Vote Here: Black hose in Aug?
 

OK, I've been reading some of the older posts and noticed that some sororities dress codes specify black hose with black dresses on Pref. What do you think? Are black hose appropriate on an August afternoon when temperatures might (probably will be) over 100 degrees?

I would think that this refers to the members of the chapter and not the PNMs. I would actually recommend that your daughter wear something other than black to pref so that she stands out, but that is completely her choice. There is no "dress code" for PNMs during pref other than to dress nicely. As for hose, it really depends on the school. I'm from the west coast, and wearing nylons during fall rush was always miserable. It's a good thing it's a lot more relaxed at my university.

I vote NO on the black hose! My chapter had to wear them on Pref Day, and all I can say is, thank God our house had air-conditioning!

I vote NO too!!! My house was thisclose to wearing them for Pref last year but luckily our daychair changed her mind at the very last second. I am not a fan of pantyhose in general so I was very relieved. ;)

No hose in August!

I hate hate hate nylons in general, but it does look very nice to have everyone in black dresses, black hose, and black shoes.

(it still doesn't mean I like them)

Nope.

I definately vote NO! One of the best things about being young is that we've all got great legs! Plus it's summer time anyway and I always hated hose with opened toed shoes

I vote no on the hose, too. A nice pair of tanned legs looks better that time of year!

absolutely not.

why is everyone so against black hose... we wear nice black dresses, black hose AND black closed toed shoes for the Pref day of our summer rush in the Atlanta humidity.... its only for a few hours and we are indoors the whole time so its not like we even NOTICE its summer out. plus, everyone looks very nice and all alike, and its much more modest and appropriate for Pref then having tans and legs hanging out everywhere.

definetely NO black hose in August. it is WAY too hot no matter WHERE you are (and trust me I'm writing from Michigan) black hose is more appropriate for when it gets colder. also, nothing would be worse than a group of girls who are already too hot in black dresses then if they had to wear sweaty hose that would be pinching, slipping, etc. It would be too miserable to wear the hose than for what it is worth.

I am in no way against black hose. They are just fine. But, in August, with open-toed shoes? Nope. Pref isn't a MAJOR formal event, and with the walking around, rushees run the risk of runs in these hose.

I absolutely hate nylons and when I wear them, it's always a nude/tan color, not black. I know I'm in the minority here, but I think nylons are ridiculous, especially in summer. As long as you have nice legs, bare legs look much better to me (except in if you get super-white in winter, and even then it creeps me out to see a girl with super-white arms and tan legs from her nylons). It just disturbs me to see legs that are a different color than your arms. And hose just look horrible with open-toed shoes, and I rarely wear closed-toed ones.

I know this is both a combination of regional difference and personal preference (I'm sure you Southern belles are all :eek: at me right now :p) . . . but you'd never see black nylons during rush up here at Wisconsin, and many of the girls wouldn't be wearing nylons at all.

i love how passionate some of you are about the subject!!! i, too, would vote no, though sometimes i wish i could wear them even though i don't care for them. i bruise very easily and my legs are often marred with some purple/green/yellow (mardi gras!) marks. i guess before august 16 i need to try to be more careful to my stems and maybe get them a little darker via sunlight instead of bruising ;)

Well from a fashion standpoint, a nice black dress on a summer evening (or day) is going to look much more chic with tan legs and a strappy heel than black hose and closed toe pumps. I guess it just depends on your personal taste.

Since your daughter is going to be a PNM I say that she doesn't need to wear pantyhose. HOWEVER my chapter WILL be wearing black hose for pref becuase pantyhouse are ALWAYS required under our dress code for ritual meetings/events and black is the color for pref. I know I'm in the minority here (espceially here in Cali where people wear white shoes year round and tend not to care about rules such as panty hose and matching your belt to your shoes) but, when trying to look classy/ put together panty hose just HELP no matter how tan/young you are.
BTW toeless pantyhose (NOT completely footless) are WONDERFUL WONDERFUL thing Donna Karan is the only person I know who has them on the market.. (you can find them at department stores Macy's ETC..) they are kinda expensive (like 15-20 a pair)... but the colors match your skin perfectly and still show off your pedicure... they are SOO GREAT !! :D

While it may look nice, not everyone tans. Either they don't want to because of health concerns (and no one should be MADE to tan!) or self tanner makes them look like a muppet.

I'm writing this as very "white" person who doesn't tan well. I'd rather suffer through hose than show my white legs with a black dress (think of the contrast in colors). Although I think i'd prefer nude hose over black for August.

My chapter wore black hose, but then again, our pref was the very end of September or early October, so it's slightly more acceptable then.

my vote
 

I would NEVER wear pantyhose with open toed shoes!! Though I haven't seen the toe-less variety, so I cannot judge that.

At any rate, while pref may start at 4 pm, it's going to end in the evening, at most schools. Therefore, hose in the evening under a formal dress (such as you would wear to prom) is acceptable, and in my opinion expected, for a formal event so that you look completely pulled together. I sat in my pantyhose in the Florida heat, I've braved it for 5 years now through Recruitment, and in the idea of putting your best foot forward (since we all know we feel and act different when dressed up) then I don't think it's too brutal to put up with for those few hours to make a good impression. This is the last time the chapters will see you before making decisions and I would want to make myself look as "together" as possible. Not that all of Recruitment comes down to pantyhose on Pref night by any means, but that's just how I see it. Furthermore, if you're putting on a fancy dress, have your nails and hair looking their best, nice shoes, etc., don't you feel like something's missing when your legs are bare like you're wearing shorts. I just feel that pantyhose are a requirement for formal attire regardless the time of day.

And by the way, my entire chapter will be wearing pantyhose in the blazing Florida heat for Pref night, so yes it can be done and you can survive it!!

Tara

I have a Phi Mu castle...

Thank God. I was afraid every single blessed person on earth had given up hose.

If you are wearing closed toed shoes, wear hose. Period. the sorority members are wearing black shifts and black closed toe shoes, so they need hose.

If you have the most perfect, cellulite free, scar free, tanned, toned legs on earth you can go without. If you don't, either wear regular hose and closed-toed shoes or if you want to wear open toes, get the toeless hose (I'm sure you can find them on the internet if you can't find them in a store).

I work in the biggest office building in Pgh so I see ANYTHING and EVERYTHING when it comes to dress. I say get in the habit of putting on hose once in a while, because there is nothing more ghastly than women who NEED hose (i.e. older women or women of any age with veiny feet) not wearing them because they think it's "in."

I don't see a problem with black hose in August.

As my gramother always says, "a lady always wears hose with her dress. You don't want people to think that you are a lady without morals."

I know that is old fashion ,but I stick by it.

I think that pantyhose, in any form, are evil. I hate them! Seriously, for pref. night, unless your organization has some type of rule about it, I vote no. I think that summer is the time for open toed shoes, and open toed shoes with hose is a fashion faux pas, period.

I'm also somewhat shocked that so many people have mentioned that tan legs look fine without hose. People still tan?! Call me nutty, but I'm not interested in getting skin cancer and looking older than I am with wrinkles and age spots from spending too much time in the sun. I see absolutely nothing wrong with showing off your lovely pale skin, but if you're self conscious about it, you can always slather on some sparkly lotion like Benefit's Lightning to give your legs a bit of a glow.

Maybe its just an AOII thing! :) I was an AOII at Georgia Southern University (we're talking SOUTH Georgia) and we wore black dresses, black hose and black closed toed shoes. As far as I know, they still do. Its very classy looking, and like you said, its indoors. As for the PNMs, I don't think its as big of a deal. Like someone said earlier, sometimes its better to ditch the black and wear something that stands out more.

PNM's certainly should not wear black dresses and black hose...

For Sisters though, if you have to wear hose, make it fun! A few of my sisters and I got real sexy garter belts to wear under our dresses for pref. It's our little secret, but it made us giggle a bit and not hate it all night long.

PS. I'm short, so when I wear regular hose anyway, it come up to my breasts!! Even the short variety!! So I've always worn thigh-highs of one variety or another.

Black hose used to be the norm here, but we ditched them because it just looks tacky. Unless you're wearing opaque tights (even tackier), black hose make your legs look splotchy black/gray. So we do black dresses, nude hose, and black shoes. If you're wearing open-toe shoes, just buy the sandalfoot type. No one can tell you're wearing hose with your shoes. I wouldn't go without hose, though. I've always been told that a lady wears stockings any time she wears a dress.

I would say if you have megga formal rush wear them cause it'll look better. if it is totally laid back, ditch them.

I love the toeless ones!!!! They sell them at Wal-mart (for those on a budget) maybe not as great as dept store ones, but they work great mine have lasted forever, you just have to look. One warning, is that they sometimes look funny ifyour shoes are too strappy. you can see the end of the nylon and the beginning of flesh, but other than that they are fablous!!! (besides you can wear flip flops till you actaully have to put the heals on, great for you knees when you stand for 30hours)

I would say if you have megga formal rush wear them cause it'll look better. if it is totally laid back, ditch them.

I love the toeless ones!!!! They sell them at Wal-mart (for those on a budget) maybe not as great as dept store ones, but they work great mine have lasted forever, you just have to look. One warning, is that they sometimes look funny ifyour shoes are too strappy. you can see the end of the nylon and the beginning of flesh, but other than that they are fablous!!! (besides you can wear flip flops till you actaully have to put the heals on, great for you knees when you stand for 30hours)

I think opinons on panty hose maybe come from how you were raised etc. I was never told ANYTHING negative or positive about pantyhose growing up, my mom put them on us when we were little for church and then when I felt like it I would buy them as a teen (like 4 years ago). I never think about whether it's apropriate or not because I was never told. There isn't usually advice on hose in fashion mags these days (unless it's fishnets or work wear etc.), so I just never think about it. (The exception was when I did Jr. Miss at 17 when we were told we had to wear hose under our athletic routine shorts to make our legs look even. That's also where I learned many other staples of southern lady etiquette (crossing your legs at the knee?...no,no, you'll look like a streetwalker);) so I vote: if you like to wear panty hose you should, if you don't then you shouldn't. I cringe at the thought of a house that would actually cut a girl who did or did not wear panty hose to pref. If you feel pretty, then you will be.

edited to add: you could also feel the question out within your rush group, if the whole group is going one way a pnm might feel more comfortable following suite. or ask your PX!

I ALWAYS wear panty hose if I'm in a dress or skirt. I don't feel dressed up without them, and I would blind people since I am unable to tan. Of course, this means that most of the time I am wearing closed-toed shoes, but oh well....

If I am not mistaken, we are talking about what a PNM should wear, not what the sorority members are required to wear. In the South, the black dress, black hose, black closed-toe shoes for pref is the norm it seems for the chapters, but PNMs are hoofing it all over the place in the heat. They are not in the turbo-air-conditioned indoors like the chapters are.

If you are super pale and you don't want your legs to show and glow...he he...just don't show as much leg. Pref is serious anyway, so try a dress that is mid-calf, or one of those cute dresses that is cut on the bias. That way, you're not all leg.
If I were a PNM though, I would not choose to wear black to pref 'cause I would want to stand out. If I did wear black, I would wear a piece of jewelry that was unique.

All that being said, I am pale and I wear black just fine!

And all of THAT being said...by pref, they are already willing to put you on a bid list so as long as you don't commit a MAJOR faux pas, you will be fine!

Finally, someone who got back to the topic at hand. This post was about a PNM.

Your daughter's going thru recruitment in Oklahoma? I say no. And I agree with the others who say a PNM shouldn't wear black to pref. She wants to be remembered, not look like everyone else. If she has a nice tan or good legs, hose are optional, but otherwise nice nude or tan hose are needed to look finished.

NO! Unless you are in the very, very, very deep south, and in that case- it's going to be hot enough, why torture yourself.

Okay... according to the most recent magazines, nylons are out (Yea!! from someone that hates them). I know we are not going for who is the most fashion forward, but if you can not wear nylons and have a reason (other than hating them) to not wear them, I say don't!!!!!! I think it is how comfortable the PNM feels about wearing them.

Anyways, just my $0.02

ditto....
 

nude is a good thing...
but if you can avoid it and still look the part well, go with the leg.
it's just too darn hot.
:D

I say no to black hose, but think that the naked leg at prefs in a cocktail dress is a no-no as well. Nude hose, and you can get the toeless kind so you can wear your sandals without the toe seam of the regular hose. Yeah, it's hot, but it's only a couple hours, and trust me, it's HOT AS HELL in Philly.

I vote no....wear nude hose or go bare!!

I think the general consensus here is that we all want to look pulled together and at our very best no matter which side of rush you're on. That includes alumnae who will be helping out, like myself!
So hose or no hose, have a great recruitment!

:cool: :cool: :)

Ugh. My chapter hates black hose so we finally decided to go with nude this year because we think black hose looks so gross with everything else being black.

I would check at the individual school and see if that is the norm there for the rushees. If it's for the sisters only, she shouldn't have to worry, but if they expect the PNMs to do it, she should just go with the flow (although if I were her, I'd be crabby about it ;) ).