Monday, May 18, 2009
Hosed or not?
Posted by Heather Kenny on Mon, May 18, 2009 at 10:48 AM
One of the most frequent questions I get as a stylist is "Do I wear pantyhose or not?" I say not--hose is a tool of the patriarchy. I am only partially joking. Some women (especially older ones) like them because they hide imperfections, they can help prevent blisters, and they might even keep your legs warm. But they're uncomfortable and expensive, and a pair lasts all of two wearings if you're lucky. Can you see men putting up with that? (Tights and sexy stockings are another story.)
This article in Doublex.com, Michelle, Put on Some Pantyhose (in reference to Mrs. Obama's perfectly reasonable penchant for going bare-legged), makes some interesting points, but I'm still not convinced.
And then there was this: "What the Obama-struck fail to acknowledge is that there is nothing casual—or natural—about a bare leg in 2009. . . . Going bare means a woman must consider waxing, exfoliation, firming creams, anti-cellulite and stretch-mark treatments, regular pedicures, and salon spray tans or self-tanners—yes, even for women of color."
Um, what? Are our legs in their semi-natural state so horrible? Imperfections such as a little scar here and there, a few spider veins, or winter-pale skin are going to send our friends and coworkers screaming from the room in horror? I'm more freaked out by guys' hairy legs in shorts.
Don't give in to this new front in the war on womanhood. You don't have to look Photoshop-perfect to appear in public.
Comments (18)
Showing 1-18 of 18
I support this post, as I sit here bare-legged at work. If they don't like my day-old leg stubble, they can bugger off. It won't bite.
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I am a man and wear Leggs Active Support pantyhose everyday for the leg support due to venous insufficiency. Been wearing them for almost 6 years with no complaints. Buy good hose and take care of them. I get much more than two wearings out of a pair. And if you spend all that time on other clothes, makeup, and hair, you might as well wear pantyhose. They are makeup for the legs and, as a man, any woman in pantyhose looks better than one who is not wearing. Just my two cents.
"Any woman in pantyhose looks better than one who is not wearing" them? That's just crazy talk.
'A patriarchal tool'? Lady (I hope I haven't offended you by using that title), do you know how little most men care if a woman is wearing pantyhose or not? I know I don't CARE!
I'm bare legged at work now, too. Pantyhose are additionally unhygienic for women, so says my gynecologist. Thigh highs if anything... isn't it the best to be nude, though???
Do you think people really want to see your pasty white, bug-bitten, razor-bumped legs? If you had a blemish on your forehead, you'd spend half an hour in front of the mirror trying to hide it. A woman with bare legs in a professional office looks like someone who lives in a trailer.
Pantyhose are the sexiest thing on the planet. the touch and feel and look of a woman in pantyhose is just fantastic!
I don't know what all the hate with wearing Pantyhose. I wear them everyday no matter what the weather is Hot or cold. Pantyhose have come a long way since the 60, 70, and even 80's and they are much more comfortable to wear. I wear the higher end hose, and they don't run as easy (I get appox 4-6 wears per new open package), and are more comfortable today then in the 70's & 80's with the new fibers. Think of hose as make-up for the legs. If you take a 10 - 30 minutes in the morning to makeup your face and do your hair, and pick an outfit, then why not take an extra 5 minutes to makeup your legs. I know I get lots of compliments from men, and from some woman on how nice my legs look. To prove my point I went to the local mall with my husband (who loves to see me and other lady in hose) and walked through with skirt and bare legs, and not one person made a remark or gave me a second look. The next day we went back to the same mall, and this time I had Tan color silky hose on, and a skirt, (I wear shorts with hose as well) my husband walked a few steps back and men kept doing double takes my husband told me. One guy turned to get another look at me, and the girl he was with smacked him. When we went to the food court, 2 different guys came up and asked for my name and phone #. Now you tell me ladies, what was the reason for the 2 different reactions? ANSWER- Men like to see ladies made up, and they love to see hose on them. Most men are afraid to tell there girlfriends or wives about this. So I say find a brand of hose you like the feel and fit, and start showing your legs in hose. Hollywood is starting to wear hose again, and they are showing up on runways as well. Katie Perry from I Kissed a Girl is one of the Younger Girls that are embracing Hose wearing, as is Lady GAGA, and Rihanna. Just to name a few.
Hey Donna from Philly! I think I was the guy who got smacked at the mall..J/K. Strictly from a 43 yr old guys perspective...I love to see a lady in pantyhose!
Women should wear them everyday, I do and i'm even a straight guy. My legs are prettier than 99% of womens They are very sexy and feel great. Ladies want to see my wearing them with a nylon bodysuit? ilovehose@hotmail.com
A previous post saying pantyhose have come a long way is so right! Check out these, you will not believe it: www.tohos.com Pantyhose are simply classy and womanly-elegant; always were, always will be! Old School Glam, people, remember? Plus you can get away with shorter hem lengths wearing hose. bare flesh under a shorter skirt just screams "Trailer Trash!"
That Miss California exists is ample evidence of a patriarchy. Lose those hose ladies!!
Every woman's leg's look better in pantyhose, no doubt about it. But then again I am just a guy.
Heather, you ladies sure don't know what you're missing (with the exception of Donna from Philly). If you get quality hose in the proper size, and get the support variety--they feel great on your legs. I started wearing them years ago because of chronically achy, tired legs. I've not gone back since. The only change is that now I wear MEN'S pantyhose. That is, I wear ActivSkin (www.activskin.com) in one of the support styles that energize your legs. In the interest of full disclosure, I now work for ActivSkin, but have been a true believer long before I went to work for them a few months ago. For more in-depth discussion on the various merits of pantyhose (primarily from a man's perspective) see my blog at www.nylongene.com
I couldn't date a woman that didn't wear hosiery of some sort. They just make a woman's legs look so much better.
A womans legs look far better in pantyhose, and I am sure most women realize that fact. The problem is all of the fashion writters constantly waging war on women that have them on. Bare feet are for the beach, put the pantyhose on ladies, they look better..hands down.
Just think all of that work on waxing, exfoliating, firmir creams and others, still do not even come close to looking as nice as sheer hosiery. that is the truth , there is no such thing as a pair of legs and feet that would not look better in sheer hose.
Ladies, if you think about making your breat's look good for the guys you should know that the legs are as much a point for some men. You can never go wrong with some sort of quaility hose on your legs. Forget the fashion claims that are based on "we need something new for this season" and get some simple quality brown or black pantyhose, stockings or even thigh highs and make more guys happy then just lifting and pushign togeather. Plus, this whole "To hot" garbage...that's what happened to the girdle, slip and now hose...it's all just undressing you and trying to find a new fashion thing each year. You legs look better in hose! I'm a leg man so I know.
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