are tights ok?

[SanAndreas]

Hi there,

I'm looking for at dress at the minute for a party that I'm going to. Now I'm slim, size 8 to 10 with good shaped legs but I cannot go bare legged as I have a big lumpy vein on lower leg. This can only really be hidden with opaque tights.

Now this is fine in winter but as its(supposedly) summer, would it look strange if I wore tights with a shortish dress.

I've seen lots of nice dresses in Lipsy, either strapless or chiffony pastel or cream styles. Would these look odd with opaques? If so, what would look ok with tights(if any).

Or should I go for a maxi?!

Weather-wise, no tights probably won't look strange, but in combination with pastel chiffon, it might look a little odd, sorry.

I'm not necessarily looking at chiffon, but many of the party dresses are pale or cream. I do love cream. Its difficult.

You can get opaque/semi opaque nude tights, not sure what they're like coverage wise though.

Dillydolly, they wouldn't be industrial strength like I need! Its a shame because size and shape wise I can probably carry off most styles but just can't go bare legged.

I don't think I could bring myself to wear opaque tights in July even though it is freezing! How about a leg cover up like Sally Hansen with nude tights/fishnets? I bet no-one ever notices your vein anyway !

No cover up wouldn't work. Neither would nude tights. I use fake tan and I'm quite dark but the veins really really noticable. I don't care for holidays etc, but I would never ever wear a short dress with high heels and bare legs. I'd look terrible! I'm not just being fussy.

Maybe I should save the short dress tights combo till winter.

Mind you, these dresses are not specificcally summer dresses, more party. So these same styles are always around. If it was winter, would a strapless dress look odd with tights?

I'd get some camoflague makeup - you can get a tester pallette to mix exactly the right colour. No one will notice the lumpiness, and tbh they wouldn't notice the unconcealed vein for more than a second before not giving it a second thought.

Thanks for advice but no chance I'd do the camoflauge stuff. I'm not that bothered about a short dress to go to that trouble. Plus I'd be really self conscious in bright lights and dance floor!

Plus its really bad, its not just a minor vein, otherwise I'd just bare all!

No its either tights(but I'm guessing most think this is a no go)) or a maxi dress.

Anyone else find themselves in a situation like mine, re: dresses and bad legs? Or advice re: tights and dress combo?

I love dresses but find the fashionable ones are a bit short for me to be comfortable going bare-legged [auld gimmer emoticon] - my thighs are chunky and a bit wobbly with a varicose vein or two round the back of the knees. But for me flesh-toned support tights are fine, and I realise you are after something more.

I have a nice plain charcoal silk-effect dress that I can wear black or charcoal opaques with, scoop neck and short sleeves, I pretty it up with a silk scarf and jewellery and I love it.

What about white/ pale coloured leggings and bare feet in sandals with a patterned dress? [hope none of the style mavens are reading!]

What about lacy tights - in white or cream or nude - would they give you enough coverage to make you happy? Or micro fishnets? The criss-cross lines would distract the eye.

On the other hand, you are so slim you'd prob look great in skinny anklegrazers and a glamorous longer top. I have one from TopShop from a few years back - bare arms with a broad kindof collar, deepblue satiny with subtle floral pattern - you could do the chiffony thing with a top? like this but with pale, toning skinnies rather than jeans?

Happy hunting.

OP - I have the same issues - decent shaped legs but horrid lumpy green varicose veins and stretch marks behind the knees (thanks DC's). I'm dark skinned so fake tan not needed and leg make up doesn't smooth the lumpiness!

I wear nude tights (which is another issue in itself for dark skin shades) as this helps compress the veins, and truck loads of make up on face to divert attention away from problem area

I have terrible scarring on my right leg from surgeries related to Spina Bifida. I rarely go bare legged, as a result. I've recently tried out fishnets and really like them. Would they be any use?

I was going to suggest small mesh nude fishnets too - they always look like a positive choice rather than something someone has got to wear for some reason.

Thanks everyone. ooer thanks for top trousers combo suggestion. I would wear that top but I really want a dress because I hardly ever get chance to wear one!

I do like the nude fishnet and I can imagine that the pattern would detract from any problems bits. Think I need to try em on.

I haven't chosen a dress but if anyone looks on the Lipsy site then its the party dresses. I like most of them, strapless, babydoLl styles some of the tighter bodycon styles. Sorry can't do links!

Footless opaque tights?

(Actually, I though current thinking was that black tights in summer was "edgy" - or was that last year?)

I do like footless opaque tights.

I bought a cream vesty shaped dress last year with a sort of lacey crocheted front. It was tight and way too short to wear bare legged unless you were 17.

Originally I planned to wear it with leggings but I discovered the footless opaques and that looked really nice.

OP Accessorize had some nude micronet tights in their sale

Thanks I'm going shopping in a bit I will pop in accessorise

Well got the micro fishnets in nude and they didn't work. Covered lumpyness but you could see colour of veinf through the holes. Awful. Plus they felt flimsy and I felt exposed.

In the end I got a long dress, which although is lovely, is not quite as partyish or glamourous as I'd have liked. Kind of think I'm settl for something I have to have, rather than what I want.

Kind of wish it was winter and I could have my black tights combo.

Long term could you notmgetnthe vein removed. Had a friend that did this and she was delighted with the result.

I've had veins done previously. Believe me, what I've got now is the improved version!

Falke do opaque footless tights in lots of colours, you sound slim enough to get away with a chartreuse or a pale silvery grey, which could be lovely with a cream dress if you are that way inclined.

(I would, but I'd want to get the shades really right for each other)

Or a plainish frock with slightly textured tights might give you more coverage.

Fogal are beautiful tights and come in loads of different shades.

Falke

Fogal

Of course you can wear nude tights. Better that then feel self conscious for the night.

Just avoid the super shiny ones. Apparently sales of nude tights have sky rocketed, thank to, yes you've guessed it, Kate Middleton.

Banoffee, thanks for links! I've never heard of them before.

Honestly, though I only think opaque black would be ok. Think nude wouls look odd with the rest of my colouring as my aems and body much darker. Agree that shiny are no go as they show every bump.

I know black are fine as they give complete coverage and still show shape of legs.

Think what I really wanted to know was if black would be ok but it seems general opinion is no!

I really don't think any other tights going to be ok. So its a long dress and I will have to wait till winter to get opaques out!