Why did Mary Richards always wear pantyhose to bed?

[TMC]

Whenever Mary is about to go to bed, or is driven from bed unexpectedly, she’s wearing pantyhose. Why?

Was it simply because hosiery was considered fashion staple back in the 1970s? In other words, woman wasn't considered properly attired unless she had on hosiery. And to go barelegged was seen as daring and perhaps a bit racy. So even actresses who were in character wore them for the sake of decency.

Or was it simply because the show was filmed in front of an audience. Therefore, there wasn’t extra time for elaborate costume changes. So if she was wearing pantyhose with her work attire, Mary Tyler Moore would go off stage change into her nightgown or whatever and get into bed.

[Chocolate Moose]

how did i miss this?

[SarahBellum]

Hmmm. I guess I missed the bedroom scenes.

[ThisLittlePiggy]

Nylon is not breathable. Poor Mary.

[PracTz]

I don't recall Mary doing so.

However, she WAS a bit tanner than most Minneapolis residents especially in the latter years (likely thanks to MTM tanning herself in California), so that may be why one may think she wore pantyhose to bed.

[SarahBellum]

Or maybe going to tanning booth in Minneapolis.

[shotzette]

I can think of a couple reasons.

It's easier to change in an out of clothing if you are wearing any sort of compression wear with a silky finish.

Everyone on TV is wearing a ton of theatrical make up so they don't look washed out or blotchy on camera, and not just on their faces. Body make up is better these days, but back then the make up on her legs would have probably left gross orangy/beige stains on the bedsheets.

[Bonniegirl]

I remember reading here on S.O. and seeing on Three's company ( I took notice after reading ) Janet also wore pantyhose with a nightshirt and also another time wearing exercise wear , like a leotard !

This was in the days before tanning salons and spray tans were available ! So if an actresse's legs were really white/ pale looking, if they were filming in the winter or if the actress wasn't able to get out to sunbathe at a pool or at the beach , just have her wear stockings / pantyhose to give her legs a little color ! Back than we wouldn't have even noticed, and now we notice everything with all the reruns playing and DVD'S we see things so many times we notice stuff like this !

[TVFactFan]

I used to watch this show every afternoon and dont think I paid that much attention to her legs when she was going to bed

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

I remember reading here on S.O. and seeing on Three's company (I took notice after reading) Janet also wore pantyhose with a nightshirt and also another time wearing exercise wear, like a leotard!

This was in the days before tanning salons and spray tans were available! So, if an actresses' legs were really white/ pale looking, if they were filming in the winter or if the actress wasn't able to get out to sunbathe at a pool or at the beach, just have her wear stockings / pantyhose to give her legs a little color! Back then, we wouldn't have even noticed, and now we notice everything with all the reruns playing and DVD'S we see things so many times we notice stuff like this!

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by TMC

so u post a thread 6 years ago about something that never happened and respond to it 6 years later to talk about another show. Im convinced that you are related to Dude111

[CosmicCharlie]

Nylons / Pantyhose really make women's legs have great look - for the most part