Does Panty Hose Matter to Employers?

What kind of corporate garbage is this? I am fed up with protocol that now includes appropriate thought about a male designed ‘look’ that does nothing for female health. Stop keeping Women under “Japanese style foot binding principles’. I am in my fifties and so relieved that there is a movement away from unhealthy and imposed dress codes.

As a Federal worker, I’m not a big fan of wearing the business suit with no hose. There are dresses that are casual enough to not wear hose, which are fine if you have no obligations outside the office, but hose make a business suit look more professional. I wear them because I know I need to. My legs are white and have some scars from falling when I was young. I’m also more comfortable in them than not. Sometimes I wish others would feel that way when they look in the mirror. Panty hose also are a good way to hide those panty lines or make a tighter skirt look smoother.

I worked for a company that had (now don’t smirk) a no laughing rule in the hallways and a “sock” patrol. No rule in panty hose but all shoe wearers must wear socks. As the HR generalist I was assigned “sock” patrol. Of course when HR managment was gone for the day the joke in the office was that someone would in a very loud voice announce “laughter or sock” patrol on the prowl.

What ever is needed for a polished look (translates) professional. If meeting the public, representing the company, the company may require footwear/leg cover in my opinion.

In these economic times though, my thoughts are how about using time,energy and talents for more important things like staying afloat. keeping your people productive and happy (is that an oxymoron) and being aware of the mood of your external and internal customers. Socks no socks, leggings, stockings-personal choice.

Done in good taste (again whose version of good taste) does it matter????

Professional dress isn’t dictated by what happens on the red carpet, and this is where the trend of not wearing pantihose began.

Frankly, very few women can pull off the “no nylons” look in that unless they tan regularly, the color of most women’s legs resemble that of the underside of a deceased fish. Additionally, the nylons cover, disguise, or minimize uneven skin tone, dry skin, patchy skin, large pores, vericose veins, spider veins, nicks and cuts from shaving, missed hairs when shaving, etc. The nylons complement the professional look.

I feel wearing hose with either slacks or a skirt finishes the way I look. That is for me. In summer when I wear sandles to work with slacks, I don’t wear hose. I do feel it finishes off the look and yes it looks more professional.

Here is another way to look at the subject matter: If you paint a beautiful portrait of someone, would you just leave the portrait up against the wall, or would you shop for the best frame and matting for the portrait & then hang the portrait on the wall? Same thing for dressing for success on the job….the hoisery just finishes the picture. I agree with MJ & Carol in their comments about hoisery. Also….no hoisery in those cold winter months…really? Also….from a health point of view, some women need & should wear support hoisery for better circulation in their legs. Yes, there is a time & place for no hoisery, ex: hot-humid weather & if the employer has a more relaxed summer role for sandles & no hoisery.

The one major area you have overlooked is how attractive the perosn’s legs are.
I see many women with very nice looking legs, soft nicely cared for skin and feet ans a nice skirt length.
Too often i see scaley rough skin, with spots and
skin that is not cared for with rough brow looking knees.
Please don’t assume because it is allowed,everyone looks attractive and they have gone to teh extra mile of taking care of their skin. Whe an older women comes to a meeting with a shorter skirt, folds crosses her legs and reveals old scaled skin, brown knees ans adn celulite on their legs the image presented does nothing for their professional image but detract from it adn put her judgement in question. Why would a woman in a posititon of authority undermine herself with such a distraction.
It truly is not a gender thing but a comon sense things –
just like a man that has hair coming out of his nose and ears, don’t do it because you can.

Early in my work life, I found that I itched and got sweaty wearing panty hose. Since them, I almost never wear them. Not everyone can wear them and no one should be forced to either. If one is professionally dressed, no one notices the lack of stockinged legs (panty hose or not); if you wear them and you are not professionally dressed, no one notices them. Its not about the panty hose.

I feel I must comment again about itchy hoisery & uncomfortable issues with hoisery. I once had an individual tell me that she could not wear panty hose to work because of some allergic problems. We compromised….”Thigh High” hoisery worked well. When she wore those longer, more casual skirts, she wore ‘knee highs’ & they worked quite well for her, so much so that other employees copied the idea & it was a hit! Where there is a will, there is a way.

If men had to wear pantyhose and heels to work, it would have been abolished years ago.

I once worked for a company who’s only dress code was that pantyhose/stocking must be worn with open toed shoes.

I believe it really depends on the type of business you are in and what type of environment it is.

I do believe that when interviewing, regardless of the type of job or the environment, panty hose are a must unless you are wearing a pant suit and closed toe shoes that will let you get away with it. When interviewing, you should dress to the utmost to show the company that you can look ultra-professional, even if your day-to-day doesn’t require it. An interview is not just the position you are interviewing for but subsequent positions you may work. A good HR person will envision their interviewee in other positions and/or capacities and showing up in less than a suit or a very professional dress can damage your marketability.

My feeling is that you should always err on the side of being over-dressed for an interview, which to me means covering your legs either with hose or pants. Bare legs at anytime of year are not appropriate for an interview. Once you are hired then wear whatever as long as its according to the dress code. Living in the Northeast I don’t see how you can go bare legged all year but I definitely feel that nylon should be illegal after 80 degrees.

I really believe that few women can get away with a “hose-less” look. Unless abundant time is spent in tanning salons, pedicures done on a weekly basis and one is not in a sundress, then wear the hose! I have teenage girls and I work with teenagers and even they know that there are times when pantihose, thighhose or even knee-hi’s finish off the look.

I went to a bridal shower several months ago and the bride-to-be was in a couture, very dressy dress outfit and when I looked down, her legs were as white as her high heels. Fortunately, the heels weren’t as splotchy as the legs. Needless to say, the look was ruined.

In an interview, yes, I would notice whether or not pantihose were worn. If she qualified for the job, she would get the job despite her lack of fashion-sense.

My wife and I were both Army officers. My wife enjoyed the days she was able to wear her “Class A” uniform (jacket and skirt / pants) and our evenings in formal attire. Our assignments included 10 years in Europe,living in Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands. We also traveled to most of the other western europe countries. Throughout europe, there was a definite age break in what women wore to work. Older than 30 and pantyhose was the style. Younger, and bare feet were the norm.

Pantyhose just give a more finished look to business attire. If a woman has smooth, nice looking legs then by all means wear those light summery outfits sans hose, but if you are a bit lumpy, have varicose veins, and legs that are woefully pale, wear the pantyhose. I just can’t imagine wearing anything other than sandals without hosery between me and the shoe.

I am 35 years old and live in South Carolina. I definitely do not know of anyone that still wears hose, not even my mom. People should dress appropriately period. If you have bad skin, varicose veins, unkempt feet…no one wants to see them even under hose, wear pants or long skirts! Having stark white skin paired with suntan colored hoes is just about the tackiest and most unprofessional look that there is. And don’t tell me that you can’t see varicose veins and heels that need a sandblaster through hoes. I would be interested to see a regional breakdown on the poll….Southeast, Northeast, Northwest, etc…I think there would be a big difference between regions.

I live and work in southwest Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. Not only do most women wear sandals and no pantyhose, it has become increasingly difficult to find them in stores. JC Penney used to have a whole hosiery department; now they have one small display.

I personally think that dress clothes and shoes without pantyhose is a very unprofessional and unfinished look.

coming from a consumer i DO notice how the people whom i am going to hand my hard earned money to are dressed,,i am also a people watcher,,only 1% of the female population have the legs to pull off the “bare leg” look,,and it surely does NOT belong in a profesional setting,,
have you been out in public lately?? women have just gotten lazy in how they look to the outside world in my oppinion,,, wearing their pajamas to the stores while shoping for milk,,and fliflops belong on the beach ONLY,,,
theres a reason why the rest of the world still wears something on their legs,,its becasue they CARE about how they look,,,
and dont give me the excuse that its to hot for pantyhose,,do you work in an air conditioned building??? then its not to hot for sheer tights as they are now calling them,,,
isnt it amazing at how this little piece of material has caused such a major uproar in just American society????in the rest of the world its not even given a second thought,,women just wear pantyhose/tights because its just how it is,,and you look better in them…
Wearing pantyhose completes an outfit and brings life and elegance to bare skin…..
and by the way,,i AM male and i DO wear pantyhose and heels everyday,,,i only wish i had a job that would let me wear them to work,,as walking around in heels HELPS my lower back to not hurt me and heels do make ones legs look shapelier,,why you ask?? well i just dont think its fair that only women get to wear the fun clothes,,,
its the 21st century folks,,time to crawl out of the caves,,,

I am 32 and I do not wear panty hose. I do, however, wear knee-high hose/socks or trouser socks with skirts and most pants. I find that it finishes the professional look. I also find that when I look the part, it’s easier to act the part. I “feel” more professional when I look professional. If I wore shorter skirts I would most likely feel the need to buy a pair or two of panty hose. However I prefer longer skirts for work.

I don’t wear pantyhose, ever. It is impossible for me to find a pair that will fit without spending way more money than I can afford. They are uncomfortable and do not help disguise panty lines unless they are super thick.

Bottom line: If a job interviewer is going to pass me over because I won’t wear pantyhose, I wouldn’t want to work there anyway.

I am employed in a small, fast paced industrial business as the part time HR manager and production manager. When I’m driving a fork lift, hauling boxes or greasing a lathe, I wear Carhartts. If I’m called to met a sales prospect or to deal with a management issue, I change into blouse,skirt and pantyhose. This metamorphosis has nothing to do with company rules (we don’t have the luxury of sparing the time to make any) or bondage slavery to the tastes of the male; My bare legs simply look awful, like most women after the age of 35.
I don’t feel oppressed or subjugated by male dominated rules. I just need to know when the client is discussing contract terms, she is not critiquing the pair of white spindly sticks below my hem line.
I do wish working women would get off their soapboxes and consider their identies: women first, workers second.
And if you are going to stand that high, wear some stockings! Dang!

@ Carol:

I agree that nylons create a more polished and professional look, but as a very fair-skinned woman, I disagree that ONLY women who tan regularly should go without hose. First of all, with a family history of skin cancer, I know the dangers of UV rays. Secondly, self-tanner just looks unnatural on me. It frustrates and disappoints me that some people in our society still expect others to conform to society’s ideas of beauty, or cover up! My red hair and fair skin is beautiful, and we as a society need to stop preaching that only tall, thin, and tan is beautiful. This country is a melting pot, and beauty comes in all forms!

That said, I am 25 and know that wearing hose is sometimes necessary. Not because of my genetics, but to compliment thin fabrics and to minimize panty lines, both of which can be distracting, and to create a more polished and “covered up” look. The same goes for wearing a slip under certain dresses and skirts. There are many young women of my generation who skip the hose and slip, and while may be considered “sexy,” it is inappropriate for the office and can be distracting and disruptive. Proper, appropriate undergarments should be worn by both men and women at all times; unfortunately some of my generation does not follow this rule. On the other hand, I don’t think it’s anyone’s place, much less my employer’s, to tell me what undergarments I should be wearing!

Pantyhose may look more “finished” than bare legs, with a dress or skirt-suit; on the other hand, they’re uncomfortable for most women, and (given how often they run/tear/wear out) a significant expense for anybody not bringing home an executive-level paycheck.

To those who say women with un-tanned legs, or cellulite, or whatever look ugly or less professional, or (God help us all) “undermine their authority”–please consider: would you say the same of a man you found cosmetically unappealing? Doubtful; except in cases of really gross personal hygiene, men’s job performance is judged by what they do rather than by their appearance. That’s the standard that should apply to everyone, no matter what the beholder’s aesthetic sense requires.

I am a man and I offer an opinion. I have been employed in upper management where everyone is supposed to follow some rule of appearance. I don’t ever recall paying attention to whether a woman had panty hose on but I have always noticed how neat an professional she looked. The person who said “job performance is judged by what they do rather than by their appearance” is wrong. If a prospective employee is invited to a dinner with the CEO and he eats and sounds like a pig, he has destroyed his chances. By the same token, if a woman looks sloppy in a professionl position it isn’t good. You women know what looks high quality. I think even a young lady working in the mail room who looks neat and attractive gets much more respect than one who looks like a slob. Men are too fond of wearing a dress shirt and tie all day long either but it does look nice. When you reach a point that you dress sloppy because you need to demonstrate your independence, that’s a shame. YOU know if panty hose are appropriate to looking nice and if that’s the case, WEAR THEM!

I was in the banking industry for a time, and the dress code was very specific for both men and women, and did require women to wear hose, whether they were in slacks or skirts. I was 23 when I began working in banking, and I hated hose. I had a severe allergic reaction to it after wearing it every day for several months and was still required to wear it even after I was told my allergy was to the hose itself. While I do feel that it is well within a company’s best interests to require that employees dress in a professional manner, I do not feel that it is appropriate for a company to regulate the undergarments a woman chooses to wear. If she can’t wear hose for some reason, then so be it, compromise and only wear pants, or something. It was outrageous to be expected to wear something that caused a medical reaction for the sake of “professionality”.

Are you serious? This was settled quite some time ago. Pantyhose went the way of the dinosaur. MUCH older women or those who can’t/won’t change their ways still wear pantyhose. – and believe me, our HR notes those who can’t adapt. We don’t hire those who wear pantyhose because it marks them as inflexible. I’m 50 and haven’t worn pantyhose in over 5 years. If you, personally, can’t adapt, at least stop trying to hold the rest of the world to your terms.

Cynthia, are you serious that you don’t hire women who wear pantyhose because that means they are inflexible? That’s a sad commentary on your HR department. Even if she’s carrying a iPhone or has on a new fashion trend? Not all women wear them because of some old-fashioned dress requirement. Many people have already commented on cosmetic reasons why women wear them. It’s sad that your company has made this insignificant item of apparel a liability.

in 2007 our bank finally did away with the ‘hose’ policy for women; not because of some pending discrimination suit, but because the execs. decided it was time to get with the times. surprisingly, most women still wore them to work. being under 40 myself, i only own one pair and take them out only when the weather turns chilly. i don’t feel ‘old’ when i wear them to work, and i certainly don’t feel ‘under-dressed’ when i don’t! hooray for freedom of choice!!!

The bank I work at still has that panty hose is required for our dress code. I don’t wear it. I am a young professional and there is nothing wrong with my legs (spider veins, dry skin, etc.) If I have a giant bruise on my leg, or haven’t shaved in a while, I know better than to wear a skirt. The dress code doesn’t tell men what kind of underwear they have to wear… it’s practicly the same thing. Panty hose is most impracticle garment ever made. It is near impossible not to get a “run” by the end of the day on a new pair.

I wrote earlier but I have to comment again. For all you ladies I need to tell you that most men think women are the most beautiful thing God created and they enjoy admiring them and that happens to be one of the reasons for my comments. Women need to take pride in their feminine appearance if they care what people think. If you don’t care what people think, and I’m sure a lot of women don’t, then so be it. If I see a woman who takes care to look good I appreciate it. If you want to come to work in a skirt, open toed shoes and you have unhappy looking legs and feet then that would be your choice but don’t expect people to admire you. I don’t know how much difference panty hose makes in your particular appearance but you know. Perhaps management should demand that women dress attractive and professionally rather than tell them exactly what they have to wear. If a man demands that he isn’t going to wear a dress shirt and tie in a responsible and professional position, he isn’t going to make it. He can crow about his independent viewpoint all he likes but he won’t sway the general opinion.

And the lady that said the dress code doesn’t tell men what kind of underwear they have to wear doesn’t acknowledge that men’s “underwear” (unlike pantyhose) isn’t part of their visible dress.

Come on ladies! If you look nicer with panyhose on then wear them.

The dress code doesn’t tell men what kind of underwear they have to wear…

so now its about how nice a woman’s legs are that decides if they wear panty hose or not?

The main point of dress codes at work is to look professional, not pretty, beautiful, etc. While yes men enjoy looking at nice looking women, same goes for the reverse.

will we ask men with poor face shapes and jaw lines to grow out facial hair to make it better for the women?

I have to chime in here. I am a business owner. I require my staff members to dress in a semi casual/professional manner.

On an interview if a woman is NOT wearing hosiery with a skirt/suit, then she is not serious about her appearance.

I will have it noted in the employee manual that if you wear a skirt, hosiery is required. If you wear dress slacks with heels/open toe or not, you have a choice of hosiery or trouser socks. Men don’t wear slacks and shoes without socks and neither will you.

If you say, “You have a “problem” with hosiery or you outright “don’t wear” hosiery, then it was nice meeting you, have a nice day.

When someone cares about their appearance, then they care about what they do and who they represent.

If you’re that lazy, or just don’t care how you dress, find a job where you can get away with flip flops and pajama pants.

To add, I hate shaving. It’s time consuming. Sometimes I nick my face/neck. But… I shave because it finishes off my appearance. I don’t know too many people that like a grizzly look on a business professional.

Just like hosiery on a woman. It finishes the appearance.

Well put AD !

I once worked with a woman who had a doctor’s note that said she could not wear pantyhose (some women are susceptible to vaginal infections) so she went barelegged. She did have nice legs.

Another woman I knew wore long skirts to make it less obvious that she wasn’t wearing hose.
I wore skirts and pantyhose during my school years but my profession allows me to wear trousers/suits so I don’t have to worry about my legs.
For those that advocate bare legs, what would you say about women who don’t shave their legs? Do they have the same right/privilege to go without hose?

My girlfriend is a Senior VP in a major bank and never wears panty hose or any type of stockings with her shoes. In the winter she wears boots. This has not impeded her career in any way – she always dresses very professional. As women from her generation (she is 38) achieve senior positions, this requirement for hose will fade away completely.

We are, as we all know, in one of the worst economic downturns in history.

Was it caused by women wearing/not wearing hose in the workplace?

Come on, let’s try and find our long lost sense of perspective.

I do not consider myself inflexible because I wear panty hose in professional settings. I think it looks more polished, it also makes my suits and dresses look and fit better.

I buy the more expensive panty hose, $9.00 per pair. They do not wear out, run or snag like the cheap kind. I buy six pair at a time (usually when they are on sale) and rotate them. I wash each pair by hand when I wear them. Believe it or not, I have panty hose that are more than a year old without a single run or snag in them. I probably pay less money for my hose than others who buy the cheap kind that run the first time they wear them. Another added benefit to buying the more expensive hose is they are more comfortable than the cheaply made nylons.

In a casual setting I will go bare legged, but for work, I will always wear hose. Whether you have good legs or not, you should consider your appearance when you are representing the company you work for.

And for the record… I have fantastic legs and could easily pull of no-stocking, but I choose look professional.

I agree with Don. Also, when I am interviewing, if a candidate is not concerned with their appearence (Suit and Tie for Men, professional dress/pants suit with HOSE, not socks and certainly not bare for women) they get a pass from me…especially during tough economic times. I also don’t like it when certain organizations where certain organizations require men to wear a shirt and tie, but women can wear just about anything. I do not consume their services as I feel it is DOUBLE STANDARD.

I think the question is about what constitutes professional dress on a woman. This varies from region to region and from company to company; however, there are some universal standards: flip-flops, miniskirts, pajama pants, etc. will not be considered professional in any setting. Nice, open-toed heels are acceptable in some professional settings, but not in others. Pantyhose, fashion-wise, went out of style a long time ago. And although the professional world is not beholden to the whims of the runway, I think it’s about time it caught up to the rest of the world in terms of hosiery.

If a woman feels better wearing hose, there’s nothing wrong with that. However, a woman can still look professional and put-together without them. Because it’s currently a contentious subject, it’s unfortunate that the presence or lack of hosiery on an interviewee can make or break whether or not she is hired, regardless of the rest of her appearance.

Hello I’M a male age 41, name is Michael from Macomb, MI. I started to wear women’s & men’s hosiery at 18 I think you look more dressed up in a nice sheer knee hi or full hosiery.. now you are asking your self pantyhose during the summer no from fall to summer then I war a knee hi’s. in sheer tan or black or pattern with all my pants dress or jeans….

I feel it should be left to the individual concerned to wear it or not as Panty Hose is treated (mostly) as undergarments. You can’t prescribe the dress code for undergarments.