HELP! interview today: wear tights with skirt-suit or bare legs??
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Anonymous
| I interview 2-8 individuals a month (nearly always women) and I interact with dozens of highly professional women on a daily basis. I am an at an absolute loss as to the consistent "hose are so passe" verdicts on this board. Why someone would take a chance and not wear stockings for a professional interview (law, finance, academia, corporate) with a suit is beyond me -- retail or fashion or entertainment industry (with "young" legs that aren't so pale as to draw attention in an odd way) might be able to get away with this. I'm glad the interview went well OP and I'm glad you went with the "stashed away" hose -- the other posters were right in that even if you only wear them once, you're making a statement (a good one). |
Anonymous
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PP here with a somewhat random question: understanding that most men's shoes can't be comfortably worn without socks, what would you say if a male candidate asked if he should wear socks or not for a business interview (let's say he was going to wear loafers)? Not trying to start an argument -- genuinely curious.
One more note: one of my HR colleagues says that she always advises people to dress so as not to be noticed -- so that you're focusing on the content of the words and resume rather than the "packaging" -- interesting concept. . . |
Anonymous
I have no problem with hose, and admit I don't really keep up with the latest trends. I tend to buy what looks good on me and what I think will hold up in terms of style - so some people would rate my "style" as boring. But I must say, I work with a lot of professional, well dressed women and see a lot of these women around town and I rarely see hose anymore. I'm not saying hose are wrong or over or whatever, just that maybe a lot of people don't prefer them and go for other options. I haven't put on a pair of nude hose in years, that said, I've been with my company for a long time and haven't interviewed in years, and last time I did I wore a pants suit. I love the look of black skirts and black tights - I think black tights make my legs look great. Plus in the winter tights seem more practical! But then again, I'm not going on interviews, I'm just talking about every day work life. |
Anonymous
If a man shows up to an INTERVIEW with loafers and no socks, then he's a complete idiot and shouldn't be hired! Seriously, though, it's similar but not quite the same. I do think women are given a bit more latitude when it comes to fashion, style, and complementary (to one's body) fit. Therefore, one could have this discussion about women and not have it be laughable. Men? They need to wear a suit. A suit with a white or blue shirt and with a decent tie. Leather shoes and socks are not-negotiable. Notwithstanding my latitude comment above, I do think that, when it comes to an interview, a dark-ish suit with a collared blouse, hose, and pumps will be the best and least noticeable choice. Your friend is right. You do not want to be remembered for what you wear. Rather, you want to be remembered as the best choice for the job. |
Anonymous
| non-negotiable. Or not negotiable. Take your pick |
Anonymous
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I have a Business, with most of the women that are interviewed during the year, the outside temperatures have little to do with their choices overall it seems as I have seen bare legged in freezing and tights in 90+ weather.
Myself personally I am a tights with skirt or dress type and rarely go bare legged in such. |
Anonymous
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I interview entry level hires for my large IT consulting firm. I wear a skirt suit, hose, and sensible pumps when I conduct interviews and prefer to see the same.
That said I would rather see bare legs with a polished knee length skirt than a short skirt or stiletto heels. The goal of the interview is that I should not remember your outfit except that you looked polished and professional. I want to remember our discussion instead. |
Anonymous
Agree, lawyer here with interview next week. Hose, nude or light black with black st. john suit and black pumps. |
Anonymous
I agree. Attorney. I don't like the bare-legged look and thinks it sends all the wrong messages. Light, high quality hose (not suntan). |
Anonymous
I agree. Attorney. I don't like the bare-legged look and thinks it sends all the wrong messages. Light, high quality hose (not suntan). |
Anonymous
Yes, you are definitely a whore if you show your bare legs in public. 
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Anonymous
| Hose. |
Anonymous
This is the key thing. Light black. Barely black in the UK. That is how not to look like a granny in nude and yet wear something sheer enough to look professional. I don't have a pants suit because I don't like them personally on women, so I have wool skirt suits and wear them with nearly black in summer and opaque in winter. |
Anonymous
| I'm in my early 30s and I don't get the aversion to nude stockings. I've worn them my whole life and feel odd without them. If you are wearing a sundress in a casual setting then bare legs are ok. Black tights are fine with a business casual dress/separates but not a suit. You will look like a college kid going to their first interview. Sheer stockings are the only way to go with a suit and look like a professional adult. You MAY be judged for not wearing them but will never be judged for wearing them. They are easy to find at the last minute (drugstore!) and they don't run as easy as OP makes it out to be. |
Anonymous
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This thread is 3 years old... unsure why someone bumped it.
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