How do " we" feel about dark pantyhose and semi- opaque tights?

Here, I'm talking work- wear in business-casual-but-not- too-casual.

With skirts and the rare dress, I've got a pretty good routine for sheer nude hose( in warmer weather), and then opaque tights, including fleece in mid- winter, for... as soon and as long as I dare wear them!
But, in fall with transitional temps and changing to darker color palette, at times I would like a more tonal cohesive leg line from skirt to shoe, yet it seems too soon for opaque tights or they seem too heavy for the fabrics.

Do you think there is a role for the off- black sheer hose or for a truly semi- sheer tight( these are " similar but different"), or does that look very dated or, sshhh, fr___y?

One of my hesitations, using my own " eye" when I create outfits, is footwear. I would be wearing low heel/ flat, which I've convinced myself looks " sporty" or debombshelled with opaque tights and pencil skirts.

But sheer dark hose seem different. I can easily see them with heels( it's terrible, sort of like jeans, everything seems to look okay with heels!) but I get a different vibe with lower-heeled footwear. So the part I do like is the tonal look with darker skirts in the early phase of fall, but don't think it is as " mainstream".

I also have a sugar eye for ribbed gray tights for fall, and like that softer look, but find they seem to demand careful styling for professional workwear, so that's kind of an outfit aspiration.

I would live to get be your thoughts and good or bad vibes with " transitional" hosiery or other ideas about how to get the same effect.
Or should I just rely on pants-only time until it's full opaque tights season? At least with the ankle pant craze and with more tapered pant-loafer options, these are good fall- transition wear options and perhaps what I should stick with.

9 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I like the look of opaque or dark depending on the fit
I love them in the winter but the fall is a great time and wadrobe staple.

always trying

This is my problem too. I generally stick to pants in the transitional seasons. Since I live in a warmer climate, the only time opaque tights or my black opaque PH seem to be right are the two colder months, December and January. I have worn semi sheer off black PH with my LBD every season except summer or an off season heat wave. I for one, would love to see a comeback of PH in all sorts of shades, but this is not gonna happen.

rachylou

Interesting question. I wear grey hose instead of black. I find black a very heavy look, somehow off everywhere except the UK...

Suz

(website)

Interesting what you say, Rachy. They all wear opaque black in the UK, it's true. With everything. Even sundresses!

I guess it isn't seasonal confusion there.

I find black hosiery heavy too, and love to see a bit of skin in outfits, but it seems to work better for those with darker hair.

I do like semi-sheer in off-black or grey if it works with the outfit.

unfrumped

It seems like by the time I get the planets aligned re: just the right color and tone of skirt, and the right footwear( I always feel they need to be dressier or perhaps more feminine in style) , it's so complicated that it may not be worth it.
Whereas with my skirts that contain black in the weave or pattern, I can add a sweater and black opaque tights with any one of several types of shoes and feel pretty good.

Liz A.

I can imagine myself wearing them with a flat that is on the feminine side if I could find one that would stay on my foot with hose. Maybe a bootie.

Kristin L

I've worn black hose with flats the past few fall/winters, but I have dark hair and wear a lot of dark and black clothing in the fall and winter.. and spring... and summer.

I think it's worth giving a shot. Would you be up for trying a darker tight with a pattern on it?

Ooh, patterns are dicey with a few exceptions. I have some dots and some houndstooth that could be contenders. These mostly only work with a solid black skirt but that's still helpful. Lacey types are just too wrong for my environment.
I was about to give up all patterns as part of my simplifying sockwear and tights( as per earlier post) , but most of my excess there had some color combinations.
Hmm, Kristin, you are either helping or causing me to backslide! I did think the houndstooth were cheeky in a sporty- tailored way, so that might be the angle to pursue.

Sara L.

I think it really depends on the flats you're planning on wearing. It's easy to veer into unstylish territory (notice how I avoided the fr* word ) with flats and tights.

Keix

I wear sheer black hose all the time (in fact I only own black hose and opaque tights--no nude hose). If wearing with flats, I'd stick with trendier styles like a pointy-toe loafer. Or try other flat shoes like Chelsea booties or low-heeled sock booties.

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