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Do you have to wear pantyhose in the summer? The pantyhose-at-the-office question comes up so often, but I don't think we've addressed it in a while — and Reader N wonders…
I had a question about wearing pantyhose. I'm about to start my first internship in finance (a mid-sized hedge fund) this summer and I'm really confused as to what to wear. It'll be in London, so I don't know if that changes business formal guidelines. Anyway, I'm 20 years old and a southern girl, and I've never worn pantyhose in my life. Is it really necessary to wear pantyhose with a skirt suit, even in the middle of July? I'm tempted to just wear a pant suit the first day and see what everyone else is wearing, but then I've heard people say that pantsuits aren't conservative enough and I should wear a skirtsuit the first day just in case.
Obviously, I have no idea what I'm doing. Oh dear.
Congratulations on your summer internship — it sounds excellent.
There is a really big range in what's acceptable at conservative offices, and so — for my $.02 — it's always best to get started on the right foot, which is to say the safest foot.
You don't want people's first impression of you to be of your clothes — you want it to be of your work, your accomplishments.
So for the first day — probably even the first week — I would suggest wearing:
- Skirt suits (at least for the first day)
- Nude-for-you pantyhose (see our favorites above)
- Closed toe shoes (see our favorites below)
- Sleeves, if you're not wearing a blazer
These are some of our favorite heels as of 2024, but check out our entire Guide to Comfortable Heels!
You may realize pretty quickly that your female bosses all wear skirts without hose, and after that point you have my go ahead to ball up your pantyhose and pack 'em away until interview season. Similarly, after a few days of observation, you may feel confident in bringing out your peep-toes and your sleeveless dresses. But the point is that you have to know your office.
How to Wear Pantyhose in the Summer (If You Have To)
Now, if you do get stuck in a firm where you have to wear pantyhose all summer… there are a few things you can do to make the summer go more comfortably.
– If there's a problem with your hose (they fall down, they run, they cling to your skirt), odds are that you just haven't found a great pair of hose for you yet. In our poll on pantyhose colors for interviewing, readers sang the praises of everything from Jockey to Wolford, so you don't necessarily have to spend a lot of money; you just have to find a great pair that works for you.
Personally I've always been a fan of control tops (even when I didn't need the control) because the hose stayed up better, but that's me — Spanx even has a higher-waisted version to prevent rollover.
If you constantly feel sweaty while wearing your hose, first switch to all cotton underwear. (A reader asked me once if you needed to wear underwear with hose, and my answer there is yes — I'm not an expert but going commando in hose sounds like a recipe for a yeast infection.) If that still doesn't work, you may want to look into thigh-high hose — a lot of women prefer those, particularly in the summertime.
– You may want to review my older advice on how to care for your pantyhose (as well as how to put them on).
Psst: As of 2022, some of our favorite foundational garments include this line of waist-shapers, these comfy shorts to prevent chafing while wearing skirts without hose, this full slip for wrap dresses and shirt dresses, this half-slip to prevent clinging, these pantyhose, and this bra.
Readers, which are your favorite pantyhose brands? For those of you who wear it even on the hottest days, what is your advice for Reader N?
Psst: if you're looking for body makeup, these are some of our favorites as of 2022…
K in... Transition
I’m one who tries to avoid hose whenever possible… hate things on my feet and the seam on hose makes me batty… I end up turning the hose inside out to avoid the seam but it’s still never comfortable. Kinda wish we lived in a world where this was too old fashioned to be expected!
Random other thought; I was talking to a friend today and mentioned that I just feel better in the world when I’m in a relationship… I could be an 8 (out of 10) at my best when solo but I only hit the 9-10 level when I’m in a relationship. Considering I’m an almost 30 yr old woman with a Master’s and a big ole resume, I’m not quite sure if that sets women’s lib back. Anyone else this way?
E
I think this isn’t unusual. I mean, most people do get married. The “norm” in our society is to get married. It wouldn’t be that way if the majority of people were happier alone. I don’t think it has anything to do with women’s lib.
Batgirl
Meh, I’m not sure the norm is stay married. Or that most people spend the majority of their lives married.
anon
I agree. I don’t think it has much to do with “women’s lib.” (What an old fashioned way of referring to “feminism.”)
Human beings are social animals and most, or many people enjoy some kind of companionship. The easiest way to get it is to have an S.O. Marriage isn’t for everyone.
Gooseberry
Don’t knock yourself. Seems normal. Also, it might help your “set women’s lib back” concern if you can think about whether it applies outside of the romantic relationship/man-woman context. For example, I like dessert just fine, but if I were by myself, I’d never order it. Sharing it with a friend makes it delicious and fun. I like movies just fine, but I don’t really love them, so wouldn’t sit through one on my own. Watching with a friend (male/female/romantic/not) always makes it more enjoyable. For some, life is better when shared. For others, life is the same whether or not shared. It may just be that you shine when you’re sharing, and not that you punching women’s lib in the gut. :)
January
I’ve written several various responses to your post, all of which I then deleted because they seemed like oversharing, so I’ll just chime in to say I think the desire for a relationship seems perfectly normal – and I don’t think it takes anything away from your Master’s or your big ol’ resume to admit that. :)
jcb
I’m kind of the opposite. I’m pretty much at 10 out of 10 when I’m single, and haven’t found a relationship where I am at 9-10 for very long past the initial infatuation stage … (and thus have never gotten married …). I don’t think it’s a women’s lib issue, just different personalities.
Seattleite
I think it matters whether you’re at 9-10 when you’re in a *good* relationship, or whether it’s *any* relationship. If the former, I agree with the other posters. If the latter, self-reflection would be in order.
N.
Agreed!
Monday
Good call, Seattleite. I’ll also add that I know a number of men who are like this, which instantly takes the “women’s lib” significance out of it. These are guys who make a point always to have a girlfriend (or wife), and simply know that they do better while in a relationship. Some of these guys do settle for unhealthy relationships rather than being single. I think regardless of gender this can be a problem, or not, based on your motivations.
I do think that some things about yourself you can only learn on your own, and some you can only learn from intimacy with someone else.
rosie
I don’t think it’s a women’s lib thing at all. I don’t read your statement as I need a man to be fully happy, it’s I need a relationship to be fully happy.
I really enjoy being by myself and don’t like to be constantly surrounded by people, even people I call my friends, all the time. When I find someone that I prefer to be with over spending time by myself (so far I put one friend and my SO in this category), my happiness potential increases.
NDR
I know I am happier as a married lady than I was when single, even though I had a kickin’ singledom.
Happy things are happier when you can share it; sad things are easier to take when you have a partner. Plus, you can’t help but feel good about yourself when you have someone that’s consistently glad to see you walk in the room.
Artie
“Plus, you can’t help but feel good about yourself when you have someone that’s consistently glad to see you walk in the room.”
So true! It also goes the other way; every time my SO walks in, it makes my day that much brighter.
Sad
I am sad that I am married but don’t have this. Sad that I made such a bad choice in a mate.
Going Solo
I heard a really interesting interview on our local NPR station yesterday with the author of a new book called “Going Solo.” Was his last name Kleinberg? It was a sociological history of living alone in the US and a description, based on 300 interviews with people who live alone now, of how it has changed in the last several decades. It made me want to read the book.
Signed,
Lived alone for 13 years, now cohabitating with my soulmate and his daughter.
Anonymous
the new yorker recently had a bit about living single. More people live single now than at any other time – oldies and youngsters and middle-aged professionals.
I think it is normal to want to have love and support, but like others have noted the key is “a good”relationship or on your own.
B Lawyer
I agree… nothing to be alarmed at and nothing to do with women’s lib. You just want a relationship and feel better in one.
NOLA
I feel like I have the best of both worlds, in a way. I’m in a relationship but he doesn’t live here so I have a lot of independence while in a very supportive and loving relationship. My job kicks my butt at times and he’s really supportive about all of that and I sure miss that support when he’s not around. That said, I’ve gotten so independent and so used to being alone (and liking it!) that I wonder how I would do in a relationship where we wanted to live together. I like my schedule and my alone time. If I want to leave work and go to the gym then come home and get on the treadmill, I can. I struggled to make the transition after my divorce but now I am fully on the other side. So maybe it’s good that you want that!
Anon
I don’t think your desire for companionship sets back women’s lib at all!
Looking back through history, lots of accomplished men have been in relationships. Whether a man was married or not didn’t seem to factor into his success in the least.
I’m pretty thrilled we’ve reached a point where women don’t need to choose between a relationship and a career. Wishing to be in a relationship, or wishing to remain single, should be a non-issue.
FWIW, I think the biggest factor in a relationship’s impact on one’s mental health is — of course — who you’re in the relationship with!
JenK
Loose weight when I’m n a relationship. Hmm, maybe I should go looking. I’ve been inexplicably putting on pounds.
Former MidLevel
I think most of Kat’s advice is excellent, but if you are a pantyhose newbie, I would *not* recommend control top. I hate that constricted feel and you do *not* need it to keep your hose up – just make sure you buy quality and get the right size. Hanes Silk Reflections, Style 716 (non-control top, reinforced toe) is my favorite.
ADL
Love Hanes Silk Reflections. That’s my go-to (but with control top).
NOLA
Silk Reflections also come in thigh high, which could solve some of those constricted feelings and wouldn’t be as hot in the summer.
anon
control top gives me muffin top.
MJ
If you are going to buy Hanes, go to One Hanes Place –it’s their overstock and things are much cheaper there! But first try the sizes and colors you like from a department store!
FitnessKat
I agree with ADL, love Hanes Silk Reflections for work, with non-control top.
Cat
while I don’t have to wear hose, I prefer the way some of my summer dresses/skirts look when I have them on. I actually think wearing hose can be counterintuitively cooling – when your skin is slightly damp/sticky, the hose provides a barrier that keeps you from sticking to yourself or to the seat on the train or what have you. So if you’ve never tried it…. who knows, you may be a convert!
in any event, I generally agree with Kat’s advice for day 1 / observing older women. However, do be mindful that the ladies who have worked for awhile have more leeway in dress than you do as an intern, so I’d stay one “step up” in formality / coverage to be sure. For example, if they wear sleeveless shifts, I’d always have a cardi hanging open over my shoulders, at least.
Bonnie
Also take into account that older women may be more prudent and may not necessarily reflect the dress code. I’d look to see what all women are wearing and go with the majority.
1L-1
Completely agree with the cooling factor. The stockings/hose/whatever you call them keep the skin a little further away from sweatiness. Although, I haven’t figured out what to do about sweaty toes, except to let my shoes dangle off my feet a bit while I’m sitting down. Anyone familiar with this problem? My feet aren’t smelly, just sweaty.
M-C
Are you wearing all-leather shoes? This sounds like a synthetic-shoe problem..
Anon
Spritz a little spray deodorant on your feet before putting your shoes on and you’ll be good to go!
m.b.
WOW! I betcha your pumps gotta smell “SURLTY” not stinky.. Not wearing nylons would make them SURLTY……
Regular, Anon for This
Ok, here’s another deep question… how do you get your “mojo” back? I feel like now that I have kids I’ve lost that spark that got me to where I am today… I really feel like I’m no where near my ceiling… but get so distracted between family and home. UGH. UGH. UGH. I’m not an attorney, but still afraid of getting mommy-tracked; or worse yet, be given the opportunity to shine and being… average. What say you, ‘rettes? I want my focus and drive back! But I don’t want to abandon my kids!
V
How old are your children? Are you at all sleep-deprived? And what’s your time commitment for any daycare / school runs and breakfast / dinner? You may be more productive through more hours of the day, it’s just that that productivity isn’t all work anymore. Throw in a sick child here and there and I’m surprised some days that anything gets done once the small people arrive.
E
I think Kat’s first day attire advice is solid, and it’s what I’ve worn at every single job I’ve had on the first day. In fact, I’d be sort of surprised if someone new showed up at my office and didn’t wear a suit on the first day. You can’t really go wrong in a skirt suit with closed-toed shoes, hose, and a shirt with some sort of sleeve and a highish neckline.
I like Hue No Waistband hose. The waist is really comfy, almost like leggings.
HippieEsq
My doctor has warned me that I should start wearing support hose now to avoid varicose veins (I have had an issue with them before) during my pregnancy.
I guess I am going to have to, because I don’t want my legs to look terrible for the rest of my life because I didn’t want to wear hose, but I have a question:
Do most pregnant women wear the support hose under their bellies, or pay extra for the fancy “maternity pantyhose?”
Your advice is appreciated!
stl
wore maternity tights a ton because I preferred dresses but I was preggers in the winter …regular tights rolled down were way too uncomfortable or they would sag and I had to hike them up constantly.
E
Check with your doctors, but maybe compression socks that can be worn under pants would work, depending on the location of the veins?
HippieEsq
She said I could wear compression socks, but I have three maternity dresses that I love, and the socks won’t work with those. Because I am tall, I have had a hard time with finding pants that are long enough in maternity sizing. Pregnant + tall + size 18 = clothing h*ll!
Lawyer
Dr said same thing to me and I wear the compression hose. They make my legs feel so much better!
KSW
I’m tall too and had a baby 8 months ago. I got my maternity work pants from JC Penneys. A quick search shows they come in plus sizes in talls and in black, brown, and gray. And they’re only $30. Check these out:
http://tinyurl.com/75wkluj
One of my biggest fears about being pregnant was being able to find clothes (pants) that would fit! Hope this helps.
SW
Not pregnant, but I had a DVT a few years ago and became all too familiar with support hose. Depending on where your varicose veins appear and your doctor’s opinion, of course, you can buy thigh-high support hose. They even put lace at the top in a sad attempt to sexify them.
SSJD
I wore support hose all through my last two pregnancies (which ended in August and September respectively). The hose were Rx hose and were covered by my insurance, so paying for them wasn’t a big deal. They had lots of belly room which made them much more comfortable. I don’t think non-maternity hose would have fit me. Check with your insurance and find a good medical supply store that carries what you need (in Boston it was Compass Healthcare on Longwood Ave).
a
I also wore support hose almost all the way through my pregnancy. My mom has horrible varicose veins and I’m hoping to avoid them…
Anyway, I never sprung for the maternity ones. I bought the cheapies and cut some slits in the top to make them grow a little with me. I realize this sounds like it would just make the hose horribly unravel, but they actually fared just fine. Cut some slits, wear them under the belly, good to go.
Georgiana Starlington
$50 pantyhose? Excuse me while I die laughing.
Romans et al.
Filodoro pantyhose – Aurora 15, I buy for about $7-8 US from a place in Canada…I”m not related, just a loyal customer. Shapings (dot com). They have tons of styles and lines I have tried some of the Spanish and Eastern European brands and come back to Filodoro every time. Wear like iron.
Becca
Seriously. I have managed to put a finger straight through a new pair of pantyhose on more than one occasion. Ticks me off. If I had paid $50 for the pantyhose and I did that, I think I might start crying.
wolfords
but that’s why they cost $50! because they DON’T do that!
TCFKAG
You’re clearly not as clumsy as I am.
TCFKAG
Yup. The most I ever paid was $30 and they ripped on the second wearing and I was soooo sad.
WITW
What kind of question is: “Should you wear underwear with…”
Why would you even think it’s a good idea not to wear underwear at work?
Or am I just prude without know it?
WITW
knowing*
dang it!
Jokester
Don’t worry about the typo….no need to get your panties in a bunch. :)
WITW
HAHAHAHA
Em
Some stockings / hose come with a gusset or something inside, like a cotton area. I know that Spanx, for instance, say “no need to wear panties!” or something to that effect, on the packaging. I wonder if this is what everyone is referring to?
Meep
Hmm. I never wear underwear with hose. Never had an issue.
Pest
Because pantyhose have a built in panty in them. That’s why pantyhose have a panel lining the crotch area. Reasonable minds can disagree on this, but until I started reading this blog I thought most other women did not wear a separate panty underneath their pantyhose.
E
I wear underwear, but only because I don’t want to wash my pantyhose after each wearing. I agree that it’s not required.
Umm...
I can’t imagine not washing them after each wearing regardless. It’s like socks. You can’t wear 2 days in a row.
E
Congratulations, you have an opinion!
What the heck is with all the snarky commenters lately?
TCFKAG
You WASH your hose after every wearing????
Holy CRAP I’m the dirtiest person in the world to you. You don’t want to know how long I go without washing my socks. Sing it with me “Black socks they never get dirty, the longer you wear them the stronger they get.”
WITW
Good point. I never thought about that.
When I hear going commando I just immediately picture certain celebrities flashing the camera.
Well, it’s settled, I am prude ;D
ELS
I’m also a prude, so don’t feel that you are alone! Until this thread, I never imagined that other women did not wear underwear under hose (not that I’m scandalized – it just hadn’t occurred to me).
AIMS
I don’t think you’re a prude. I would never think to wear no underwear with pantyhose and I have actually worn no underwear, on occasion, without pantyhose.
momentsofabsurdity
Well hey, Kate Middleton did that once!
Seattleite
Wait, what?
Actually...
I think the consensus was she was wearing a thong.
“NEVER insult Kate Middleton in front of me!!!”
January
Well… it might be that you’re a prude, but for me personally, cleanliness alone requires wearing underwear (and maybe something else, depending on the time of the month) with my pantyhose. I can’t really imagine being comfortable without it.
Yvonne
I wear cotton underwear under pantyhose every day. And I wash the pantyhose after each wearing – 7 pairs, 7 days, wash & repeat. I carry an extra pair in my laptop bag, carry-on luggage, garment bag, and have a couple extra pairs at work in case of tears in the hose.
Barrister in the Bayou
I’ve never worn pantyhose without underwear… I’m concerned with the seams…
ADL
A bit off topic, but as a former dancer, I would never wear underwear when wearing tights. You get underwear lines (versus clean lines). Sometimes with pantyhose I wear underwear, sometimes I don’t. Depends on how I’m feeling.
Senior Attorney
Same here. And I figure if “panty” is part of the name of the garment, it must be okay to let it function as, you know, panties!
HalfnHalf
Former dancer also! *Waves. And I fully concur – I’d never wear underwear with tights / hose / etc.
anon
Most panty hose have a built in, reinforced panty with cotton gusset, I don’t wear anything with those. I have some that don’t have anything, more of a sheer to the waist, no gusset, and I wear underwear with those.
Panty + Hose
I often don’t wear underwear with pantyhose. I guess I always thought of them as panties with legs. :)
Anna D.
I can’t imagine skipping underwear either… but in part, it’s because I don’t much like the texture of hose, even on my legs, and can’t quite imagine it against, well, more sensitive bits of my body…
TurtleWexler
I’ve always done skirt suit with hose the first day and adjusted from there, except at my current job where I wore a pantsuit the first day (it was January and pouring rain, and I already knew that it’s a casual office — have only worn a suit twice since then, but it’s best to make a good first impression). Anyway, my favorite first day was where one of the mentor attorneys took one look at me and said “Pantyhose are not necessary in this office. Go take them off RIGHT NOW and be comfortable!” I guess it could have been weird if I really liked wearing hose, but I was more than happy to comply.
When I do have to wear them, I vastly prefer thigh-highs, but they seem to be getting harder to find. Also, you have to find really good ones — the cheap ones stretch out and fall down pretty quickly, and I have gotten welts from the sticky part that holds them up in a couple brands (but no problem with other brands). It’s been so long since I bought any that I don’t remember which ones are good, though.
anon
I love thigh highs, if I can find some that stay up. The best ones I had were the Target store brand, they stayed up really well, but they haven’t had them the last couple of times I looked. I’ve tried the Hanes Silk Reflections with the wide lace band at the top, they immediately rolled down, couldn’t even wear them.
T
Thigh highs with garter belts! I find them a good compromise for summers
Gem
UK based- yes hose. Be aware some white shoe equivalent types have very strict dress codes including brand preferences and will send you home to change if you don’t meet those standards.
Gooseberry
Whoa, BRAND preference? Brand of what? Wow — this is so interesting. Please tell us more!
Gem
To clarify clothing brands not hose.
My most recent bit of gossip was a chap sent home for wearing a brown suit, so it’s gender neutral
Jules
I find this hilarious because on my last trip to London was struck by how many men wore suits with pinstripes that were so thick and bright that they would look clownish in most U.S. offices. Bright pinstripes, fine; dull brown, not fine?
MJ
I have worked in investment banking in London (and was just there last week, perchance). The City is very formal. No hose will likely be frowned upon if you are meeting clients or clients come to your office. Hose (known as tights, even if they are hose) are expected in the City if you’re wearing skirts, period. If you work at a very cheeky hedge fund, where folks are rich as he(( and totally “over it”, there’s a chance your office will be less formal. Also, many of the hedge funds are actually located outside of the City (more Mayfair/Berkeley Square/Green Park) area. However, that still does not change the fact that London is VERY formal and you would get raised eyebrows regarding no hose.
As an aside, don’t wait to buy hose in the UK. That was actually one of the only things I had my mother ship over from the US (and I paid customs!). Tights in the UK come in two forms only–SHINY and SHINIER. Yes, for some reason, the UK just loves the 80’s Jazzercise look. If that’s not your look, bring some from home.
Summer in the UK can be really hot and muggy, or downright rainy and cold. Some days you’ll be quite glad to be wearing “tights.”
ning
I must be the only 25 year old left who believes in pantyhose and slips.
They just always look more professional to me because they even out the skin tone on your legs and smooth any less-than-smooth skin (cellulite, anyone?). I’ve seen women at my office try to wear really professional outfits sans hose and unless the woman is in perfect shape, the lack of pantyhose can make things look really sloppy. I prefer the smooth, polished look I get from the pantyhose and have just started getting comfortable wearing some skirts (usually a-line) to the office without pantyhose.
Slips because some fabrics really show more than they should. Nothing is worse than wearing a thong to avoid pantylines under an unlined skirt, only to present your coworkers with a mould of your buttcheeks. A slip keeps everything under wraps. I love them especially with shirt-dresses because the fabric is often thinner than it should be for a skirt.
Jules
Okay, so now I’m worrying. I avoid pantyhose when possible (but live in tights in the winter) and I wear suits with bare legs in warm weather (except, in something like a jury trial). I am middle-aged and carry a good 15-20 pounds too much, but I can say that I have a great pair of legs and still can rock a short skirt. Last week in my trial before an ALJ (the one where the young lead counsel had a hair-elastic-as-bracelet) I wore a black suit with tiny white dots, a pale pink shell, rose quartz chunky jewelry and red patent slingbacks with, yes, bare legs. I thought I looked pretty darn good, but maybe my youg colleague — in pantyhose — was secretly thinking that I really should have put on stockings.
AIMS
Jules, don’t worry. I am sure you looked great. Some people have great legs, it sounds like you’re one of them. For the rest of us, there are stockings ;)
To ning – I am also a big fan of old fashioned slips. I think 9/10, they make a dress drape better, not to mention that I somehow feel cooler on hot days if I have one on.
Jules
Thanks, AIMS; one less thing to stress out about!
Lawyer in Theory
This . I’ve always been jealous of the women with racehorse legs. I’m lithe on top but cankly an hippy. Pantyhose are a must, I don’t care if it’s 90* out.
Petunia
Question – what brand of slips do you purchase? I have been considering the Spanx slip but it ain’t cheap and I’d love some feedback on other great brands.
Jules
I tend to wear half slips more than full slips; I bought a spanx half slip and only wore it once; it felt very constricting and not like the nice cushy fabric of regular spanx, which I wear fairly often. Maybe the half-slip was one of the more high-powered spanx varieties? IDK, but I didn’t like it.
SwimMom
Totally hate my Spanx slip. Constantly requires adjustment. But…I love my Spanx “bicycle short looking” shapewear. And, for a lot of my skirts & dresses, it serves the purpose of a slip.
ning
I totally just get what’s at Target. Does the trick for me.
veranda
I have a variety of half slips in different colors and lengths and the one I got at Target is by far the best. The material is very comfortable yet it is thicker so it hides more.
E
I always wear slips, but I don’t wear pantyhose unless I’m going to court or something. Sorry, but I just don’t buy the “legs are sloppy” argument.
kim
I hate pantyhose, but will do a slip. Once you’re no longer stick thin (and I don’t even mean overweight, I mean average), weird lines or bulges can show up. And in maternity-land, nothing is lined, so you need a slip. And since slips double as sexy-lingerie, I kill two birds with one stone.
CM
I’m in my mid-thirties, and looking back on the days when I used to wear skirt suits without pantyhose, I cringe a little. I do think that pantyhose always make you look more put together, and if it imbues you with just a bit more confidence, it’s worth the slight additional discomfort (at least in my book).
Natalie
Nah, not the only one – I’m 28 and I love the way my legs look in hose. I also like the idea that if my skirt flies up in the wind (our downtown is a big wind tunnel) there is less to flash. The only problem I have it that my big toes point up a bit so I tend to poke holes in the bottom.
And to reassure everyone who hates hose – I’m not looking at your legs and judging you.
S
I’m 28 and I always wear hose for skirt suits and often for non-work skirts too if I’m wearing anything but sandals. The problem I find with going bare legged is that my feet feel incredibly uncomfortable. They stick to the shoes, become sweaty, and wear down my shoes faster. And just to preempt certain comments–yes, I wear nice leather shoes, like Cole Haan, etc. I also like that in hot weather my thighs don’t get as sweaty and I don’t stick to seats!
I also completely agree with the point that hose make your legs look nicer and are more forgiving when your legs aren’t fantastic looking already. While many think of hose as old-fashioned and constricting and going bare-legged as the thing modern women do, I think there is definite room for disagreement. When I don’t wear hose I feel immense pressure to make my legs look as perfect as possible. With hose, I don’t need to worry that I didn’t shave that morning or that my calves jiggle a little bit. They actually empower me to not spend ungodly amounts of time and money on perfecting my legs.
Nonetheless, I try really hard not to judge other people who choose not to wear hose, because just since wearing hose is the safest bet for a young career doesn’t mean I want to be a participant in perpetuating norms that can be used to deem some women as unprofessional. It’s just like with the skirt-pants debate. I may wear a skirt suit the first day and for meeting clients because I don’t want the choice to affect my own career, but I still think it’s ridiculous and I refuse to judge other women when they choose differently.
Ella
Aw, I like the way you think, S.
FABesq
Not a commercial, just an endorsement…
In the summer, I swear by Aristoc Pantyhose. Remember that the higher the denier number, the thicker the pantyhose/tights. They’re about $18 so not too expensive either.
They’re not as cheap as L’eggs or whatever, but they last longer and look better too.
Aristoc has hose that are 5 or 10 denier which are very light and sheer. It’s a british brand and I buy them here: http://www.mytights.com/us/brand/aristoc/aristoc-5d-ultimate-sheer-tights.html
jcb
I guess I’m in the minority, but I would wear a pants suit my first day and see what the more senior ladies were doing with the skirt situation. I just don’t believe that a skirt is required for a woman to look business formal in an office setting. Otherwise, agree with Kat re closed-toe pumps and sleeves.
Lyssa
I completely agree! I like skirt suits and sometimes feel like I “present” better in them, but I don’t buy that there are really any situations where a pants suit is not “formal” enough.
southanon
Right or wrong, there are situations where a pant suit is not formal enough. I attended oral argument before the Georiga Supreme Court a few years ago and a small group of lawyers was being admitted at the start of the session. All but one of the women being sworn in were wearing skirt suits. The one who did not was wearing a pant suit and dreadlocks. The entire courtroom began buzzing and the attorneys on either side of me debated whether the attorney in question would be thrown out of the courtroom. She was not, but the looks she received from the bench were less than welcoming.
SC
But didn’t somebody post a week or so ago about being in court in a skirt suit and having a judge decide that her legs were too distracting? I seem to remember that the skirt was appropriate length, but I don’t remember about pantyhose. But these types of stories make me feel like we can’t win.
FWIW, I see no reason why a pants suit would not be formal enough. I have also had female colleagues in the past who for religious reasons would not wear skirts, but their pants suits were perfectly formal and did not affect their ability to represent their clients.
JenK
The US secretary of state (a lawyer) and Germnay’s chancellor disagree with you. Could it have been the dreads and not the suit? Were they properly oiled and. Early pulled back or natty and straggly? I often think fine dreads look nicer than fat ones. And straight hair does NOT dread, no matter what some folk want to call the clumpy hair sticking out of their heads.
JenK
Neatly, not early. But it’s getting late.
M-C
Most likely the problem was dreads, not pants. Actually both say the same thing: I’m a woman, and black, and I don’t care what you think about it, I’m not ashamed of either. Definitely not a popular attitude in the South, but good for her :-)!
southanon
The attorney was white. Her hair was pulled back. The comments were addressed directly to the pant suit. One of the attorneys next to me named a specific justice who was no longer on the bench and said that 5 years before the justice would have thrown her out of the courtroom for being underdressed.
Sharon
ROFL! A pants suit not formal enough? They are good enough for Hillary Clinton.
Really, the kind of people who need to make pronouncements that “women should only be in skirted suits” are completely out of date, and not in the least “powerful” at all. So incredibly behind the times. Especially in a world in which the most powerful and the richest people wear whatever the heck it is that they want. As a non-lawyer, I laugh at the idea of these judges thinking that they are All That in their coutrooms. Pathetic. Get with the times. Women wear pants. Move on.
Anonym
Same here. Skirts aren’t required, nor are real high heels. A polished suit with good quality shoes will do in any environment.
But fundamentally my advice is to wear whichever makes you more comfortable and feeling more competent. Personally I don’t like skirts, and I would be distracted wearing a skirt suit and pantyhose, I do it so rarely. So I’d definitely wear a pantsuit. On the other hand, if wearing a skirt & hose makes you feel more “professional,” I’d definitely advise you to do that.
Ruby
agree pants are acceptable
Christine
The fact that it’s in London will change things. I’m from Dublin, and the weather there, even in summer, is rarely warm enough that one finds pantyhose too hot. London can be a few degrees warmer, and can have heatwaves, but it’s not the case that for all of June, July and August, you’ll be sweltering. (Conversely, your office may well not have air conditioning, unless it’s in a large office block, so you might be warmer at work than you would be in the South, but colder outside.)
It’s more than likely that it will be around 70 when you start your job, and you can easily go conservatively in pantyhose (or tights, as we call ’em; and you won’t always find the same brands there that people might be recommending here) for your first week or so till you see how the land lies.
But can you talk to someone there and ask them in advance? Even if you called and asked the receptionist for her take, she might have some helpful advice.
Mara
Maybe she is used to it, being from the South, but the humidity in the UK made tights/hose a disgusting affair for myself.
meara
Luckily I don’t work at anywhere super-formal and have to wear hose…but I usually DO wear hose with dresses/skirts (or tights in the winter), because I hate having bare feet in shoes that aren’t sandals.
Plus there’s the chub-rub issue for those of us who aren’t tiny.
TK1
Just a quick note to Reader N, July in London is (usually) not July in the south, its more like January in the south. Hose will probably not be as oppressive as you expect.
Meep
You can wear a suit with pants on your first day at this job. Wear your best one with a button down shirt.
As for the hose, you will need to wait to get a feel for the office. Do not necessarily take the lead from women who are much more senior than you; they have paid dues that you have not. There may be older men who will ‘tolerate’ no hose from them but not from you (an unfortunate reality).
AMN
Yes to the pantyhose, closed toe shoes and the skirt suit on the first day. I’ve just relocated to London from NYC (after two years of commuing between the two cities) and find that business attire is MUCH more formal here, at least within the insurance/financial services sector. I’ve not noticed a single woman here with bare legs when wearing professional attire, but have seen a wide variety of tights and pantyhose.
LinLondon
I see a fair mix of hose and non-hose in the City and Canary Wharf, so I don’t think you’d be out of place either way. I will say that none of my friends who work in finance wear a suit every day, so you will probably not have to. My impression is that City/CW finance people are much more businessy and West End funds-type people are a bit more fashion forward. That’s purely anecdotal, though :)
LinLondon
Ahem, admission of bias – I absolutely loathe hose and will not be caught dead in them unless I’m wearing them to a formal evening event.
Gem
TJ – LinLondon, did I see you saying you were an Olympic volunteer? Are you getting a ‘Boris’ uniform and how do you feel about them?
kjh
silk reflections is 25% off at bare necessities, and a popup applied an extra 20% with promo code BPOP2012 if anyone’s looking to stock up. it might be for new customers only, since the popup didn’t appear the next time i went to the site with the same browser.
side rant: building a summer associate wardrobe on a student budget is really putting my problem-solving skills and patience to the the test! not that i’m not uber grateful to have a summer job to be shopping for…
Ruby
I like H&M’s pantyhose, though very hard to find.. comfortable and neutral looking.
Anonymous Girl
I haven’t worn hose in years. I don’t know anyone under 50 he wears hose either. Are there any workplaces that this is expected? Sometimes I think people have these expectations when they haven’t been in the corporate world that simply aren’t accurate at all.
Meep
Yes, there are places/occasions where hose are expected. I would never ever go to an interview without hose in my industry. There are also meetings that must be attended in hose if one is wearing a skirt (though pants are acceptable.)
TCFKAG
You know virtual people who wear them!!!!!! oh hai!
(Go team hose!!)
1L-1
Hi, I’m 1L-1, and I wear hose. Also, I’m 20. Nice to meet you, TCFKAG!
SS
I am transgendered and enjoy wearing hose with pumps at my legal workplace–very super comfortable!
Sefue
West Coast here, in a multi-national insurance office – we’ve been told that if we are headed up to the executive floor for any reason or meeting face-to-face with the foreign divisions, we’d better be wearing hose if we’re wearing a skirt suit. Comments have been made and circulated about women with bare legs.
Interestingly, this is less true on our departmental floors – it’s still commented upon if you’re in a suit with bare legs, but not if you’re wearing a more summery skirt with heeled sandals. I think it’s because it’s eye-catching in a suit (I know I wonder if her hose sprang a run and she had to take them off) whereas with a summery skirt and sandals, it’s more to be expected.
This is, by the way, regardless of age, fashion forwardness, and leg attractiveness (however that is to be determined). As the palest of the pale, with blue veins visible, I’d rather my knees/calves/foot *not* be the first thing that catches the eyes of my colleagues – and in a darker suit skirt, it would be garishly visible.
Anna D.
I totally have this attitude! That is, a summer skirt/dress with bare legs is fine, but a suit with bare legs looks kind of of odd/out of place to me. (And I say this as someone who works in a very casual state, where skirt suits are definitely not required and I see people in suits with bare legs all the time. But I grew up on the east coast, and am old enough that I grew up when hose were de rigeur.) Maybe if you’re wearing a linen or seersucker suit or something… it’s just most suit fabrics seem to scream hose to me.
FitnessKat
Hanes Silk Reflections, non-control top with sheer toe are my regular pantyhose. They’re pretty comfortable and I don’t have any problems with them staying up. They feel light enough on the leg, so really not a problem when the weather warms up since pantyhose are expected year-round in my office.
SS
I agree with Fitness Kat–they ARE supercomfortable for all day wear!
Sparkles
How do you ladies select what color works for you in hose? I can’t seem to find a place that has the open samples out, except for the more expensive brands ($25+).
Cat
err… if the department store doesn’t have the little sample racks out, I open a likely candidate and pull it over my hand (carefully).
anon
Trial & error. Not the most efficient method, but I scavenged Marshalls/TJMaxx/etc, so if I ended up with a dud color, it only cost me $3-4 and then wore them under pants. Also, at those places, some of the packages were already open. I never opened a new package but didn’t feel bad about checking out the ones that were half hanging out.
anon
& the Marshalls by my house has Silk Reflections, Donna Karan, Givenchy, Calvin Klein, etc., pretty often, all in the $3 – $7 range.
Lyssa
I have a separate box in my closet of dud colored hose (and ones with minor runs) that I’ve specifically set aside to wear under pants when it gets really cold out. No point in wasting them.
Jules
I just bought a few pairs of Silk Reflections at Macy’s, for when I absolutely positively have to wear them, and Macy’s had samples of all the colors in that brand and the others that were in the same price range ($8.50 a pair, I think). At least at my local Macy’s, pantyhose is no longer in its own large section in the accessories department but tucked away at the back of “intimate apparel,” a clear sign of the trend away from stockings.
SusanM
First, I would ask what the dress code is. If the company requires hose, it should be stated in the dress code—and you will get other details about what is expected in dress. I really like Calvin Klein hose. I think they are fairly unobtrusive i.e., they are not thick nor are the colors funny. They last a surprisingly long time. I have worn DK or Donna Karan (can’t remember hte exact name) based on a recommendtion that they are nearly invisible. They do look good but are very prone to runs. Nothing like putting on a $20 pair of hose and not making it out of your bedroom with the hose intact. $20 in the trash.
JB
While the dress code may not require hose, the company culture may. My global dress code says that khakis and polo shirts are acceptable, but in my NYC office in the group focusing on the banking industry they are most definitely NOT. Hose or tights are expected in the winter, but in the warmer months people don’t care.
KB
Three words for you: Marks and Spencer. All your hosiery needs catered for, and affordable. Don’t forget to get a washing bag as well because you do need to wash hosiery after each wear.
And an important London tip – put them on at work, after the tube ride to get there.
Gem
Agree on M&S, but intrigued by the tube comment. I’ve never had an issue with stockings on the tube. I’m now wondering why I would
Karen
My guess is that it’s because it can be super hot on the tube, both in the summer and even more so in the winter when it’s crowded and everyone is bundled up. I passed out twice on the jam packed district line during the morning commute due to the heat and claustrophobia.
River Song
The tube is extremely crowded, especially at rush hour. It’s even worse, I think, than NYC, because the subway cars in London are smaller.
kathy
I don’t work in a formal office environment, I am under 50, and I LOVE hose. When the weather is cool enough (and in the Mid-Atlantic states in the US, that’s about 9 months out of the year), I wear them often to work. I know that younger women nowadays think it’s okay to wear a slinky dress with all of your cellulite and panty lines showing, but believe me, it’s not attractive, and the rest of us don’t need or want to see that. Also, the average woman is usually a size 10-12 and can probably use the support. It’s like wearing spanx anyway. Lastly, do you really want to have stinky feet all the time by wearing shoes without socks? Not to mention the blisters you can get breaking in new shoes.
Romans et al.
this! (And I live in Texas and my office is cold, year round.)
long time lurker
I am size 10 and honestly, I do not need the “support”and there are tons of seamless panty and thong options to deal with lines. Of course it depends on height, body shape and fitness, but a size 10 doesn’t equal a gut/cellulite. Some of us just have larger frames. Something about the idea that if you are not a size 2 you need to bolt down/hide your natural shape peeves me. I do not find pantyhose or control top anything comfortable, to the point of being distracted at work by it, so I either wear thigh highs or barelegs if I can help it. I do wear non-control top tights in the winter.
Small and large
This. I’m a whole 135 lbs at average height and yet somehow I need an 8-10 in pants. I am a small or a 4-6 on top. People are just shaped differently.
Petunia
Same. Frustrating.
M
Word. I am on the taller side, and my 10-12 is roughly equivalent to an average gal’s 8, and I have shorter size 6-8 friends who have pronounced bellies. GTFO with that size-ist garbage. Otherwise, I have to agree with the OP that many women should put more thought into their underpinnings and that hose can help with blisters (I have one pair of pumps that absolutely tear my feet up if I wear them without hose).
Mara
Who cares if you ‘want to see’ it or not? I don’t think whether someone is decent or not depends on their size or the presence of cellulite. Being dressed neatly and formally is the goal, whether someone appears ‘attractive’ in your opinion, is not.
M-C
A sad comment about the young being so uptight.. Showing your prejudices is what’s really unattractive. Perhaps you could keep your eyes off your colleague’s panty lines (what’s that about anyway?) and spare the world your thoughts about it?
SS
Yeah Kathy–I agree with you on wearing the hose in the workplace (I too, live in the Mid-Atlantic and am in recent years transgendered. Proud of my feminimity)
oclg
I am not a fan of wearing hose at all. But my fashion idol from law school always looked so put together wearing skirt suits, thigh highs, and Hermes scarves. One day I shall look like her, scarves included. Until then, I just wear the hose and sometimes a slip. Sometimes I feel like I am being way overpowering and it took some building up to it to not feel like I was playing dress up, but dress for the job you want.
Ashbash
Agree w/ KB regarding putting on stockings after the tube ride is over. Nothing can ruin a good pair of stockings like a crowded subway car. Also, if you’re a newbie to stockings, make sure to have a dryer sheet or two tucked away in your desk drawer. Static from stockings can cause skirts to cling to your skin. A quick once over on your stockings with the dryer sheet and the static is dispelled.
BigLaw Optimist
I did not know this — I like the look of hose and tights but couldn’t stand the cling! Thanks for the tip. I am going to feel like a new woman tomorrow.
Jo March
I’m going to try this…I have several dresses that seem not to work with hose unless they are thigh highs (which somehow avoid the static cling issue by not covering my butt? I don’t understand it, but that’s the deal).
Amy H.
IMHO, location is the most important factor here. I’m in SF, but was in London for a vacation last spring and walked through the City one afternoon around 5-6pm — and every single woman I saw was in a skirt suit (and 90% of those were black skirt suits). I didn’t think to look for hose/no-hose, but to me, this said London — at least the City — is a *lot* more formal than SF or even Manhattan. If I were Reader N, I’d definitely wear a skirt suit and hose the first day/week until I got a decent sense of what my peers in the office were wearing.
Erika
For my two cents, pantyhose are terrible, awful, uncomfortable things. I wear stockings and a garter belt. Summer in London is hot, and in my opinion a garter belt and stockings are much cooler than pantyhose.
curious
do thigh highs really stay up? i am intrigued…
a lawyer
Good ones do. Bad ones don’t. Test them for an hour around your house before you head to court (don’t ask how I learned that tidbit!)
They are much cooler in summer than regular pantyhose, and I live in the deep south where July and August temps often do not get below 80 even at night, and humidity is close to 100 percent every morning.
M-C
Don’t count on it too much :-).
Millicent
I am a 25 associate in NYC big law and I typically wear stockings. To me they are like socks and are very comfortable. I wear a garter belt with stockings, so this alleviates the stuffy feeling (plus you get to buy lovely lingerie). Mostly I like them because they protect my shoes, keep my feet from sweating, protect my pedicure/feet and generally make me feel pulled together and chic. A good stocking should be invisible (right color, delicate/thin,etc.), so I am surprised this is always such a hot topic.
anon
Where do you get garter belts that are functional rather than… erm… “decorative”?
Erika
I did have trouble finding one that wasn’t either annoyingly bridal or more decorative than functional. I ended up getting mine at Fredrick’s of Hollywood. It’s not the best quality, but I was tired of looking and it serves. I’d love to hear where other people have gotten theirs.
JenK
On a similar note, if you go to a shop that specializes in “couples” gear, but especially in things for strippers, you can get nice-looking garter belts that stay up through anything. Mine have lasted for years. Advantages of this over ordering online are that you can try a few on and the saleswomen are likely to really know their mechandise. You just have to not let your gaze be drawn to the dildos.
JenK
PS I live in Tampa. With all the strip joints in town, we have several shops to choose from, but I got most of my garter belts (and the stripper heels I wore one Halloween) in staid little Lexington KY. I think you can find them everywhere, not just alIng the interstate.
Anonymous
Sock Dreams has the best garter belts. Check out their “industrial” ones. They also have more feminine ones. Don’t forget to wear a slip so you have fewer lines!
http://www.sockdreams.com/products/garter-belts
M
I’ve always thought that garters would a) show under everything and/or b) be extremely uncomfortable to sit in. No?
Millicent
Wolford makes a plain one…La Perla also makes nice basic lace and silk ones…
SS
Millicent…I like above replies…Wolfords are great and liberating to wear
Jo March
Hose comfort tip: cut off about half an inch of the top and they are exponentially less restrictive and itchy. This works with both control top and regular hose. Just make sure not to get rid of the whole elasticky part. I find hose wearable since someone told me about this trick. LIFESAVER.
I would not do this if I owned $50 hose, but for the <$10 pairs that I don't expect to last more than 5-8 wears (and that's generous), it works like a charm.
M-C
You can instead just do a couple vertical slashes into the waistband. Less likely to fall down.
anon
The only reason I ever wear pantyhose is because I have scars on my legs from eczema. If I had scar free legs, I would never wear them. Not even in court.
summer associate
Does anyone else find that their feet sometimes slip out of pumps when you are wearing hose? Is there a brand that doesn’t do that. I don’t have the wrong shoe size because if I’m not wearing hose, they fit fine and I never slip out of them, but when I put hose on, I am sliding around. For reference, my work shoes are Cole Haan 3.5 inch pumps. Last year, I put one of those foot petal things to make my shoes tighter… but any thoughts?
no longer "job hunting"
I have this problem too! I also have a problem of shoes fitting me in the summer and being too big in the winter, or shoes fitting me in the morning but not the afternoon, because my feet change sizes depending on the temperature. I have not come across a solution other than just buying more shoes :)
M-C
It’s perfectly normal. Hose always has less friction than skin, ergo slipping out occurs more. Try shoes on with hose if you intend to wear them that way, they often have to be a bit smaller, albeit less comfortable.
30
When was the last time you had a professional shoe fitting? It sounds like you might have narrow feet. You shouldn’t have to wear t00-small shoes just to accommodate hose.
Dianna
Congrats on the internship!
I like the advice. Pack the hose just in case. Even if you don’t wear them in the office, I’m sure you’ll be out to dinner with a client or at a formal event during your time abroad. You’ll be glad you had them.
I prefer Hanes Silk Reflections. They come in bunch of shades.
Good luck and enjoy your time in London!
An
And Reader N, I know we’ve all said this a million times before, but it bears repeating… when you observe your office fashion, remember to look to your superiors, and not to your fellow interns! Sometimes, if one intern got away with something out of the office culture norm, often the other interns will also think it is ok if she wasn’t “talked to” about it. It ends up reflecting poorly on the interns or causing the bosses to come down harder on the group later on.
(When really it should end up reflecting poorly on the bosses who didn’t quietly correct the problem out of the gate and instead let it snowball…)
This particular issue may be specific to me personally: I think that hose should always be worn with skirt suits. Dresses and non-suit skirts can be worn without hose if the office culture allows it, but I think skirt suits look weird without hose. It may have to do with the style of the skirt suit?
English Rose
As a Brit who worked in big law there for 6 years, I would never consider going to work with bare legs, it just wouldn’t feel formal enough. Plus, as others have pointed out, the fact that it’s July doesn’t mean it will be hot (or even warm!).
Sandra
Marks and Spencer pantyhose is the best and very affordable. They have a summer version that is only 7 Denier but still strong. Since I left London I buy my M&S pantyhose online and have it delivered to my home in California. Still cheaper than most comparable brands here. As for wearing panties with pantyhose – why bother? It’s much hotter, and you get a double line. Buy pantyhose with cotton gussets and toss the panties. I have never got a yeast infection from wearing pantyhose without panties.