NBR - Why I don't wear dresses in the winter...

GreenBride624

Long, pointless story ahead! 

A couple months ago I needed new black dress boots as my usual winter "uniform" at work is pants.  Since I'm on the border of short/petite pants, I usually buy regular since they look better.  Therefore, I need heels to wear them.

I found beautiful knee-high boots at Kohls that actually fit my calves.  I felt that I *had* to try to find a dress to wear with them.  Last weekend I finally found a knit, black dress that is work appropriate & comfortable.  I decided to pair the dress with a sweater & black pantyhose (I HATE pantyhose - which is why I always wear pants in the winter).  So..... today I wore the outfit.  Apparently many of my coworkers noticed that I don't wear dresses in the winter & made comments (positive) about my boots/dress (but it still made me paranoid that I don't look right).

Then I went to the gym... Everything was fine until it was time to put the pantyhose back on.  They somehow got all twisted when I put them on & they just did not feel right but I was running out of lunch break & I had to get back to work.  So I threw on my coat & prayed that I wouldn't have to walk by too many people because I didn't know if the "twisting" was noticable (it was right at my knee).  OF COURSE the gym ended up getting busy while I was changing & there were people all over the place - in front of me, behind me, crossing my path etc...  Ack!

If that wasn't bad enough, when I got back to the office, the same thing happened... it was like grand freakin' central station trying to get to my desk - people everywhere.

I ran to the bathroom & after another couple tries... I finally got them un-twisted & on straight.

Naturally, in my pulling & stretching, I managed to put a small hole in them.  *sigh*

RevJen

I do leggings with sweater dresses in the winter.  In fact, I have one on today.  Much easier than tights or pantyhose.

MrsC7

Ditto @RevJen.  Panyhose is the worst in any weather.

packfan20

I hate nylons and tights.  They are the worst.  When I was working, I was SO happy when they eased up on our dress code and we didn't have to wear "Leg coverings".  I was in skirts all the time in the summer!

When I was pregnant, I had this great idea to dress up all cute like for friend's birthday party.  Have you ever tried to put on pantyhose 6 months pregnant????

booneybear

I wear skirts and dresses pretty much every single day.  I HATE pants.  I would rather deal with tights/nylons than pants. 

 Finding pants to fit me is sooooooooo impossible.  I would rather shop for a bathing suit than pants.  I am too short for most pants so I have to find petite ones and then I have no butt so they are always baggy in the butt and the waist is either too high and kills me or it is too low and too loose and I have to wear a belt.

I will take tights/nylons any day over pants.  

sassypants527

Tights I love; hose, not so much.  I'm always putting snags and holes in hose but tights are more durable.  The easiest way to keep them straight is to hold them up at the waistband, grab one of the legs with both hands and gradually gather the material into your hand until you hit the toe seam.  Put toes in seam, pull up leg to knee, repeat with other side, then pull them all the way up.

I hate the twisting, hence my method above.

GreenBride624

sassypants527 said:

Tights I love; hose, not so much.  I'm always putting snags and holes in hose but tights are more durable.  The easiest way to keep them straight is to hold them up at the waistband, grab one of the legs with both hands and gradually gather the material into your hand until you hit the toe seam.  Put toes in seam, pull up leg to knee, repeat with other side, then pull them all the way up.

I hate the twisting, hence my method above.

that's what I was doing!  lol!

To fix it, I didn't gather it up.  I put my foot in & worked my foot down to the seam.

dmlk413

I buy the tights without feet.  For some reason I have a lot less issues with those than I do with nylons.

sassypants527

GreenBride624 said:

sassypants527 said:

Tights I love; hose, not so much.  I'm always putting snags and holes in hose but tights are more durable.  The easiest way to keep them straight is to hold them up at the waistband, grab one of the legs with both hands and gradually gather the material into your hand until you hit the toe seam.  Put toes in seam, pull up leg to knee, repeat with other side, then pull them all the way up.

I hate the twisting, hence my method above.

that's what I was doing!  lol!

To fix it, I didn't gather it up.  I put my foot in & worked my foot down to the seam.

That's how I usually end up getting my knickers in a twist, which is why I gather.  Haha! 

Passanie

I hate panty hose! So evil! I do much better with tights (but only from department stores, the cheapo ones from Target tend to cut my stomach in half and just hurt). For those of you who wear leggings, how do you not get them to look all bulky and seam-y under your dresses?

OP, eons ago I used to wear thigh high stockings. You know how the elastic always gives out on one eventually? Yup, walking down a city street to deliver documents to another building, the elastic gives out and I did the hang-onto-your-stocking-falling-down-your-thigh walk the three blocks back. Ugh. Never again.

GilliC

Another vote for tights instead of hose. Unless they're straight out of the package, I always end up twisting my pantyhose (even if I gather), so it takes me multiple tries to get them on right.

If it's very cold (20°s F or under), wool tights are amazing. Even warmer than jeans.

And I love thigh-highs, but I wear them with a garter belt. I would never trust thigh-highs to stay up otherwise.

MrsC7

@GilliC's talk about wool tights reminded me - has anyone tried fleece lined tights? Are they really warm? Do they bunch up?

RevJen

My leggings don't bunch up but maybe it's my fat that prevents that.  I also tend to get my sweater dresses in a larger size than my pants size because I don't want them clinging.

cnthrdlywt2bwZ

dmlk413 said:

I buy the tights without feet.  For some reason I have a lot less issues with those than I do with nylons.

As a ballet dancer I used to cut all the toes out of my tights so they were footless. If I wear boots or booties, you can't even tell. Footless tights or leggings (because it's Cold here) is where it's at.

sassypants527

MrsC7 said:

@GilliC's talk about wool tights reminded me - has anyone tried fleece lined tights? Are they really warm? Do they bunch up?

I've wondered about this too.  I'm guessing they'll get all pilly after several washes like sweatshirts do, too, which is why I haven't bought any.

SusieBW

I'm wearing a skirt and tights today because I still haven't switched to my winter clothes and I've already worn all the pants in my closet this week.  Sad.  I've been putting off going to pee for at least 45 minutes now because I hate dealing with tights so much.

Tights are still better than nylons, though.  Warmer and more durable.

booneybear

I haven't worn pants to work in weeks.  On the rare occassion that I actually wear a pair of pants to the office, I get the "dressing down today" comments.

And on the rare, rare occassion I wear flats to work, I get the ''OMG, I never realized you were THAT short" comment. 

I will stick to my dresses and heels.   

RiverPlate

I'm with Booney - I wear dresses or skirts almost every day.  Tank top + dress (or skirt) + cardigan is pretty much my entire wardrobe.  Emma Pilsbury is totally my style icon.  When she stopped being a regular character on Glee I was nearly beside myself.

My favorites are Hue hose with the holes cut out for the big toe and the other toes so I can wear open-toed shoes with hose.  I hate being able to see the seam. 

I bought a pair of maternity hose at Target the other day and ripped them open this morning.  Instead of being nude they're black - and since I tore into the package they probably won't let me return them.  FAIL.

kaylynne

I will wear tights if I absolutely have to, but I never wear pantyhose.  I am all about the leggings.  I got some fleece-lined leggings on sale at anthropologie a few years ago, and they are awesome.  Way warmer than pants.