Ladies fashion question

[laundrycrisis]

I do not have many occasions to dress up, and I really don't follow fashion trends, and I would like to get opinions on hosiery please.   

 

I am going to an event in December.  I will be wearing a black/print knee length sheath dress with black patent low heel dress shoes.  Should I wear black sheer hose, opaque black hose/thin tights, or bare legs ?  I am white and fair skinned.   I am sliding toward 50 but not there yet.   Thank you ! 

 

Editing to add - we are in Illinois, so a pretty cold climate. Also, the dress is sleeveless and my arms will be bare.  I don't want to spray/self tan my legs and have them not match my arms, and I don't want to do my arms because I know I would never get the fading to look natural in the elbow and armpit area. 

 

Edited November 30, 2017 by Laundrycrisis2

[Rachel]

Sheer black hose or black tights depending on the dress. I wouldn’t go bare legs. I know a lot of women do, but I think hose look a lot more polished.

[marbel]

Black tights or hose.  Bare legs in winter seem odd to me.   But I live in a cold place.

[Alicia64]

I agree with Rach!

 

[Mbelle]

I would go bare legs or sheer black hose.  If going bare legs I would go get my legs lightly spray tanned and toes painted.

I'm going to similar party next week.  I did think about black sheer hose but i'm probably wearing gold high heeled sandals.  I admit it is ridiculous and I'd love to not go.

[Aura]

I would go bare legs or sheer black hose.  If going bare legs I would go get my legs lightly spray tanned and toes painted.

I'm going to similar party next week.  I did think about black sheer hose but i'm probably wearing gold high heeled sandals.  I admit it is ridiculous and I'd love to not go.

Agreed. If it was cold...which may or may not be the case here in GA...I'd do the hose. But otherwise, I'd do the bare legs but use make up or tanning spray/lotion to make my legs a little less, ahem, reflective. 

[bettyandbob]

I would do sheer black hose. I live where temps can range from 20-50 in December, with my d 30s being likely.

[Junie]

I would wear black tights.  I get cold easily.  Also, the less people see of my legs, the better.  :)

[almondbutterandjelly]

I think any of those would be fine.  I don't believe in self-tanning.  My skin is pale, so what?  I would base my decision solely on how cold it will be.  I'm a south Texas girl, so Chicago in winter screams tights to me.  Since you live there and are more used to the temperatures, it might be different.  I still think the decision should be based on what will keep you the most comfortable temperature.

[Word Nerd]

I'd do black hose or tights—whichever you're most comfortable with.  

[Word Nerd]

I think any of those would be fine.  I don't believe in self-tanning.  My skin is pale, so what? 

 

Same. I'd wear old-fashioned 1980s-style pantyhose before I'd ever use a self-tanner.

[regentrude]

I would wear black hose.

 

But it seems really bizarre that bare legs are deemed not appropriate in winter whereas bare arms and shoulders are - makes absolutely no sense. I never understood the rationale behind sleeveless Christmas dresses.

[laundrycrisis]

If it's really cold I would do the thicker hose, so the opaque. In winter my dresses tend to be sweater dresses I wear with black leggings and tall boots.

 

 

I think bare arms (I mean cold shoulder looks or sleeveless) are weird in winter, at least outside. I would imagine that a coat covers the arms outside, but may not cover the legs. I imagine sleeveless dresses are intended to be worn with a cardigan.

 

 

Due to hot flashes, I wear short sleeved and sleeveless tops all winter, with a light cardigan that is easily removed when I am hot.   So I only own sleeveless dresses.  In this case, I am not wearing a cardigan because I will be playing violin.  I want the freedom of sleeveless. 

[Crimson Wife]

Tights for warmth.

 

Hose looks dated to me, so since it will be cold, I would go with tights rather than bare legs.

[Word Nerd]

I would wear black hose.

 

But it seems really bizarre that bare legs are deemed not appropriate in winter whereas bare arms and shoulders are - makes absolutely no sense. I never understood the rationale behind sleeveless Christmas dresses.

I really don’t understand cold shoulder-style sweaters. Why would I want cold shoulders in winter?

[marbel]

I really don’t understand cold shoulder-style sweaters. Why would I want cold shoulders in winter?

 

I was just in the grocery store, where I saw a woman wearing a bulky cold-shoulder long-sleeved sweater, and gloves.  It looked odd to me on this wintry day.  And she was complaining about the cold. 

 

(Note (and not related to the quoted post) I am not judging her for her choices, did not roll my eyes or give her a look of disdain, nor would I hate her for dressing in a way that seemed odd to me. Just getting that out of the way. :-) )

Edited November 30, 2017 by marbel

[Melissa in Australia]

Bare leg here, but December is Summer and HOT

[laundrycrisis]

Thank you all ! I will get some opaque black hose. I think they are less likely to run and snag than the sheers. My legs won’t freeze outside and I won’t have to deal with my feet sticking inside my shoes. I appreciate the help. I have become so unsure of current standards of what is normal hosiery for dress occasions.

Edited November 30, 2017 by laundrycrisis

[Mom-ninja.]

You could always do black or nude fishnet. :)  Or get black sheer hose with the seam up the back.