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05 December 2008
Fashion faux pas: I'm wearing dark tights under my peep-toed shoes today.→[More:]Part of me is embarrased, but the other part of me is toasty warm!
I can't tell you how relieved I am. No, really. It's not a faux pas that I myself am likely to commit (or not commit, as the case may be), not being a dress shoe person. But I'm really glad to know that if I were to wear dress shoes, there is one fewer faux pas to worry about.
I'm in the faux-pas camp. But just because some people think it's wrong doesn't mean you should be embarrassed! (Really, tone of voice on the internet doesn't translate. I think the trick to wearing anything--no matter how much of a faux pas someone else might think it is--is to make sure it's not unflattering and then look like you are so comfortable in what you're wearing, you don't notice that other people think it's off).
pups: it's "wrong" because peep-toe shoes are for peeping your toes. Tights sort of defeats that purpose and can look awkward. Especially, as TPS points out, if the reinforced seams are showing--especially in that case, it's like having your underwear hanging out.
There's also the notion that if it's too cold for the shoes unless you put socks or heavy tights on under them, they're probably not appropriate.
Yeah, it's way too cold for these shoes, but I got dressed at the ass-end of dawn this morning so I didn't much think about it. This happens to me all the time, actually - I get dressed, get in to work, then realize what I'm wearing is odd and completely mis-matched.
Actually, my first thought this morning was to wear knee-high baby blue socks that had a white toe, but thankfully I couldn't find them :)
I do not think it is a faux pas. I mean, in 1940 or whatever when peep toes came into vogue what woman would WANT people to think she was barelegging it? Gals would draw on the seam when the war made stocking too rare. I suspect they've alwasy been work with tights, until recently.
Just so you know, InStyle magazine recently reported that wearing tights with peep toes is not only okay, but right in fashion. According to them, you could do it with heeled sandals, too, though I'm not personally in favor of that look as much. By the way, great shoes!
Muddgirl, I think in the early 40s/late 30s during World War 2 women gave up silk stockings for the war effort (silk went to making parachutes), and would actually PAINT seams along the back of their legs.
redvixen, that is true. My grandmother said she and her sisters used liquid eyeliner. Silk and nylon both went to the war effort, and were also rationed, I believe.