Perplexed by Pantyhose - Part 1

Hello Image Matters fans! My name is Jill Acton. I’m the Image Matters Summer Intern and will be guest blogging for the next couple of months. I am originally from St. Louis, Missouri but now attend Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, where I study Fashion Merchandising and French. I’m the voice of Generation Y, so I’ll specifically be addressing issues of interest to my age group, as well as general image topics!

Everybody knows what pantyhose are. They’re those annoyingly tight leg coverings that your mom made you wear to your cousin’s wedding when you were seven. Why spend $5 (or more!) on a pair of pantyhose that you’ll wear a few times before they’re destroyed? Why wear pantyhose in the summer if they don’t breathe and, therefore, raise our body temperature? Why should we endure the binding around the torso and the general discomfort of trying to pull them on? I don’t know anybody that particularly enjoys wearing pantyhose, so why are they important? Here’s a clue: The fact that I was wearing pantyhose to my interview for this very internship encouraged Kathryn and Connie to offer me the job (in addition to my charming personality, of course!). What’s going on here?

It wasn’t until the 1950s that pantyhose made their appearance due to a rising hemline in fashion that revealed the previously popular stocking/garter-belt combo. Pantyhose popularity took off in the 1960s when production improvements made them cheaper and more comfortable and they’ve been around ever since.

Why are they worn? To put it simply, pantyhose make our legs look better! They are perfect for hiding bruises, nicks and cuts from shaving, unsightly veins, and darkening your pale, “it’s-winter-and-my-legs-haven’t-seen-sun-in-months” skin. And perhaps most importantly, pantyhose are a vital part of professional attire for women. As much as the bare-legs fashion has taken over, pantyhose are still a necessity, particularly for job interviews and especially if you’ll be working with a Baby Boomer. Bare legs convey the message that your legs are touchable…and nobody’s legs should be touchable in the workplace. If you don’t have any, can’t afford any, or simply don’t want to wear pantyhose, just wear slacks!

For younger generations, pantyhose may seem outdated. As part of Generation Y, I agree with this to an extent. But as a student studying fashion (and as a student who will be looking for a job soon), I also see their importance. I asked several of my friends when they wore pantyhose last—not one of them could remember. To my generation, pantyhose are not a necessity. But they should be, at least for a few occasions:

• Job Interviews—Better safe than sorry. Again, because opinions on pantyhose vary between generations, and you will most likely be interviewed by someone older than you, they will most likely expect you to be wearing them.


• Weigh the Risk—Are you serious about climbing the corporate ladder? If so, pantyhose should be part of your wardrobe. If you are happy with status quo, then carry on. Bare legs, or for that matter, bare skin anywhere, can be a distraction. As a serious professional, you want to portray the best image possible, and bare legs could be a liability.


• Special Occasions—Graduations, weddings, etc. Think of what other women will be wearing, and consider who will be in attendance. If the audience is mostly younger, you can probably go sans hose. But if you’ll be one among the youngest in the group, you may want to consider pantyhose.

Do you insist on wearing a skirt, and still can’t stand the thought of pantyhose? Lucky for you, there are some alternatives. Stay tuned for Part 2!