Below the hemline...

October 13, 2009 12:13 PM

Fancy restaurant tonight = black/white jersey wrap dress. It's October in Seattle. Can I wear panty hose?

I have not worn a dress all summer and I missed the memo about not wearing panty hose anymore. I don't think that black or white tights will look good with the dress; nude or bare would be better. Is this a big fashion no?
The alternative is dress pants. I am in my 50s and no one has ever accused me of having any fashion sense. Thanks for any advice!

posted by lois1950 to clothing, beauty, & fashion (21 comments total)

Yes, but not with open-toed shoes.
posted by amro at 12:17 PM on October 13

I think opaque black tights would be better than nude (and warmer, if you get a thick style). Nude pantyhose are very old-fashioned, which is why they've gone out of style.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:18 PM on October 13 [4 favorites has favorites]

You might try a sheer ivory or cream - TPS is right that nude pantyhose per se are out of fashion, but a shade lighter with a little bit of gleam might work fine (i.e. be totally unnoticeable.)

What are the shoes? This is key.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 12:25 PM on October 13

With open-toed shoes? No. If you wear pantyhose, they should deliberate (a color other than skin-tone). Sheer black stockings with the seam up the back would do this (or without the seam, I suppose) Stacy and Clinton agree.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 12:30 PM on October 13

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Not exactly but pretty close style...
posted by lois1950 at 12:34 PM on October 13

Qualification, though: opaque tights are NEWLY fine with peeptoe shoes (at least in these parts). But nothing sheer.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 12:35 PM on October 13

Plenty of older women still wear pantyhose. Sure it's not super fashionable but if that's what you're comfortable in, I don't think they'll stop from entering the restaurant. I often cheat when it's cold and/or raining and I don't want to wear tights by wearing knee-length boots. Dressy boot could look quite nice with a wrap dress.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 12:36 PM on October 13

I think pantyhose are fine with those shoes. I admit that I still wear panty hose sometimes because tights tend to fit me weirdly around the crotch and damnit, my legs get cold!
posted by muddgirl at 12:38 PM on October 13

Honestly, I think those are pants shoes, not dress or skirt shoes -- that's probably more an issue than pantyhose. However, especially if your shoulders and arms will be covered, I think opaque hose would probably be fine.

The reports of the death of pantyhose have been greatly exaggerated. They're just not *necessary* anymore.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 12:40 PM on October 13

I don't really understand the taboo on pantyhose, to be honest. Aren't they just tights, except with a bit of sheerness? I work in a professional office and wear pantyhose all the time.

I would wear lightish black hose with a black & white dress.
posted by something something at 12:41 PM on October 13

oh, such a good excuse to get some cool knee length boots, but no time!
posted by lois1950 at 12:42 PM on October 13

If you're going to feel dorky or not yourself by wearing black or white or any other color, go ahead and wear the nude. It's ok, really. I promise the fashion police won't come and cart you off for this heinous infraction. But boots would look so great with the dress!
posted by iconomy at 12:44 PM on October 13 [1 favorite has favorites]

Mille grazie everyone! I'm going to wear higher heels and black tights!
posted by lois1950 at 12:48 PM on October 13

I couldn't find one 'best answer'! They're all best.
posted by lois1950 at 12:51 PM on October 13

lois1950 - if it's not too late make sure the tights don't cling to the jersey of the wrap dress-o!
posted by pick_the_flowers at 12:55 PM on October 13

Wait, what's wrong with pantyhose?
posted by Pomo at 12:59 PM on October 13

I don't understand what's wrong with pantyhose either. Black opaque would look classy and keep you warm. You could even get cableknit or herringbone.
posted by debbie_ann at 1:11 PM on October 13

Um, I live in NYC, and everyone here that I know still wears pantyhose when it's cold out. Nude colored, sometimes with *gasp* open toed shoes.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:19 PM on October 13

Pssh. Pantyhose / tights are fine. Tights are a necessity when wearing skirts/dresses in cooler weather.

I wear tights all winter long (in Seattle too), and I shed them as soon as the weather turns nicer.
posted by soupy at 1:24 PM on October 13

Basic pantyhose are not super fashionable. They're not like, thong hanging out of your jeans tasteless, they're just not super fashionable.

Tights, different patterned stocking-type-things, all have been explored a lot in fashion in the past few years.
posted by kathrineg at 2:02 PM on October 13

First I've heard of anything being wrong with pantyhose.
posted by JanetLand at 2:10 PM on October 13 [1 favorite has favorites]