Ask Angie: Cocktail dress with tights? - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie: Cocktail dress with tights?

froggies98

Hi Angie,
I'm 52 and looking good with the exception of my legs. After having work done to correct my varicose veins and spiders, I was left with "iron staining." My legs feel better but I have ugly long brown stains that hopefully will fade within 12 months. I am so excited to finally wear a knee length dress to dressy events but even with a tan the marks are distracting. Are nude pantyhose still as "out" as I feel they are? Black hose look heavy here in hot Florida. What should I do?
Thanks a million.
p.s. Love your blog and your bit about baring your imperfect legs earlier in the week inspired me to go shopping in a knee length skirt this week. Yay!

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Sihaya

Veteran

Welcome and good for you for trying knee length dresses. Where are the stains on your legs. Could you do non full length leggings to help hide them?

froggies98

Thanks, Sihaya. The light brown wiggly "stripes" and other marks are on the front and side of one calf and the back of the other. I have "shapely" calves and don't love the look of leggings, but I see where you are going with that. That would allow me to wear sandals and show my pretty toes! I think that is what bugs me most--having my toes covered.

froggies98

What do you think of flesh toned patterned hose? I've never seen anyone wear them.

Barbara

Veteran

hey froggies98. Would pretty lacy black hosiery work? What color is your dress? I'm curious as to what Angie has to say since I have the same issue with my legs . I have slim, shapely legs, but also have some spider veins that need zapping. Did you do laser or injections?

I know what you mean about not wanting to cover your toes!

Steph

Veteran

Froggies, I know Angie and a lot of the other women here are huge fans of nude microfishnets, and those might work well with a cocktail dress. I personally like the idea of nude patterned hose, but I don't know that I have ever seen any in stores, other than microfishnets. If you are wearing a cocktail dress, I personally wouldn't do anything too thick, so no leggings or tights, but others might disagree with me.

froggies98

I am going to Nordstrom today and hopefully will fund some subtly patterned dark hose, including lacey. They have a great selection online but naturally I have waited til the last minute to deal with this issue! I am in denial! My dress is black.

For the big varicose veins I had "Endo Laser" on both legs followed by numerous ultrasound-guided foam scleratherapy procedures. My legs feel 100 percent better and the bulging purple veins are gone. That's the good news. "Iron staining" is not a common side-effect but sadly it happened to me. Dr. says it will fade within 12 months but if not, I believe I might need to have the laser treatment used to remove tattoos. People get staining if they have "high iron stores" or simply a "propensity for it." I had no idea this would happen to me, but I guess it is better than the giant wiggly worms that made my legs look so much older than the rest of me.
Be careful of laser treatments for spider veins. Ask around but a friend of mine also had scarring that eventually faded.

Queen Mum

Veteran

what about nude microfishnets?

froggies98

Nude micro-fishnets sound interesting! Thanks everyone for your help!!!!!!!!

Queen Mum

Veteran

oh, just saw that your dress is black.
then yes, go for some black patterned hose, or black microfishnets

froggies98

Okay, Queen Mum! Will do! Thanks again!

Barbara

Veteran

thanks for the procedure info, froggie. I've heard injections are better for spider veins than laser. Not quite ready to take the plunge. I'm chicken around needles!

Let us know what you find on your shopping excursion!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The lasses have you sorted! Try black micro fishnets too.

Welcome to the forum

Louise

Veteran

I'd go for nude or black fishnets. I once had some self patterend nude tights and from a distance people thought I had mottled scared legs!!!!

froggies98

Thanks, Angie, for the welcome and for your wonderful blog and advise! Here is what I found today: Nordstrom has an outstanding hosiery department. There are so many options! Spanx carries a lot of patterned hose, which I didn't know. I bought some black micro fishnets which are cute. My favorites are sold under the Nordstrom label-- they are black with a subtle linear floral pattern and a very thin black "seam" down the back. They were just what I needed. They didn't have any fleshtoned patterned hose--just as well. And I think it is Donna Karan who carries "toeless" hose. That didn't work for me because my "scars" are too dark, but I love the idea of it. Thanks everyone for your help!!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nordies does have an outstanding hosiery dept - unfortunately, not all the prices are outstanding :(. I love Wolford hose, but its very expensive.

Sounds like you are sorted!