Note that by “nude”, I mean “nude for you”. So in this context the colour of nude hose is matched to the skin tone of your legs.

I believe that nude hosiery is fabulous. To think that they are frumpy is a dated style concept. Nude hose keep people like me warm in Spring, when the Seattle temperatures are far from mild. The beauty of nude hose is that it provides the aesthetic of “bare legs” with the insulation of tights. I like to visually lighten my outfits in the Spring. Dark hose makes my outfit feel heavy and too Wintery, making nude hose the perfect solution. 

I did not always feel this way about nude hose. I wore the shiny lycra variety a lot in the late ’80s, and then stopped cold turkey for many years because going barelegged or sticking to darker hose was more fashionable and modern. I did continue to sneakily layer nude hose under fancy textured hose for extra warmth, and under jeans and trousers for insulation. So I’m never without a couple of pairs of nude hose in my basics capsule. 

Then I went to Japan last year and my perception about nude hose was changed forever. The women there ALL wear nude hose. With everything. From the shortest of skirts and shorts to contemporary and classic outfits. And they look extremely stylish. Zero frump factor. So right then and there in Tokyo I bought nude hose to wear with my dressy outfit for a wedding. It was a chilly day and I was relieved to be wearing hose. I did not feel frumpy at all. 

These days I often wear visible nude hose with skirts and dresses. In fact, here’s a recent example. I keep them sheer and a close match to my skin tone. I firmly believe that nude hose make as stylish a statement as bare legs when it’s just too cold to go without. They do not need to be reserved for conservative settings or women of a certain age. So wear nude hose with fashionable pride.