Okay, can someone clear this up for me for once and for all?

Wearing hose...

Is it antiquated? Is it a requirement? Is it optional? Is it really a faux-pas not to wear any, even though they look terrible with open-toed shoes? Is it a question of where you're from and how old you are? Can you get through life without ever owning a pair if you're a woman?

So what's the deal?

I think that it is a completely antiquated ritual. i work in a corporate environment in San Francisco and the only women that wear them are over 60.

I think fashionable ones are cute but the nude hose thing is over. I don't understand why women still wear them. I agree with you about the open-toed shoes, in my opinion you should never wear a sock or hose with them. If you have to wear hoses, don't wear open-toed shoes, it looks tacky.

I say absolutely NOT necessary unless EXPLICITLY defined as such by employer! (and I believe it's the only occasion worth discussing IMO)
If you get a smack on the wrist...you'll know better next time;)

I wear them in formal settings in the winter. 

In the south, if you have to wear panty hose in the summer time... then you're probably meeting the Queen for tea because there aren't many reasons to torture yourself like that.

I prefer tights though. And boots.

I never wear them in the summer time.

I do know a lawyer who has to wear them year round. I think it depends on your corporate environment.  Some companies have loosened dress codes and others haven't.

I didn't realize there any kind of "rule" to it - I always thought it's what you were comfortable with.  However, I do envy women who can comfortably and confidently not wear them when in a dress / skirt.

There are some who wear them just for the tummy control/ support.  I used to wear them not just because of my legs, but because I didn't want my tummy popping out.  Now that I've lost some weight, I don't do the "control top" thing anymore, although it would be nice to not wear them at all - but I don't think my legs look good enough for that (very pale, and I have varicose veins).  Maybe if I got a decent spray tan....

I do think that hose with sandals or open toe shoes looks pretty tacky.

*shudder*whoever invented pantyhose hated women.

Go with the flow, if all the other women in your workplace are wearing them, you probably should too. Otherwise, ditch them in favour of bare legs in the summer, or cute tights in the winter (printed tights are hot right now).

fashionable tights are cute, sometimes i wear fishnets too (not to work).  I HATE it when people wear tights with open toed shoes, sooo tacky!!  Its worse that when peoples toes hang out. ugh.

santonacci, sally hansen makes a spray make-up for legs! it comes in different shades of tan etc. i've never used it myself, but a friend of mine swears by it!

antiquated.  

Original Post by jules817:

santonacci, sally hansen makes a spray make-up for legs! it comes in different shades of tan etc. i've never used it myself, but a friend of mine swears by it!

 I have...it's like foundation for your legs...I hated it!

 

That's just me tho...you might want to give it a shot.

what´s the difference between hose and tights?

I do wear them because it´s warm enough here to go without for about..3 months in a year.  I prefer stockings though. Or colorful tights with otherwise black/grey/white outfit.

hose are normally shear and tights are thicker.

Another pro for tights aside from looking cute, they don't run. 

midwest, professional, always wear hose to work, even under pants (tho mostly b/c i think my tummy looks better and my shoes fit nicer with hose.)  i would never go bare legged to court with a skirt.

no hose with open toed shoes unless its designed for that (toeless).

and i think black hose looks slutty and tacky.  i wear nude.  guess i should be over sixty instead of under 30....

I have NEVER understood why pantyhose are more appropriate than bare legs... you can see the legs right through the hose anyways! It's not as if they are covering anything. I can see them justified as keeping you a little warmer, or helping your feet slip in and out of close toed heels more easily. Every once in a while I'll wear a pair of very sheer nude ones from VS, but not often.

My legs have blemishes that don't go away until they are really tanned, so on the rare occasions that I have the courage to wear skirts or dresses, I wear pantyhose.

 I hate those blemishes. :-(

My skin is really prone to scarring. I can't shave anymore, I can only wax them. 

I envy people who have legs and show them off. 

 I might try the leg foundation stuff...

I've never been able to wear a pair more than once without ruining them.  They're also so uncomfortable!

Ugh, I hate pantyhose! However, I rarely wear skirts so I don't exactly have much use for them anyway.

But on the rare occasion that I do wear a skirt I don't wear pantyhose

I have not worn a pair of pantyhose since I was...maybe 8? I still remember when my mom would make me wear them for church and before the service was over, I'd be in the bathroom taking them off... every time! I hated them with a passion!! LOL Now I see this new trend of wearing black tights and I might actually consider buying a pair to wear on rare occassions when it's really cold outside, which in FL, is not very often.

I don't even own any! I loathe them... if I absolutely HAVE to have a pair for a special event (weddings, funerals, or REALLY formal dinners, all of which are rare as hens teeth in our life), I'll go out and buy one but I know it's going to end up in holes by the end of the evening anyway... I think they're like petticoats and half-slips and girdles - part of a bygone age when it was a sin to show any part of your actual flesh.

Oh, and I wear skirts and sandals all the time... living in Florida, practically year-round! 

I feel more dressed up in them than not. Don't mind either way..

There are some open-toed shoes (pumps come to mind) that look fine with hose...so I reckon it is a completely personal choice..

I would submit that 'tan' color is not in vogue but 'nude' certainly seems ok...:)