Black cocktail dress, hose or no hose?

[Styx Fan]

I would do what makes you feel comfortable....especially with an older crowd. But be honest about how your legs look with hose. If they look good, then have confidence in yourself and go without!

With the women around me, it seems to break down according to the generations and the weather. Older women wear them more often...either because of habit or not liking the looks of their legs nude. Younger women wouldn't be caught dead in them unless it was tights in a more casual setting. At 50, I seem to fall in the middle....depends on how you view yourself

Actually, I wish in this case women wouldn't just follow a trend. On many younger women hose would be a better look. Pasty white legs or skin in need of attention don't make the outfit look great....you may be "in style", but all styles don't flatter all people. But it's all in what you care about.....some people just opt for comfort, and that's cool too. Self tanner is big help

In my case, my legs are not only deathly white after this winter, but have lots of freckles. They are just not my best feature right now. Allergic to self tanner. I might still opt to go without in a casual setting, but if it was more formal I would opt for very sheer hose. I would just look better and then feel more confident

 

[momz]

I prefer how my legs look in hose as opposed to bare. But I can't stand to wear them. My legs rub together at the upper thigh and with hose, the friction can literally cause a burn on my skin. How do you prevent that?

 

[kkandaj]

Hose are definitely back "in" for younger generations, thanks to Kate Middleton. I was one that never would've been caught dead in hose just a couple of years ago, but after seeing how nice she looks all the time, this trend is changing. Many of my friends wear hose when we are going to more dressed up functions.

I always wear a nice nude pair that matches my skin. There are lots of "nude" colors of hose, make sure they look natural on you if you choose nude.

 

[kkandaj]

I prefer how my legs look in hose as opposed to bare. But I can't stand to wear them. My legs rub together at the upper thigh and with hose, the friction can literally cause a burn on my skin. How do you prevent that?

Maybe use "Body Glide" which it what runners use on their thighs and underarms for chafing...??? Not sure it would work but it's worth a try...

 

[Poohforyou]

Kate Middleton still wears hosiery, so I wouldn't be too concerned about looking unfashionable in them. If you would feel less self conscious with them, then I say absolutely wear them. I would go with a nude color rather than black, though.

I was really surprised when I read the queen requires hose be worn. I always thought Diana and now Kate had bare legs. To me it doesn't look like they have hose on just that they have/had great legs. I wonder what brand Kate wears? What is considered a really good brand here in the states?

 

[jdb in AZ]

England is chilly enough that wearing hose is a good idea. Here in Arizona -- not so much. Bare legs and sandals are the norm.

 

[MrsDuck]

I wouldn't.

 

[Christine]

I prefer how my legs look in hose as opposed to bare. But I can't stand to wear them. My legs rub together at the upper thigh and with hose, the friction can literally cause a burn on my skin. How do you prevent that?

What brand are you buying?

I ask because my legs generally don't rub together at the thighs; however, a few times I've bought different brands of hose and they've had a "rough" weave and, wow, were they ever uncomfortable and rough. I know exactly what you mean about how it feels in that area.

The more expensive brands have not done this too me and that is because I think the nylon and spandex are of a better quality and there's almost a "smoothness" to them that the $5 pairs just don't have.

I know many people think that hose can be uncomfortable but I find them very comfy if I buy a nice pair.

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

I hate this bare leg trend. I wear them still. I like the ones that suck everything in and smooth it out. I would go with black for a formal event.

I need this, the dress is tight around the middle.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

I prefer how my legs look in hose as opposed to bare. But I can't stand to wear them. My legs rub together at the upper thigh and with hose, the friction can literally cause a burn on my skin. How do you prevent that?

SPANX! http://www.shefinds.com/2010/spanx-fishnets-date-night-never-looked-so-good/

 

[lizabu]

I need this, the dress is tight around the middle.

I tend to buy the Secrets Slimmers. They sell them everywhere

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

I was really surprised when I read the queen requires hose be worn. I always thought Diana and now Kate had bare legs. To me it doesn't look like they have hose on just that they have/had great legs. I wonder what brand Kate wears? What is considered a really good brand here in the states?

As far as Kate, she wears a verrrrry sheer hose. Most people think she wears the John Lewis non-slip tight (they call hose tights). I suppose hose photograph better?

For OP, I say do what you think looks best. If you decide to go with a hose then I would go with nude as black typically only pairs well with a few outfits. Tights have definitely made their way back in for winter but I still see bare legs more than hose in the warmer months.

 

[wallawallakids]

SPANX! http://www.shefinds.com/2010/spanx-fishnets-date-night-never-looked-so-good/

YEP! LOVE them!!

Mine are like this though:

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Spanx-T...rc=14110925&ci_sku=prod92540127skuBITTERSWEET

 

[Wishing on a star]

I think that very high quality, very sheer, lightweight hosiery, are attractive.
(an investment!)
The Princess Kate thing probably applies here.

Anything that is darker or heavier, though, IMHO, just looks bad....
A nice cocktail dress should not have hose that compete with it in the amount of color or weight or texture.

IMHO, nothing worse than a heavy or dark pair of hose ruining the look of a nice dress... Or a grown woman that looks like a schoolgirl wearing tights under her uniform skirt.

 

[PelletierBears]

I think that very high quality, very sheer, lightweight hosiery, are attractive.
(an investment!)
The Princess Kate thing probably applies here.

Anything that is darker or heavier, though, IMHO, just looks bad....
A nice cocktail dress should not have hose that compete with it in the amount of color or weight or texture.

IMHO, nothing worse than a heavy or dark pair of hose ruining the look of a nice dress... Or a grown woman that looks like a schoolgirl wearing tights under her uniform skirt.

Absolutely agree. Do not wear tights with a cocktail dress! Nude hose will complete the outfit and make you look more polished.

I don't like the bare leg trend for more formal events but then again I'm from the days of hose being part of the dress code in the workplace ... and remember when women wore slips under skirts LOL Now young women just let it all hang out

 

[wallawallakids]

Maybe this is a regional thing or maybe we have a different definition of "tights"?

Every Christmas my husband has a black tie event for work and I have seen many women in tights. Never have I thought they competed with anyone's cocktail dress or gown. When I lived in Oregon I saw tights worn much more often then I do here, on the North East. (As a side note they had an awesome trend of wearing tights and knee socks with dress boots. I don't see that much here either but I love that look and am trying my hardest to make it a trend here too ).

Tights to me are just not sheer. They are not "heavy or weighty". They are not made of wool, they don't look like Hanna Andersson tights! They are more like what old school silk stockings look like.

Obviously everyone has a different sense of style but I certainly do NOT look like a "school girl" when I attend a cocktail party.

Everyone should do what makes them feel comfortable without the idea that people are judging them. Personally I have never worn shear hose and I probably never will. I am a product of my 80s/90s childhood. But please, don't say people like me are not stylish, look like school children, or some other slam. We may have our own style but it doesn't mean we don't rock our look and look dang good doing it.

 

[LilyWDW]

I am 32.

For a formal event, you wear hose. You don't wear tights and you don't go with bare legs. Hose makes you look more polished and pulled together in my opinion.

And I am not "old". Nor am I "unfashionable".

 

[wallawallakids]

I am 32.

For a formal event, you wear hose. You don't wear tights and you don't go with bare legs. Hose makes you look more polished and pulled together in my opinion.

And I am not "old". Nor am I "unfashionable".

And neither am I. Not old. Not "unfashionable".

 

[Disney Doll]

To me, tights are a thicker pair of hose. I would wear those with a casual skirt...think autumn, plaid skirt, cute sweater, a pair of thicker hose. Not sheer. Opaque.

With a formal event, I would wear pantyhose. The precursor to these was the old fashioned silk stocking. Very sheer.

In your case OP, you could probably do sheer nude or sheer black. With the black though, you have to be wearing black shoes. And they should be very sheer and I'd take a good look to make sure my outfit wasn't screaming "FUNERAL"!!!!!!

If you're going to do a different colored shoe, which is popular these days, then sheer nude pantyhose are best.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Personally, I would not wear any. However, I would not scorn somebody who does. In fact, it would probably look classier to wear hose.

For a formal event (i.e., after 5 and black tie), very sheer black hose. If it's a before 5 event, then I might switch it to nude (and again, very sheer) hose.

Karen

This sounds like great advice.