# Shoe/style help needed. Pantyhose or no? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 30, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763 "2005-12-30T20:26:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/1 "2005-12-30T20:26:33Z")
I’m going to a wedding tomorrow night. I have a really nice outfit picked out (or at least I think it’s nice). For Christmas, my husband gave me a really cute black skirt and a pair of sparkly kitten heels to match. The skirt is just below the knee in length. I bought [this sweater](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5453262259&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1) to wear with it. The sweater matches the sparkles on the shoes, you see. Okay, now here’s the deal: the shoes are open-toed. Now, I’m inclined to say that it is not okay to wear pantyhose with open-toed shoes. I’ve done some searching online and can’t seem to come up with anything definitive. Some say yes, it’s okay (as long as they’re sheer), while others say no way. While, as I said, I’m inclined to say no to the pantyhose, part of me would really like to wear some. It’s cold here, and there’s quite a bit of snow on the ground. Oh, and please don’t tell me I can’t wear the shoes. My husband would be very sad, I’m afraid. ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/2 "2005-12-30T20:35:29Z")
See if you can find a pair of [open-toed pantyhose](http://www.shapings.com/Merchant/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=A375&Category_Code=PH). The best of both worlds. 🙂 If not, I would still wear pantyhose and just make sure the seam isn’t showing. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/3 "2005-12-30T20:41:32Z")
Try fishnets or lacy tights (sorry, I’m British - pantyhouse just feels wrong to me). They work really well with open-toe shoes and give slightly more protection than bare legs. Or you can get [open-toe tights.](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://static.abcaz.com/productimages/188/5000124/pretty-polly-pretty-polly-perfectly-natural-open-toe-tights.jpg&imgrefurl=http://lingerie.abcaz.co.uk/5_1463920/tights/pretty-polly-pretty-polly-perfectly-natural-open-toe-tights.html&h=199&w=150&sz=6&tbnid=TBa8HktTrxIJ:&tbnh=99&tbnw=74&hl=en&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtights%2Bopen%2Btoe%2Bshoes%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D) ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/4 "2005-12-30T20:46:52Z")
Find a pair of open-toed pantyhose, or don’t wear any. I am no fashion maven, but one of my biggest pet peeves is seeing a foot in open-toed shoes with pantyhose. Blargh. ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/5 "2005-12-30T20:50:55Z")
I had no idea that there were hose without toes. I’m so happy. I don’t like to go without pantyhose because my legs are pasty white and my right leg is scarred from a car accident. Usually that means that I wear pumps or closed toed shoes all the time. Now I can wear sandals again! 😃 Thank you so much. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/6 "2005-12-30T20:56:15Z")
> [@Jennyrosity](#): > > Try fishnets or lacy tights (sorry, I’m British - pantyhouse just feels wrong to me). They work really well with open-toe shoes and give slightly more protection than bare legs. > > Or you can get [open-toe tights.](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://static.abcaz.com/productimages/188/5000124/pretty-polly-pretty-polly-perfectly-natural-open-toe-tights.jpg&imgrefurl=http://lingerie.abcaz.co.uk/5_1463920/tights/pretty-polly-pretty-polly-perfectly-natural-open-toe-tights.html&h=199&w=150&sz=6&tbnid=TBa8HktTrxIJ:&tbnh=99&tbnw=74&hl=en&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtights%2Bopen%2Btoe%2Bshoes%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D) Yes, I’ve just discovered these open-toed pantyhose today while searching about the subject. Unfortunately, I may not be able to find any before tomorrow night. I’m in a very, very small town. Fish nets might be fun. I’ve never worn them before. Then again, I probably won’t be able to find any of those here either. Oh, and no need to apologize for being British. It happens. 😉 Thanks, everyone, for the input so far. I’m still leaning toward wearing none at all. I will tan my legs tonight so as not to blind anyone, so don’t worry about that. ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/7 "2005-12-30T20:58:35Z")
But won’t you be coooold? Maybe you could just tan your toes, and chop off the ends of some regular pantyhose. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/8 "2005-12-30T20:59:00Z")
Are they strappy sandal type shoes? Or “peep-toes” - basically pumps with a small opening at the toe? If strappy sandal type, I vote no pantyhose. If peep-toe, I say pantyhose are fine, but no reinforced toes. I guess my take on it is if it’s cold enough to warrant wearing pantyhose, it’s too cold for strappy shoes. I realize that all of the fashion rags show Sarah Jessica Parker wearing 4.5" Manolos in the dead o’winter, but she’s being ferried to and fro in a limo. 😃 If it’s pasty legs you’re worried about, I say a pedicure & perhaps one of those lotions that give slight color to your legs. At any rate - have fun. VCNJ~ (and thought I’ll never admit to having said this, you _could_ just buy the SHEEREST nude (and I don’t mean “suntan” or “beige”, either) pantyhose you can find and go ahead and wear the strappys. Donna Karan makes a range of “nude” pantyhose that are fabulous) ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/9 "2005-12-30T21:00:43Z")
Pantyhose are the work of the devil, and should be avoided at every possible opportunity. Hose with open toed shoes are an abomination. I really can’t endorse the toeless sort either. Unless you can find a pair that perfectly matches your skin, that’s just \*really \* odd looking. I’d go with some of that body lotion that has just a hint of color and sparkle. Enjoy the wedding! ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/10 "2005-12-30T21:02:57Z")
Ooh, also - I’m not convinced by it, but a lot of the fashiony types I know are wearing brightly-coloured opaque tights with contrasting open-toed shoes. Just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/11 "2005-12-30T21:11:25Z")
> [@Veuve\_ClicquotNJ](#): > > Are they strappy sandal type shoes? Or “peep-toes” - basically pumps with a small opening at the toe? If strappy sandal type, I vote no pantyhose. If peep-toe, I say pantyhose are fine, but no reinforced toes. > > I guess my take on it is if it’s cold enough to warrant wearing pantyhose, it’s too cold for strappy shoes. I realize that all of the fashion rags show Sarah Jessica Parker wearing 4.5" Manolos in the dead o’winter, but she’s being ferried to and fro in a limo. 😃 They’re hard to describe. Basically, there isn’t much to the shoes at all. They’re not really strappy. They lean more toward “peep-toes,” without the rest of the pump, if that makes any sense. There’s nothing covering the back of the heel. Yeah, I know it’s too cold to wear them, and it’s very unlike me to wear shoes like these in the winter, or to wear a skirt at all in the winter. But I love them so much and I love my husband so much for buying them for me, and I just have to show them off. I know it will make him very happy if I wear them. Can’t I be Sarah Jessica Parker _just this once_? 😃 I’m definitely not brave enough to wear anything brighly colored. For me it’s nude, sheer black, or nothing at all. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/12 "2005-12-30T21:23:04Z")
[QUOTE=yellowvalCan’t I be Sarah Jessica Parker _just this once_? 😃 [/QUOTE] Absolutely! Have fun! ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/13 "2005-12-30T21:37:09Z")
Well. OK 😃 Just be careful - if they’re backless, they’re going to be slippery with pantyhose on. Have a ball! VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/14 "2005-12-30T21:43:47Z")
Thanks! I’m sure they’ll be very difficult to walk in in the snow, but that’s why I have a husband to hang onto. We’ll do our little “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” routine: Me: “Don’t throw me down, Clark!” Him: “I’ll try not to, Aunt Bethany.” ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/15 "2005-12-30T22:09:33Z")
No webbed feet! Pantyhose with open toed shoes are an abomination. So are toeless pantyhose, unless they’re exactly the color of your legs. Think about it. Just say no. Suffer for fashion. (Plus, you’ll slip and break your head open if you wear pantyhose with backless shoes.) ---
**Author:** ![marymargaret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@marymargaret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marymargaret)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/16 "2005-12-30T22:11:54Z")
Do not wear pantyhose with open toe shoes! ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/17 "2005-12-30T22:18:56Z")
> [@marymargaret](#): > > Do not wear pantyhose with open toe shoes! I don’t have a lot of time to flesh this out, but I disagree with this. Fun tights and fishnets are perfectly acceptable to wear with peep-toe shoes. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/18 "2005-12-30T22:19:08Z")
I’d say no pantyhose at all. It looks dated nowdays. Plus, mules a impossible to walk in with hose, you need the extra traction you get from skin to hold the shoe on. I can’t imagine trying to walk on snow and ice in mules wearing hose without either breaking an ankle or losing a shoe. Wear the shoes without stockings and have your husband drop you off right at the door so you can scurry inside and get out of the cold. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/19 "2005-12-30T22:52:21Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > No webbed feet! Pantyhose with open toed shoes are an abomination. So are toeless pantyhose, unless they’re exactly the color of your legs. Think about it. Just say no. Suffer for fashion. (Plus, you’ll slip and break your head open if you wear pantyhose with backless shoes.) Hmmm … so are you saying head wounds are out this year? Thank you for all the advice. It has reinforced my gut instinct. I’m definitely not going to wear the hose. My legs are tanning as we speak! ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763/20 "2005-12-31T02:11:56Z")
I’d like to see a picture of the shoes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoe-style-help-needed-pantyhose-or-no/337763.md?page=2)