So last week, we asked about fishnet tights – and whether they were ever appropriate for the office. It turns out that we failed to account for something that a lot of people thought was an important factor: the width of the netting. (Our apologies!) With the caveat, then, that our poll was imperfect (hey, aren’t they all?), the results were:
- 60% of you said they were never appropriate
- 24% said only if worn as trouser socks
- 13% said they were fine so long as the skirt/outfit was demure enough
- only 1% had a laissez-faire attitude about fishnets.
Commenters noted that small-weaved fishnet tights added texture and style, and as long as the fabric was the color of your skin then it was acceptable for a casual day. One commenter (Style Goddess) felt so strongly hers were appropriate she sent in some pictures (above and at right) — we must agree, they look great on her. N.B.: Even those in favor of fishnets noted that these were not the accessory to choose the day you’ve got that court appearance, press conference, or stock holders’ meeting.
The poll is still going on — please weigh in!
A while back, someone commented that instead of nude hose they wore nude fishnets in the summer. This piqued our curiosity — we used to do this also, back in the days after college, but not in a long while — we stopped because it felt inappropriate. So we thought we’d take a poll… (Photo credit: Fishnets, originally uploaded to Flickr by candinski.)
For our $.02, fishnet tights are generally inappropriate for the office environment. Let’s face it, they conjure up images of dancers (both professional and otherwise) and hookers — and that association is a little too much for bosses of either sex. Besides, the goal of a working wardrobe should be to avoid what we’ll call “the second look” — you don’t want any of your coworkers to look at you once casually in the hallway and then be forced to look a second time in order to answer the question, “Were my eyes deceiving me or is she really wearing that?” Even if they answer the question with a blase “ok, well, I guess that’s acceptable,” the second look in and of itself is something to be avoided. We would argue, though, that fishnet trouser socks could be appropriate as long as they’re in a neutral color. (Our reasoning here is that only perverts are staring at your ankles; otherwise, what you wear there is unlikely to elicit the dreaded second look.)
What are your thoughts, readers?
Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. We begin the week in splurge mode, with our most expensive suggestions, and wind our way to Friday, where a less expensive item of clothing might be just what you need to make it to the weekend.
Banana Republic has a ton of tights on sale right now, with another 20% at checkout when you use code EXTRA20 (good on all sale items, not just tights). We like these geometric printed ones, pictured (available in navy and purple); but there are matte opaque ones in various solid colors, as well as sheer herringbone tights, ribbed tights, and diamond-pattern tights. Most tights were $16, now marked to $10.99 ($8.79 with the code). Women: Geometric tights – Navy
Last week we asked whether or not patterned tights were appropriate for professional women. As always, the poll is still open, but the initial results are interesting — the voters were pretty split in terms of what could or couldn’t work.
- 36% of you said that men’s patterns (pinstriped, windowpane) in dark, neutral colors would work
- 33% of you said ANY pattern would work, but only in dark, neutral colors
- 23% said solidly colored tights in neutral colors would work, but to avoid patterns
- 5% of you said any pattern, any color, any day.
Commenters noted that they considered dark gray to be a neutral, as well as a charcoal blue; we completely agree. We’d also suggest wearing navy tights with a black dress, if you’re more of a funky soul — it feels rebellious but still looks conservative. (Our $.02 on black and navy: as long as it looks like you’re doing it on purpose, it’s a-ok. It’s bad if you look like you got dressed in the dark.)
Some great selections in both luxury and lower-priced tights, after the jump…
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Inspired by last week’s Wolford sale at Rue La La, we thought we’d ask — do you wear patterned tights in cold weather? There are a ton of options out there. Our rule of thumb has always been to stick with the kinds of patterns men wear on shirts — pinstriped, windowpane, et cetera. What are your thoughts?
Photo credit: legs eleven, originally uploaded to Flickr by tractorpirate.
Shop more patterned tights, below…
