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For the ladies only. Men please don't read this blog.

Okay, ladies, I'm looking for opinions and advice after a night out with a few couples. We were having a discussion on dress codes. Two lady business women were there and one of those ladies was responsible for enforcing the dress code at her business.

I asked what the code was and she said the females can't wear thongs (the panty type!). Girls can't wear flip-flops even if they cost $69 a pair and have sparkles. They can't wear tops and skirts that show the tattoo on their hip when they bend. Their skirts can't be higher than 2" above the knee and she didn't say where the knee actually is but I'm curious.

But I got distracted there. What really made me write this blog to get your advice, ladies, is this. The conversation went to panty hose. We all agreed that all ladies used to wear panty hose. The men agreed saying, "Yes, my wife used to tear one ruined leg off and attach another one to it with duct tape or something in order to get more wear out of the expensive panty hose."

I said, "No one seems to wear hose anymore. Why is that?" You know before panty hose there were stockings held up with garter belts! Covering a girl's legs goes way back!

"My daughter told me that it doesn't matter how ugly your legs are, you must go bare legged," replied one wife.

So, girls, when did all this change? When was it decided that ugly legs are fashionable? When did panty hose go away? Tell me what you think about this whole new fashion thing. I solved my problem with panty hose years ago by just wearing pants all the time.

Barbara S Duncan

Hopefully, your chosen agent in

Searcy Arkansas!

www.barbarasduncan.com

Posted by Barbara S. Duncan, CRS, GRI, e-PRO Searcy AR on 06/02/2008 08:46 AM

Comments (64)

dress codes, office wear, what to wear to work, panty hose, stockings, garter belts

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64 Comments on For the ladies only. Men please don't read this blog.

JUN

2008

Barbara, You're writing abut thongs and tattoos on the hip ... and you expect men to avoid commenting? :) Okay, okay Im going ...

Haha.. Andrew cracks me up.

I do wear pantyhose or stockings (I like the thigh high ones with the elasticy tops). They're a bit pricier but I am much more comfy in them.

Even with tanned legs I don't feel dressed unless I have something covering my legs when I'm wearing a dress or skirt while working.

Right you are. I don't need panty hose with my jeans.

I think it started out as a Southern thing. Just too hot and humid for stockings, and women began to enjoy the freedom of going bare-legged.

I'm thinking if you have ugly legs you can safely stick to pants these days. As far as the change with hose, all I can say is THANK YOU! Hate, hate, hate pantyhose!

I think panty hose went out of fashion (especially in the summer) because they are so darn hot and uncomfortable! Once "respectable" women started going without hose, it became okay for the rest of us. Thank goodness! You don't see Diane Sawyer wearing hose anymore. :)

As for the other stuff...flips flops are sandals, nothing more or less. If they have a heel are they okay? How about ballet flats? Stilettos? Sneakers? Orthopedics? And nobody should tell someone else what kind of panties to wear; for goodness sakes that's none of an employer's business.

There's nothing wrong with a company having dress code guidelines, but they need to be in this century and not overly restrictive. Also, businesses may want to attract a younger clientele or younger employees that will breathe life into a business, and an overly stuffy atmosphere may do them more harm than good.

Barbara, ditto Andrews comment---some women will read this blog but most men will:)

I don't think it was so much that our bare legs were ugly, but rather (Caucasian ladies at any rate) were embarrassed that our legs were so pale and pasty white. The panty hose gave the legs the look of a nice tan..... But the pantsuit has solved that issue. :-)

I haven't worn pantyhose in at least 30 years. Too darn uncomfortable. I switched to thigh highs for a couple years, but they weren't comfortable either. I did finally break down and purchase a couple pairs of tights this year for the cold weather, but I only wore them twice.

When "business casual" came in the hose went out! That's what I remember... I worked for an insurance company at the time and it was right in the middle of summer when they encorporated that new dress code. The only new rule I saw? No more pantyhose. Woohoo!!

What I never understood is why companies enforce the anal dress codes when you only see each other? If you never see the clients you represent then what's the purpose of dressing "business" every day? That could be a whole separate blog entirely!

It seems like dress codes get more and more "defined" when a violation occurs... A young lady wearing an "ultra low-rise skirt" bends over and hello there's her thong and the CEO saw it? Next day you get the memo!

How does the employer know that the ladies are wearing thongs? That one really threw me! As for panty hose? I still wear them - my legs are WWAAYYY too white! I did go to the thigh highs though. Does this show my age? 41 in 2 weeks and I can't wait!!!!

Barbara, your thong comment caught me off guard there too. I thought you were talking about bathing suits on South Beach. I guess panty hose is out. I haven't really noticed like you said because so many women don't wear dresses anymore.

Funny you should ask. I was having this same conversation with my daughter (age 19). She thinks panyhose are "fake". I think they are "dressy" (or "dressier" than without). I'm interested in others' opinions... :)

Barbara,

I remember the garter belts and girdles with hose attachments! I only wear pantyhose in the winter, Arkansas is toooo hot in the summer! I tan easily so not wearing pantyhose doesn't bother me!

Andrew.....SCAT!! LOL

To unidentified....well someone still wears stockings! Thanks for comments. Andrew is pretty funny.

Lenn, we agree on not needing panty hose with pants.

Vickie, that could be it. It is hot in the south in the summer. But now the ladies will be all bundled up in the winter with bare legs!

Hope, I never liked the panty hose either. But if for some reason I put on a skirt, the hose seem to be needed. I have ugly legs!

Kelly, you don't meant that the disrespectful ones were us, did you? LOL I think anything that makes our lives more comfortable should be allowable. I can't see how having to worry about showing off a tattoo or cover ourselves from a too short skirt would make us more comfortable. Unless we wanted to show those things! Thanks for comments.

Charles, I had a sneaking suspicion that you'd be mischievous enough to read a forbidden blog. Since you misbehaved and read it I guess you can tell us what you think. Your friend Steve would not cross the line like that. : )

Cheryl, I always did hate my white legs but it was misery sitting in the sun to get sun tanned. Now you can just go to the store and buy a tan in many different ways, spray, rub on or artificial lights. It is still easier to just wear pants.

Lorrie, I'll bet you are a pants girl too! Thanks for the comments.

Kristi, you bring up some good points. If you're tucked away in a back room, why worry about the clothing. But I guess being too provocative carries throughout the building. What I wish is that they'd ban those 5" heels with the sharp pointed toes that look like weapons. When they go clicking down the hall, especially on pergo floors, it is shear misery on the ears. And they cripple feet which should be a no-no!

Leesa, you are going into the very best 10 years of your life. Enjoy them! But I'll bet you are the only old lady 40 something that wears those hose still! Thanks for commenting.

Gary, you have read a forbidden blog! I never would have thunk it of you. And I certainly didn't think you'd be around women who don't wear dresses....meaning naked???? LOL

Debi, your daughter is right there with the forward thinkers. Just like my friend's daughter that we were discussing. I always thought they hid a multitude of flaws in the legs. Guess flaws are in.

I also have another theory about this whole thing. It started about the time people started getting pedicures with the pedicure parlors all over the place. They get their little toes painted and don't want to mess them up. And after spending all that money for sun tans and pedicures, why would you cover them up?

As a single man with a significant other the panty hose thing never comes to mind. She has a great pair of beautiful legs. So for me not important one way or the other.

Mary, you do tan easily. I'm envious.

Robert, I'll bet that lady does have beautiful legs! Keep her happy!

OMG - pantyhose are torture!!!!!!! Remember the uproar a few years back with the girls showing up to meet the President with flip flops on?

Tina in Virginia

Barbara, frankly, I don't wear them myself:)

Tina, I guess I missed that uproar. Flip flops make more sense to me than 5" spikes!

Charles, everyone should try a pair just for experience!

Barbara, well you work with me so you know how I dress! I like a nice taylored suit in the winter but I also like flashy clothes in the summer!

JUN

2008

Hi Barbara: I wear pantyhose sometimes but often go bare-legged in the summer. It depends what kind of shoes I am wearing. Sandals, in my opinion, look silly with hose. But some shoes are actually more comfortable with hose than without. If other women want to point at me and giggle, "Look at that woman in a suit wearing pantyhose," I can point right back and say, "Look at the red marks on the back of your heels and bunions on your toes."

I do remember the days of garter belts and twenty-nine-cent stockings. Aacckk.

Jennifer, you look good in whatever you put on and you have pretty legs too. So I'll bet you've never owned a pair of panty hose in your life.

Elizabeth, you probably just READ about garter belts and 29 cent stockings. : ) I agree with you that some shoes, in fact I'd say ALL shoes, feel more comfortable with some from of sock or hose. I loved your example of finger pointing! Thanks for comments.

Barbara: One question, how do the ladies know who is wearing a thong to work??? BEG, (Big Evil Grin)

Cute blog, Barbara!

That's funny that you brought this up, because a few weeks ago when I was cleaning up my closet I finally decided that I will most likely never wear panty hose again and donated the entire large bag of them.

I have not worn them for years. Why? I really don't know. Maybe it's because several years ago I started wearing thongs instead of panties, and pantyhose just don't feel comfortable with those. Maybe it's because I discovered thigh highs, which will go very well for a night out and they are sexier when you take your clothes off, and that makes you feel good, even when you don't have an audience... Thigh highs are also a lot more comfortable and your dress drapes over your derriere better.

Pants are my favorites also, but nothing makes me feel like a woman more than a fine, flowing dress (sans pantyhose, that is...)

Thank you for a cute lifestyle post. Great title by the way!

Mary, I love that BEG (big evil grin) because I've never heard it before. I put on white pants today to go to work. I could have seen thongs underneath if I'd had them on. And my pants were not even tight. So I guess that's how they can tell in some instances.

Mirela, good thing I banned men from this post. They'd get all excited just reading your response with the words thongs, sexier, clothes off. I enjoyed your response so much that I have added you as an associate and subscribed to your blog. Thanks!

What I'm wondering is HOW the clothes police are going to KNOW the woman is wearing a thong? Do they do inspections?

Well, if they wear low rise, you can see the thong if you aren't careful....but that will be the day that my employer gets a say in what undergarments I wear! Regarding pantyhose, I never ever wear them in the summer. In the winter I usually don't wear skirts or dresses unless it is a formal function and then I do wear hose.

Hose went out a long time ago and I say amen! They are too hot and stifling for me!

Leslie, see my answer to Mary above. You may be able to sneak by though.

Lesley, sounds as if you and I are similar. If it is formal seems as if hose are called for. I like knee highs under my pants because my feet sweat and the knee highs keep my feet from sticking to my shoes.

JUN

2008

After all the above comments, mine will be very tame. I have a memory of sitting in church with my parents, I was about 7-8 yrs. old. During the sermon, heard a sound of something falling on the floor. Our church wasn't carpeted, old wooden hardwood floors. I looked under the pew in front and saw an attachment off the woman's garter belt on the floor. I was hysterical with laughter but - being in church - wouldn't dare laugh like I wanted to. Isn't it funny what memories we still have in our minds, when we probably can't remember what we had for dinner last night?

Anita, that's funny. Getting tickled in church was easy to do. I remember being so bored that we kids would read the names of songs from the song book and add "under the covers" and die laughing sometimes. What on earth did the garter have that dropped?

JUN

2008

I just crawled out of bed to respond to you and I read this blog! What a way to start the day....

Anyway the reason I started my group on Internet Crusade was a trade, they are now promoting my DVD and do help me get exposure. With them running the e-Pro program and very close ties to NAR I need to work with them also.

I see you have left Ray in the dust, you will soon be in the 100,000 point club.

Dick, that blog clearly said for ladies only. You guys have a way of just doing what you're not supposed to do.

I understand about the e-PRO now.

I don't know what has happened to Ray. I sent him an email saying I miss him. He's probably in Europe on vacation.

Barbara,

I was checking out active rain today and found this blog. Since you indicated that men should stay quiet, I decided to rebel. Figured you would not mind the comment point. You hit the right topic. This has more comments than a number of featured blogs -- good job.

Steven, thank you for reading (even though it was forbidden : ) and making a comment. I wish I had a record of how many men actually read it! I liked the very first comment made. Go back and read it. It sounds as creative as you are!!

I don't wear panty hose. Not to church, work or anywhere! Except weddings!

Panty hose yuck!

Vanessa, why weddings???? You must elaborate.

Barbara, can I ask, is there any part of the office dress code that pertains to MEN? I mean, I think dressing nice in the office is VERY important... I am always surprised to see what I do.

I think if the office has a policy, it should be respected, but it purturbs me when the rules are all one sided! The IDEA is to have people looking nice and professional, but a lot of times that is not adressed with the guys-- if you know what I mean, sloppy gym cloths, terrible wardrobes, a really really bad tie... or they are just plain stinky.... Kind of makes me want to wear my glitter flip-flops -- SO THERE! ;-) panty hose are so uncomfortable, however, they are still acceptable!

Okay, I am freaked out you all are fixed on the pantyhose and not the thong comment. I want to know: who in the office is the thong police? How do you check that one out???

Ha!

Men,how have you stayed out of that little fact?

Personally I rarely wear dresses. All dress pants ...

Julianna, I guess the codes refer to men too but in a different way. They may have to wear suits and ties!! My favorite saying for years has been that women will never be equal to men until women start wearing sensible shoes. Women wear absolutely dumb shoes.

Erica, I wear pants. I used to love the double knit pant suits. Remember them? They never wrinkled, didn't have to be dry cleaned, and moved when you moved. This blog was not about a real estate office but another type business, much more formal. I don't know how they did the thong check! LOL

I didn't even notice I was being fashionable by not wearing pantyhose any longer...I just hate them. Yes, I wear pants in the winter and when I do have to wear a dress or skirt it's tights or colored panyhose (that don't look like fake skin). But I hate pantyhose AND tights and avoid dresses at all costs for this reason. In the summer I will wear dresses and skirts more often but only after I have a suntan on my legs and can get by without pantyhose. If I wear pant suits in the summer it is alwasy without stockings and with a pair of sandles. There are many ways to dress business like and fashionable without having to wear pantyhose.

Hi again Barbara - this is a fun and clever blog... thats all I have to say at this time ;-)

JUN

2008

Carol, I'll bet you look great and comfortable each day!

Julianna, I'm glad you enjoyed the blog. It's those sneaky guys who read the blog that noticed words that should not even be noticed. It was just about women's fashions....nothing more.

Barbara, for most guys, when you use the words "thong" and "panty" in the same sentence you might as well yell "fire" in a crowded theater:)

Did that company also have a dress code for plumbers and other workers? Must wear jump suits to prevent certain things showing or else get spackled.

Did they have male volunteers for the thong & tatto police? Perhaps a door monitor. All ladies must bend over before being allowed into the building.

How many guys did you think could actually resist reading this?

I guess you're right, Charles. But somehow I thought the guys on activerain were more intelligent and would recognize the serious nature of this blog. It should have been featured, shouldn't it? LOL

Barbara,

Unless the wedding is apparently casual, I wear panty hose because growing up, weddings were super formal events. Panty hoses complete the formal look.

Thanks,

Vanessa.

JUN

2008

Vanessa, beware! You are thinking as your mother would have thought! Remember all the liberated youth now who disregard what was required when they were growing up? I think we all get a little "pang of guilt" at some point when breaking old rules. LOL

Barbara,

My mother's profession requires us (my siblings and I) to be up to par on our etiquette at all times!

We actually had "training" sessions!

BTW...I think "old school rules" are cool. :)

Thanks,

Vanessa.

Vanessa, you are fun! You had training sessions?? On etiquette? We probably need more of those schools now!!

JUN

2008

Barbara, we did. My mom even made us walk with books on our heads to get good posture!

I agree, the youth needs to be trained.

You know I realized after commenting that I'm not all that "young". At least I don't feel so after meeting people born in the 1980's.

JUN

2008

Vanessa, if your mother is still alive, I'll bet she's appalled at the fashion today. Thanks for comments.

JUN

2008

Barbara: Although I have not lived in Cleveland with it's colder winters since 1982, I can remember wearing dressy wool slacks that were nicely lined, and remember the big difference in how they fit (and hung on me) when wearing pantihose rather than not. Things just "hung" better... and when lined, nice wool slacks even "swished"...(LOL) when wearing hose.

And yes, I wear slacks more often than I used to...but I still find them much more "restrictive" than wearing a dress. And... phooey on the old-school rantings about being against wearing dresses. I used to hear that all the time from my sister feminists in the seventies. Although I was very much a feminist... sorry... I wear exactily what I feel like wearing... whether or not someone else... male or female... thinks it is "too dressy." I am, more often than not, considered slightly "overdressed" pretty much wherever I go. I also find that it has somewhat of a positive effect on my own mood.

Thanks for your post, Barbara. It inspired a nice and fun thread of "girl talk." It was a nice "recess period."

Karen Anne, I was the opposite. I hated the feel of panty hose under pants. I mostly wore pants to avoid the feel and still wear the knee-highs instead. I'd love to see you all "overdressed" sometime. Send us a photo! Thanks for the comment.

I hate stockings...If I can go without them and just make sure that my legs are not too marked up from chasing the kids around then I would rather leave them behind..they are hot and really the color of stocking no matter how much you pay for them never truly matches the color of my skin...so I ask why wear them if you do not have to? sometimes I think less is more...just put some nice lotion on your legs and they sell it with a tint in it if you need.. Ha ha this post is rather funny!

JUN

2008

Ginger, you are right up there with the fashion crowd! I need me some of that lotion with a tint. What kind is best? Thanks for reading an d commenting.

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Barbara S. Duncan, CRS, GRI, e-PRO Searcy AR

Searcy, AR

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