Cathie Answers
Your
Fashion and Style Questions
I do not own any gray shoes or gray boots. Should I wear gray or black tights with black shoes or black boots and a gray skirt or gray coat?
  
Black tights look great with black shoes and/or boots and gray skirts, coats etc.
I am going to a wedding 1st week of May and have a medium blue cocktail dress that is about 6-8 inches below the knee. Wedding is in NJ.. What color and type of shoe should I wear & also what color stockings?
   
With a medium blue dress you have several options. You can try metallic, beige, off white or black patent leather.
Since the wedding is in New Jersey and the weather may be cool you can wear a sling back or pump style shoe with nude color hosiery. You can wear sandal style shoes but without stockings. Today the young women do not wear hose. You look dated and web footed when you wear hose with sandal or peep toe shoes. If you decide to go with sandals get a pedicure and apply bronzer to white legs.
I am wearing a midnight blue bridesmaid dress that is cocktail length to a May wedding. What color pantyhose or tights would go?
 You might want to check with the bride to see what style shoes she would like the bridesmaids to wear. Tights are a little heavy looking for a May wedding. With a midnight blue bridesmaid dress wear nude (skin color) stockings and pumps or sling back style shoes. If you are wearing sandals or peep-toe style shoes don't wear stockings, it is not considered stylish today. If you don't wear stockings get a pedicure and use bronzer on white legs. You might want to read "Are Stockings Obsolete?"
I'm going to a wedding in Texas the first week of March. I'm planning to wear a little black dress with a wrap. I don't know if I should wear sandals or pumps and what color of hosiery I should wear, black or nude?
  
You can wear pumps or sandals with your “LBD.” Since it is spring choose nude color stockings. As far as shoe style black or silver metallic* shoes can be worn. If the weather is cold and you may want to wear sheers and black pumps. Sandals are perfectly correct also but you don’t wear stockings with sandals. (You will get a web footed look with hosiery.)
Other choices would be sling backs with nude sandal foot sheers or peeptoe style shoes without stockings.
If you decide on sandals or peep toes get a manicure and use a bronzer on white legs.
Always look in the mirror to decide which combination looks best on you.
* If you want to wear silver metallic go with sandal style shoes. A silver metallic pump might be too much.
I am trying to make a "rocking outfit". I have a black/white graphic tee with silver studs, an over-sized gray cardigan sweater and black suede boots. I am going to buy jean leggings to go inside the boots. What color should I get?
 From the description of your outfit, black jean leggings or just black leggings would be my choice.
I'm wearing a jewel tone dress with a black patent belt in early March. I have a great pair of black patent peep toe heels. Can I wear black tights with the
peep toe pumps or do I need to wear a closed toe shoe?
It is very stylish to wear black tights with peep toe style shoes. Be sure to try your dress, tights and shoes on, check in the mirror and be sure it looks good together and flattering on you.
  
I am going out to eat on Valentine's Day with my boyfriend. I am wearing a gray dress that stops at my knee (around) and high red pumps with a red clutch. Should I wear a shear nude stocking?
  
You have a number of options. You can wear nude stockings with the outfit you described or you might want to try sheer gray hosiery or grey tights and see which combination looks best with the dress and flatters you.
Is it all right to wear pantyhose with a sling back shoe or a backless shoe?
 Yes, it is all right to wear pantyhose with sling back shoes. Choose "sandal foot" type hosiery. Sling backs look great (sexy) with neutral or skin color hosiery. They are a great dressy shoe style for cold weather since you can wear stockings with them.
How do I coordinate my slacks, socks, & shoes?
In general when in doubt wear dark shoes and socks with dark pants and light color socks and shoes with light colored slacks. If you match the color of your slacks, socks and shoes you can't go wrong. This will give you a put together look.
If you want to wear striped or patterened socks be sure the socks have a color of your slacks in them.
 These socks/knee highs would look good with black, matching red or denim pants. Black shoes would look the best. Always check in the mirror to see if your choices look good on you.
I bought a short black sequined dress for new year's eve at a nightclub...is it OK to wear black tights with it, or is it better to not
wear any?
 It is perfectly OK to wear black tights with your short black sequined dress to a nightclub. Try your dress and tights on and see how it looks. If it looks good on you go for it! If you don't like how it looks try some other combinations and choose whichever looks the best.
If I am wearing a black dress and silver shoes what color hose should I wear; black, silver, or nude? The dress has a slit on the sides that comes up to the knee. I need a quick response.
Nude stockings would look the best with silver pumps or silver sling backs.
Today you don't wear sheer stockings with sandals (you get a web footed
look). You can wear black tights with silver peep toe shoes or go without stockings.
If you wear peep toe or sandal style shoes without stockings get a pedicure and
apply bronzer to white legs.
I am wearing a black pencil skirt above the knee, emerald green sleeveless silky top, and black open toed pumps. Wondering which hose would be best, nude or black? This isn't a formal gathering. I will actually be one of the few in a dress. I also have some black fishnet with small openings as an option. I do feel nude show off my legs more. Please help:)
 Most stylist would say not to wear sheer stockings with peep toe shoes. Your black fishnet or black tights would be very stylish with your peep toes.
You can also try a black stockings with a pattern. Fishnet or patterened stockings will call attention to beautiful legs.
Make your final decision after trying the different options on. Wear what is the most flattering.
What color of stockings and shoes should I wear with a dark red satin cocktail dress?
  
With a dark red dress you can wear black shoes and black sheer or nude color stockings.
If you have attractive legs and would like to call attention to them try wearing dressy stockings with simple style black shoes (pumps or slingbacks).
You could also try black suede shoes with sequins or other decorations with sheer stockings. Again you will draw attention to your leg and ankle areas.
Metallic shoes might be an option also. Try some different combinations to see which is most flattering on you.
Sandal style shoes would also work but you can't wear stockings with them without looking web footed. If you want to wear sandals with the dress get a pedicure and wear a bronzer on your legs if they are white.
If the weather is cold wearing a closed toe shoe will be more comfortable.
Can I wear black tights with suede peep toe pumps to an evening wedding in December?
Yes you can wear black tights with suede peep toe pumps to a December evening wedding.
I am wearing a black & white dress - knee length to a New Year's eve wedding. I wanted to wear black hose, but was told these are out of fashion! If this is true, what do I wear?
 There are not too many hard and fast rules about what to wear or what not to wear today. The important thing is that you want to look terrific. There is nothing wrong with wearing black hose if it looks the best with your outfit. Nude hosiery / skin color is a little more dressy than black so give both a try and see which looks better on you with the dress you are wearing.
Can older women wear leggings?
 "Of course if they have a good figure I think leggings look sexy on older women. They cover the hips and show the legs. Leggings cover the skin (not so firm as we grow older) and show the shape. Another plus is that they look great with low or flat shoes - a total winner for older women. One of my favorites was black leggings paired with a fresh white tunic boarderd with lace." Jeannick Minet
I will be attending a very fancy evening wedding on Labor Day weekend. I have a beige dress with sheer over jacket. The dress is mid calf length. The jacket has some bead work and is about 4" shorter than the dress. I need to wear low heels. What color shoes and hose should I wear?
 
Low heeled metallic or beige sandals sound perfect. You might want to buy a few pairs and try them with your dress to see which look the best. You shouldn't wear stockings with sandals or you'll look web-footed. If you want to wear hose wear beige (match your dress) or metallic sling back shoes with skin color hosiery.
I'm attending a formal evening wedding. I plan to wear a knee length black dress. Should I wear black opaque tights or nude stockings with black shoes?
As you know there are not many hard and fast rules about fashion these days. You can go either way. My preference for an evening wedding would be nude or sheer black stockings. Black opaque tights might look a little heavy. Stockings with sling backs are dressier than pumps and would be great with nude stockings for a more polished look. If you wear sandals with heels get a pedicure and apply bronzer to white legs (no stockings with sandals). Try the different options that you have to wear on. Look in the mirror. Pick what looks the best on you.
My daughter makes fun of me when I wear socks with my tennis shoes and shorts. What am I suppose to wear with my tennis shoes and shorts? I'm a young, petite 59 year old.
 Today it is more stylish to wear sandals, flip flops, or flats with shorts. However if you prefer to wear tennis shoes with your shorts get some golf or tennis socks ("footies") and you'll look more up-to-date.
What color tights do you wear with gray, brown or black?
Black tights look good with grey, brown and black. Solid color tights are most versatile because they can be worn for casual and/or dressy occasions and go with everything. For casual events you might choose black ribbed tights or small/tiny patterns in black and brown that you can wear with black or brown or grey and black combinations. Try mixing and matching. Check the mirror to see what combinations look best before venturing out.
I am wearing a sweater dress for the holidays. It is above the knee and somewhat A-line. It is a short turtle neck style. It reminds me of the "Twiggy" days. My question is this....would black opaque tights and flats look good with it? If so, what kind of black flat? (Patent leather, suede, etc.)
 The black opaque tights with black flats would look good with the sweater dress you described. Patent leather would be my first choice if they are plain (without too much decoration) but black suede would look good also. They should be plain like a ballerina flat. Another option would be black knee high boots and black tights.
Can I wear black stockings with open-toe shoes?
 The experts say never wear nude (skin color) stockings with open-toed shoes or sandals. It gives you a web footed look. However you can wear black opaque stockings or tights with open-toe shoes. Sheer black stockings look best with black pumps or black flats.
|
Ask a Fashion Expert!
