stockings

[sheila3]

Ok, how professional is it to go to work with out stockings, I am in the US and we do not have air-conditioning. Our office is not real formal, most of the men, and managers, my boss do not wear suits, they wear slacks with short sleeve shirts with and with out ties. It is allways a pain to have to spend the money on stockings and they get hot in the summer, I am somewhat sick of this double standard of dressing for women. Don't get me wrong I like to look good and take pride in how I look, but I am up at 5:00 am and have a hour drive to work. My hair style now is very low maintenance. Back when princess Dianne was alive (who I admired) I noticed she did not allways wear stockings and she came off looking very well. Please give me your input on this.

[gee4]

Never wear them - most uncomfortable item of clothing ever invented.  

In summer I wear lighter trouser suits, usually in linen.  If I wear a skirt I make sure it's a long one, that way I can apply some fake tan to my legs.  Surely you can get away with wearing trouser suits or at least some fake tan with a knee-length or ankle-length skirt??

Personally I stop wearing any tights/socks from about April/May to early Sept.

Having said that I would always dress for an interview and would def wear tights then.

What is your company policy on dress code?

G

[Christine Itterly]

I would say it depends on where exactly you are.  I work in Orlando, and can honestly say I have not worn stockings (even in winter) in about 5 years.  I do on occasion wear knee highs, but only with slacks or long skirts.  I think as long as you keep your legs and feet neat (i.e. shaved and toenails polished) there is not a big deal anymore.  I don't know what I would do if I had to put on stockings again.

just my .02 cents

[mathwhizchick]

I can't help much, since I work in a big dog large corporation.  While some areas have gone to business casual, my area is still business formal, so hosiery is de rigueur.  Our dress code for both business formal and casual requires some sort of foot covering--socks, knee-highs, hosiery, tights, etc., so I don't have a lot of flexibility in this particular area.  I will add that I live in a more northern clime, so the summer heat is not as big as an issue.  I grew up southern, and, frankly, wearing stockings in the south SUCK.

Coming into work this week, I did hear on the radio that there is a new product, a spray on hosiery, developed in Japan.  I think they said one can is expected to retail at 28 USD and has 4-5 applications (which would depend on leg size).   Other than that, I would suggest close shaves (or waxing) and fake or real tans...

Yep, it is a BIG-TIME double standard.  However, it is what it is.  Personally, I just deal with it and save my energy for something else, a sort of "picking my battles", something I learned raising my son... (who managed to get to 20 without being sold to the gypsies *grin*).  Besides, I am most definitely NOT anything close to being a fashion diva, and am happiest in a uniform or quasi uniform, so I don't have to worry about what to wear, if it matches....

[sheila3]

G: we don't have a set company policy, state gov. has it defined by your department, but it is loose, You can not wear shorts in the office, but that is as far as what you can not wear within our department.  Some people wear things I would not wear out camping, and some people I have no idea what professional clothing is.  I think I will take everyones sugestions and do the fake tan. That would look good and still look professional. On Fridays I am a bit more causal then the rest of the week and wear my Teva sandals with a skirt to work, toe nails nice and polished.
Thanks for the input everyone, this is a great site !

[ozbound]

I've been thinking of trying that fake tan stuff myself.  I loathe stockings, too, and am always happier in the summer when I can go with bare toes--but boy are my legs WHITE! (I don't tan well!)  What's the best kind of fake tan to get?

[gee4]

Not sure where you are located Oz, but I use fake tan from the body shop.  You can buy a mit to apply, so danger of getting it where you don't want it.  Best to apply at night before going to bed that way you wake up with a nice tan the next morning.  It doesn't streak and looks so good I have been asked where I was on holiday!

G

[juspeachy]

I have worn stockings (panty hose) to work for so many years that I feel naked without them.  There are some of the "younger" women who have great tans who go without stockings during the warmer months, but, personally, I can't do it.  Even if I had a good tan on my legs (which I don't) I wouldn't feel comfortable without my stockings.  I even wear stocking-type knee-highs with pants.

Once I get  home though, the stockings are the first things to go.  

JusPeachy

[mlm668]

I personally think its tacky not to wear stockings when you're in a business environment.  I don't care how great a woman's legs look, wearing a skirt without hose is unattractive.

There is casual and then there is CASUAL and going without stockings/hose and/or wearing sandals of any kind to work crosses the casual line in my book.  In an office environment, you should dress the part of the professional regardless of how laid back it is.  If you don't like stockings and your office is casual wear light weight slacks.  Save the bare legs for outside the office.  

Michelle

[countrigal]

I live in the south, and hate the heat in the summer, but agree with those who say that nylons with a skirt is a must.  I just don't feel right without hose on when in a skirt, with the only exception being a skirt that comes to my ankles, then I'll wear knee-highs.  I do wear sandals, though not the floppy type, so as to keep cooler, but even then I'll wear nylons.  The only time I go without nylons is if I'm wearing slacks and sandals, then I go "barefooted".  My favorite new nylon is the toe-less ones, so that I can wear my sandals and hose, without appearing to be wearing hose.  My toes are bare, look nice all polished, yet my legs are enclosed in nylons.  What will they think of next?

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[unique]

I live in Scotland - and it can be coldddddddddddd, but then again in summer it can be hot, whatever the climate though, I think you adjust to wherever you live, and even when it's cold, it doesn't feel over-cold (if you understand what I'm trying to say).

I'm with Countrigal on this, if I ever wear a skirt, they are always long anyhow, but I'd wear tights or knee highs.

I do tend to wear trousers, and go barefoot if wearing sandals, good excuse to have a nice pedicure too!!!

I saw another 'new' item of nylon last week, only a 'band' which protects the ball of the foot, where rubbing often occurs - as you said Countrigal - "what next?"



Pam
Peer Moderator

[Katie G]

I wear stockings because thanks to ghostly pale skin, scars from a chemical burn from my lifeguarding days, spider veins and bunions, I can honestly say I have the most unattractive feet and legs in the world.

But frankly, that's just my vanity talking.  I think other things look far worse than no stockings, particulary:

"Flappy" sandals (the kind with no strap or anything around the heel) Nothing makes me crazier than hearing "slap, slap, slap" down the hall.

Tank tops.  I've even seen spaghetti straps, and on people old enough to know better!  (And if you're going to go sleeveless, for heaven's sake, use appropriate hygiene!  Nuff said.)

Eh, down off my rant.

[newtofl]

I always wear stockings or knee highs to the office.  I don't like the way it feels without my stockings.  Although it is mostly hot here in Florida, I still don't think that you should go without stockings although I do see it all the time, especially in this office (all of the women in my office go without stockings almost every day).

One time, I did not have any clean stockings so I went without them and just felt naked and self conscious because of my ugly legs and feet.  I went home at lunch and put on clean stockings (my husband was home and did laundry).

[gingertea]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I didn't want to be the first one to say, "I believe in stockings, but I'm old."  But, the truth is I do believe in wearing hose to the office.  I think it is unprofessional to have naked feet and legs in a business environment.   I totally agree with you about being uncomfortable without hose.   Peachy, you're not the only one who wears knee-hi hose under slacks.

Right now I am plagued with my naked toed prima donna wearing kitten heels that go slap-slap-slap all day long, every day of the week.  She has brown ones, black ones, and -  Lord have mercy - pink ones that match her low-cut tank top.  Actually, there are some breaks.  She announced one day that her toes get cold (imagine that!!!) so she keeps fuzzy slippers under her desk.  So, if she is not "slapping" around the office she is "sloshing" in her fuzzy slippers.  Boy, what I would give to be working with an adult!

Getting to a much more productive topic --- what's this about toeless hose?  I've never heard of them before.  Tell me more.

[gee4]

I agree with what you are all saying but if you wear a trouser suit (like I am today), and you have pedicured feet with a little fake tan, surely no-one will even be interested to look down there!

My point is I look professional - I am wearing proper summer shoes appropriate for work and no-one can see my feet or ankles or toes.

All it takes is a little thought and preparation - you can still feel cool in the office in the summer without looking tacky.

G