Hose or No Hose

Ladies the question of the day is hose or no hose. There were comments from fashion editors that we were now legitimately free to go hoseless because the First Lady abhors them and does not bother with pesky pantyhose. They may be pesky but they serve a purpose. I for one think you are not really completely dressed if you do not have on hose.

Of course there are exceptions. If you are wearing a sundress, shorts, capri pants, or any type of pants then you can get away with foregoing the hose. But, if you are not wearing sandals, you really should at least wear peds or trouser socks. They will protect the lining of your shoes and make them wear longer.

I am a proponent of pantyhose (or hose in general) as they really can become a fashion statement. They are no more uncomfortable than leggings. which happen to be footless pantyhose made out of an opaque fabric. I hear young women talking about how constricting they are. Well buy the correct size and don't get control tops unless there is a reason. And if you want to talk constricting, I grew up in an era where girdles were a required undergarment. I think that is why I love Spanx!

Let's face it ladies. We all want that smooth nothing is moving under my outfit look. The way to get that look from the waist down is with pantyhose. They pull it all in and hold it all together. If you need more control in your midriff then a long line bra, bustiers or high-rise Spanx are the answer. If you are looking for more definition in your waist and don't have the months of work at the gym it would require (because you are wearing the dress tomorrow) then get a waist cincher.

"Wait a minute" you are now saying "I thought we were talking about pantyhose". We are. We are talking about them in a category that you generally don't put them in. Foundation garments generally don't include pantyhose. However when you get to 'support hose', 'light control', 'control top', 'girdle top' honey that is the base of a foundation garment.

Foundation garments are designed to give that dress, blouse, skirt or pants the right fit and drape on the body. The wrong bra with the wrong blouse is a sure fire recipe for disaster. And again, the failure to wear pantyhose (or at least Spanx) can have you walking down the street with a very unattractive 'rear view'. Jiggling is not attractive and if the dress is somewhat formfitting, it can approximate the look of two piglets (or puppies) fighting under a blanket. What an image to leave with the people behind you.

As for the pure discussion on pantyhose, yes or no, the answer is yes. Please finish your look. Please save your shoes. Please look pulled in and polished. That said, I would ask that you not commit any hose felonies. No black hose in the summer unless they are ultrasheers and are working with that little black dress. No over-the-top fishnets or patterns for daytime wear (it just looks like you didn't get home from the club in time to change everything before you had to go to work). If you live in a cooler climate you can wear tights that are opaque but if you are in the tropics, I'd leave those until late fall.

Sorry Mrs. Obama. I would like to see you in hose. I am old school. I think it is a much more polished and finished look. Also, those $900 Louboutin's in my closet will never feel my bare foot in them (nor will my $695 Kookai boots). No worries both were on sale. Seventy percent off of the Louboutin's and 50 percent off of the boots. Both at Le Bon Marche and both declared on my custom's forms.

a la prochaine

Debra