This time of year, not a day goes by that I don’t get asked what hose to wear with a black co*cktail dress, so I decided it was time to update this post!
Eliza J Cascade Ruffle co*cktail Dress (option/option) // Kendra Scott earrings // crystal frame clutch
Let’s face it. This IS a conundrum if you live in a cold climate.When winter events demand semi-formal attire, most ladies opt for a co*cktail dress. But WHAT do you wear on your legs?
Some say that flesh-colored pantyhose are OUT. Others say they’re perfectly acceptable.Tights and booties are trending, but are they appropriate for a semi-formal event?Then what about the myriad of colored and textured hose?
Bare legs are the easy route. At any other time of year, that works okay, but when the temps arebelow freezing and your legs haven’t seen sunshine in months? Notsomuch.
Are pantyhose in style in 2022?
T.Tahari Tonya Pleated Sleeveless Sheath // Sam Edelman Beth Pumps // Kendra Scott earrings // Spanx Nude Fishnet Tights
Pantyhose are neither in style or out of style right now, but they are alwaysappropriate for a semi-formal event when it’s cold outside.
Over the years, this topic has been discussed ad nauseam here on the blog and in our JLS Insiders Facebook Group, and I’ve learned that opinions on this matter vary greatly by region.
Many women in the southern United States and on the west coast say they would rather be caught dead than be seen in nude pantyhose. They consider them frumpy and dated.
But those of us who live in the northeast or midwestern states are more likely to wear some type of hosiery in the wintertime. It gets downright cold here, and by the time the holidays roll around, most of our legs haven’t seen the light of day in months.
So what type of hosiery looks the most current, and what are “the rules” as far as color and type of shoe? Let’s discuss!
Should I Wear Hose With A Black co*cktail Dress?
It depends. When deciding what hose to wear with a black co*cktail dress… or any co*cktail dress, really… you have three options:
#1. Go without.
Eliza J Cascade Ruffle co*cktail Dress (option/option) // Stuart Weitzman sandals (similar)// crystal clutch
If you don’t care for pantyhose and you’re comfortable going without, that’s perfectly fine for all but the most conservative of semi-formal events. (If it’s a business event, you may want to ask around and see what the other women are going to wear to be sure you look appropriate.)
I wore the outfit above to a black tie optional October wedding, and I opted for bare legs because I wanted to wear strappy sandals. Which brings me to my next point…
When going without hosiery, your shoe choices are virtually limitless.
Strappy sandals are acceptable with co*cktail attire, even in the winter, as long as you’re comfortable exposing your feet. Just be sure to make time for a pedicure, and if you wear nail polish, it shouldn’t be chipped or wearing off.
A closed toe pump or a slingback is also perfectly fine with bare legs as long, as they match the formality of your dress.
If you’re self-conscious about the appearance of your legs, self tanning productshave come a long way! Clarins has long been my favorite, but there are many other options available, including Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs. I’ve never tried it, but some women swear by it.
#2. Wear pantyhose that match the color of your skin.
(These hose are darker than they look here; I think the lighting is making them look lighter than they are.)
Spanx Nude Fishnet Tights //dress (option/option) // earrings // clutch // pumps
Nude hose have come a long way since they came in plastic eggs. There are lots of good options these days that look very natural.
If you can swing it, I highly recommend the Wolford Individual 10 Sheer Tights (or the control top version) because they are beautiful and look so natural. They also come in a variety of colors to match most skin tones. Yes, they’re spendy, but they’ll last you a long time if you take good care of them.
The Falke Invisible Deluxe Control Top Tights are also really nice, or a more wallet-friendly option is the Calvin Klein Ultra Bare Infinite Sheer Control Top Tights.
Another option is the Spanx Micro Fishnet in Nude, which is what I’m wearing here. Fishnet adds a subtle texture to the look and doesn’t carry the baggage of potentially looking frumpy that plain nude pantyhose do. Commando has a great version of these as well.
Spanx Nude Fishnet Tights // Schutz Pearl Pumps
As for shoes,I’m old school on this one. For a semi-formal event, I only wear closed toe shoes with nude hose, but you have a lot of color choices. Black works, of course, but you can also go with shoes in a fun color such as burgundy or green, or a metallic like gold or silver.
Again, just be sure the style of the shoe aligns with the formality of the dress.
Before I the Schutz Pearl Pumps arrived, I took pictures of this dress with suede block heel pumps. While they’re great shoes with work wear or dressy casual attire, they aren’t dressy enough for this co*cktail dress.
Marc Fisher Zala Pumps (great shoes, but not dressy enough for this outfit)
If you don’t want to go with bare legs, and you’re not a fan of nude hose, you do have one more option…
#3. Wear sheer black hose.
Falke Invisible Deluxe Control Top Tights // dress (option/option) // earrings // clutch // pumps
If you choose to wear black hose, I would be sure they are verrrry sheer. Last week, I took pictures of this outfit with the Wolford Individual 10 Sheer Tights and Marc Fisher Zala Pumps, but they were both too heavy for this dress.
So today, I just took some new pictures with the Falke Invisible Deluxe Control Top Tights in black and the Schutz Pearl Pumps. and it looks so much better!
It significantly elevates the look to wear ultra sheer black hose, and the shoes are a big improvement, as well.
And with black hose, I generally stick with black shoes. If the dress wasn’t so conservative, you could potentially do a bright red or a metallic, but I think black hose and tights look best with black shoes.
As you can see, there are lots of options for hosiery with a co*cktail dress. The most important thing is that YOU feel comfortable with your choice, because if you don’t feel confident, you won’t have a good time.
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