# Can I go to a formal event without pantyhose? need answer fast ;) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 4, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961 "2010-12-04T20:21:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/1 "2010-12-04T20:21:53Z")
So tonight is a black tie holiday party for the medical staff of the hospital where my husband is a resident. He’ll be in a tuxedo; I’ll be in a cocktail dress. I seem to remember reading a thread on here in the last 6 months or so indicating that pantyhose might be going out of style and one might be able to go without them… …is it true or am I misremembering? And would it apply to a fancy event like this one? Do I need to wear pantyhose or can I get away without them? ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/2 "2010-12-04T20:36:09Z")
The fancier the event, the more appropriate the hose. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/3 "2010-12-04T20:43:23Z")
But are they _mandatory_? I mean there was a time when they for sure would be, but I don’t know about anymore… Would people think it was weird if I didn’t wear them? ---
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/4 "2010-12-04T21:13:10Z")
Here in Florida you could definitely go without pantyhose. Most women I know and also women I don’t never wear them. Some women might wear sheer black hose or opaque black tights with a cocktail dress, especially this time of year. I would. But sheer flesh-colored hose? I haven’t seen anyone wear those here in FL in a long time. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/5 "2010-12-04T21:24:23Z")
Black tie event involving tuxedos? No way. You need some kind of hose. If it were a summer cocktail party or something, you could do without. But not a formal event in winter. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/6 "2010-12-04T21:25:36Z")
You should never wear panty hose. Those vile perversions should be banished from the face of the earth. Yo should wear stockings with a garter belt. Infinitely better. Especially for…“after the party”. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/7 "2010-12-04T21:31:05Z")
I’d also have to vote for “formal event in winter = hose”, stockings or panty, your choice. But I’m an ancient 36 year old hippie chick with no fashion sense, so whaddoo I know? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/8 "2010-12-04T21:47:35Z")
I just talked to one of the other residents and she is wearing a cocktail dress and isn’t wearing hose. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/9 "2010-12-04T22:20:41Z")
I wouldn’t wear them, personally. Fashion-wise, hose are still (last I checked) either for excessively formal (and stuffy) situations, or for older women. (Or, if you’re none too pleased about how your legs look, but that’s not a fashion thing.) ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/10 "2010-12-04T22:23:15Z")
Someone showed a picture here some months ago that showed several important women at a formal White House function and none were in hose. Formal open toed/peep toed shoes basically ended the hose requirement, I think. ---
**Author:** ![KittenKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kittenkat/32/306_2.png) [@KittenKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KittenKat)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/11 "2010-12-04T22:42:58Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > Someone showed a picture here some months ago that showed several important women at a formal White House function and none were in hose. Formal open toed/peep toed shoes basically ended the hose requirement, I think. I remember that thread and picture. I never got around to mentioning it at the time, but the thing about the women in that picture was that they were all wearing long gowns, so while you saw their feet, you didn’t see their bare legs. I happen to be one of the old fuddy-duddies who thinks most women’s legs look better in hose, and that wearing dress pumps with bare feet/legs looks odd. I would never do it, but that it mostly because my feet aren’t comfortable in most shoes without some kind of hosiery, and only secondarily because I don’t like the look of it. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/12 "2010-12-04T23:23:29Z")
Don’t wear them. ---
**Author:** ![kathmandu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kathmandu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kathmandu)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/13 "2010-12-04T23:25:44Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > But are they _mandatory_? I mean there was a time when they for sure would be, but I don’t know about anymore… Would people think it was weird if I didn’t wear them? Mandatory? Nobody’s going to kick you out if you don’t wear them, but yes, some people will think it’s weird for you to go bare legged to an event that’s formal enough to warrant a tuxedo. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/14 "2010-12-04T23:28:13Z")
Wear them. I say, wear them. I would. I can’t wrap my head around not wearing them to a formal event. Unless it was summer or a hot climate. ---
**Author:** ![KittenKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kittenkat/32/306_2.png) [@KittenKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KittenKat)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/15 "2010-12-04T23:35:17Z")
Do whatever makes you feel the most comfortable. You’re already breaking tradition by wearing a cocktail dress to a black tie event. Traditional black tie apparel for women is a long, narrow skirt (as opposed to the full skirt of a ballgown). ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/16 "2010-12-05T00:28:48Z")
Things must be different here in the South - even for formal events I’m surprised to see women under 40 in hose. Definitely not mandatory at all. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/17 "2010-12-05T00:58:20Z")
Why haven’t I seen any/many on actresses at formal Hollywood red carpets? Even women wearing short dresses, I don’t recall seeing them. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/18 "2010-12-05T01:05:01Z")
Skip the pantyhose. They are out, old hat, passe! ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/19 "2010-12-05T01:10:25Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Wear them. I say, wear them. > > I would. I can’t wrap my head around not wearing them to a formal event. Unless it was summer or a hot climate. Yup! Wear them. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961/20 "2010-12-05T01:30:18Z")
I’m an old bat, but even I don’t wear pantyhose any more. Stockings all the way for me — or rather, tights. I have several black velvet type outfits/dresses I have for formal events, all suitable to wear with black stockings. Or boots. There is no way in hell I’m going outside in the snow with bare legs. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-go-to-a-formal-event-without-pantyhose-need-answer-fast/562961.md?page=2)