If there’s one Kate-related issue that is polarizing it is this: pantyhose.
The pantyhose debate (or tights as they are called in some locales) continues to gain traction. It’s been a topic of conversation previously in this space and we thought it might be a good time to revisit the issue *and* get your opinions. The stories have been everywhere, from The Daily Mail to People magazine.
From ABC News:
“For the fashion forward Middleton, sheer pantyhose may seem like a throwback to the 1980s.
More than likely, Middleton, who pairs the shiny hose with her dresses for official appearances, is following royal protocol than making a fashion choice. But like everything else she touches that turns to gold, Middleton’s embrace of sheer pantyhose has them flying off the shelves in her native U.K.”
All Photos: Reuters
From Jezebel’s story asking “Can Kate Middleton Bring Back Pantyhose?”
“The Duchess’ fashion choices are purposely conservative, but now many are complaining that her fondness for nude pantyhose is hopelessly old fashioned.”
The People story lists several brands, as does The Daily Mail’s article. Here are some of those brands, along with brands mentioned in comments to the blog and by WKW Facebook friends.
- Wolford’s Naked 8 sheer pantyhose ($30)
- Falke Shelina 12 Ultra Transparent Hipster Tights ($19)
- John Lewis Barely There Non Slip Tights (£5)
Below left, the Wolford Satin Touch 20 ($24.50, or £16 at John Lewis), on the right we show a pair from the Pretty Polly Naturals line.
From the People story:
“The Duchess seems to have embraced the sheen of sheer pantyhose, a throwback to the 1980s that went the way of the mullet.”
What do you think, is it good to see hose again? Or is it merely nice to know you don’t have to worry about Palace protocol? To say the issue ignites heated discussion would be an understatement; don’t be shy, let us know your thoughts. 
Below is our latest poll, we’ll post the results Friday.
I’m brown (south asian), and last year, the winter I graduated and started working, I got myself sheer tan colored sheer pantyhose that matches my skin tone (the packaging has a pretty african american lady on it) at wal mart, that has worked wonders for me.
No one can tell that I’m wearing them, and they sure make my dresses and business suits in the fall (Autumn) and spring, easier to deal with, and make it easy for me to walk about in pumps.
Also, I have a scar on my knee that I think would be rude to flash around. I went to private schools, and was pantyhose was a solid given in our “etiquette” lessons.
It really depends on the occasion, and pantyhose manufacturers need to come up with a wider variety of sheer skin tones.
Excuse me, “stockings” are for grade school children and under-bred sorority girls, “pantyhose” is for classy ladies. Especially when it’s cold. Sheer pantyhose is sexy, elegant, polished, polite and classy.
I thought it was only the young kids, 20′s ,who didn’t wear them anymore. Or if you live in a warm climate, with an open toed shoe or if it was summer with a sun dress. Seeing that a lot of women my age weren’t wearing them either I decided to give it a try. NEVER AGAIN! I went without to my nephews outdoor wedding and I felt like everyone was staring at me for not being completely dressed. I don’t care how much more comfortable it is…This is completely inappropriate It’s almost as bad as wearing flip-flops to the office or to a wedding or formal event…sad to say these clueless kids do that too. Kate is dressed the way a properly brought up young woman Should be dressed. The rest of you should be taking notes..
I’m glad stockings are making a comeback. Legs looks great in them and they feel great too.
I think she looks refined and elegant. Pantyhose is definitely a more polished look and makes a statement – like wearing a nice dress and pumps rather than jeans and a baggy sweatshirt. They most definitely don’t have to be orange and ugly – you can find all sorts of natural colors and sheens from companies like hanes, berkshire, levante, etc. without breaking the bank either. http://www.kneesntoes.com has a wide variety at very good prices.
This is a cultural term and a cultural norm in certain regions.
I grew up in Western Canada (Vancouver, BC) and I always heard them referred to as nylons. I’ve always worn them in my 20′sm (Canada) and now in my 30′s (USA).
Now that I live in the (Eastern USA) Atlanta, GA everyone refers to them as “panty hose” and no one my age seems to wear them. Everyone in the South blames the heat, but they keep your feet fresher.
I still wear nylons to work 90% of the time – except when I’m all out. I can get away with this, since my coworkers chalk up this “eccentricity” to being Canadian.
Women’s legs look better in hose, IF they are wearing good quality, very sheer hose. I think this whole discussion is so weird…I work in the business world, live in California, and because I am a redhead it is important to where a sheer, lightly colored hose…it ends up looking quite natural if you spend money and buy good quality. (…and self-tanning looks weird on a redhead). I often have people tell me they cannot tell I am wearing hose. This whole no-hose thing is misguided……and most women need either control top or Spanx in order to not be too jiggly…..Lastly, it’s only “80′s” if you are wearing ” Legg’s” or “No Nonsense” suntan……Kate looked great.
Playing catch-up with my WKW/TPP reading . . . I say Kate did exactly the right thing with wearing the hose/tights. My guess is that she did so for protocol vs. personal preference reasons, but that could be my US preference (anti-hose, pro- opaque, colored tights) coloring matters.
I wear pantyhose in the winter (I live in Ontario where the winters get cold!) except when I’m wearing sandals (say, on New Year’s Eve). That said, I do see a LOT of women going bare legged even on the coldest -20 days!
Spring through fall however, no hosiery wins – I can’t wait to peel them and toss them come spring!
Before Catherine was an official royal she did not wear hose. She is not following royal protocall by wearing them. I’ve never worn nude hose in my life & never will but I DO like black opaque hose & wear them sometimes. I think Catherine is lovely but I think that if it were up to her she would NOT wear nude hose. I think she is simply trying to be a dutiful royal.
ok so i love pantyhose but if its summer and very hot i don’t wear them.i also have been out in the summer without hose and have froze in air conditioning ! one big point that hasn’t been mentioned is kate is thin….i’m thin and pantyhose are not uncomfortable! the reason i believe alot of Americans hate hose and dress overall poorly is that they are FAT ! if i was 50 lbs heavier i’d probably besweating and out of breath just trying to get then on !
We wrote about it too! It’s such a finished look and I wish more women – like our celebrities – would wear them! http://wp.me/p1BvaG-10
I am required to wear hose to work, so yeah…. I’ve never stopped wearing them. And you know, I never actually realized they were such a fashion controversy– I just figured that the rich & famous didn’t wear them because their legs look a lot better than mine.
Love your blog and just subscribed. I have just one suggestion – you need a “Home” link there at the top so it is easy to click back to the home page.
If you click on the name “WHAT KATE WORE” it will take you “home”.
I think hoses are a must in formal cerimonies , in you are wearing skirts – and especially miniskirts, as Kate often does. A member of the royal family , a politician, an executive, can’t go be seen showing too many inches of naked skin, not to mention toes. I think that kate bon ton style is doing great to remind us that there are circumstances where you must wear in an appropriate way.
Both Kate and her sister Pippa have worn pantyhose long before Kate was an HRH…I doubt she wore them solely due to “protocol”, however, it does lend a more professional look. Princess Diana went bare-legged frequently (when she was still an HRH), so I seriously doubt it’s the palace’s suggestion.
Take a look at some older photos of Kate and Pippa…they are regular pantyhose girls.
Why can’t we have a choice? I like the bare-leg look, but it’ simply not for me. I wear hose, and the past few years I’ve gotten grief from my friends because I simply don’t feel comfortable baring it all. I’d rather have some covering.
But the fashion industry have made those of us who choose feel like pariahs. Why? I you have great legs, feel comfortable going bare and spend the time with tanners and moisturizers, I say go for it!
Please stop judging those who choose not to do the same.
Thank you Kate for giving us the choice again. Hopefully…
I agree with you. I think hoses are to women what ties are to men: a basic garment in a formal outfit. Besides, industry today has given us very nice hoses, design hoses, which can give our mises an extratzing, so why not to wear them at all?
There is just NO WAY Kate is wearing those things because she WANTS to wear them. First of all, in Canada in July, wearing any kind of pantyhose at all is just masochistic– Canadian women never wear hose in the summer because it just far too HOT. Secondly, Kate is too stylish to choose to wear something so silly and seasonally inappropriate. She obviously HAS to wear them– they are part of some antiquated royal dress code, dreamed up by someone at Buckingham Palace who would probably prefer her to wear white gloves, too, if they could manage it.
It was, you are right, the topic of much discussion here in Canada– everyone felt sorry for her for having to wear them. But, in typical Kate style, she managed to look glamourous and to be gracious and, by some kind of enchanted fairy princess miracle, not look like she was MELTING in them, which she must absolutely have been.
I love that she was wearing the John Lewis ones– I think the 5 GBP price point speaks volumes: she is clearly saying, ” There is NO WAY I am paying more than 5 pounds for PANTYHOSE to wear in the SUMMER!”
I dare to disagree. Pantyhose or stockings are not at all “silly and inappropriate”, even in the summer. If one wears shoes without open toe and heels (which is a must at many ocassions) hose prevent the sweaty skin to stick on the shoe leather, which makes blisters and raws when walking. I would felt sorry for Kate if she had to walk without hose in those shoes in the summer.
I also disagree. She wore sheer tights because in the UK, as Grumblestiltskin says below, that’s what Nice Girls do.
I think Kate looks polished and pretty with the hose on, and probably would have looked strange, now that I think about it, appearing in representation of the royal family without them. Let’s just clear one thing up, though: to Americans, at least in my area (Southeast), tights and pantyhose are two COMPLETELY different things. Tights are thick and opaque, come in black or bold colors and are pretty much standard for cold weather almost anywhere. Pantyhose are sheer, and it’s this quality, along with the fact they they are tan, that screams “80′s power suit” to a lot of my friends. I, for one, have worn tan hose with dresses because I have a large scar on one knee that I like to hide, but I comparison shopped for weeks to find the most matte-looking ones I could absolutely find to avoid drawing attention to this fact, and it actually looks like Kate has gone this route as well. That’s why I believe these hose are palatable to everyone in spite of their “prejudices”; they lack the shiny tan-ness that made 80′s pantyhose look so silly.
It seems like everyone following this blog is aware that Americans refer to tights and hose as separate legwear and that in the UK the terminology is just tights. I too live in the South but much prefer how the English use opaque tights to refer to what Americans use the term tights to mean, and then refer to other tights in terms of their denier measure. I think it’s great that women from all over the world follow this blog and comment and that we get to open our minds to other terminology and other fashions.
The chic choice for the ever-elegant Kate is stockings, not dreadful pantyhose (which make you look and feel like a sausage). The underpinnings are beautiful and glamorous—lacy garters and silk hose are so refined and ladylike.
Somehow I get the feeling she is wearing them because of protocol and not because she has a “fondness”. I’ve never liked wearing them, but there are some times in the office/work functions (NYC) where I feel I’m pushing the boundaries by not wearing them. Perhaps if I was spending $30 a pair (!!!) I’d find them more enjoyable?
This makes interesting reading. Tights are perfectly normal here in the UK! I get through winter with my thick opaques and in summer wearing a suit to work without a pair of sheer tights looks nasty. Every girl in my office has a spare pair in her desk drawer and the vending machine in the toilets sell them. It’s just normal. Only rule is NOT with open toed shoes.
It’s not pantyhose in general that people are talking about, it’s NUDE COLORED pantyhose that has everyone up in arms. When it’s said she’s wearing NUDE PANTYHOSE it sounds like she’s wearing those knee highs you buy in dollar stores. Kate’s are not that weird orange-y colour. She appears to always wear the something Hanes used to call SAND (or something like that) which was really natural without being skin-toned and made your legs look beautiful. And that’s a great thing. Kate’s legs always look beautiful, don’t they? I highly recommend them!
I thought Kate looked sweet and very stylish.
For a young, fit, girl hose are a lovely accessory.
At the same time, pantihose are not the only option. Good old fashioned stockings and garters have a lot to be said for them. And, for gals in their thirties and better, never discount a nice firm girdle to hold them up.
We seem to have lost the art of lovely foundations. Which is too bad because, as you walk down the street, there are an awful lot of women who would look much, much better with various curves molded to better suit their outerwear.
Hi there! Been a bit under the weather lately so just catching up with your 2 sites! I say a big Ya to the pantyhose comeback. I just dont find bare feet in leather pumps to ever be comfy! Am I the only person whose feet rub and sweat? Kate is on her feet all the time. Pantyhose are probably a foot survival tactic .
I hope she does make the hose a-ok again!!
Lynn
The fact that the Duchess wore pantyhose during this tour I think made a very important statement for women today. She knew she “had’ to wear them – and she made the best of the situation and wore pairs that were sheer and comfortable. I belong to a few long-standing organisations and at evening events and board meetings, the ladies are required to wear hosiery, while the men are required to wear a suit jacket and tie. We take this in stride and purchase items that are fun but within the dress code. Wearing hosiery {or a suit and tie for that matter} is often criticised in Los Angeles. And our family prepares for the wrath when we attend events in “formal” or “business” attire. But as Cecil Beaton said, “The truly fashionable are beyond fashion.” And as we witnessed these past two weeks, Kate Middleton wears more than clothes – she wears the air of confidence!!
xx
Jennifer
I would never wear skirts or dresses again I had to wear pantyhose! I live in WA where they are not required or expected at all. But I do see why she wears them–she must at all times be well put together and modest!
It’s better for your feet and definitely better for your expensive leather shoes to wear hose
find the whole Katehosegate debate wierd! I think its a cultural thing. In the uk its normal for women of any age to wear tights to formal events. Young women tend to wear opaque ones more but they would nt be appropriate with Kate s social standing. No girl would wear those clothes formally bare legged if use had any kind of class. They would nt need grandma to tell them. Are we just more stuffy ? !
I didn’t realize until later into the Canada tour that she actually was wearing hose! They look so natural and very polished…not dowdy in the least. And by the way, love the blog!
I’d agree with Anon. It all depends on the occasion.
I have noticed, having worked on both continents, that in an office setting pantyhose are much more frequent in Europe than the US. But even for the office I would go on a case by case basis.
Things I’d wear pantyhose to:
Pencil Skirt
First Day at Office or Interview with Skirt Suit
Client Meetings (though I’ve done it without)
A rather formal evening event
When I missed a day or two of shaving my legs
Uncomfortable heels
At the office post age 40 (not set in stone, depends on your legs, could be earlier or later)
Occasions where I think it is fine to be without:
Family Party (even if it is a bit more formal)
Regular Day at the office in summer (after 10 hours of sitting, the waistband just cuts into my tummy so uncomfortably)
With Print Dresses and Open Toed Shoes (if you think the occasion is too formal to wear no pantyhose in your open toed shoes, its probably the open toed shoes that you should reconsider rather than the pantyhose)
When the occasion makes it appropriate to wear a dress without sleeves or straps and without coverup, I think pantyhose look out of place
Tights (completely opaque, in colors or black):
Everywhere after temperature drops below 18 celsius/ 60ies Fahrenheit (Never, do I wear sheer pantyhose when it is colder)
I am sure it is royal protocol to wear hose. Hose does serve a purpose sometimes–it can smooth out any lumpy areas (not that the duchess has any of those) and can keep your legs from getting sticky in hot and humid weather. Also, it keeps the inside of your shoes nice! Personally, I think long and hard before wearing hose, (but mostly that’s because I always get a runner) but always do with a skirt suit for business occasions.
In Britain we get foot hose – not sure of their correct name as I’ve never worn them. They’re made out of pantyhose material but just cover the toes and foot. Good for inside shoes as they don’t show. I know a lot of people who wear them in the summer.
In the US, those are called “peds”, it was a band name in the 1960s. I have worn stocking all my life, and thought panty hose were the best thing ever, the first time I put them on. I wouldn’t wear a girdle if you paid me, but panyhose are the bomb. Oh, and here in Maine, in the winter, you’d never go out with bare legs in the winter.
I love sheer hose. LOVE them. They’re ladylike and make everyone’s legs look better–even Kate’s already-perfect stems! I thought it was kind of embarrassing and gauche when Rita Wilson made such a big deal about being required to wear them to a royal event.
I’m sorry but I just don’t understand what’s wrong with tights.
Sure, I don’t like 20 denier sludge-coloured tights but the sheer and the thick (oh! so warm in winter) are and have always been part of my wardrobe. I think my legs look better in tights as I don’t tan very easily.
I flatly refuse to go bare-legged unless the temperature is so hot that tights are unfeasible; and I refuse to use fake tan. I think it looks…well…fake
I have seen her with and without hose, and for these events where they are touring and representing the Queen it seems appropriate to wear them. Plus your legs photograph well in them. I personally only wear the thick tights in winter, but I live in south Louisiana.
They called Diana, Princess of Wales, “modern” because she didn’t wear hose for her first tour in Australia. They call Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, “old-fashioned” because she wore hose for her first tour in North American. Since both women are considered stylish ladies then to wear or not to wear hose is really a personal preference.
For me, black tights (thicker than hose) are great in the winter to keep your legs warm when wearing dark suits with skirts. Colored tights are great in the fall to add a pop of color to neutral dresses. Nude hose are great for spring when you’re wearing white or pretty pastels. Summer generally means open-toed shoes (hello, pedicures!!) and hose with open-toes shoes screams “old lady” like socks with sandals screams “old man.” As a matter of fact, I don’t think Catherine wore hose with her open-toed sandals when she wore the Jenny Packham dress to the polo match in Santa Barbara. However, if the humidity is really wretched (and it was this summer when Catherine was here), then you ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO wear hose with closed-toe shoes or you’ll get total foot b.o. Oh, and my mom said, “A lady always wears shimmery, sheer hose to formal or evening events.”
They called Diana, Princess of Wales, “modern” because she didn’t wear hose for her first tour in Australia. They call Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, “old-fashioned” because she wore hose for her first tour in North American. Since both women are considered stylish ladies then to wear or not to wear hose is really a personal preference.
For me, black tights (thicker than hose) are great in the winter to keep your legs warm when wearing dark suits with skirts. Colored tights are great in the fall to add a pop of color to neutral dresses. Nude hose are great for spring when you’re wearing white or pretty neutrals. Summer generally means open-toed shoes (hello, pedicures!!) and hose with open-toes shoes screams “old lady” like socks with sandals screams “old man.” As a matter of fact, I don’t think Catherine wore hose with her open-toed sandals when she wore the Jenny Packham dress to the polo match in Santa Barbara. However, if the humidity is really wretched (and it was this summer when Catherine was here), then you ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO wear hose with closed-toe shoes or you’ll get total foot b.o. Oh, and my mom said, “A lady always wears shimmery, sheer hose to formal or evening events.”
I think it is interesting that the big controversy is over her hose and not her hats. Maybe Americans are more aware of the British love of hats. Has Catherine’s influence increased hat wearing in Great Britain?
Depends what you mean by ‘hat’
The sales of fascinators in the UK have gone up a lot – over 60 percent is a figure which comes to mind but don’t quote me on that.
You see them everywhere – even Marks and Spencer have them.
I’m not sure of the distinction between ‘hat’ and ‘fascinator’. Kate’s red head gear on Canada Day was described as a fascinator but looked more like a hat to me. And somewhere I read recently that a few feathers and comb do not a fascinator make.
Until recently, when I’ve seen a whole lot of headwear called “fascinators” – I always understood that a key part of a fascinator was that there had to be netting that covered the eyes or a portion of the face. Supposedy, to “fascinate” men.
But fashions change and names don’t, so I suppose it has a broader defnition now.
I live in PA, in winter I wear sheer pantyhose with skirts as it’s too cold to go with bare legs and I get sick of wearing long pants and hate wearing socks so something has to go under my high boots. I find colored tights disturbing to look at unless they are basic black. I used to wear hose year round as my office has air conditioning and they make my thighs look great
. However, the Hollywood trend that pantyhose are passe now has me going stocking free from April until late October. My hose aren’t uncomfortable at all, but it is nice not to have to shimmy them back up after using the ladies room, yet they shave a size off my lower half so I miss them when I don’t wear them. No one can ever tell I wear them so I don’t know what the big deal is if anyone wears them or not, either way you still see my leg. Who cares if you see skin or skin beneath a nylon/spandex mesh?
I wear them in the winter or on formal occasions or if I’m working in an office environment. I think for pretty much every occasion on this trip (except possibly the barbecue on day 1), the setting was formal enough to merit hose/stockings, so I don’t think there was anything wrong or “dated” about Kate wearing them. My legs look pretty good bare, but stockings do still finish things off nicely. In the winter I tend to wear opaque wool blend tights, maybe not as “polished” looking but really nice for keeping out the chill!
The poll should have included another category – wear hose when necessary but prefer to go barelegged.
SInce I live in a climate where it gets cold in the late fall, early spring and of course all winter, I have always worn hose. The summer, late spring and early fall are a time of the bare leg look. With peep toe shoes and sandals, hose wearing, to my mind, looks stupid.
Expensive sheer hosiery, such as the brands favored by the Duchess, are great but for the working woman on a budget, those are not very practical. Even the best nylons carefully taken care of have a short shelf life. Ill fitting panty hose, a meshy weave, and fake sun tan colors detract rather than enhance one’s appearance. Finally, wearing hose does not nor should not be an excuse for maintaining a well-groomed leg. Nothing looks worse than matted stubble or stubble sticking out through the stocking.
Wow!
When Mrs. Obama visited my country (Czech Republic, Europe) recently, everybody here was shocked that she DIDN‘T wear stockings. There is a different dress code here – ladies have to wear stockings at formal occasions.
Now I understand that Mrs. Obama wasn’t rude (as some people believed: by showing we are not important enough). She just followed the Western fashion!
Nobody has explained this to us, even if our media discussed this point heavily. Thank you for your explanation!
It’s not surprising to see people living in a colder climate saying that they are great for winter.
I live in a place where winter is often warmer than an English summer… and stockings or pantyhose or opaque tights are worn quite frequently here. When in the middle of a humid, hot summer, wearing your pantyhose with that pencil skirt for work is really quite beneficial for two reasons – they prevent your legs from chafing because they’re sweaty and rubbing against each other in constricting work clothes (ew) and they stop your feet from being so puffy and sweaty – preventing blisters and smelly shoes!
In addition to all this, having a tan pair of sheer hose on can help make your legs look summer-tan all year round, without having to worry about fake tan streaks at the back of your knees, and they hide any little scars you might have on your knees from childhood escapades.
Where I live (Czech Republic), pantyhose are required for formal events and work. Anytime there is a dresscode pantyhose are part of it. There is no way you could work in a bank without them or go to a job interview, college exam (oral) or even theater. I mean you could but it would definitely be a violation of dress code. I don’t really like them, I don’l like tights in general (the get really annoying especially in summer) but I wear them when I have to. I was allways surprised that in the US no one ever wears them and that you can go to formal events without them. I actually thought Kate doesn’t wear them and was really puzzled by that, because that’s something I would definitely expect from a royal.
I have DIM teint de soleil pantyhose…2 pack for $13 (Cdn)..sheer, soft, natural tone. Fortunately, I do not have to wear pantyhose that often…but it is nice to have ones that I like and feel good wearing!
I wear sheer stockings in the winter, and on chilly days in the fall and spring. I think they are a must, and your legs look incredible if you have the right shade that blends in. I also wear them for formal occasions in the summer. I think Kate is perfect proof of how well you can pull it off!
I think Catherine wears hose because it is a royal protocol; nevertheless, she wears it well.
I was wondering why nothing was noted about the bracelet the Duchess wore to the BAFTA event? It appeared to be a diamond type bracelet, very nice. But nothing on this site about it, and too bad we didn’t get a better look at the (Queen’s) earrings that she wore. Love the royal jewels!
http://www.dianasjewels.net/
This is a website you might like–I found it from this blog, but it has Kate’s jewelry on it. It is interesting, and should get better with time, as she wears more pieces.
Thanks! I’m all about the royal jewelery!
I love wearing pantyhose especially in Winter because I want to show off my legs but I want something to keep my legs a little warm.
It annoys me with all the articles that have popped up recently about Kate wearing pantyhose – she has been wearing them long before this tour!! They look great on her and if you want to wear them feel free!
I just heard Kate wears the Pretty Polly naturals “Secret Slimmer” tights, which would make sense, since these have the non-slip grip on the soles, just as was spied on Kate when she was wearing her lizard pumps last week.
I have noticed in several photos over the past few months what looked to be pantyhose. What I want to know is what brand is she wearing.
I’m Indian so I have quite a bit of melanin such that my legs don’t scare people. But if the occasion and dress requires it, I will wear pantyhose. But I have a hard time finding sheer pantyhose in the right color to match my skintone. It always ends up looking fake and obvious, quite unlike Kate’s.
I haven’t worn hose since 1997. Since then, in the winter I switched to wearing only long pants or long skirts with boots and tights (actual tights, not hose) to work (law firm). In the summer, I wear dresses and skirts to work, but I don’t wear hose anymore. I don’t really think it’s a big deal, but more of a personal choice. If you like them and want to wear them, then wear them. If you don’t like them, don’t wear them.
Well, I read somewhere that it wasn’t necessarily royal protocol but it’s a trend that’s has more popularity in the UK than in North America. I think Kate looks great hose or not. But it seems most appropriate as well for the events and engagements she now participates in!
I am happy if they come back. Bare legs are tacky except for with play/casual clothes. They make shoes more comfortable when it is hot and my feet puff up or get sweaty – fewer blisters! Now it is so hard to find hose except for colors in winter and tacky fake suntan.
I think many women never stopped wearing them (as your poll evidences). Top three reasons why I wear them:
1. The right kind of pantyhose ALWAYS make your legs look better, not to mention the ADDED benefit of control top that shapes and slims!
2. As an attorney, I wouldn’t be caught DEAD with bare legs at the office.
3. I live in Minnesota, and it’s COLD in the winter – but I still like to wear cute dresses and skirts when I go out! Pantyhose, even though they are sheer and thin, are still warmer than bare legs! (My best friend from LA thought I was crazy to wear them till she came to visit in January, then she jumped on the pantyhose bandwagon!)
I would also like to mention I am only 29, and I have very nice legs, but no one looks like Barbie – except with PANTYHOSE!
Frankly, I don’t unerstand the whole deal with hose.
I live in Poland, and though some people may think it’s the end of the world, it’s not as bad with us (at least in some things).
As for the hose, I wear them to formal occasions and when my look, dress and so on, simply will be better with than without them. Also when it is cool, cold, and I still want to wear dress.
So I don’t think we are going back into 80s. We should just use it according to occasion.
That’s all. That is what I do.
Love the look, can’t stand the feel. I will never willingly wear them again!
I have to say that I agree with you. I would rather wear pants for the rest of my life than ever having to wear hose again.
Am I the only one who calls them nylons? I’m from western Canada and that’s what they’re called here mostly.
I’m not surprised Kate wears them. They look right but feel terrible.
They can be so uncomfortable and I don’t have any reason to wear them. In summer I go bare legged with dresses or skirts. In winter I wear opaque tights or overknee socks with dresses or skirts. Last time I wore sheer nylons was probably my wedding over 20 years ago.
Poor Kate in the spotlight and can never yank at them as they slip down making you feel like you’re in kindergarden.
Gotta say – I hate pantyhose but LOVE this blog. Nicely done. Now I can stalk Kate Middleton’s clothes at my leisure.
were i come from, most women wear panty hoes because it is more proper to do so. its not so much as a fashion statement than it is a proper thing to do. its more consevative, and i like that.
I hope by Kate wearing them they suddenly come back into style! I agree they can look really dated but at 40 years old, having spider veins after going through two pregnancies, sporting at least one bruise on my shins at any given time from tripping over toys, I realize pantyhose are doing me more of a service than a disservice. So PLEASE Kate keep wearing them!!
My mom and I think Queenie makes her wear them!
Living in South Carolina, there is no way I would wear hose in the summer months unless to a very formal occasion.
I love your site and visit it every day.
having lived in the usa and the uk, i think that they uk does tights/stockings WAY better than the usa. i found nude stockings over there that were miles better than here. and there’s nothing better than their black tights. they come in all weights and patterns. love them and stock up on them when i am back there.
I think you’re right. I also think hose got a bad reputation back in the day when women wore colors so far from their natural skin tones that they looked like someone else’s legs. I haven’t worn hose since the 80s, but I love the way they look on Kate. She wouldn’t have looked nearly as polished without them (with one exception… the night she wore the Issa bird dress. Espadrilles are much too casual to go with hose.) Give us high quality, low denier hose in actual skin tones and I’d definitely wear them again.
I could hardly tell she was wearing them–the first time I noticed was with the blue dress she wore in California, and I think it was because the sheen of the dress highlighted the sheen of the tights. But for me it just comes down to the weather–if it’s winter and freezing and I want to wear a skirt, I wear them for warmth. During the summer, the thought of putting them on makes me nauseous! Personally I don’t see what the big deal is–she certainly doesn’t look like Blance Devereaux or anything!!
i had no idea either until she went “barelegged” in one post. the duchess could probably get away with wearing them in summer. she has like 1% body fat! needs something to keep her warm.
I applaud her for bringing respect back. They are appropriate for her role. Bare would have been very inappropriate imo. Especially when dressed up bare legs look like you forgot something.
Here in Canada I can’t imagine how you would go bare leg when it is -25 C or colder. Come on.
I go bare-legged….haven’t worn pantyhose since my Flight Attendant days! But I do hope Kate wearing them brings them back…..SO much better for the feet when wearing high heels (CLOSED toe only!)….they can prevent bunions!!
Having grown up in the 1980′s, however, they scream 80′s to me……
I don’t care what Anna Wintour et al decree. Bare legs are fine for the beach, but when you have a suit or nice dress on, you look much better with hose. And they add warmth in winter.
I think she looks fine in hose… And I think it’s appropriate for public appearances.
I’m 26, and I’ve been known to wear hosiery. In the cooler months, it’s a mandatory part of my office’s dress code. Plus, it’s a business “must have” for any woman going to an interview in a skirt suit. It’s totally unprofessional not to wear them.
Besides, control top is the best to smooth out the tummy/hips/thigh area when wearing something clingy (and isn’t nearly as horrific as that shapewear crap you can buy these days). And there’s something fun/sexy/naughty knowing I’m hiding a garter belt and thigh-highs under a prim and proper outfit.
Go Kate! Rock the hosiery!
I always wear them with a skirt to more ‘formal’ things.
For those of us who aren’t skinny like Kate, they help to smooth out all the lumps and bumps!
I don’t think they’re out of style if you wear the right color. If you are a pale person wearing a super tan color it screams 80′s! I almost always wear them if I’m wearing closed toe shoes and a skirt. It just smooths legs out and makes you look a little more put together. If you’re wearing the right color people don’t really notice that you’re wearing them, but they will notice your legs!
You need another category here — it really does depend on the occasion! Work, court, weddings, any function where my grandma will also be in attendance: yes hose. Out at night with friends in July just for fun (in Texas btw – regional preferences matter too): NO hose.
But I do think my legs look better with them on.
Hi Kristen, thank you for reading *and* commenting on the blog! You are absolutely right, we did need a category like that! I wish I had thought to do that.
I would love to see sheer pantyhose come back into fashion. Not all of us have tanned legs with perfect skin, and a little assistance in that department is welcome. Plus, stockings make an outfit look polished and complete. True, they’re not the most comfortable thing ever, but sometimes I think comfort is overrated, at least when you want to look dressed up and soignée. Anyway, I feel a lot more comfortable when I look good than when I’m worrying about people gawking at my pasty white legs.
I never knew she was wearing any! I think hers look great and will be wearing some the next time I wear a dress. (first I have to buy some though…)
I don’t see what all the fuss is about. Women, especially in UK and Ireland, wear these all the time. Its commonplace to have good quality, sheer natural tights. They provide a nice natural looking tan, along with a sheen and elongate the leg. Win win situation. They looked great on Kate. Anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded.
Ugh… she’s been wearing them for a long time and so has Pippa. They look so odd! Maybe it’s because I’m from Florida and no one would be caught dead in sheer hose, but they look really dated. I guess it is great to NOT be royalty, I never be able to pull those things on…
Of course not in Florida. She was visiting Canada where the weather is unpredictable. Still I think if she went to Florida she would still wear them. They polish her look.
I’ve always worn sheer stockings with skirt suits. I just think it looks sloppy and unprofessional not to.
I never really had a strong opinion about them one way or another – heck, I didn’t even know they were supposed to be old-fashioned – and I am Kate’s age, and have worn them once or twice for some occasions. Wear them if you want to, regardless of whether Kate has brought them back or not.
Someone in her position really has to wear them, and she sure does look great doing it, but there is no way in heeeeeeell you’ll catch me in ‘em!
She must have the world’s bet hose! I could hardly tell she was wearing them with that yellow Jenny Packam dress – especially with the view pictures that showed a lot of her leg.