sheer dread or delight?
It's Friday again and fashion questions have been piling up. As you can see, Ruth Furtado, a wonderful and talented graphic artist who helps me with all kinds of graphics, was patient enough to tweak my new Friday logo a million different ways. This is what we finally came up with (at least so far). I'd love to hear any comments or feedback you have on the new graphic.
And now, on to the questions for today:
Is there a hard and fast rule on panty hose in Los Angeles? None of the stars ever seem to wear them no matter how cold it is.
mj: I would go as far as to say that pantyhose in Los Angeles is a fashion-don't. The sunny weather and availability of self-tanner makes pantyhose obsolete. And you are right about the celebs--I attend at least one red carpet event every week and have yet to see pantyhose (the nude kind) on any starlet.
That said, certain conservative offices require pantyhose with dresses and skirts. If you work in a very corporate environment, for example, legal, accounting, etc. and need to wear the dreaded pantyhose, there are still ways to keep your look updated and chic.
To avoid the tacky 70s rendition of pantyhose, chose a noticeably darker or lighter color than your skintone, i.e., cream, very pale pastels, dark brown, and dark black. If you're wearing an expensive Armani suit, do not try and save money on pantyhose! The more expensive brands like Wolford and La Perla have a beautiful sexy sheen and can make or break your look. Maybe it's just a personal preference, but I'm not big on large patterned hose. Small patterns are much less likely to clash with your outfits and they look more expensive.
Just to be clear, the cardinal sin of pantyhose is to wear them with open-toe shoes--and yes, even hose with peep-toe shoes is a huge fashion faux-pas.
If you work in a less conservative atmosphere, you can avoid the complicated nuances of sheer hosiery completely with opaque colored tights.
I should also mention that shiny black tights are going to be a must-have for fall; they were seen on every major runway and this is a trend that will definitely translate to real life.
Are fishnets, nude, not black (duh) appropriate for the corporate world? Also, is it true that fishnets are "in", conversely, are they ever really "out"?
mj: I know some guys think they're hot, but I also know some guys who think only ladies of the night should wear them, so you're pushing the envelope if you decide to wear them in a conservative environment. I think they can pass in the corporate world as long as you chose a very small net, in a soft netural color like nude--unlike pantyhose, nude fishnets are hip. Keep in mind that any stocking that has a medium to large pattern, whether it's fishnet or other, is going to be distracting and inappropriate in a corporate environment. Personally, I've never liked fishnets, they always feel like they're falling down plus they leave little rectangles on your butt if you sit down in them too long. However, Spanx genius, Sara Blakely, has come out with a control top fishnet that not only shapes you under your tightest skirts, but also avoids the grid-on-the-bum syndrome. You can order them in nude, black, and chocolate here. Other good sites for stockings are www.stockingirl.com and www.bareneccesities.com.
Pantyhose/Fishnet Tips:
1) Cardinal Sin: never wear hose or fishnets with open toe sandals, not even your cutest peep-toes!
2) Pale bare legs can be beautiful, just keep them moisturized. For a special occasion try a lotion or cream that has a little sparkle in it. So much more comfortable than wearing hose!
3) You will always look fine in pantyhose if you wear a color noticeably lighter or darker than your skintone.
4) Fishnets can pass in the office as long as they are very small mesh and very pale or nude. Try and avoid seams if you are (hopefully) going for an upscale look.
Have a great weekend! I am working on incentives to motiviate you to share your most pressing fashion questions here at Trust Your Style, so please send any and all Fashion Questions to me at mjm@maryjomatsumoto.com
Labels: barenecceesities.com, Sara Blakely, Spanx, stockingirl.com
posted by Mary Jo Matsumoto at
Friday, May 11, 2007
6 Comments:
Mary Jo, what has this world come to with this bare leg trend. I am am a straight male in his 20's that lives in a major metro area. While I may be able to agree from the point women make of comfort being a factor, I don't think that a bare leg is at all more attractive than a leg with a high quality hose on it. Let alone the unfinished look it gives when a bare foot is inside a $500+ pair of shoes. To me and it just gives the appearance of laziness and rebellion. Although the fashions may not have been the best looking back at the 80's and early 90's, the look of a woman dressed in a nice skirt or dress with hose, looked much more appealing than the bare leg look in todays world. It's not only women. I am appaled at the dress codes being used even in banking centers. Men without ties, bare legs with skirts. Come on ladies, and men, let put on the hose and neck ties and start looking respectable and professional again. Regards.
Thank you, I appreciate your courtesy since so many of the comments on this post were so rude I couldn't publish them! I understand what you're saying about a bare foot inside an expensive pair of shoes and agree, except when it comes to open-toed shoes, otherwise known as sandals. I saw the most horrifying fashion don't of the decade at Oxford last year--nude pantyhose worn with open-toe shoes, the seams at the toes showing and buckling all over the front of the shoe--worn by a presenter in February! (Oxford is freezing in Feb!) Moral of the story: if it's that cold, please spring for a pair of closed-toe shoes. I agree with you about people not dressing professionally, but I also think that fashion needs to be taken into consideration. Fashion reflects the mood of the times. In general, we are a more health conscious society now and skin is "in". I still feel that bare legs can look fine if it's done in the right way. I also love a great pair of tights (as long as they're not tacky semi-sheer nude) so please don't think I'm a pantyhose basher!
Thanks again for your comment.
I'm sorry but you're wrong about colored tights... they even look childish on teenagers. Sheer, flesh colored hose look classy and professional. They give legs a softer appearance, and hide blemishes to give a feminine look of perfection. I agree that they aren't fashionable with open toed shoes, but trust me, men won't mind at all.
Sheer hose is the only way to go. I'm a 29/m and I can tell you there is a night and day difference bewteen a woman wearing hose and bare legs by far. Hose makes them look sexier, classier and more upscale just with one piece of clothing. Yes i'm sure the bare legs are more comfortable for woman but come on...........
Mary Jo, I'm an older guy who is from Southern California, and I have seen the no-hose trend come to this area. There was a time when women here wore hose when they were dressed up. Now the Oscars, a black-tie affair, will feature women with bare legs. I am not going to argue fashion with those in the entertainment industry, but what bothers me is seeing the bare leg look in the corporate business world. In my opinion, women who are executives, lawyers, politicians, and even sales/marketing people, who wear as part of their corporate uniform a serious skirt suit with pumps, is underdressed and somewhat unprofessional looking with bare legs. It is akin to the male corporate executive in his expensive suit without a tie.
I absolutely adore the look of high-shine opaque tights (like the catwalk photo), but I'm having trouble locating a pair! Any ideas for websites/brand recommendations?
Thanks! xo
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