I do for occasions and in winter. I played with the boys a lot as akid andmy shins bear the signs!

I am on the hunt for very sheer very light ones like Kate's. My legs have some scars from a long ago car accident and they need a little help.

I noticed that Dillard's did away with a few more counters of hosiery recently. I haven't worn them for years, hope that if they come back it's just for winter.

I have always worn sheer panty hose. My legs are very white and bruise easily. I don't want to take the trouble to put on a nice dress and have my legs look like crap.

5 years ago, for my son's wedding, I wore Donna Karan The Nudes hosiery. They are very sheer and available in a variety of shades. I found them at Nordstrom's. The pair I have are toeless, so you can wear an open toe shoe, but still have the flawless look on your legs.

No, only in winter. From this point on, it's bare legs.

I'm getting old, so I think bare legs look unfinished and knobby kneed, no matter how long and lean and young and lovely and spray-tanned. For my dtr's wedding last summer I wore very sheer thigh high stockings. They are certainly easier to put on, no struggling in the bathroom, and they stayed up all day and night, no sagging at All. They're terrific! But If they weren't available, I'd still wear pantyhose, and I have very good legs even if I am 70!

I think it can depend on when and what type of dress. A very flowing (forgiving) summery dress, maybe. A more form fitting formal type dress would need some help.

Side story: I am so out of practice with pantyhose that I have to make sure I have a few pairs. I usually immediately put a run in the first pair.

Very seldom. It's too hot in the south to wear them in summer. In winter I will wear tights and sometimes dark hose if I need to or very rarely nude pantyhose with pumps.

I rarely wear pantyhose (only for work meetings and in the winter at times) but the most flattering and natural nudes are from Donna Karan. I buy them at Nordstrom.

Thanks everyone.

I read that one of the brands Duchess Kate wears is Wolford which I think can be found at some websites in the US.

Wolford Hosiery

It fascinates me that this continues on trend. It is a horrid look for anything but the most casual skirts. If the point of a dress is to show off your legs--ladies I suggest hose. Sitting at a Grand March watching the young and perfect parade by--the ones with hose on looked 10,000 times better!!! No hose is not a look worth emulating!!!

I think it is a reaction to the horror that is cheap pantyhose. Saggy ugly Trumpian fake tan orange mess sold in an egg. Those are hideous.

I used to have a Wolford near my office. Years ago, I spent $55 there on one pair of pantyhose. Yikes.

I think bare legs look better if your legs are toned and at least a bit tanned, and on most young people.

I so rarely wear skirts or dresses any more, but if I do, it would depend on the temp and the length of the dress. If it shows my knees, definitely need hose. But if it's a longer casual cotton summer dress....which feels like you're wearing PJs in public! ... then definitely no hose. Also depends on the shoes. If I'm wearing thongs, then obviously not.

With the toeless hose, just be sure the hose matches your skin tone really closely. Nothing natural looking about having toes a different color from the rest of your leg.

I had to check out the Wolford site. Those $55 pantyhose are now $57, Mtn.

I enjoyed reading the description; it seems different from the way they'd be described in the US, and we can see why Kate favors them.

"Supports and invigorates: These matt, semi-sheer tights offer perfect
support for the legs with areas of pressure that are geared perfectly
towards the anatomy. The panty section, with sewn-in compression at the
front, shape the stomach area. Elaborate details such as the slim,
integrated reinforced heel and no elastane in the toe area ensure
all-round perfect comfort.

• Strong support
• Wide, comfortable knitted waistband
• Cotton gusset
• Particularly impressive for people on their feet for long periods."

Except for heat, I really don't understand what the objection to stockings or pantyhose is. Even heat is a stretch for me, I guess because I've never experienced my legs being that hot. If it's that hot, and you're dressed up and wearing a suit or dress, no stockings, don't your bare feet sweat and stink sliding around in your shoes? Stockings make it worse?

I still wear makeup, jewelry, and fuss with my hair when I get dressed, and if I'm really fussing to look good, I wear thigh-high sheer stockings when I get dressed up. I'm unfinished without them. Why fuss with the top of myself, only to look like I forgot my stockings, or couldn't be bothered putting them on?

And, frankly, bare feet in sandals with a gorgeous dress, even on the red carpet, looks, well, I won't go on......but I'd love to!

Sheesh, I'd love to know what brand of thigh hi stockings you wore. I'm looking into stockings/pantyhose for son's June wedding.

Year ago, we wore panty hose no matter what (60's-70's and probably even into the 80's, I can't recall). My feet slid around more in shoes with panty hose more than they did without. And I find that if I use a good foot cream, they don't get that sweaty in a good shoe. It's more about the look of the leg and overall look.

Marcia, I'll look a little later, see if the brand is on the elastic. I know I bought two pair at Macy's in case I got a run, which I didn't. (And I wore a one-piece "foundation," too. My goodness, what a difference from the old days. Even it was comfortable. In July!)

I've got a wedding in June. Most dresses this year are cut short (at least for me) and trying to find something mid-length has been difficult. If I go with a dress, I definitely want to wear hose - I'm just not comfortable w/o.

I'd spend $57 on Wolford's if they're worth it. Will also check DK natural nudes.

Just wondering - do you always wear dresses to an occasion like a wedding or ever opt for dressy pants?

My own Opinion is that I prefer pant suits for myself, but I do have two dresses to wear out at formal occasions, depending on, well, weather behavior and what I know others will be wearing. These days, in my OWN experience, there's quite a variety as to how others will dress. I don't want to be way outside the curve, of course.

To be honest, I'm a lot more formal in a specific dress when it is a funeral.

If I am in a dress for a wedding, funeral or other appropriate event, I wear hose. It usually snags and I buy a new set of hose next time around. I don't find it comfortable, but I deal. The event is about the other people.

I do own skirts, but most of these are for far less formal events. The types of stockings that are like socks and say, simply go up to about the knee, are fine here for me. Anyhow, since I know hose won't last I don't spend much on it.

And my basic difficulty is finding appropriate shoes. Foot size 10.5 (men's in America) is difficult.

(I apologize for trying to be as careful as possible on this topic in this forum, because I really don't want to offend anyone more than I may have in the past.)

Marcia, I just checked my stockings. They do not have the name on the thigh band and I cannot remember the brand. I bought them at Macy's and they were not cheap, but neither were they $57. a pair. Sorry I can't help. If I find myself in Macy's today I will check on them. They may have been Donna Karan.

Knowing how quickly I used to rip and damage stockings, you'd never catch me paying $57 for a pair! I used to mail order the by the dozen when I was working.

I think the problem with the temp is how sticky the panty hose get if you're not in A/C and having half of your body wrapped in a tight nylon bag isn't the most comfortable if it's hot.

And if it's cold, they do help keep you warm...much warmer than bare legs.

Thanks, Sheesh. I need to go wedding shopping and may stop in Macy's in the next week or two, also.

I have been wearing Hanes for years, and never found them to be like a tight nylon bag. The weave is loose and stretchy.

I can't tell you the last time I wore hose. I don't wear dresses that often, but I don't wear hose either. LOL Around here, you'd kind of stick out if you wore them.

Unless it is summer and I'm wearing a sundress or casual dress, I wear them. This is MN and we are often cold--nothing worse than having cold legs at work, church, or an event. Needless to say we are also not as fashion-forward as other areas of the country. They are practical here. I do try to find very silky, good quality pantyhose for that Kate Middleton look. I think they can look lovely and polished with a nice dress. My aging legs are happy with them!

Arapaho, I always wear dresses to weddings but do see some women in dressy slacks and a top with some bling. I agree with you that dresses are short this year. Today in a major city I actually had to do a couple of double takes on the length of dresses on some professional women "of a certain age" (which, by the way, I count myself in that camp.) Hopefully you will find something nice that is at least to the knee.

Can I just say a high quality spray tan from your day spa or even high end do it yourself tanning product works wonders. No hose

You can get overnight (if you needed it that quick) even with the Jergens lotion that adds color. That is what I did for my nephews wedding. I used the lotion the night before and then the next morning.

My DD's are required to wear pantyhose when wearing skirts/dresses for work. I wear skirts/dresses to church every week. In the winter my new favorite thing is FLEECE LINED TIGHTS......! They are lifesavers.......! I am 67.....I do not care if they are not chic.....

Hard to believe but here they are: Pretty Polly The Naturals Oiled Tights

Lord & Taylor is currently running Friends & Family 30% off - code FRIENDS until 4/18 for those interested. They sell Wolford also.