Comments on: Poll: Can Fishnets Be Worn at a Conservative Job?

By: Quinn

Quinn — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:25:32 +0000

This is the best example I know of a professional, and blogger I read who does wear close weave fishnets on occasion to work at her HR job.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IboyuFNluKU/TnkeyORwT-I/AAAAAAAAAsc/hGCWdvzJlPQ/s1600/A-DSC02052.jpg
(Admittedly, her blog reflects the fact that she lives in LA, but I still think this type of fishnets are appropriate, as you can hardly see unless you’re very up close. Which should not be happening in an office, anyway!)

By: t

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 13:19:59 +0000

Fishnets, professional dancer??? It is not what I think of. I think cute, texture, I guess it would be what they are put with and more importantly how a person carries/presents self. I never even knew anyone would think professional dancer…

By: Laydie

Laydie — Sat, 30 May 2009 14:45:54 +0000

Fishnets are fine when worn with the proper business suit. Here is a photo of me that website has used for a number of years in promoting fishnet leg wear.
http://www.mynippon.com/news/2008/02/business-woman-in-fishnet-tights.html

By: KMB

KMB — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:38:49 +0000

I see fishnet stockings in court all the time and it makes me cringe!!

I think they’re acceptable if they’re a tight weave, and worn over a pair of opaque stockings in the same colour. That way, you can be a bit of a rebel, and no one will know!

That said, I have to say, if you’re wearing trousers, they’re ok too. Just not in a gaudy colour.

By: CJ

CJ — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:11:37 +0000

I am a lawyer and on days where I don’t have court I occasionally wear black fishnets, with a demure skirt and a blouse. I think if your suit/outfit is conservative enough, you can pull them off (they are a little bit sexy for sure, but sexy does not always = slutty, I mean, high heels are sexy and we love it,right??). Its all about balance. I agree, however, that they must be a tight weave.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:31:00 +0000

Here in Australia I see women dressed up to go to work in corporate settings wearing fishnets all the time. I think it’s a cultural thing, as at home (in the States) I would never think to wear fishnets to work. Here, it seems like an acceptable norm. It’s not as if the women are dressed inappropriately (i.e. hooker gear). The attire is still professional to any standards.

By: styleosophy

styleosophy — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:53:04 +0000

I mostly agree with UK Associate, except that it doesn’t matter to me so much about senority.

I have espresso colored fishnets on today in the office (I took a picture and sent it in). If I wear fishnets, wide weave = another pair of opaque or natural skin tone matching hose underneath. This also works really well in the wintertime, giving you an extra layer from the cold. Then they never look “see through”, and it subtracts from the overall hooker feel. They become a part of the overall outfit, adding texture to one of your best accessories, your legs.

Small weave = small weave. I can add the underlayer hose or not, it just depends on how I feel and the overall look of the outfit.

In my opinion, what always helps when wearing a pantyhose pattern that could be suggestive is to:
keep it in your skin tone, i.e., no red, blue, green etc.
keep the outfit length of the skirt bottom of kneecap to midcalve. No skirts hitting above the kneecap and
keep the outfit professional

By: UK Associate

UK Associate — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:34:37 +0000

Ladies – calm down. It is largely about how you wear whatever you wear. If you are elegantly and simply dressed, whether your stockings are plain, patterned or net makes no difference other than from the perspective of what is stylish or not.

It’s also about seniority. Partners can always get away with a more fashion-forward look, as they’ve less to prove. If you feel you need to blend in a little longer until you’re promoted etc – stick to middle of the road dressing.

I’ve always worn a variety of stockings to work depending upon the outfit, shoe and occasion. I have never considered nets to be inappropriate as I wear them only with simple outfits not nightclub wear, i don’t display leg above the knee and always wear them with conservative shoes.

However a girl wearing too much make-up, or with a skirt inches above the knee, or with a low-cut or tight top, or wearing generally tight-fitting clothing, would never look professional – even if she stuck to nude or black stockings only.

Some posters are right – if you have to think about whether your outfit is passable, it isn’t. But if you never give it a second thought because you KNOW you look worthy of respect and never question your own professionalism, you’ll get that respect and others won’t question you either.

By: El

El — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:21:29 +0000

I’ve seen grey tight-weave fishnets done well with a conservative outfit – longer skirt, pretty blouse, and cute pumps (midheel). The effect was actually quite stylish and not at all hookerish. It also helped that the wearer was slim and not curvy in the least, IMO reducing the “sex” factor.

I second v’s comment above. The “sad and pathetic” is a little much.

By: v

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:38:04 +0000

I always think they have no outside social life and therefore no where else to wear these fashions. They look sad and pathetic to me.

Okay, I tend to agree it’s not worth the risk to wear them, but opinions like this (and I’m not trying to single you out; there are a lot of them in this thread) are a different ball park. It might also be worth spending some time thinking about whether you really want to be the kind of person who jumps to conclusions like that about people before you uncritically spout those opinions on the Internet. The fact that fishnets may not be the wisest fashion choice at work does not free you from your own burden of attempting to be a decent human being.