Nude Pantyhose Debate

I also find bare legs ugly in anyone but the young. While I prefer a dark stocking or leggings, I do wear a very pretty color of nude stockings when necessary (NOT with open-toed shoes). I am a whiter-than-white redhead. You could ALWAYS see my blue veins through my skin, even when I was young. I am allergic to self-tanner and have not found a leg make-up that looks even close to natural. Then you have the issue of blister etc. when you wear shoes with bare feet. No thanks! I swear that's why young women have such nasty feet today - from wearing all kinds of shoes without hose. I'll stick with my very flattering nylons and baby smooth tootsies and feet!

Pantyhose are not my favorite accessory, but at 54 I agree with most of the postings here that my legs are just too old (although still quite impressive!) to be bare. I do not find bare legs attractive nor feel them to be appropriate in anything but the most casual of settings. Bare legs should be a no-no beyond high school or college. Sometimes a nude stocking is the most flattering choice or least contrasting for the outfit. With the wide variety of pantyhose available now, they don't have to be a method of torture. Merely an article in our lingerie arsenal that will create a smooth line and result more put together look.

I HATE pantyhose. I quit wearing them because I HATE the way they squeeze everything. If I "have" to wear hose (like at a super-dressy event) I wear thigh highs..that's it. I think pantyhose must have been invented by a sadist. I HATE to see women wearing stockings or pantyhose in open toed shoes...I think that's tacky. The color NUDE?? Depends on the outfit. But I do agree with another reader--a self tanner for those with lilly white legs is much more appealing to see than hose...especially in the hot summers we have in the south.

Recently rediscovered stockings. Realize this may not be for everyone, but when hose are a must for me, this is a great little secret you have throughout the day and, may I say, much easier in the ladies room! I should also say the only stockings or tights I would wear are dark, never nude.

In the summer, no problem! In the fall, winter, and spring seasons, I second the comments posted earlier about blisters and "fish belly white legs" (thanks, Ann - LOL!). In addition, I am on the go all day as a teacher. As good as it feels to take the hose off at the end of the day, I feel more comfortable with hose during work. Spanx for my legs!

WHY AND WHAT?! I love panyhose and the current fad of bare legs is uncomfortable and unflattering for most real women. Sticking my bare feet into a pair of heels feels icky and causes blisters. My less-than-perfect fish belly white legs look much better with a pair of hose over them, sort of like how aging actors look with a "soft lens" on them. I see women on TV in the dead of winter with no hose on and it looks ridiculous! It's cold and unflattering and looks stupid to me. If they made swimwear with hose, I'd buy them. Hose, all the time and everywhere! As a public service...

Hosiery is a must, I wear hosiery to go out and collect the mail. I don't want to frighten small children or dogs.

Hello I'M a male my name is michael from macomb, MI. I still wear nude, tan, & black... with all my pants I don't wear a skirt to much any more but I still like my sheers in pantyhose or knee hi's.... I wear more pantyhose during the fall to spring I think... I buy women's hosiery as they cost less the mens cost way way more!!!! I see nothing wrong with nude hose.. during the winter I would not wear nude hose your legs need some color during the winter months.....

I have a question. I'm in my 60's, Legs not bad, I am only 5'2. If I am wearing Black cocktail dress, should I wear Black nylons or nude color? Years ago I always wore Black, Not should what is stylish now. Hope I get a answer by Sat, 10/03/09 in AM. Have an affiar to go to.

I like open toe shoes in warm weather. It takes roughly the same time to apply tinted lotion as it does to wrestle yourself into a pair of pantyhose. I haven't worn pantyhose in years! I hate the way they curl up around your waist and dig in and I always feel like the crotch is around my knee caps. When I want to wear hose, I wear thigh high stockings; so much more comfortable and "freeing." Secondly, if you get a run, you can toss it and have a spare for your next pair. Not to mention,with the lace tops they feature, they are a thousand times sexier than pantyhose.

I hate pantyhose, but with over 60 legs, I can't do shorter skirts and I'm too short for long skirts, so I have resorted to pants 98% of the time.

I get so tired of "fashion experts" telling us what we should and shouldn't wear. I am all about looking appropriate and feeling comfortable. If I were a young woman and still had great looking legs I'd likely choose not to wear pantyhose. But I am 60 and my legs show my age. I don't want to paint my legs; it's easier to pull on some pantyhose...and feel comfortable with how I look. Then I just have to ignore all the people who want to criticize me for wearing pantyhose.

One aspect of the nude pantihose debate no one has yet addressed is BLISTERS! Strappy sandals are ok, but if I wear closed toe/closed heel pumps without hose, I get blisters. I've recently seen some beautifully dressed young women wearing pumps and nude hose so they must also get blisters. If Tim Gunn thinks no hose is such a great idea, he should wear his oxfords without sox for a couple of days. Let's see how many blisters he has at the end of a day spent running around town and the office.

I do prefer a naked leg in the summer, and will occassionally use Sally Hansens spray on leg make up, for a more polished look. It is transfer proof, so you don'[t have to worry about staining your clothes, (but I would draw the line on a white skirt).
In a pinch, Donna Karan's The Nudes in BO2, is as sheer as it gets and a great alternative for women who prefer pantyhose. It is also lightweight and summer friendly.

I absolutely agree that most women over 40 (and even some younger women) look better with hosiery that shapes and smoothes their legs. I don't understand the passionate objection to wearing pantyhose. I think they look far better than wrinkly, saggy, freckled, or pale legs -- especially at the office! Please, let's reconsider this fashion "rule".

This 'rule' is as silly as the white shoes after labor day fashion rule (that is no longer in effect I am told). MORE encourages women to be independent, feel good about themselves, have self esteem, and so on. So why make women feel like they are back in Jr high school and not following the fad of the moment for not following a trend that just makes them feel bad about their choice of clothing. If you're over 40, have beautiful smooth flawless skin with no veins showing, then good for you! But for those of us who feel classier and better about our selves with hose on at a wedding, business meeting, and so on then go for it. And by the way, I REALLY do not care what another woman wears under her clothes. Are there really that many people that DO?

I agree with Charla Krupp's opinion in "How Not To Look Old": Ditch the old lady pantyhose. I use leg makeup instead for a polished look that's professional and current.

My legs are short, chunky, pale, and freckly -- they need all the help that hosiery can offer. I do agree, however, that nude hose are the least favorable option. Sporting bare legs with a suit at work is not my style.

I'm happy to see that there are more women over 40 with the same thoughts about going barelegged. Nothing is uglier than a pair of veiny, wrinkled, splotchy, saggy legs to ruin a nice dress or skirt!

Honestly I don't have time to do the tinted moisturizer thing. I live in Florida and all that leg tanner does is make my hands and my age sunspots orange and the towels and your underwear, etc. There are lots of women over the age of 40 running around with orange streaked legs and it does not look good. And unless you like skin cancer, you don't bake in the sun here. You don't have to have nude pantyhose you can get a color that is close to your skin. It takes care of your tummy, your varicose veins and makes it so the soles of your shoes don't stick to the bottom of your feet when you get sweaty, Then when you take your shoe off the sole comes with it, and you will get sweaty in Florida. This honestly, is the most unrealistic advice I have ever seen MORE give to over 40 women. And besides, the men I know think that stockings are sexy. Next thing you'll be telling us to draw a line up the back of our legs to look like a seam, which women did during WWII when nylon was rationed.

And the debate goes on at Facebook - check it out at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=533128362&v=feed&story_fbid=84978102794

I still wear nude hose in the winter (not too fond of the way colored hose/tights look on me) and sometimes in the summer as well. For one thing - my legs aren't all that anymore and I hate the way that my shoes feel without some type of sock/hose on my feet. I'm all for the tummy control, leg stubble coverup and a more consistent shape as well. When/if I lose the addtional 30 lbs I put on in the last 5 years, I'll possibly consider nude legs then (but most likely not). I'm too content with myself now to sweat whether or not the fashion police are in agreement with my choice.

There is nothing wrong with wearing pantyhose. You get tummy control and you do not have to bother with leg makeup, tanning, or having vein procedures which do not always work. Stockings with garter belt can be worn once in awhile - I used to wear them on occasion when I was a bank teller as an alternative to pantyhose. I have seen so many ugly bare legs that there really needs to be a movement back to wearing nude hose. Legs look good in nude hose- I do not care that Anna Wintour and followers at Vogue champion bare legs; they are surrounded by models and I am surrounded by real women.

Honestly, this discussion is getting old...As an image consultant, I coach my clients both ways. If you have great legs and they are well cared for (along with your toes and feet) then go for it. I have a survey on LinkedIn about this very subject and it is quite telling. The bottom line is that it really may not matter what we think, but rather the impression we are trying to make and where we are going.. Nude?? maybe not, but a nice pair of flesh tone, yes maybe, but please don't buy them at the grocery store. No one wants to see thick meshy hose on anyone's legs. Shee hose are very appropriate but match them to your skin tone.
Check out my survey on: http://polls.linkedin.com/poll-results/36461/dtlcx

I say if the legs look great, go for it! If they don't, try the tinted moisturizer for some color - and if all else fails, I say go for the hose, but in a tinted shade - not nude! Grey? Slightly navy? But never, ever nurse-y - unless of course, you are!

I agree it's too darn cold to go bare in the winter - how is goose-pimply grey skin more attractive than pantyhose? But I've found a better alternative: nude colored fishnets. They do keep you warm and they work with most outfits. While these used to be hard to find, most department stores or boutiques, like Banana Republic, sell them.

I hope this isnt becoming a young girl, old girl debate, with old girls (like me!) preferring to keep the option of wearing pantyhose! Those of us who are lucky enough to have gorgeous legs without blemishes are just born under a lucky beauty star! But why eliminate such a useful fashion advantage?

OK...So are you saying that we are supposed to go bare legged in the winter also? My 19 year old daughter always says NO HOSE!!!!..but I just can't stop. It doesn't seem natural.

Why do we disobey you? Because--quelle surprise!--our bare legs do not look like those of Leighton Meester on Gossip Girl. Or even those of Jennifer Aniston in Marley & Me. On what occasions would I resort to pantyhose? for me, wearing a skirt is an occasion, so when I do, I wear hose. But even though I am demented enough (by your standards) to wear hose, I would not wear nude. Black wolfords are the way to go.

I had a short-lived role as an assistant at an investor relations agency a few years ago. It was like working for a parody of 'The Devil Wears Prada': instead of women flocking to the office in swinging wrap dresses and Italian leather accessories, we trudged in with dress code-mandated black suits, white collared blouses, low-heeled pumps - and, yes, ubiquitous nude pantyhose - day in and day out, regardless of the season. While being forced to wipe the conference room walls with Windex ultimately lead to my employment demise, I vowed to never touch nude pantyhose again. Heck, I'd rather wear wool tights year-round than come to grips with a polyester-silk blend of 'Suntan' that's anything but.


- nude pantyhose, along with black suits, white collared blouses and (ick) low-heeled leather pumps - were required

I'm afraid I'll get fired if I don't wear pantyhose. Or I will look unprofessional.