Nude tights - why the hatred?

[ZombiePlan]

I've seen so many journos and style bloggers criticising the Duchess of Cambridge for wearing sheer nude tights (despite the fact that she has to wear tights due to Royal protocol). But I don't understand why they seem to universally be seen as a bad thing? I think my legs look much worse when left bare (tbh I think most people look better in tights) and, let's face it, even in summer it can be bloody cold in the UK. So why the hatred? I genuinely don't get it. Can someone tell me why sheer tights are so reviled?

[HouseOfBamboo]

I hate them because they ladder as soon as you look at them.

They are not eco friendly as they need replacing so often.

They remind me of going to work.

They are sweaty and unpleasant.

The over 70s wear them with slacks on top.

Of course this applies to all sheer tights, not just American tan ones, though they are somehow especially depressing.

[LaurieFairyCake]

I agree that they look much better than British blotchy skin.

It's just envy for me as they are clearly expensive, worn once £15 tights on her.

[ChippyMinton]

I like them, although I rarely wear them.
Much better than sheer black, which is very ageing and tacky.

[DoraJarr]

and the NUDE prosthetic shoes ew ew ew

imagine a protocol on hosiery

[Zwitterion]

I hate tights and never ever wear them. They make me grumpy.

Nude tights have a slightly sausagey look to them, especially shiny ones.

[HouseOfBamboo]

Oh yes forgot to mention that any lightish tights make my legs look like giant sausages. Anything with a sheen especially bad.

Frankly, what's to love about the bastards?

[VivaLeBeaver]

I wear them and think my legs look much better in them. Don't care what the fashionistas say. I'm currently liking nude micronets quite a lot.

[ragged]

I am American, can I tell you what the standard ubiquitous British black tights look like to our eyes?
Depressing,
Severe,
unhealthy,
must have something to hide (dirt or hair or scars on legs),
darkly unhappy,
out of sync with usual colours (in Sunnier places you wear much brighter & happier colours than is usual in Britain),
harder to match (tan is seen as going with almost anything but black only goes with black & similar dark dreary colours)

[HouseOfBamboo]

And they look v unpleasant shrivelled limply over radiators.

Mind you i dont suppose our Kate has that problem, straight in the bin for hers probably.

[HouseOfBamboo]

I think the thing about nude or tan tights is that they are supposed to look 'natural' but in reality do have that prosthetic air about them.

At least black tights just are what they are and have the advantage of making your legs look thinner.

[DoraJarr]

i dont like them but then i have ossom pins

i think nowadays the 7 denier ones are almost impossible to detect

[MakesCakesWhenStressed]

Tights protect your feet, too - high heels are buggers for blisters. Plus bare legs are naff unless it's really hot and wearing sandals.

[Bunbaker]

I wear nude tights to work occasionally because:

The aircon at work is arctic
Blotchy legs are not a good look
Black tights look odd in spring and summer and don't go with my clothes
My legs don't need to look thinner and they don't look like sausages in tights
My legs are my best asset and I like to show them off sometimes
I don't find them sweaty because I don't wear them when the weather is warm

I don't find tights particularly comfortable and much prefer the slightly tanned bare look, but in our weather it isn't always practical.

I also wear linen trousers and Per Una occasionally and don't buy from Boden. So shoot me down.

[HouseOfBamboo]

7 denier though - do you have to spend the day in a giant hamster ball so you don't snag them on anything? With gloves on so you don't get them with your nails?

[Catslikehats]

It's because they are fake - you are wearing something that is supposed to look like something else.

Falls in to the same category as extensions, spray tans, false nails etc. 1% of the time they are ok if chosen sensibly and worn subtely. 99% of the time they look weird.

Yes of course glossy, smooth, tanned legs look better than mottled, blotchy stubbly ones. But tan tights do not give you the former. They give you mottled, blotchy stubbly legs covered in nylon.

[ZombiePlan]

Agree that bare legs are tacky tacky tacky unless you're wearing sandals or flip flops (ie v casual). So what do the fashionistas want us to do when we're wearing a nice dress and glam shoes (esp if you blister v easily)? Like lots of you said, you can't wear black tights with summery clothes. Think I'm going to stick to my 7 denier natural skin coloured tights (not American Tan, though, agree they are ew).

Bunbaker - are linen trousers also a thumbs-down? Never knew that! Maybe I'm just really old-fashioned and hadn't realised [hshock] Agree with you on Boden though. It's awfully mumsy.

[TheBolter]

I wear toeless sheer tights. My legs looks better with a smooth and even skin tone, my varicose vein hidden away. I don't like my legs much so 7 denier clad is the only way I'll have them on display.

[coastgirl]

There is a woman at work who is still wearing black opaques with black suits (and, on more than one occasion, espadrilles). Any pair of nude tights would be an improvement over black tights in July.

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

jeez black tights and espadrilles.

yak.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I wear nude hold-ups for work as I think that having bare legs at work looks really unprofessional. The M&S ones last pretty well though I agree that they do look vile draped over the radiator!

[smartyparts]

Opaques with espadrilles!!

Nude tights add an air of mumsyness. KM has, no doubt, got lovely legs so why bother? In this day and age is she really expected to wear nude tights just because of protocol? They make her look like an old fart.

[Bunbaker]

"Nude tights add an air of mumsyness"

I don't agree at all. I work in an office where we are expected to dress smartly. Bare legs with a suit just looks wrong. And opaques at this time of year also looks wrong.

[TrillianAuror]

The worst tights (IMO) are the thin thin black or navy ones.

[madammecholet]

Nude tights are WAY better than most other options imo.....so nerr.

[Mumbrane]

I hate all tights that aren't very thick (100 denier) black or navy. they look awful.