Joanna Avant is a personal stylist in Richmond, VA who strives to make wardrobe choices clear and easy for women who are short on time, overwhelmed by their closets, or transitioning from one period of life to another. She helps women feel confident, creative, and put-together and believes that styling can be personal and achievable. Connect with Joanna through her blog, JoannaAvant; Facebook, on Twitter @joannaavant, Instagram @joannaavant
Before I answer, let me say that I am only talking about sheer stockings. I LOVE opaque tights in the fall and winter. I find them cute, warm, and comfortable, so carry on!
“Pantyhose,” also called stockings or nylons, have been voted out of fashion’s must-wear list in the last 20-30 years. As a young girl, I couldn’t wait until the day that my mom would let me wear pantyhose and a kitten heel to church! Of course, when the day came, I couldn’t wait to get home from church to ditch the hose. I am not a fan. Besides the fact that I always, ALWAYS got a run in them the very first time I wore them (waste of money), I find them to be incredibly uncomfortable around my waist and terribly hot. Unless I have a job that requires them, I hope to never put on another pair of pantyhose in my life…with two exceptions…which I will get to shortly.
Having said that, I think you will find that there is, maybe, a 60/40 split on the pantyhose issue. 60% probably don’t care for them, but 40% wear them, love them, and will try to talk you into wearing them, and here’s why. Pantyhose do a great job of hiding any imperfections in your legs, a good light control top can hide unsightly lumps and bumps in lightweight summer materials, and they can sometimes prevent static cling. And Kate Middleton wears them. All good reasons to give them a try, if you’re up for it.
If you are on board, here’s my opinion on how to choose a pair. It’s generally pretty evident when someone is wearing pantyhose. You’re not fooling anyone into thinking your legs are the color of your dated “suntan” pantyhose. So, why not just make it obvious? For work, go for a very sheer (20-ish denier) black.
If black doesn’t work, consider a nude micro fishnet (exception #1 for me). Stop rolling your eyes. MICRO fishnet. You can barely see the pattern; it’s just a modern take on a nude stocking. Pair them with the Karina Penelope and a chic pump, and you’re ready for the office. (Add a tailored jacket or blazer for a more conservative environment.)
For evening, I love the look of sheer black hose with a back seam detail (exception #2) for me. It’s sexy and classic. Count me in.
So, did Kate bring back the sheer hose? She hasn’t totally convinced me, but it seems she’s convincing a lot of other folks. What side do you choose: hose or no hose?
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