[alienlovesong]

I will never wear pantyhose again. I just hate them with a violent passion! Most of the time I wear slacks, but when I do wear a skirt, it's black tights all the way. If I wear a long skirt I might wear heels, but with a shorter skirt, definitely flats or boots.

[Awenninger]

Who wears panty hose with pants? They make my feet slide down in my shoes and then I can't walk normally. Perhaps it is because I live in Southern California where the dress codes seems to be more laid back in general, but this is honestly the first time I've ever considered whether or not I should be wearing nylons to work every day. If it was a requirement for my job, I would quit. I'm 22.

[MarianHarris]

In Australia, we have "trouser socks". They are an opaque, thick denier knee sock and you can have them pulled-up, just under your knee or you can have them slouching above your ankle. They also help with odour in your shoes. With skirts, depending on the length, I agree with Robin and DonnaFromPhilly, regardless of age - my number one rule is to dress appropriate to how I want to be regarded. There are some great products here and no doubt on your side of the globe too. If you still want that little pizzazz and you have slim legs, you can buy a sheer, shiny hose. If you have, like me, thick trotters... (mum was never to good on the compliements) go for a sheer, matt hose. Experiment, try the better, pricier brands, they are worth their cent in OZ also. Regards.

[kaycrouch]

What a great debate! It looks like overall, though, most of us know that in a very high-end job, pantyhose are a must. For me, it's also a necessity. My legs are built very close together. If I don't wear hose, my thighs can rub raw.(This happens regardless of my weight.) Otherwise, if the dress code allows it, I wear pants with knee-hi's. They make my shoes fit, better, too.

Fortunately since I live in Texas with brutally hot summers, offices are air-conditioned or the need for pantyhose or pants would be suffocating! In winter, I can't imagine not having some sort of sock or hose on. - Brrrr!

[Tess Price, PhD]

Here Here! Chrissy! Now that is a liberated woman's point of view. You should be hired for your skills NOT your attire. I actually went to an interview with a conservative company in all the wrong clothes and got the job! I wore sandals, no hose, a yellow feminine dress and my hair in an up-do. I came packing a cart full of examples of my work from a previous job. I was hired on the spot...not for my attire, but for my skills! You know you have arrived when you can have your own sense of personal style (cool or not) and people still take you seriously.

[phase2jrl]

Living in the warm states (FL.and NV.) most of my life, I myself haven't been wearing hose for decades. Custom and fashion do change over time. It was unthinkable of not wearing hose to work when I first graduated (1985) but I couldn't even see one single woman wearing hose in my office today. Bear legging is already accepted in the business world and I believe this trend is gonna stay in this country. Blisters, however is a long standing issue for women, with or without hose, so keeping your feet in good shape is the real solution to most feet problem. For that reason, I will never cut corners for buying cheap shoes while message and pedicure is doing wonders for my general well beings (both mentally and cosmetically). Even though I regularly wear pumps at work, I lift off my heels to air-out and give my feet a break as often as I possibly can. I think that works quite nicely for me under the hot weather.

However, it seems that people from different generations is having different opinion on this issue. The youger generations are generally more accepting on bare legging while the earlier boomers (or before) are more like to reject the idea. My old boss will not allow anybody not wearing hose to work and I had seen her sending a colleague home for that reason! My mother, for one, also belongs to the latter group. I was already widowed last August and she is still constantly complainting me for not wearing hose at my late husband's wake and funeral. She simply consider it an act of disrespect for the deceased. I obsviously disagreed, but of course, she is entitled to have her own opinion. After all, I believe that love to a soulmate is a lot more than what is being worn (or not worn) at his funeral. On that, I am having no regret.

[khook]

I'm sorry, but I ALWAYS wear pantyhose - summer and winter. Goodness, we work in air-conditioned offices, drive air-conditioned cars, live in air-conditioned homes. The 30-second "commute" from my car to the office in the summer wearing hose isn't a strain on my well-being!

And I wear always knee-highs or trouser socks with pants.

Maybe part of my issue is I can't stand bare feet in shoes! Eww!

It's a matter of personal preference, what your workplace will allow, and just how good you look with bare legs. Personally, I swear by control top hose, and since I do not tan (either by the sun or out of a can), I will continue to wear my hose!!

[Kahr]

Maybe a fashion "expert" can express an opinion or view on pantyhose - however, when discussing the professional business world, the rule is "no skin in the office".
I've worked professionally since I was co-op/part-time in high school. I'm now 42 and an HR professional responsible for recruiting, hiring, and performance management. I also consult with outside organizations in HR as well as business issues. Nothing is worse than meeting with a sales or finance representative to discuss the organizations partnership and responsibilities and looking down and seeing bare toes sliding out of a strappy sandal. And, almost always, you get that little "mark" of sweat that collects under the toes in those sandals. No matter how good those sandals may fit and how good they look in the mirror leaving, nothing is more of a turn-off in a professional setting. There is no way I can take someone seriously if they cannnot dress as a professional.
I agree with the poster that said it is part of the "complete/put-together" look.
I also wear nylons with pants (especially in the winter) because I'm an athlete and knee-highs are not particularly healthy for the circulation.
Professional dress isn't the latest runway "hot pick". How much of that do you really see in the "real" world??

[dewoun]

The only problem I have with hose is that they "run" easily. I have to have 2 pair with me because throughout the day I do walk a lot from office to office, bending to pick up things and such. I do wear knee highs quite a bit so if I can wear a longer skirt and get away with wearing knee highs I am good!

[gr8fx]

From what I gather from the posts, it looks like wearing pantyhose runs along two opinions: 1.) Exactly how good your legs look bare and naked, and 2.) Your personal view on what "professional" is or should be.

I didn't mention it in my original post, but I do prefer to wear hosiery. I have a fair complexion, can freckle a little in the summer and I am over 40 (44 years young to be exact) so needless to say the age when my legs and feet were flawless in appearance is a little past me now. I have read in several articles, by both fashion experts (those who are "pro" pantyhose), career experts, men in general and even photographers, that pantyhose are like "make-up for your legs". I actually like that. Anything I can do to make me look younger, smoother, etc. without plastic surgery is a good thing!

I am not one to think that if a business or company really wants me as their employee, they won't care about whether I wear hose or not. I have worked for many executives who have been hiring and doing interviews and let me tell you... what you wear matters. When there are many people vying for the same position - much like the economy we are in now - sometimes it comes down to who has the most professional image and demeanor.

Here's another, completely different angle on hosiery: They CAN be good for your circulation! My teenage daughter has a mild condition that effects the circulation in her legs. From time to time she has to wear support hose. When I was talking to her Dr. about them, she said wearing hose, even the light and sheer style, can assist in circulation and keep your legs from being as tired during the day as they may be without them. Food for thought.

To help everyone out with their pantyhose pet-peeves (mine are the rolling/binding waist bands and the fact that nude is never really nude) here are some pantyhose, albeit a little high end, that are really super! I am especially excited about the Donna Karan Nudes collection - I'll be buying those puppies next! If anyone else has a fave brand they would like to share, please do!

Donna Karan, The Nudes Collection
Donna Karan - The Nudes Sheer to Waist Hose - Saks.com

Spanx Super Control Hose
Spanx - Super Control Hose - Saks.com

Spanx 'All the Way' Full Length Pantyhose
SPANX® 'All the Way' Full Length Pantyhose with Super Control - View All - Nordstrom

Legg's Silken Mist Luxury Collection
Leggs Silken Mist Luxury Collection Lace Waistband Pantyhose Pantyhose > Lace Waistband Pantyhose Nylons > Lace Waistband Pantyhose Hose - Leggs Hosiery

And, file these in the OMG file; pricey, but probably worth every penny!
Woldorf Luxury Pantyhose
Individual 10 Pantyhose*-* Bergdorf Goodman