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If you ask another woman if you have to wear pantyhose to be professional in a courtroom setting, the answer will depend on her age.

For women who have been practicing for decades, it’s most likely that they’ll tell you pantyhose are a necessity (and also that a pant suit is simply not an option). They also will probably not understand why you’re even asking. For women who were raised in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, pantyhose were simply something you wear. I’m reminded of this every time I wear a dress, and my mom asks me if I’m wearing stockings and slip.

But women in younger generations, who generally shirk the idea of girdles and other restrictive undergarments, will likely have a different answer. According to this New York Times article, pantyhose are viewed through a modern lens as archaic and stifling.

The legal profession is not exactly progressive when it comes to anything, including fashion standards. So whether pantyhose are expected in a courtroom or other professional setting depends on the formality of the forum. If, for instance, your appearing in higher state court or federal court, the expectation for women to wear pantyhose likely still exists. That expectation has likely dwindled in local, and especially rural, courts, where the atmosphere is less formal.

If you’re considering whether you need to wear pantyhose to an event or competition, the best thing you can do is think about how you’ll feel if you don’t wear them. If you will be self-conscious about having bare legs, find the most comfortable pair of pantyhose you can (I suggest these, these, or these). If you’re wondering why someone would be self-conscious about having bare legs in a professional setting, you’ll be fine without them.