NPCER: Do I really have to wear pantyhose?

[gpw]

I have an interview tomorrow. I am planning on wearing a skirt. Do I *really* have to wear pantyhose? (read that in the most whiney way possible, please).

It's at a law firm. I really don't want to wear hose. I hate them with the fire of a thousand suns.

Can I wear pants?

[emilyj]

I would wear a skirt and no hose.

When I interviewed for my current job, I didn't wear hose. I've done formal conference presentations - no hose.

I say screw it.

[StrawberryBlondie]

If you're going to be interviewed by a woman and you're wearing a skirt - yes, wear hose. She'll notice if you're not and unless she's young, she'll probably judge you for it.

Pants should be fine. Unless you're being interviewed by older male attorneys. In which case, wear a skirt.

[Deleted]

if your legs are in good shape and tanned I say no hose.

[msmerymac]

I'm super pro-hose, oddly enough, but no, you don't HAVE to. And I don't think it will affect you either way. I really don't know of anyone who didn't get a job because they didn't wear pantyhose.

You could wear pants, too. Like black dress pants with a black blazer. Either that or a skirt suit is good.

But I would definitely wear closed toed heels. Personally, I don't like wearing closed toed heels with bare legs, but right now it's so hot where I live that I might consider it too!

[Kristinmo]

I interviewed last week wearing a skirt. I wore hose and I never wear hose to work.

I have a second interview tomorrow and I'm wearing pants.

[orangeblossom]

I vote yes, but I'm known to be conservative when it comes to interview attire. Anything else, I avoid hose, and am not a conservative dresser.

[arborgold]

No, and no. I'm being serious when I say that I don't think I've worn hose since I was 11 or 12. And, yes, I occasionally HAVE had interviews, and even had jobs come from those interviews. Even if it's at a firm, I wouldn't wear them (no one at my exes firm did).

I'd still wear a skirt suit, though, instead of pants. And closed toed shoes (at least for the interview). But that may just be me...

[Deleted]

Yes. I always err on the side of being more conservative in interviews. And I think that no hose looks unprofessional, although you get a pass if you live in a stupidly hot climate.

[josieposy]

In a law firm I'd err on the conservative side and wear the hose.

[Deleted]

Yes, you do have to - you knew that and that's why you're whining, LOL.

It just seems to me that the odds are in favor of hose. *Some* people are going to judge you for not wearing hose with a skirt to an interview. Many won't judge you negatively for bare legs, but you know what - they won't hold hose against you either. So the only possible negative is no hose. Personally, I think it's much more polished looking and most people look better with them. I can certainly understand not wanting to wear them in the summer though.

[gpw]

so, I'm interviewing with a man and with a woman... I wonder if it's a bad idea to post them here. Maybe I'll post and edit in a bit.

and sand, you're right...in my heart I know I should but I don't waaaaaannnnntttt to!!! I've been working in the circuit court for almost a year and the only hose I wear are black patterned ones and I think summer is probably a bad time for black hose.

Blech. I hate hose.

Edited to take out the specific people and firm I am interviewing with.

[aurora]

I wore a skirt suit without hose to interview for my current job (admittedly not a law firm).

To the PP who said no harm can come from wearing them, I absolutely will judge candidates for giving in to peer pressure to wear those ridiculously uncomfortable things. But, I wouldn't let that influence my hiring recommendation.

[arborgold]

The man won't give a shit if you're wearing hose or not (though I'd wear a skirt suit) and the woman worked at Legal Aid in NYC - so, no, she won't give a shit if you're wearing hose, either.

[Deleted]

Law firms and banks, yes. Everywhere else, no.

[copzgirl1171]

Hose.

My boss would notice, but he would also notice if a man was wearing an outdated tie.

[Daria Morgandorffer]

Yep. Especially for law firms. Sorry dude!

[aw]

I would either wear pants or wear the hose. I find that it's a generational thing and that older people are going to judge you harshly for not wearing the hose. It all depends on who is doing the interview, but you want to make a good impression, so why not wear them?

Signed,

The prude that still likes to wear hose

[charminglife]

Since you're interviewing at a law firm, wear the hose.

[teflep]

If you don't want to wear hose, you should, wear pants. Tailored suit looks just as smart as a skirt does.

[Deleted]

i didn't wear pantyhose to any of my law firm interviews.

[bqbride]

Maybe it's because I live in an insanely hot climate, but I thought only 90 year old women wore pantyhose these days? You know, the same little old ladies who match their lipstick, handbag and shoes. Do people still wear pantyhose?

[Deleted]

Aug 21, 2012 10:19:07 GMT -5 @bqbride said:

Maybe it's because I live in an insanely hot climate, but I thought only 90 year old women wore pantyhose these days? You know, the same little old ladies who match their lipstick, handbag and shoes. Do people still wear pantyhose?

I wear them. I just feel unprofessional without them. But I live in a place that is ridiculously cold and snowy from November-April and people would think you were nuts if you were bare legged during that season.

[bqbride]

I stand corrected. It's just so hot here that I literally can't remember the last time I saw someone in pantyhose.

:::shudders at the thought of wearing pantyhose in 100+ degree heat:::

[gpw]

thanks for all the input, ladies! I wore the hose. Maybe there was some new job dust in them, we shall see, lol!

Just as a point of note, though...both the man and woman I interviewed with were wearing jeans. I agree with those of you who said better safe than sorry, so I'm not bitter that I wore them (well, I am, but that's just because they suck) and they really didn't look so bad, either. Guess I had some that matched my skin tone pretty well. That's not to say I will wear them again unless I have to!