A few weeks ago at a bridal shower, a friend pointed to my legs and said in a voice of astonishment, “You’re wearing pantyhose!”
She was right. It’s true.
As the world has turned against pantyhose, I embrace them. Here’s why.
- In cooler weather, they keeps my legs at least somewhat warm.
- They smooth out all imperfections in the skin on my legs. Pantyhose cover pokey veins too.
- Dress shoes eat my feet. When I wear pantyhose, I have no trouble with blisters. I know I could wear the footie things, but they slip down. Plus they hide in my dresser drawers, never to be found again.
I don’t find pantyhose uncomfortable like so many women do. I buy a size that fits me well.
I don’t wear them in the summer. They definitely are hot. But the rest of the year, I’m a pantyhose girl.
Menopause brings bravery and a what the hell attitude (some of the time). Yet I am definitely interested in staying stylish and watching the nerd appeal as I age.
So what to do? Wear them or not?
I’ve decided to be a pantyhose nerd. I wear super nude shades (to try to hid the fact I’m wearing them) and in the winter, black sometimes, which I swear still looks stylish under the right dresses.
What about you? Are you a pantyhose nerd or do you hate them? Do tell!
Friend For The Ride 
Not a nylons girl. However, when I see a woman wearing them, I think she’s more pulled together and dressed than one who isn’t.
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And love how you called them “nylons.”
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This topic came up in some conversation a few days ago. We debated whether they actually manufactured panty hose any more! Obviously they do! I can’t stand them and haven’t worn them since I was working back in the 1990s. But then I very rarely wear a dress. I am also fond of black opaque tights in the winter time – I get cold, even wearing pants – and they look good under skirts or dresses, I think.
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I really do love black tights. Wish they would come back into style for grown up ladies. The heavy kind that are warm and do not run.
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Me too
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I don’t have good legs so anything that helps! I wear dresses or skirts that come to mid leg. In the winter I wear tights/black panty hose. In the summer I don’t wear hose but my hemline is long enough to hide most of my leg issues. Textured and black hose is making a come back according to my fashionista 30 year old!
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Thanks for the good word from your fashionista. Spurs me on to keep wearing hose.
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I am a male and like seeing nice ladies wearing pantyhose/tights, i think it complements there skirts and dresses and makes them look great, I am old enough to remember when a lote of ladies wore them.😊
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I’m with you Barb! I wear them in the winter and cool weather bc I don’t want my legs to be COLD! Never in summer time bc they are too much then. Nothing looks more odd to me that a woman wearing a wool coat over a dress but no stockings! If it’s cold enough for a coat, it’s cold enough for stockings! And they do make a more polished look imo! Look at Kate Middleton. She wears them! I rest my case! 🙂
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Oh my gosh. I had no idea Kate work them! Makes my day!
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Wearing Hose definitely makes for a more polished look when you are wearing a nice dress or skirt. And they do provide some warmth in the winter. Bare legs just do not look finished to me. However, I deal with it by mostly wearing pants—I have never really liked wearing dresses. You don’t have to worry about hose or no hose or legs that are too white. And I think you can wear more comfortable shoes with pants. And there are dressy pants outfits if you need to dress up.
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Pants are definitely a good alternative!
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No hose for me!! And I am so relieved….hated them. But I do think black tights and other colors and patterns are fun and cute in the winter.
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Isn’t it funny how some people hate them and then people like me don’t at all? But I do hate them if they are too tight or roll down. I’ve had a few occasions where I thought they might go all the way down!
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When I taught I wore colored tights to match my outfits. I loved crazy patterns- stripes, paisleys, whatever to get the kids attention. When I left teaching, I gave many of the tights to the art teacher for projects. I still love opaques in winter but more blacks, browns, and navy etc. As for pantyhose– wear only when I have to dress up and that’s rare. Bare legs in summer. Here’s my post on the subject: https://cyclingrandma.wordpress.com/2019/01/28/bare-legs-in-winter/
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Love to think of you in those crazy patterns. What kind of art projects can you do with them? Sounds fun!
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Depends on the occasion and dress but generally bare in the summer and hose or tights in the winter.
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Like me!
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I didn’t hate them when I wore them, I found lovely light support hose at JC Penney’s that a flight attendant friend told me about. They were nice shades, nice texture, nice price, and lasted longer than other types of hosiery.
Then I moved south, and I don’t wear hose for years, sometimes decades at a time. It’s just one more thing to keep track of. I prefer long skirts so there’s nothing to cover up. I did buy some fleece-lined tights for a business trip to Boston in January a few years ago, but other than that, nope!
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You are right. They are definitely something to keep up with.
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Exactly how I feel!
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I realize that I’m a little late to this party but count me in as a pantyhose girl! I don’t really think there’s anything nerdy about wearing an article of clothing that makes me feel put-together and completes my overall look.
To each their own, but I even think they’re comfortable if you find the right size…
None of my friends in my age group wear nylons but I seriously don’t mind; some of them have actually complimented my outfits and asked what brand of pantyhose I’m wearing.
Bare legs have there place but so does a nice pair of sheer hosiery.
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Never too late to the show! Fun to read your comments. We are on the same pantyhouse page.
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I love pantyhose. They feel soft and sensuous and make my legs look great. I think the key is to find the right brand and size. I should add that many men love a woman’s legs in pantyhose.
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I am a true pantyhose lover. Everyday 7 days a week. 16 to 18 hours a day. I just enjoy my pantyhose so much. I live in them. Make your legs look so nice. I buy Wolfords, CdR, etc. The proper size too. I think pantyhose are amazing. I dont know why women hate them. Buy a better brand. It really finishes off a nice outfit.
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I forgot to mention. Summer I’m in my favorite pantyhose with shorts. I dont feel properly dressed without my favorite pantyhose on my legs.
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My mom had bought me pantyhose when I was figure skating in the cold arenas because they were thin I could move well
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Hello Barbara. Great blog. I can say that I wear pantyhose with shorts spring till late fall. 7 days a week. 16 to 18 hours a day. I dont feel properly dressed without my favorite pantyhose. They compliment the legs too. Nothing worse than a nice outfit and tacky white legs.
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Forgot to mention. Yes I am a total pantyhose nerd. I absolutely love wearing my favorite pantyhose everyday. I feel off sorts without wearing my favorite pantyhose. I buy premium brands. Wolfords, CdR, Solidea, Pretty Polly etc. I go love Leggs SEAS. Plus I buy the right size. I put my favorite pantyhose on using hosiery gloves too.
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Yes our Kate wears them and looks great.
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I wear them quite often, nearly everyday to keep my legs warm and they keep my skirts from rubbing my legs and wearing out so quickly. Also, they keep my shoes and feet both in good repair and make it easy to wear without chaffing…they make you look great in nearly everything you wear no matter the material or design…I’ve several pair that are well over 5 years old and look brand new…
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I do fully support your pantyhose positive approach. Since my ex-gf (she was 10 years older), was a true passionate, she made me really love it as well. She was initially completely not certain if I would also prefer pantyhose, as stockings are considered much more attractive, but step by step she did convince me to have the same preferences. Finally one very cold winter, while we were to have a longer stroll, she just took a nude pair out of the drawer and just said: “pull down your jeans and let me help you put them on. You would not get cold”. My eyes went big like hell and I was so surprised that couldn’t even say “no”… To my big surprised it fit me perfectly although I was 10 cm higher and the whole day she was in great mood asking me the whole stroll if I did like it. As my answer was “yes, they are soft and nice”, she just followed the issue at any occassion. Not only outside. Therefore I can just say – yes – if you like it – I can fully understand and do not find them old fashioned.And fully prefer while ladies are wearing them instead of bare, pale legs.
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The textile technology across the past 50 years has changed so much. Today they make some 100% polyester textiles that can fool you into thinking it’s a satiny cotton. As for stretchable fibers, Lycra started a whole channel of textile technology and yarns have kept improving. Today a quality pair of hose (tights or pantyhose) is more stretchy, breathable, and run resistant than ever before. The trick is just being discerning, selecting good brands with strong reputations and staying away from cheap Chinese brands. Seriously, the things that made women hate pantyhose from years ago are mostly gone.
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