TheWorkingWardrobe.com

Hosiery Works its Way into the Working Wardrobe as a Fashion Statement Versus Dress Code Requirement

I worked at a retail department store for a few years between college graduation and first career. One of the dress code requirements was hosiery. I remember in the summertime, it was almost painful how uncomfortable hosiery felt to wear to work. However, after a month or so of being used to the feeling, I admit I didn’t continue to notice the discomfort and I even started to like expressing my fashion through my patterned or textured tights.

I recently came across a news article in the McClatchy Newspapers on how hosiery is being brought back in fashion after a few years of the “it” trend being the bare leg. As a working woman, one thing that I learned from my retail job is that hosiery does add a certain level of professionalism and even class to your working look. I compare it to wearing foundation or powder on your face before leaving your house. Hosiery gives your legs a finished look and even if you wear nude hose, your flaws are hidden and you are “sucked in” in areas that you may be a little uncomfortable about being bared.

The news article quoted Edward Miccinati, co-owner of New York-based StockinGirl, an online boutique, saying that hosiery is not only coming back in fashion, it’s providing women with an economical way of updating her outfit. “If you’re not able to really update your fall wardrobe, using leg-wear is a good way to do it,” says Miccinati. “The price of entry is not as expensive as other accessories.” Therefore you don’t have to blow your paycheck on a new suit – simply spice up what you have with some opaque or textured tights!

Some leg-warming designs that can add some of your own style to your working wardrobe include those by Falke, See by Chloe, and Only Hearts.

Now that we are in the throngs of Fall and the onset of Winter, I see many working women donning a work look with boots and a skirt either covering their legs with leggings or hosiery. A cold-weather fashion secret: Tights are warmer than pants! Therefore I have drawn out my burgundy opaque tights and textured light pink cotton hosiery to not only add some color to my outfits, but to keep my kneecaps from turning red when commuting to the office.