https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1 Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 12 Apr 2026 17:34:42 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1921251 Mon, 21 May 2018 22:32:04 +0000 Anonymous 1921251@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wonder if this is partially a regional thing? &nbsp;Though I'm retired, I still interact frequently with women in Big Law, Big Accounting, C-Suite, etc. &nbsp;I almost never see anyone wearing nude stockings in that environment with a skirt-suit or dress. &nbsp;The few that do, I think that is just their personal preference and they probably make the same choice in a social context, too. The exception is planned court appearances. &nbsp;I'm told that women wear pants-suits and skirt-suits without stockings to court in other parts of the country, but I have no direct personal experience with that. &nbsp;<br />Anyway, I was personally thrilled when forgoing nude stockings became acceptable, because I despise wearing the @#$% things. &nbsp;I feel that I've reached the age where no one is paying the slightest bit of attention to my legs (or probably any other part of me - LOL!) so I've gotten comfortable with the fact that they, like the rest of me, are showing their age. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1921240 Mon, 21 May 2018 21:44:37 +0000 MsMaven 1921240@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've avoided skirts and dresses for ages because I hate hose, which were mandatory when I was younger, and we usually weren't allowed to wear pants either. And panty girdles were required with straight skirts and dresses. Late middle-aged middle body weight gain makes the panty roll down even worse.</p> <p>This spring, however, with so many longer and at least knee-length dresses I went a bit nuts, and now am faced with the problem: older legs. Veins, scars, although in pretty good shape.Too much skin damage to suntan, don't do well with tanning products, left with leg makeup. I know it doesn't bother Angie to show pale legs with veins, but my legs are considerably older. Sigh. I will wear my dresses and I did buy some pantyhose and Air Stockings. We will see.&nbsp;</p> <p>I have noticed that when I meet with bankers/business people, the women nearly always wear pants now.&nbsp;</p> <p>Good discussion. Thanks. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1921182 Mon, 21 May 2018 18:12:44 +0000 Christina F. 1921182@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I hate hose, but I work in a super casual environment where jeans and sneakers are acceptable (I think everyone is a step up from completely casual, basically). I have stomach problems, and hose are too constricting and deeply uncomfortable, especially in the summer when it's humid outside and often roasting in the subway stations. I mind tights in the winter less, as they provide warmth, but I have to make sure they're not too tight on my tummy, or I won't wear them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1921166 Mon, 21 May 2018 17:12:16 +0000 Anonymous 1921166@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can't imagine seeing a woman in a very corporate environment (law, finance, CEO etc) wearing a skirt suit or dress without hose. &nbsp;To me, that would be like a man wearing dress shorts to work . Weirdly personal and odd. &nbsp; That said, the majority of women I see in my sales life aren't in a corporate environment - so it's something I rarely have to consider. &nbsp;I do remember one particular occasion about 3 years ago when I had a meeting with several people at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights - in the high heat of summer. I wore a sleeveless silk top and skirt, and felt vastly underdressed and too fashiony. &nbsp;Silly, almost. &nbsp;Bare legs and arms were totally wrong for that situation = too informal and beachy looking. &nbsp;Anyways, I don't mind wearing fishnets at all , and even regular hose don't bother me ....they give a polished and refined touch to an outfit &nbsp;(for those extremely rare occasions when a polished &nbsp;look is required). &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1921158 Mon, 21 May 2018 16:51:34 +0000 Carla 1921158@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I did not wear trousers to any job I ever held after university, until I was in my 40's and my employer at the time implemented the first of several changes to the established dress code. Furthermore, I always wore hose/nylons. I would buy 10 packs at a time (buy 10 get one free!). Regular were never a good fit and I didn't like the girdling of many styles. I found that Queen sized solved the problem though my weight and measurements did not match the package descriptions. </p> <p>About 10 years ago I read a book called 'How Not to Look Old' by Charla Krupp (who was a regular contributor to 'Glamour' magazine. She suggested that bare legged was the way to go, or failing that, the finest stockings one could afford! I decided to try bare legs during the warmer months. My skirt and dress lengths are to-the-knee or lower. In winter I wore darker hose, micro fishnets, and trousers. I have to admit that going bare legged was way more comfortable than wearing hose, and this thread is the first time I've ever heard that there could be a prohibition against bare legs with skirt or dress in a work environment.</p> <p>Just like everything else, there are trends in hose. Before I retired I saw mostly bare legs during warm weather and coloured hose, patterns, and tights in winter. Hose with some shine made a comeback when Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge made hose with a bit of sheen her go-to. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1921145 Mon, 21 May 2018 14:57:53 +0000 JAileen 1921145@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Although I’ve been out of the workplace for many years, I often go to dinner with my husband and the outside accountants when they’re in town. I worked for one in Houston in the 80s, and wore a skirt suit and stockings every day, even in summer. To a one, these women wear black pants and black jackets. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1921127 Mon, 21 May 2018 13:20:44 +0000 Anonymous 1921127@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ginger -- You are right.&nbsp; I was at a conference on Thursday of last week.&nbsp; I noted that the men were all wearing suits and ties.&nbsp; I did not see one single woman (including myself) in either a skirted or pant suit.&nbsp; I was wearing silk slacks with sleeveless lace top. Maybe over-casualization has deeply and adversely impacted our professional lives.&nbsp; &nbsp;Maybe I do need to own one really good suit.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1921116 Mon, 21 May 2018 13:00:56 +0000 Ginger 1921116@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>To be honest, I'm not sure I recall seeing professional skirt suits in the workplace at all. Pant suits, or more likely trousers and some kind of top, are far more typical among those those who choose to dress businesslike. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1921073 Mon, 21 May 2018 09:22:40 +0000 Anonymous 1921073@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I need to find mini-fishnets. &nbsp;I remember Angie's post and failed to act because I didn't think it applied to me as a non-dress wearer. &nbsp;However, that might have been short sighted on my part. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1921054 Mon, 21 May 2018 06:03:26 +0000 Lucy 1921054@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very interesting! As a fellow Australian it has never occurred to me that bare legs would be in any way troubling, even in a conservative office. I wonder what the Big Law women wear?&nbsp;<br />Anywhere I have worked was fine with bare legs, even in my brief career in marketing, which was very image driven. We were allowed to wear open sandals to work if we had a pedicure (lol, these rules were one of the reasons I went back into academia!)&nbsp;<br />I wear bare legs for nine months of the year (it's warm where I live) and then switch to opaque tights for the rest of the time. I like the way tights look, but also their durability and CPW! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1921047 Mon, 21 May 2018 05:11:37 +0000 Anonymous 1921047@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Since Angie introduced the option of mini fish nets, I wear them and they seem to last. I am wearing nude ones now. I think freezing stockings before wearing lengthens their life. I also hand wash in cold water and sometimes shampoo immediately after taking them off. I have had elastic fail on favorite pairs of knee highs after a couple of years. So discouraging.<br /> I wear dresses and skirts with bare legs with casual pieces on hot days, but do not usually find stockings uncomfortable. I buy most discounted at Marshalls/TJMaxx or Nordstrom Rack. What I cannot find now are taupe colors. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1921045 Mon, 21 May 2018 05:05:01 +0000 anne 1921045@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Side point here - As all the Australians posting&nbsp;here (and me too) wear nude hose at times I think we down under have missed out on the disapproval!</p> <p>I wear them a lot and particularly appreciate that they make shoes much more comfortable. However I'm also fine with going bare legged to the office in summer.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1921039 Mon, 21 May 2018 04:56:55 +0000 Suz 1921039@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I live and work in a very casual environment, so my comments on this are probably moot, but for me, it is more related to temperature than anything else. I happily wear dresses and skirts without hose all summer. And in winter, I most definitely wear hose or tights. To go bare-legged in winter in my climate is the height of seasonal foolishness. (Confusion is not the word for it!)&nbsp;</p> <p>I do tend to wear midi skirts/ dresses and that probably plays a role in my comfort level. It is not as if I am revealing a lot of bare leg.&nbsp;</p> <p>Yet, I also wear sandals and bare arms. And as my grey hair attests, I am not young.&nbsp;</p> <p>I don't mind wearing hose -- I actually find them less constricting and more comfortable than leggings (albeit more fragile, at least the sheer kind). And nude sheers may seem like a fashion faux pas to some, but I don't feel that way about them -- I'd wear them in winter to a dressy event, for sure. But I have to admit that I wear dresses and skirts far more often in summer because they feel more comfortable without hose and I'm awfully glad for the option not to wear stockings! Especially since my summer climate is hot and humid and I don't have AC.&nbsp;</p> <p>I agree with those who suggest you might try microfishnets. They run much less than regular hose and add an interesting element of texture.&nbsp;</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1921031 Mon, 21 May 2018 04:31:31 +0000 Brooklyn 1921031@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am comfortable going hose-free at work. But I am also comfortable showing my toes and I know a lot of people don't care for that here. The dress standard is pretty variable at my work. We have suits, chinos, pencil skirts, sundresses and yoga pants and sneakers.&nbsp; I do wear nude hose in late Autumn and early Spring when it's too cool for bare legs but opaque tights feel too heavy. I don't find them uncomfortable but they are expensive and they do snag easily. It feels wasteful, which is the main reason why I resist wearing them. It drives me crazy when they ladder on first wear. My opaque tights, on the other hand, seem to last forever.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1921017 Mon, 21 May 2018 02:37:38 +0000 unfrumped 1921017@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I always wear sheer hose with dresses or skirts from the time it’s “ wrong” to wear opaque tights ( around end of March here) until October or so. I run cold so I’d never be able to wear bare legs in air conditioning plus I don’t like the look in professional setting , at least , mine, and at my age. I am at point I don’t care about the “ no hose” contingent, meaning, pantyhose as fashion faux pas, that has been very vocal for awhile, though may have eased up more recently.<br /> I agree, “ runs” in stocking are annoying and expensive. Have just had to build that into budget. That I really can use fewer total skirt options but need my tights budget. </p> <p>I do struggle with true casual summer dresses- really just don’t wear them- because I don’t wear open toe sandals anymore ( except very casual, at home time). The sneaker trend may help me here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1920702 Sat, 19 May 2018 18:35:52 +0000 kerry 1920702@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can’t stand wearing hose. It feels too constricting to me. But I also don’t wear a lot of skirts or dresses and don’t work in a professional setting so the point is moot with me. I do think, however, that the new Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, looks absolutely appropriate without hose, even beside Harry in a suit. I’m not sure what I think about women dressing without hose in other professional settings. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1/page/2#post-1920681 Sat, 19 May 2018 14:57:32 +0000 kellygirl 1920681@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Bare legs are the norm around here at least in more casual settings. I can't remember the last time I saw someone in nylons at work. I wear fleece lined tights with boots in winter but that's about it for me--and usually with dresses. There's nothing worse than having to endure the hosiery waist band roll down and a skirt waist band. It's unbearable! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1#post-1920680 Sat, 19 May 2018 14:44:14 +0000 kkards 1920680@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>hmmmm...Sterling, i agree re price of nylons....back in the day, when they were required i was buying at least 2 pairs a month, and of course the drugstore brands never fit...i was soooo excited when dress codes moved to nylons not requried....<br />i want to add that i dont see going bare legged in a professional setting any differently then going bare armed...<br />@ peri....i think its a really personal thing...i find that bare feet in pumps is really comfortable and allows my feet to breath...but i will also say, that &nbsp;90% of my shoes are leather with leather lining, and i do think that it makes a difference... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1#post-1920679 Sat, 19 May 2018 14:38:24 +0000 hgr 1920679@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very interesting topic. I work in a casual environment. I used to wear hosiery every day with skirts and dresses ( I can't believe how much money I spent way back just on hosiery!!!). I now wear pants, skirts and dresses on the job. I only wear hosiery/opaque stockings in the winter. I work in a building without a/c. and wearing hosiery in this environment is very challenging. I also have very visible varicose veins on both sides of my knees and as a result I wear midi length skirts/dresses. I think bare legs are fine if you look "presentable", but we all (including myself) have different opinions on what looks good and what does not look good. I have never worked in a corporate environment but I would imagine that the dress code is stricter than mine. I think your feelings are very normal. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1#post-1920674 Sat, 19 May 2018 14:18:40 +0000 Peri 1920674@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No solutions, just that I completely agree with you and have always had the same questions. In addition, shoes...the kind of shoes worn with a polished, professional type dress are (well, uncomfortable enough anyway) awful without hose, and I've never found footies that stand up to a day of wear. Not to mention the grossness of putting bare feet in shoes all day over time. Some people may cringe at the supposed (artificial) datedness of hose, but I cringe at the awfulness of bare feet shoved into pumps. Why are women expected to do all these ridiculous things?</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1#post-1920440 Fri, 18 May 2018 17:37:21 +0000 AndiB 1920440@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>oh, and I really love the Boden (first find below) but fear the neckline will be too low.&nbsp; I adored the second striped one from Angie's blog the other day, ordered it (and being from Nordies arrived, like, immediately! right?)&nbsp; Just didn't fit right.&nbsp; and REALLY long, even with heels.&nbsp; so back it goes.&nbsp; we'll see about the Boden.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>So I didn't weigh in on the blog today, but I too am really loving the dresses and am feeling kind of tired of skirts.&nbsp; it might be the hose thing tho! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1#post-1920438 Fri, 18 May 2018 17:33:39 +0000 AndiB 1920438@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here in finds below are some of the dresses I've picked up this year.&nbsp; the boden blue and white - an Angie pick! - is such a great dress.&nbsp; substantial jersey, doesn't cling but fits.&nbsp; The solid blue dress is similar to another Boden dress which is&nbsp; no longer available, but the one I have has same longer flared skirt, but blousey long sleeves.&nbsp; I love that too, though most of these have very low cut v necklines.&nbsp; I don't really like to wear a cami under the v of a dress - seems too 80's to me, haha!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Another is this Michael Kors I got to wear for my daughter's college graduation.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.michaelkors.com/product/carnation-georgette-shirtdress/_/R-US_MS88Y468SX?colorExplode=true&amp;skuId=193587583&amp;ecid=MKC_Google_US&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi7n5teSP2wIVxMDACh2hEAWtEAQYASABEgISOfD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">https://www.michaelkors.com/pr.....Explode=tr</a>&nbsp; No find available on the MK site</p> <p>All long enough to wear without hose!&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1#post-1920436 Fri, 18 May 2018 17:23:48 +0000 AndiB 1920436@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I sort of love hose (I'm over 50, and in my early professional years, mid 80's to 90's, we were all still wearing them.)&nbsp; I don't really wear them very much, except, as has been noted, when I really want a polished look.&nbsp; I will say, and I only think of this as I read Angie's blog from today about skirts and dresses, the advent of longer midi dresses, especially for work, has opened up a whole new world of not worrying about bare legs in office environment.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;I too have picked up several new dresses this season, and without fail they are longer, so I'm good with no hose as my legs are quite covered.&nbsp; Skirts?&nbsp; I've always worn pencil skirts as part of my business look, but i now realize I love them in the winter with tights and boots and don't wear them much in the summer because it IS too much leg.&nbsp; I am an executive director of a non profit, and while my in office wardrobe can skew biz casual, when I am out at meetings, I dress very professionally.&nbsp; Now dresses, more skirts before.&nbsp; And I see now it is about the hose!&nbsp; thanks for helping me make this connection. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1#post-1920432 Fri, 18 May 2018 17:05:49 +0000 Colette 1920432@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wear panty hose with skirts and dresses when the weather and occasion dictate. I simply do not understand bare legs in freezing temperatures. But, the expense is real. I used to have a line item in my budget just for panty hose when I worked in an office with a corporate dress code.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1#post-1920429 Fri, 18 May 2018 16:34:33 +0000 Toban 1920429@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with texstyle and LaP about matching the environment, especially for upward mobility. That said, almost all places I see men in suits, I will also see men dressed in business casual and no one looks twice at them. So the juxtaposition is not only between men and women but within genders. I work within an scientific environment that expects us to dress for the day that we have scheduled. So most days are internal meetings where the casual side is acceptable. When outside visitors come, the key meeting people (ie hosts and visitors, but not all attendees) take it up one notch to business casual, and when one is giving a formal talk, both male and female speakers will likely be the most corporate (but plainly) dressed of the group and attendees will be everywhere along the continuum. We end up interpreting it at our discretion and being very open to others defining it for themselves. If anything, the more formal we get, the more crisp but less attention-getting the better as we are supposed to make impressions by our ideas and accomplishments and not ever by our clothing. For meetings (beyond my work group) and speaking events my own internal guidance has a minimum expectation of shoulders covered, with arm covering toppers for events where I want to convey authority. This long-winded description really is to say that even at my very most formal, I don’t use hose unless my shoes are uncomfortable without it. I don’t know if it’s culture, environment or age? I find our differences fascinating. </p> <p>Ultimately, as individuals we have to find our comfort levels. And if you are uncomfortable without hose and thus wear trousers that’s fine. I am so appreciative of the flexibility of clothing in our work places now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1#post-1920425 Fri, 18 May 2018 16:10:13 +0000 texstyle 1920425@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I also agree with LaP - it does feel out of place to have a women looking overly casual next to a man in a suit in a business setting. I don't think dressing casually in an office where most people are not dressing casually is ever a great idea for upward mobility. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1#post-1920421 Fri, 18 May 2018 15:51:01 +0000 Katerina 1920421@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Sterling</b>, I totally understand how you feel. When I wear skirts it is almost always wintertime when I can add tall boots, opaque tights etc. I don´t like wearing skirts with bare legs. My legs are very pale and I don´t like sunbathing - so they usually stay very pale during the summer too. Plus they are not my favourite feature, IYKWIM. I don´t really manage to use self-tanning products successfully either, my attempts end up all wrong. I like to use very thin sheer hose sometimes, but when I can choose, I always choose trousers...&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />Now, I bought three summer dresses to wear this year - only wore one of them so far (with hose and with trousers :-)). So I will see how it all goes </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1#post-1920419 Fri, 18 May 2018 15:36:21 +0000 Anonymous 1920419@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I thought I was on team skirt, just because they are easier to fit, but, as you say, the ease of dresses can’t be beat. I even like belted dresses: I can choose where the belt goes. </p> <p>You recently advised me to keep a size larger in a dress than I normally would have chosen. That was great advise, as the shoulder and décolletage area hangs much better on me than a smaller size. This was counter-intuitive, as I always try to dress my small bust.</p> <p>The reason i bring this up is because it really pays to try on a few sizes.</p> <p>I like dresses so much i am considering moving to them for winter as well. Hello tall boots! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1#post-1920405 Fri, 18 May 2018 14:25:00 +0000 Anonymous 1920405@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>WOW. &nbsp;I think LaP summed it up perfectly. &nbsp;</b>I didn't even realize that I thought that way, but I DO. &nbsp;That is exactly why I find this subject so disconcerting. &nbsp;I see so many women dressing casually in business settings. &nbsp;In contrast, the men are still wearing suits and ties. &nbsp;<b>It is a disconnect in my brain. &nbsp;</b> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dresses-and-skirts-1#post-1920404 Fri, 18 May 2018 14:24:23 +0000 texstyle 1920404@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think (for me) it depends on how the legs look without hose. If you have great legs and skin, then I think you can pull off the "no hose" look. </p>