Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Seeking: STOCKINGS!


Dear ESB-

I'm getting married in the South this October-- so it'll still be autumn weather, but cooling off a bit. My dress is almost knee length, and I'm sort of stumped about what to do about stockings. I think even if we have a warm fall, I'll still want something to cover my legs (which will be pretty pasty by the time late October rolls around). Here are the dress and the shoes.

So-- would stockings that match my (pale, yellow-undertoned) skin tone look weird? I associate them with the 80s, but I see that a lot of bridal stores sell variations on this theme so maybe I'm out of line. Or should I do sheer black stockings? Is there another option I haven't thought of? And in any case, any advice on places to shop for stockings? If these questions seem clueless, it's because I really am-- I basically wear the same couple of pairs of sheer black stockings on the rare occasions when I need them. So my knowledge of hosiery is pretty limited.

I've seen brides with opaque tights, which is very cute but not what I have in mind-- I don't really care about warmth so much as finding something that evens out my splotchy pale skin tone. Oh, and even the nice self-tanners look weird on me, so that's out. 

Thoughts?

*****

Please don't wear stockings with your wedding dress.

Please do Carrie Bradshaw (and the first lady) proud and NEVER wear stockings.

Your legs are lovely, I promise.


Image via Frou Frou Fashionista

41 comments:

  1. Try The Nudes by Donna Karen! Normally I would side with ESB, but seriously, best hosiery on the market. I used to never wear sheer stockings, but the shades they have truly match natural skin tones and really make legs look amazing. At least try on a pair and take a photo with them on, then decide how you feel. Good luck!

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    1. Seconding this - these things are a whole new species of leg tube.

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  2. Get amazing lotion and start using it now. I would also recommend the bronzing bar from lush. It's not a tanner so it doesn't get blotchy--it's like make-up for your legs.

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    1. yes, but it will get on your dress...just like make up would. love that bronzing bar from lush, but i would not recommend wearing with white...

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  3. Pale skin is beautiful - you don't need to hide it. Start exfoliating now and using a good lotion every day. Instead of spending money on stockings, book an appointment during the week before your wedding at a spa for a body scrub. If you're going be walking around bare-legged in the sun before then, use sunscreen to reduce blotchiness and dryness caused by sun damage.

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    1. Also, I have fair to medium yellow-undertoned skin and I don't use self-tanner either (I always end up looking like an oompa loompa). But Jergens Natural Glow does work well for me. If I use it daily for a week or two, my skin turns just a shade or two darker. It looks really, really natural. So if you absolutely refuse to go barelegged with pale skin, you might try Jergens.

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  4. I'm not as opposed to nylons with that dress as I am with those shoes. That would look so weird. I don't like nude shoes as is, but nude nylons and nude shoes? It reminds me of this: beige ice skating.

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    1. Unless her skin is pink, I don't see the issue here. Those shoes don't strike me as "nude."

      But I see what you mean with the ice skater look.

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    2. Yeah, those shoes are definitely pink, not nude.

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  5. I hate the uneven skin tone of my legs, but stockings just make me look old.

    I've used tinted moisturizer (um, what you would normally use on your face) in a pinch. Maybe test that out?

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  6. are spray tans any good? that might make you feel better

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  7. I agree with ESB, C. Bradshaw and M. Obama that you don't need stockings, but, in my experience guys think they're crazy hot. If you really want to wear them maybe go with thigh highs with a garter belt. You feel like your legs are covered, he feels like he's seeing something risque when he gets a peak of the lace top. win:win?

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  8. I just want to point out that the model here has pretty pale skin and it looks fantastic with the dress. Love the dress, by the way.

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  9. spend the money you would spend on stockings on a really mild spray tan. you can get sprayed to even out your skin tone as opposed to choosing a dark spray. it's just we more commonly see women who opt to go TOO dark when choosing their spray tan color.

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  10. I'll defer to others on the stocking question. Just want to say that you have a fantastic wedding outfit going there. You're going to look amazing!

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    1. I agree, love the dress and shoes! You will rock it, stockings or not.

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  11. I've heard that really tiny fishnets in nude are very flattering, plus they're kind of sexy (especially if thigh highs, as mentioned above) and feel less like "stockings" in the old fashioned sense. The really tiny ones don't even look like fishnets from more than 5 feet away, so it doesn't look trashy.

    I also support Jergens Natural Glow ...

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    1. I second this. Under normal circumstances I either wear nothing or tights (as opposed to nylons) — but when only a natural color on my legs seems appropriate with the outfit, and I can't handle actually going bare legged (usually because of shoe discomfort issues), I *always* go with nude fishnets.

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  12. if you're just concerned about the paleness, I agree with the above suggestions of the super light spray tan. If you have other leg issues you're worried about, I SWEAR by nude fishnets with a seam up the back. Comfortable, subtle, and just the right amount of sexy.

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  13. The dress is fantastic.

    However, are stocking actually sexy?

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    1. Personally, I think anything with a "control top" = not sexy, but thigh highs and certain fishnets? Hell yes.

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  14. I don't know if it's cause I'm too young (25?) or if it's cause I'm naturally dark (read that to mean I'm brown)

    But... I didn't know people still wore stockings?

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    1. I just can't get over my shock.

      I am completely sincere, PEOPLE REALLY STILL WEAR STOCKINGS???

      Am I SUPPOSED to wear stockings and just didn't know that?

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    2. People in Chicago love them some tights but stockings have typically been reserved for either girls working in super-corporate/conservative environments (law, etc.) or the elderly.

      I think black nylons are coming back, though. I saw them in Stockholm on all the cool girls and in Brooklyn yesterday. I don't think nude nylons are that popular, though.

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  15. palmers leg gloss. it looks like stockings and washes out easily enough should it rub on the dress

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  16. kate middleton rocks stockings and nude pumps in almost every photo of her ever. and she always looks stunning...i don't think you should wear them with this outfit but i am just saying.

    ps if you do wear stockings the need for a slip will enter your life as that dress looks like the kind that will cling

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    1. Kate Middleton always looks Pretty, Shiny and Dull.
      I'm pretty sure that leg casings are compulsory for her particularly conservative job.

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  17. Of course people still wear stockings. Thigh-highs with a seam up the back and garter belt? Man killers. I am 28, so I'm pretty sure it's not just old ladies. Also, don't most women in an office environment wear stockings? I don't work in one, but I always assumed that's how it is.

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    1. First of all, let me add my voice to the "no tights on your wedding day" chorus.

      I work in an office environment, mostly wear dresses, and only wear stockings occasionally and only of the decorative variety. That seems pretty standard at least for my office and my friends who work in offices.

      Thigh-highs and a garter belt, however...Those I do wear. Just not to work.

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    2. Are they really man killers? When such things have been discussed amongst friends, stockings have never come up as a plus. Sure, you see stockings and garters flying around in "movies" but are we sure they are viewed in the same light in real life? Do you ladies just feel sexier in them? If so, stockings all around.
      But, I guess she didn't ask, "Should I wear stockings to be sexier"

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    3. I work in an office for the federal government and I am 30 and have NEVER worn stockings. Colored tights or black/grey/opaque tights I wear in the winter. Stockings-NO. Tights are uncomfortable enough in the winter, you don't need stockings. Rock the bare leg.

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    4. I work in an office in a conservative profession and do wear either opaque black tights or nude hold-ups to the office - the holdups have the distinct advantage of not needing to be houked up. So yep, people definitely still wear them - maybe it depends on the aggressive nature of your firms air con? And whether you can be arsed to shave your legs in the morning?
      (so yeah, not super sexy to me. YMMV)

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  18. LOVE those shoes. And... I wore a tea length dress in mid October in Annapolis with bare legs and I am so pale they don't sell foundation my color, so whatever.

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  19. I assumed she wanted the stockings because of the slightly colder weather, not because of the way they look. Which I totally get, goosebumped legs aren't cool. I wore stockings (nude ones) for the first time recently when it was still cold but black tights didn't match my outfit and they were pretty excellent. Friends pointed out how tanned I looked (I am PALE) and even my boyfriend didn't realise I was wearing them (and he was seriously sceptical when he saw me buy them)

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  20. It is true that no one wears stockings anymore, but believe me some people should. I can't tell you how many times I have to avert my eyes from legs that are pale, scarred, unsightly at work.

    I remember purchasing toeless pantyhose for some reason and I was impressed with the hose and the ability to appear "hoseless" in my shoes. Buy two pair.

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  21. Chiming in from Australia just to check - are we talking about tights, or stockings? Stockings need a garter belt, don't they, or are stay ups, and tights are... well... tights. One = fantastic. The other, for cold weather and offices.

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  22. To offer a wider variety of suggestion, I love stockings, I am wearing them with my tea length dress this spring (unless it is 90 out, you can never predict May)and I think they are totally appropriate. That being said, be cautious. As stated above, control tops are horrible. Squish in all the wrong places. I second the thigh highs, but a garter would show in a dress like the one you have. If you decide on thigh highs (or to wear stockings at all for that matter) be sure the bottom of the lace seam doesn't show from under your hemline when you sit down. Being close could be fun, you could lift the hem a little at dinner and give new hubby a sneak peak, but too much and your mom will notice and it will be tacky.

    That being said, I highly recommend Stockin Girl for all kinds of fabulous hosiery.

    Good luck! You will look stunning in whatever you choose!

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  23. Yes people wearing stockings (and I'm 22) I'm crazy pale, and lets me honest, despite being an australian size 6-8 (whats that over in america?? 4?) , not the biggest fan of my legs...so yeah, with a shorter dress, if feel more comfortable and confident, which isn't that what you want on your day?
    Go with a really good quality pair of sheers. Spend some cash, even if they ladder by the night out! You don't want ones that are ugly and matte and potench a bit saggy. Or too shiny which may be worse. Go with a colour that tans your tone a teeny tiny bit, not so its not super obvious.
    I do feel there are definite rules: never wear stockings darker than your shoes! so big big veto to the black sheers. your dress and shoes are much to gorgeous for that. Extra big no to tights. Too heavy, and fully down play the loveliness you have going on. Maybe with different shoes I would agree.
    And i second the Kate Middleton look. Classy and timeless which you want to see looking back on your photos in years time.

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  24. Is there anyhwere where you could find DIMs? It is a french brand, and I do not want to sound like a commercial or anything, but they are literally invisible, they match your skin color perfectly, can even give you a slight tan, and just make your legs look great. Everytime I am in France I get a pair or two, not for everyday life, but for this kind of occasion.
    And yes I used to hate this stuff, and the feel of it, but this ones are just something else, they are really perfect, since they are opaque they won't shine, basically you don't see them.
    This
    is what I am talking about.

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  25. I wore a very pale pink fishnet stocking with my red dress and I didn't have to worry about stray hairs, veins, paleness - and they were super cute. Don't hate the stockings!

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