Kate Middleton's Sheer Stockings: Are Her Pantyhose Practical Or A Fashion Faux Pas?

Sheer pantyhose are still scoffed at in many fashion circles -- and while I understand why Kate might be wearing them, does this mean she's going to revive the trend? Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, was glowing while making various appearances on the Royal Tour -- and we aren't talking about her face! Her legs gave off a sheen, thanks to sheer pantyhose. The stockings, which were big in the '80s, aren't really a big trend especially for summer -- but they look like a royal requirement! Queen Elizabeth, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie all sport hose when they're out and about at official engagements. Considering the material of the countless dresses Kate wore on the tour coupled with all her appearances, it really isn't surprising that Kate wore something that would smooth her out. While I don't find her stockings particularly stylish, if there's one thing Kate can do, it's start a trend -- and it looks like that's exactly what's happening!

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July 12, 2011 2:56PM EDT

The Daily Mail reports that Tightsplease have seen a 90% increase in sales of nude tights compared to last year, while Selfridges reported a 40% year-on-year rise.

Apparently Buckingham Palace has a very strict dress code for women! Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks‘s wife, shared the dress code of a recent white-tie event with Harper’s Bazaar, saying, “The palace dress requirements say that women… must wear closed-toed shoes – and get this: stockings! Sheer disbelief – I don’t even own a pair of sheer hose.”

While you may not be expected to follow royal protocol, you can still get the look from the likes of Wolford Naked 8s, Satin Touch 20s, Falke’s Shelina tights, and Pretty Polly’s Naturals range — but are you a fan of pantyhose?