Katie couric wearing pantyhose

When I speak to a group of women on appropriate dress for the workplace, the first question is invariably: How do you feel about pantyhose? Hosiery is like makeup. If you are very young, you can get away with not wearing it. Hosiery is similar.

Black tights are a dependable, if uninspiring, constant in your closet. Over the years they've weathered winter trends and transitional dressing, and made putting together an outfit while factoring in uncomfortably cold temperatures a less taxing process. Yet slipping them on can feel like a sartorial compromise—as if you have to wear them because it's whatever degrees outside, not as though there was even a choice. But why should your black tights, which help you stretch the wearability of a summery dress and get you get dressed through the most unpleasant weather, feel like a sour point in your wardrobe? Katie Holmes—eternal fall fashion mood —makes a strong case for nonboring black tights. She was photographed on a rainy New York evening wearing a strong-shouldered silk minidress from Yves Saint Laurent, complete with polka-dotted tights, also from the brand. It's a practical solution to the universal issue of keeping warm as the temperatures drop, yes.

Times article :. Bare legs beware. Pantyhose are showing up on runways and simultaneously making an ironic statement about modesty and style. Still — pantyhose? Sure enough, the picture that accompanies the article shows a runway model with her sweater tucked into the waistband of a pair of nude pantyhose.

The most pressing request came from a client I was styling for her appearance on the Katie Couric show. In advance of her debut, we took care of the clothing, the hair, the makeup, the shoes and then…omg…what about my legs she asked? Now that said, most of us are not sharing a stage with Katie or Jennifer Aniston on any given Tuesday, so we can relax a bit, but only a bit! Whether or not to wear hosiery remains a contested issue among women.