Fashion tip: Leg wear and skirts in cold weather
Call it my European, traditional (in some respects) upbringing, but I rarely go bare legged. The exception is when engaged in sporty activities where one gets wet, dirty, or really sweaty. And Texas between May and October, because one also gets really sweaty just by stepping outside.
I dislike being bare legged. I don't know about other women, but no matter how much I exfoliate, shave, moisturize and allow my legs to get sun-kissed (I don't tan because that's bad for the skin), I remain self-conscious about the way they look. Cover them up with nude stockings and bam, I feel ready for a photo shoot. When I am in Texas in the non-winter months, I give up on feeling sexy, or anywhere near comfortable.
Up North in the peak of summer, I use nude band stocking. On a hot day, I might go with a light, longer skirt and knee-highs. In late spring, nude sheer pantyhose. In early fall, darker sheer pantyhose. In late fall, opaque stockings. I have fun with colors then! In winter, wool tights.
In an earlier post, I stated that shoes could make or break an outfit. The same goes for leg wear. The right pair of shoes combined with the right leg wear can take a $20 look to a $200 look. It is equally possible to bring down a designer skirt simply by pairing it with flip-flops and an undignified walk (it's tough to walk elegantly with flip-flops).
Here is an example with a simple sweater dress. First look: bare legs with boots.
Here is the same dress, with the "adult" look. One trick I learned is to keep things monochromatic to lengthen a silhouette. Mine needs all the elongating it can get. Heels also help.
Cold? Pair the skirt with winter tights and boots.
Cold in the morning, but not in the afternoon (or well heated indoors), the wonders of leg warmers (these from my trip to Chile). Or if it's super cold, then winter tights + legwarmers (hmmmm...). Also, knee-highs.
Speaking of warmth, I demonstrated leg wear with a short dress. For colder weather, I have a host of longer, warm fabric skirts (for example my ruffle knit skirt). When I come into work wearing one of them on a cold winter day, people often ask me if I am cold. Why would I be? Allow me to put on my physicist hat for a minute. How do we keep our legs warm? Is it by covering them with fabric that follows the leg closely down to the bottom (pants)? No, what keeps us warm is the pocket of air between the fabric and the legs. A long, tightly woven skirt traps more air than pants do. For maximum effect, pair up with winter tights and boots. Or go all out and layer over underskirts. I am ready to bet that I am actually warmer than the pant-wearers. I did try it before. I don't miss the feeling of cold jean fabric on my legs.
Never give up on wearing skirts and dresses simply because it's cold. Never give up on comfort either. Unless it's Texas summer. Then there is no choice.
I dislike being bare legged. I don't know about other women, but no matter how much I exfoliate, shave, moisturize and allow my legs to get sun-kissed (I don't tan because that's bad for the skin), I remain self-conscious about the way they look. Cover them up with nude stockings and bam, I feel ready for a photo shoot. When I am in Texas in the non-winter months, I give up on feeling sexy, or anywhere near comfortable.
Up North in the peak of summer, I use nude band stocking. On a hot day, I might go with a light, longer skirt and knee-highs. In late spring, nude sheer pantyhose. In early fall, darker sheer pantyhose. In late fall, opaque stockings. I have fun with colors then! In winter, wool tights.
In an earlier post, I stated that shoes could make or break an outfit. The same goes for leg wear. The right pair of shoes combined with the right leg wear can take a $20 look to a $200 look. It is equally possible to bring down a designer skirt simply by pairing it with flip-flops and an undignified walk (it's tough to walk elegantly with flip-flops).
Here is an example with a simple sweater dress. First look: bare legs with boots.
To be fair, I don't dislike that look, but of course it's not comfortable in the winter time. Also, I can't go to work dressed like this.
Cold? Pair the skirt with winter tights and boots.
Cold in the morning, but not in the afternoon (or well heated indoors), the wonders of leg warmers (these from my trip to Chile). Or if it's super cold, then winter tights + legwarmers (hmmmm...). Also, knee-highs.
Speaking of warmth, I demonstrated leg wear with a short dress. For colder weather, I have a host of longer, warm fabric skirts (for example my ruffle knit skirt). When I come into work wearing one of them on a cold winter day, people often ask me if I am cold. Why would I be? Allow me to put on my physicist hat for a minute. How do we keep our legs warm? Is it by covering them with fabric that follows the leg closely down to the bottom (pants)? No, what keeps us warm is the pocket of air between the fabric and the legs. A long, tightly woven skirt traps more air than pants do. For maximum effect, pair up with winter tights and boots. Or go all out and layer over underskirts. I am ready to bet that I am actually warmer than the pant-wearers. I did try it before. I don't miss the feeling of cold jean fabric on my legs.
Never give up on wearing skirts and dresses simply because it's cold. Never give up on comfort either. Unless it's Texas summer. Then there is no choice.
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