Do I need to wear pantyhose to a job interview?

This time of year, I really think you should be wearing tights, because bare legs look ridiculous when it is cold outside. It makes you look like you lack common sense. I like the Target brand opaque black tights; if you're on the cusp between two sizes, buy the size up for comfort.

Actually, upon seeing the rest of the answers, I agree that nude pantyhose is actually most appropriate. I wear opaque black daily to the office in winter, but wouldn't to an interview.

I'm not really even sure I can quantify why nude, except that professional makeup and accoutrements are designed to make you look as if you naturally rose lily-fresh each morning and there is no makeup and there are no stockings. So nude preserves the illusion that your legs are naturally that even toned, while still saying "don't worry, my bare legs are covered!" I sometimes think it also says "I can manage through the day without getting a run, but that's maybe cynicism talking. Tights are not pantyhose. Pantyhose is very specifically this kind of sheer, semi-see-through, leg-colored stocking. That is what you need to wear. Nude or possibly tan depending on your skin tone. Tights are colored stockings that are often a bit thicker and do not run.

I *hate* pantyhose too and generally wear http://www.herroom.com/hue-5966-micro-mesh-pantyhose.shtml in their place. They're fantastic -- way less stodgy and quite light and comfortable, even in summer. Agreed with sequence that I'd wear nude even with a black suit. Black tights are fine for the office, but I probably wouldn't for an interview. It's not a faux pas, but isn't as polished a look. Bare legs definitely not.

Got the job in sheer black tights.

I HATE all forms of pantyhose and tights. However, I recently discovered http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000A2BCVE/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/. They are surprisingly comfortable, don't snag easily at all and don't fall down. Oh! And no static cling! Let go of your notions of frumpy compression! You can't tell the difference. Like, at all. I'm 33 by the way...not an old lady by any stretch. I actually am willing wear them with skirts and boots instead of just boots and sucking it up with bare knees. I have never, ever been able to re-wear pantyhose (they are one and done - I throw them out after wearing because I ruin them every time) but I can get 4-5 wears out of these after running them through the regular wash. Highly, highly recommend!

I actually think the level of professionalism, based purely on convention, is nude > sheer black > opaque black ... and I have no further explanation except that it's just what everybody decided. Like how "professional" makeup is "natural," but you know the person is wearing it. Nude pantyhose. A contradiction.

My reasoning on black vs nude: : sheer legs=fancy/dressed up, opaque= more casual. Sheer black would look odd to me at an interview because it is usually reserved for eveningwear/going out. I don't think you'll lose points if you wear opaque tights, but nude sheer will take it up a notch. I'd compare it to shoes -- I really never wear heels, but do for interviews and weddings (but not the same heels, as they are very different looks). If it matters I'm in my early 30s and on the east coast, in a business casual office.

I think some of this is regional. I'm in the Northeast, and if you showed up at a job interview with bare legs (even in the summer), I would notice, and think you're not very experienced/don't quite get the norms of job interviews. I think that things are a bit different in the Southeast, and definitely on the West Coast. However, since it's winter, you can definitely get away with black tights instead of nude pantyhose (which pretty much everyone hates). If you need to go with nude pantyhose, pay a little more for ones that are sheer (low dernier count, I think), and close to whatever your actual skin tone is. Sometimes you can find them cheaply at TJ Maxx, etc.