I was visiting with a friend who has a big interview coming up, and we were discussing the right outfit for her to wear. In the debate over skirt suit versus pant suit, the topic of stockings came up when she exclaimed, “Pantyhose are so 1985!”
Au contraire mon frere!
Pantyhose are so 2015. Seriously, I get that most of us women don’t actually enjoy wearing stockings. They have some serious downsides. Particularly if you live in the South where it’s summer 8 months a year. They can be uncomfortable, a pain to wash, hot, and they will run if you’re not careful.
But…they ADD polish. If you had any doubt:
You do not have to have Her Royal Highness in your title for pantyhose to make an outfit more sophisticated and smooth your figure. I’m certainly not advocating for pantyhose every day but, depending on the degree of formality of your profession (teacher = 2, Wall Street investment banker = 10), you may need them more often. Certainly as an attorney, I would never go into a courtroom wearing a skirt suit without stockings.
Here are some tips for when you SHOULD wear pantyhose:
1. When you have selected a skirt or dress option for an interview. There are likely a handful of professions where an exception applies, but not most. If you opt for a sophisticated dress or a suit for a work interview, then wear stockings. There are several ways to do it – with nude sheer stockings or with gray or black sheer stockings. But don’t select a power suit for an interview and then forego stockings.
2. When you want to stand out. Stockings don’t just have to be for conservative job interviews. They can help you stand out as fun, edgy, quirky, or fashion forward. Whether its opaque tights with a bright pop of color or sheer stockings with a retro dress, these can be just as important of an accessory as your scarves or necklaces.
3. When you want to up the polish quotient. If you buy the right pair, not sparkly or fishnet or patterned, stockings can add an element of luxury.
4. When you have a meeting with executives. Dress for the job you want. As many female executives as I spent time with last year, I never met one that wore a skirt suit without pantyhose (now many of them wore pants, as do I most of the time, but at events where I met them in skirts, pantyhose came along for the ride).
5. When you have an evening event and need to lose 10 pounds. The slimming effect of pantyhose is incredible. Especially if you splurge on a pair of Spanx pantyhose. They come in a solid variety of sheer colors and come over your ribs to slim from mid torso to toe. I’ve had people remark on how lovely my legs look because they don’t even realize I have on pantyhose until I tell them. For a cocktail event with a closed toe pump, I highly recommend them.
What about you? Have I converted you from the anti-pantyhose camp?
Kate images courtesy of Ask Allie. Women in suits courtesy of Marie Claire.
Geography is also a consideration. I can not remember the last time I saw someone wearing pantyhose (other than to “stand out” like in number 2) in Los Angeles. I was alarmed the first time I realized people didn’t wear pantyhose with skirt suits, but it is definitely the norm.
I think that’s definitely one of those consider when you’re in LA – b/c I think from the South to the NE it’s still considered appropriate for interviews/executives/courtrooms…
How often do you wear them?
usually three times a week
I wear pantyhose to work everyday and when I go out at night. I love the feel of nylons and they make my legs look smooth. To stay away from the tight uncomfortable feeling of wearing nylons, just wear the sheer to waist “ultra sheer”. They fit looser and actually feel sexy. enjoy
Diane
I think many of us in hot climates don’t always find them comfortable but I agree you look smashing when you make the effort to wear them!
Hello! I’ve been researching this issue due to the now longstanding trend in businesses toward a more casual appearance. As a male and as somebody who is responsible for setting workplace standards in our corporation, and as someone of has enforced the hosiery requirement for a long time, I’ve run across objections similar to what I find here.
By far and away, the most common complaint I hear about hosiery is how hot and uncomfortable they are, especially in the summer. In a corporate environment where air conditioning is as common as a telephone, and with most automobiles having the same, please help me understand this complaint. Moreover, if “pantyhose” are that hot, what’s the problem with wearing knee-highs or dress socks with slacks or thigh-highs when wearing shorter skirts? I wear knee-high socks, wool pants, a dress shirt and a necktie every day, regardless the weather. I only get hot when I spend a lot of time outside. I’m not hot in the car or in the office, so that complaint rather befuddles me.
Given the wacky fashion trends I’ve seen over the years, “comfort” doesn’t seem very credible to me. When guys and gals wear heavy “gangsta” coats or hoodies in the summer, when guys are still wearing slouch pants below their waists, and when girls are wearing super high heels (how’s that for comfort?) when they think it’s in style, the discomfort complaint strikes me as rather odd. My feeling is it has more to do with what’s fashionable over what’s comfortable.
If it’s really a matter of comfort, then I’d say that employees represent their company, not their personal comfort. The overwhelming number of opinions I’ve heard or read affirm that hosiery looks better, especially in a business environment. When setting corporate policy, we have to have a consistent standard across the board. Many women’s legs simply do not look good under florescent lighting or their legs have unsightly blotches, uneven skin tone or other features that detract from the professional image we want to present. If I want to be comfortable, I’ll take my tie off at home and change my clothes. When I’m on the job, my comfort should be subordinate to my company’s success.
Given the many complaints about hosiery that I’ve read/heard while researching this give me no inclination to change our policy. I would no sooner relax that standard than I would relax the requirement that men wear socks with their suits, regardless the temperature outside.
Excellent summation.
Where do you work at mam to wear them everyday?
I agree. Sheer to waist (very sheer) feels great on my legs. Not only is it a professional look for work but sexy all other times. I wear two brands, no nonsense sheer to waist and Walmart’s 10 denier sheer hose. I work in a business building downtown San Francisco
I’ll have to try those brands – I’m sold on the Spanx nude!
Try Cecilia de Rafael Sahara 9 or Malaga 5 . Very sheer and light.
I’m sure you look great!
Would you be willing to meet and go to a nice dinner and then a great tan pantyhose foot massage?!
I converted to a panythose/tights wearer two years ago when I took a new job. Based on new compliments since, I have decided they do help my legs look their best.
Tights are acceptable in the professional workplace; pantyhose are outdated and even the oldest employees no longer wear them.
I’m an executive coach and I’ve seen more than a few employers bypass candidates wearing pantyhose, saying the person was not current with the times or looked out of place.
I think it’s highly contingent on the type of industry you are in.
I grew up in the 60s/70s when “nylons” (usually pantyhose) were in their glory days. I will be the first to admit that American-made pantyhose pale in comparison –as far as quality, comfort, and wearability go– to the Euro brands such as Pretty Polly, Aristoc, and Cecilia de Rafael. That said, I have always found Hanes Silk Reflections to be the best department store pantyhose in the US. Hard to believe I have been wearing them for over 30 years!!!
Agree Gina, I been wearing nylons since 60’s childhood (TV shows and movies then encouraged wearing pantyhose for self-comfort and increasing one’s happiness. Those were liberating days, compared to the complete opposite today: “ultraconservative, pro-masculine, darkness, unhappy hose-less people.”). I never want to rid my feelings from that memorable time, and cant ever see myself not wearing them …I think I’d go insane. Pantyhose has kept me going. Hope to meet you someday Gina.
I had a job interview and the lady told me if I was serious about the job I needed to wear pantyhose to the meet with her. I wore Hanes Silk Reflections “Little color”, they were slightly more beige than nude. I wore them under my slacks with no socks so it was evident I was wearing them. She seemed pleased that I heeded her advice and I landed the job as her admin assistant. I think she just wanted to make sure since I am a guy that I was willing to do what she asked.
Pantyhose should never have gone out of style. I hope they come back with a vengeance soon.
Hi Everyone.
I am a Professional transgendered female who has worked in legal services and higher education in a well known US city. I love wearing NUDE/BEIGE pantyhose at work with my supportive co workers who do the same. We got along well by being happy and fem! I think I would go insane If I could not wear them. Yet black or dark colored hose are very masculine in appearance–sign the person wearing them may be on a self-centered “power trip.” I’d only wear those in colder weather and if the coworkers collective wear them, too.