at all…even the tiniest bit, that should give you a RED FLAG not to wear them.
Better to just wear a hose. However,for the record we propose going with out them, if you can.
OK, would you address the PROBLEM not wearing hose creates – with hot feet sweating in shoes?? Wearing hose makes it so easy to slip shoes off and on because they don’t ‘stick’ to your feet. Much more comfortable, too. Do you recommend some kind of little hose footlet that doesn’t show?
Hi Jackie,
Glad you brought that up! We forget sometimes that we have a global audience!!!
Here are the American/Canadian definitions:
Pantyhose~ sheer stockings that you can sort of see your leg through.
Tights~ opaque leg covering similar to a pantyhose, but thicker and does not run as easily. Ballet dancers wear them too!
And to follow up on your legging question: Yes, you can wear legging with a long top or sweater. Just make sure it is at least mid thigh, any shorter and it will look like you forgot to put your pants on!
Hi Mom.Huebert,
Notice we didn’t say no to all socks. Thin dress socks are o.k. with the right type of shoe. (e.g. a loafer). If you wear hose with your loafer, you will look old.
We promise.
As far as the knee high with slacks…OK we say your right, who will know.
As far as the cute Khaki slacks go… we would have to see a picture. If you are talking Gap khaki’s absolutely not. If you are talking a nice pair of lovely fabric khaki colored pants, sure. Casual Khaki’s are ment to be worn with a cute sandle, wedge or flat, not a heel.
We can see we need MORE photos and examples on this topic..we will write anther post to follow up!
Hi, just interested to understand the US definition of “pantyhose” as opposed to “tights”? (Here in the UK we never use the term “pantyhose” at all…just “tights”.. for thin or thick dernier)
Also, it’s great to hear you think leggings are good at any age… so are you thinking they go best with dresses / long tunics? I’d love to try this…
Ta,
Jac (thinking she needs to think her legwear strategy!)
Okay. I’ve got it that women are never supposed to wear socks– But why not? Is there something inherently un-feminine about socks? What about in winter?
Secondly, why no knee-highs with slacks? Who’s going to know?
Thirdly, you mean I can’t wear my cute high heeled sandals with my khaki slacks? I haven’t done it yet, but I was planning to. I thought it looked cute. Why doesn’t it?