Q: I am going out for a big night in Chicago this weekend. I have a bandeau strapless black dress that I am going to wear with a wrap. I would like to wear a pair of strappy, sexy shoes and I am wondering if it is acceptable to wear stockings with the open, bare shoes. It is much too cold in Chicago not to! And if I do wear them, should they be black or nude?

A: Absolutely, you can wear stockings with strappy, bare shoes. (In fact, you should. How attractive are goose bumps?) This is why some clever person invented sandalfoot pantyhose -- hose without reinforced toes. Sheer black, off-black or nude would all be fine; try all three with the dress and see which you like best. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, try fishnets over sheers. General rule: the lighter the color of hose, the more attention they call to your legs.

Of course, if you have three feet of snow, all bets are off. It takes a very special boot to work with a strapless cocktail dress without making you look like a dominatrix. So wear furry boots, carry your strappy shoes, and change when you get there.

Patricia McLaughlin is a nationally syndicated fashion columnist.
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