Are Pantyhose a Must for Professional Women?

[AprilBaby]

Funny you should ask. Today I saw a woman actually wearing them ( I am 50 so most women wore them my whole life) and she looked just plain weird! I can't remember the last time I saw a woman wearing them. I havn't owned a pair in the last 10 years. (but I wear scrubs every day).
My daughter works at Disney and they ARE required to wear them in professional situations, ie: taking classes at Disney University or anytime they represent the company.

 

[rainwood]

kittybean -

You''re really asking two different questions. The first is whether you need to wear pantyhose in the office and the second is whether you need to wear pantyhose to court. On the office question, you should take your cue from other successful women lawyers in the office. And by that I mean women partners and women senior associates. What do they wear? You should do the same unless you don''t aspire to be either a partner or senior associate.

As for court appearances, you should err on the side of being conservative. When I was a litigator, I never even wore pants to court even though I wore them a lot in the office. The difference with court appearances is that ticking off a judge could adversely affect not just you but your client and that''s not okay. Court appearances aren''t about you, they''re about representing your client effectively. You should find out what the local practice is generally speaking and also realize that some judges may be more conservative than the local practice. It''s useful information to have, the same way you want to learn the judges'' other preferences and quirks.

 

[janinegirly]

If I were interviewing, yes I''d do the skirt & jacket suit with pantyhose. At work on a regular basis, no way. In fact I wear pant suits more and more and in the summer, I would go bare leg with (nice) flat or low heel shoes. Things are much more relaxed now (compared to the ''90''s) and pantyhose are out of style and very rarely seen in the workplace anymore.
I work in the banking industry in NYC. I''d say things are more relaxed for men too--full suits if interfacing with clients, but otherwise rarely see jackets. Again, was different some 10-15 yrs ago.

 

[kenny]

Date: 9/28/2009 5:16:10 PM
Author: ZoeBartlett
I guess I could see wearing them (the knee high kind) if necessary though.

They sell knee-high pantyhose?
So below the knee your skin is exposed?

 

[lucyandroger]

My mom (in her late 50s) is a judge and does not wear pantyhose.

I am a young attorney in a big firm. The everyday dress code is business casual and I don''t think I''ve seen any of the female attorneys wearing pantyhose but most of us just wear pants on a daily basis.

I''ve done lots of interviews for my firm this month and I can''t recall whether the women I interviewed had stockings on or not...it clearly had no effect on whether I recommended extending an offer to them or not. That being said, I did wear pantyhose when I was interviewing in the fall a couple years ago.

 

[junebug17]

Date: 9/28/2009 10:01:32 PM
Author: kenny

Date: 9/28/2009 5:16:10 PM
Author: ZoeBartlett
I guess I could see wearing them (the knee high kind) if necessary though.

They sell knee-high pantyhose?
So below the knee your skin is exposed?

No, it''s the opposite, they are "socks" made out of nylon that go up to your knee, women wear them with pants.

 

[Shoopy]

One of my workplace pet peeves is open-toed shoes. I don''t think they belong in a professional setting. And because of this, I think pantyhose are a necessity when wearing a skirt suit but only because I think pumps without pantyhose looks weird.

That said I live in miami and I think I''m the only woman in my building that does not wear open shoes lol

 

[lucyandroger]

Date: 9/28/2009 10:01:32 PM
Author: kenny

Date: 9/28/2009 5:16:10 PM

Author: ZoeBartlett

I guess I could see wearing them (the knee high kind) if necessary though.

They sell knee-high pantyhose?

So below the knee your skin is exposed?

No, think of them like long socks. Above the knee is exposed. They go as high as your knee.

 

[VRBeauty]

Date: 9/28/2009 6:48:25 PM

Author: elle_chris

Sometimes it''s hard to determine where to draw the line: do I look stuffy with sheer, nude-color stockings, or will I look inappropriate without them? Women''s professional clothing is difficult to figure out sometimes because there''s so much variation. I tend toward the more conservative side (hence my ongoing relationship with pantyhose), but sometimes I feel I should dress a little more ''my age,'' i.e. wear what more women in my age group are wearing. (On days when I can''t handle putting on stockings, I will wear pantsuits, which are totally acceptable in the courts where I work.)

I''m with EBree in not seeing the purpose of pantyhose, especially sheer hose that''s supposed to look like you''re not wearing any stockings at all. It obviously does not achieve that goal since everyone can tell if a woman is wearing it or not. I think it has to be the scandal factor. Lack of stockings goes into the same wardrobe-faux-pas category as plunging tops, unbuttoned blouses, shorts, and short skirts: too much skin to be considered professional (which begs the question: why are they so thin and sheer?!). Why else would anyone wear hose in the middle of summer? In winter, tights are a necessity, but I usually go for something much more substantial than pantyhose if I actually want to keep warm.
[sigh].

Even very sheer hose will hide minute flaws and look more polished. Plus the color you select for your sheer hose, like more opaque varieties, can make a fashion statement or really tie an outfit together.

If you''re wearing a skirt suit to an interview, absolutely wear hose of some sort. Once you get the job you can figure out what''s expected in that setting and dress accordingly.

As for me... no hose in the summer, but come winter I''ll be stocking up on pantyhose and tights for "skirt" days.



[/quote]

 

[kittybean]

Date: 9/28/2009 6:18:01 PM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 9/28/2009 5:12:35 PM
Author:kittybean
My mom always told me that, if I wear a skirt or dress to work in a formal environment, pantyhose or tights are required. I am a young lawyer (age 25), and I wear a suit to work every day. I absolutely despise pantyhose, but I usually do wear them with skirt suits. Where I work, about half the women wear pantyhose or tights and half don''t (even more don''t wear them in the summer, actually). Most of my female lawyer friends my age never wear pantyhose (even on interviews!), but a lot of them don''t appear in court, either. I would love to ditch pantyhose forever, but I''m not sure if I should.

My question: are pantyhose a requirement for professional women these days? What do you think when you see a twenty-something woman wearing a skirt suit and heels with no pantyhose or tights? Does it reflect poorly on a woman if she doesn''t wear hose with her skirt to an interview? What about to work daily?

Hmm--I realize that''s a lot of questions. Basically, I''m just looking for your opinion on the place of pantyhose in today''s workplace.

KB...show me the leggs.

Haha--how did I know this was going to be your vote

?

 

[kenny]

I don't get it.
So what's the basic idea? - The skin on women's legs is ugly and must be covered up?
What is natural and real is something to be ashamed of?

Is it like make up for the legs?

So are we suppposed to be fooled? - Hey look, her leg skin is so perfect - How does she do it?

 

[Haven]

Yes, I think they are a must for professional women. I wear knee-highs with most things, as I would never wear anything to work that would be so short that I''d actually need full pantyhose.

I think women look unpolished and definitely too casual if they don''t wear some type of stockings or pantyhose to work. We had a woman interview for a teaching position in open-toed dress shoes with no stockings, and the entire interview panel wrote that she looked "unprofessional."

I''m shocked to read that so many women find them uncomfortable. I feel uncomfortable when I *don''t* wear stockings of some sort with shoes, especially when they have leather insoles.

Anyone remember Truvy''s line in Steel Magnolias: "Well, these thighs haven''t gone out of the house without Lycra on them since I was 14"? I suppose I could say the same thing.

 

[Haven]

Date: 9/28/2009 11:21:19 PM
Author: kenny
I don''t get it.
So what''s the basic idea? - The skin on women''s legs is ugly and must be covered up?
What is natural and real is something to be ashamed of?

Is it like make up for the legs?

It''s not about makeup, it''s about modesty.

 

[kittybean]

Fiery, you wouldn''t believe how many women wear open-toed shoes at my workplace. I''m not in Miami, and many of these ladies appear in court daily. One lady even wore silver thong sandals one day. I always, always wear closed-toed shoes. Sometimes I feel like a granny when I am the youngest one there!

 

[kenny]

Date: 9/28/2009 11:23:31 PM
Author: Haven
It's not about makeup, it's about modesty.

Modesty?
So wear ankle-length dresses or pants.

You are showing the world your legs, but the skin is secret?

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Date: 9/28/2009 6:46:53 PM
Author: LtlFirecracker
I agree with what Mira said, it really depends the region of the country you are in and how conservative of an environment you are working in.


In the hospital I have been working at in Southern CA, almost none of the women under 40 wear pantyhose unless they are wearing a suit complete with a jacket. The only time that happens is for an interview or a BIG presentation (like Grand Rounds).

Heh, I didn't wear hose for my medical school interviews. I hate them with a burning passion, and would love to see them go out the window. There will never be an "official" decree announcing that they are no longer relevant, so some generation has got to oust them, and I hope it's mine!

My inner feminist dislikes that women are "expected" to wear panty hose and heels to look "professional". So I don't wear them, in fact, I don't own any. I also wouldn't mind guys no longer wearing ties, especially in the medical profession, come on now, they're just not hygenic! When was the last time you remember your dad/bf/husband washing a tie?

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 9/28/2009 11:26:30 PM
Author: kenny

Date: 9/28/2009 11:23:31 PM

Author: Haven

It''s not about makeup, it''s about modesty.

Modesty?

So wear ankle-length dresses or pants.

You are showing the world your legs, but the skin is secret?

Ha, so true! I should also clarify that I would never, ever wear anything but sheer black stockings with a skirt/skirt suit. I couldn''t ever wear skin-colored hose...I just couldn''t. So if that''s the kind of hose everyone is talking about, I extra special don''t get it!

And I do think that hose with a skirt suit looks much more polished and it seems strange to wear a skirt suit without (sheer black) hose.

 

[Haven]

Date: 9/28/2009 11:26:30 PM
Author: kenny

Date: 9/28/2009 11:23:31 PM
Author: Haven
It's not about makeup, it's about modesty.

Modesty?
So wear ankle-length dresses or pants.
You are showing the world your legs, but the skin is secret?

I don't show the world my legs when I'm at work, thankyouverymuch. I do wear ankle-length dresses or pants. With pantyhose. I would never traipse around my place of work with my bare feet showing, that is immodest, in my opinion.
You do believe I am entitled to my own opinion as much as you are entitled to yours, don't you?

I'm curious about what everyone would think of a man who wore dress shoes without socks to work? Just pants, and dress shoes so you could see his bare ankles and calves when he sat down or crossed his legs.

It sounds like we may not be on the same page regarding the definition of modesty. It simply means decency or propriety. It is obvious that we have different opinions about what is proper in the workplace, or in other words, what is modest.

 

[Octavia]

Date: 9/28/2009 11:35:49 PM
Author: thing2of2

Date: 9/28/2009 11:26:30 PM

Author: kenny

Date: 9/28/2009 11:23:31 PM


Author: Haven


It''s not about makeup, it''s about modesty.

Modesty?


So wear ankle-length dresses or pants.


You are showing the world your legs, but the skin is secret?

Ha, so true! I should also clarify that I would never, ever wear anything but sheer black stockings with a skirt/skirt suit. I couldn''t ever wear skin-colored hose...I just couldn''t. So if that''s the kind of hose everyone is talking about, I extra special don''t get it!


And I do think that hose with a skirt suit looks much more polished and it seems strange to wear a skirt suit without (sheer black) hose.

Haha, that''s funny, thing2, I''m exactly the opposite...I hate hose of any color, and on those infrequent occasions when I have to wear them, I always go with the nude-ist of the nudes. To me, it looks downright strange to have legs that are a different color than my legs actually are. I don''t like colored tights for winter, either, and wear pants almost exclusively during cold weather to avoid them.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

Date: 9/28/2009 11:33:01 PM
Author: MakingTheGrade

Date: 9/28/2009 6:46:53 PM

Author: LtlFirecracker

I agree with what Mira said, it really depends the region of the country you are in and how conservative of an environment you are working in.



In the hospital I have been working at in Southern CA, almost none of the women under 40 wear pantyhose unless they are wearing a suit complete with a jacket. The only time that happens is for an interview or a BIG presentation (like Grand Rounds).

Heh, I didn't wear hose for my medical school interviews. I hate them with a burning passion, and would love to see them go out the window. There will never be an 'official' decree announcing that they are no longer relevant, so some generation has got to oust them, and I hope it's mine!


My inner feminist dislikes that women are 'expected' to wear panty hose and heels to look 'professional'. So I don't wear them, in fact, I don't own any. I also wouldn't mind guys no longer wearing ties, especially in the medical profession, come on now, they're just not hygenic! When was the last time you remember your dad/bf/husband washing a tie?

Well if ties are banned, than the white coat should be banned too. My friend did a rotation in England, and her welcome letter said that no ties or white coats were allowed in the hospital. That is because someone actually did a study where they cultured both those things and, well, I am not going to say anymore except they were banned. I personally hate the white coat, and only wear it when required.

For my med school interviews, I avoided the issue. I wore a pants suit and flats. I am 5'9, I never wear heals at work. I only recently started wearing them outside of work because my BF loves them on me

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 9/28/2009 11:43:33 PM
Author: Haven

Date: 9/28/2009 11:26:30 PM

Author: kenny

Date: 9/28/2009 11:23:31 PM

Author: Haven

It''s not about makeup, it''s about modesty.

Modesty?

So wear ankle-length dresses or pants.

You are showing the world your legs, but the skin is secret?

I don''t show the world my legs when I''m at work, thankyouverymuch. I do wear ankle-length dresses or pants. With pantyhose. I would never traipse around my place of work with my bare feet showing, that is immodest, in my opinion.

You do believe I am entitled to my own opinion as much as you are entitled to yours, don''t you?

I''m curious about what everyone would think of a man who wore dress shoes without socks to work? Just pants, and dress shoes so you could see his bare ankles and calves when he sat down or crossed his legs.

It sounds like we may not be on the same page regarding the definition of modesty. It simply means decency or propriety. It is obvious that we have different opinions about what is proper in the workplace, or in other words, what is modest.

Ah, but I like a man who wears dress shoes with no socks! My super stylish friend who works in fashion wore just that to my wedding and I loved it.

Actually Haven, I''m surprised that you don''t think a knee-length skirt with hose is modest and/or professional. That''s standard as far as skirt suits go, and to me a skirt suit is the dressiest/most professional look for a woman. (I actually think a pant suit is equally dressy/professional, but since we''re talking about hose and such I''ll stick with talking about skirt suits.)

Honestly, ankle length skirts and dresses just seem teacher-y to me, which makes sense I guess since you''re a teacher/professor!

 

[kenny]

Date: 9/28/2009 11:43:33 PM
Author: Haven
[
You do believe I am entitled to my own opinion as much as you are entitled to yours, don't you?

Absolutely.
For me, as a guy, I'm just trying to figure out women.
Some stuff doesn't make sense.
Hence the question.
Then the questions about the answers.

But yes, everyone certainly is entitled to define modesty or anything however they want to.

In fact, people tell me that I'm so open minded that my brain fell out long ago.

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 9/29/2009 12:11:27 AM
Author: Octavia

Date: 9/28/2009 11:35:49 PM

Author: thing2of2

Date: 9/28/2009 11:26:30 PM

Author: kenny

Date: 9/28/2009 11:23:31 PM

Author: Haven

It''s not about makeup, it''s about modesty.

Modesty?

So wear ankle-length dresses or pants.

You are showing the world your legs, but the skin is secret?

Ha, so true! I should also clarify that I would never, ever wear anything but sheer black stockings with a skirt/skirt suit. I couldn''t ever wear skin-colored hose...I just couldn''t. So if that''s the kind of hose everyone is talking about, I extra special don''t get it!

And I do think that hose with a skirt suit looks much more polished and it seems strange to wear a skirt suit without (sheer black) hose.

Haha, that''s funny, thing2, I''m exactly the opposite...I hate hose of any color, and on those infrequent occasions when I have to wear them, I always go with the nude-ist of the nudes. To me, it looks downright strange to have legs that are a different color than my legs actually are. I don''t like colored tights for winter, either, and wear pants almost exclusively during cold weather to avoid them.

Ha, interesting, Octavia! I actually love to wear super opaque black tights with skirts/dresses so we are 100% opposite on this for sure!

I guess I just figure that if I wanted my legs to look leg-colored I''d wear no hose at all!

All this is really totally theoretical for me (except for when I''m interviewing) because I have a totally casual work environment and can wear pretty much whatever I want, including t-shirts and shorts and flip-flops, which is the daily attire of my boss! (I don''t want to wear any of those to work, but I like the fact that I could if I wanted to!) I mostly wear jeans these days because I ride my scooter to work every day it seems like it won''t rain on me.

 

[kenny]

I hate the look when men wear shoes with no socks, or when they tie the arms of a sweater around their neck.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 9/28/2009 11:33:01 PM
Author: MakingTheGrade

Date: 9/28/2009 6:46:53 PM
Author: LtlFirecracker
I agree with what Mira said, it really depends the region of the country you are in and how conservative of an environment you are working in.


In the hospital I have been working at in Southern CA, almost none of the women under 40 wear pantyhose unless they are wearing a suit complete with a jacket. The only time that happens is for an interview or a BIG presentation (like Grand Rounds).

Heh, I didn''t wear hose for my medical school interviews. I hate them with a burning passion, and would love to see them go out the window. There will never be an ''official'' decree announcing that they are no longer relevant, so some generation has got to oust them, and I hope it''s mine!

My inner feminist dislikes that women are ''expected'' to wear panty hose and heels to look ''professional''. So I don''t wear them, in fact, I don''t own any. I also wouldn''t mind guys no longer wearing ties, especially in the medical profession, come on now, they''re just not hygenic! When was the last time you remember your dad/bf/husband washing a tie?

I was going to mention the tie thing. I don''t think it''s a anti feminist thing to wear hose. To look professional, men are expected to strangle themselves and women are expected to stuff ourselves like sausages into hose. I''d rather wear hose than a tie any day. Talk about something that seems torturous!!

 

[Haven]

Date: 9/29/2009 12:45:02 AM
Author: kenny

Date: 9/28/2009 11:43:33 PM
Author: Haven
You do believe I am entitled to my own opinion as much as you are entitled to yours, don''t you?

Absolutely.
For me, as a guy, I''m just trying to figure out women.
Some stuff doesn''t make sense.
Hence the question.
Then the questions about the answers.

But yes, everyone certainly is entitled to define modesty or anything however they want to.

In fact, people tell me that I''m so open minded that my brain fell out long ago.

Oh, my dear, sweet Kenny.
I think you are going to be asking a lot of questions if that is your purpose.

 

[E B]

Date: 9/28/2009 11:26:30 PM
Author: kenny

You are showing the world your legs, but the skin is secret?

I''m with you, Kenny- I don''t get it. But I''ve never worn a skirt to an interview, and I''ve only ever been required to dress in business casual once I had the job.

 

[Haven]

thing2--You''re right, I''m probably in (what should be) the most buttoned-up profession, so to speak. Wait, let me modify that--young-ish teachers of teenagers or adults of the opposite gender should be the most decently dressed professionals.

I spent a few years working in the corporate world and I wore pants suits, but that''s just because I rarely find a dress skirt that doesn''t make me look like I''m shaped like a rectangle. I would have worn a skirt to work back then had I found one that was flattering.

Now that I am still (relatively) young and I teach young adults I would never wear a knee-length skirt to work. When I taught high school, not a chance! I had several colleagues who dressed inappropriately, in my opinion, and you can bet that the kids would definitely talk about it.

I always wear pantyhose, though, unless it is very hot outside. When I''m not at work the hosiery is all about vanity, not propriety--these legs look much better with a bit of color and that Lycra smoothing goodness.

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 9/29/2009 12:52:15 AM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 9/28/2009 11:33:01 PM
Author: MakingTheGrade
I also wouldn't mind guys no longer wearing ties, especially in the medical profession, come on now, they're just not hygenic! When was the last time you remember your dad/bf/husband washing a tie?

I was going to mention the tie thing. I don't think it's a anti feminist thing to wear hose. To look professional, men are expected to strangle themselves and women are expected to stuff ourselves like sausages into hose. I'd rather wear hose than a tie any day. Talk about something that seems torturous!!

My dad does. He wears ties Monday-Friday (sometimes on weekends too), so while he has a ton of ties, he also drinks a TON of coffee....that he enjoys spilling all over himself daily. So he pretty much has to wash ties. Otherwise they just look silly and unkempt!

And TGal, he also likes wearing ties, but then again, he started practicing law when dinosaurs were around, and they certainly had a super conservative dress code then!

(He really likes ties though. REALLY REALLY likes them. I might even go to far as to say Dad:ties::Liz:shoes.) Between ties and cufflinks....

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 9/29/2009 1:04:41 AM
Author: Haven
thing2--You''re right, I''m probably in (what should be) the most buttoned-up profession, so to speak. Wait, let me modify that--young-ish teachers of teenagers or adults of the opposite gender should be the most decently dressed professionals.

I spent a few years working in the corporate world and I wore pants suits, but that''s just because I rarely find a dress skirt that doesn''t make me look like I''m shaped like a rectangle. I would have worn a skirt to work back then had I found one that was flattering.

Now that I am still (relatively) young and I teach young adults I would never wear a knee-length skirt to work. When I taught high school, not a chance! I had several colleagues who dressed inappropriately, in my opinion, and you can bet that the kids would definitely talk about it.

I always wear pantyhose, though, unless it is very hot outside. When I''m not at work the hosiery is all about vanity, not propriety--these legs look much better with a bit of color and that Lycra smoothing goodness.

Ah, makes total sense, especially for the high schoolers. I don''t remember any of my teachers in high school wearing anything inappropriate but I''m pretty sure some of them definitely wore knee-length skirts. I guess it didn''t catch my eye because I wasn''t a teenage boy, though!