Pair Your Tights with the Rest of Your Clothes
Tights can be considered one of the most important fashion innovations in the 20th century. Back in the 1960s mod era, tights were a seminal development in women’s wear that came about together with the rising hemlines of miniskirts. Traditional undergarments—essentially, stockings held up by garters—were deemed unsightly and uncomfortable, as ladies began showing more of their legs in short shift dresses.
As the popular saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. Stretchy, slinky, and sexy pantyhose came to be and saved the day, allowing women to express their sense of style in adventurous ways. Along with many icons of freedom and democracy, tights came to symbolize women’s newfound sense of liberation during those times.
The good news is that since then, tights have become a fashion staple, and these garments are well-loved up to this day. Ladies young and old wear tights not only to add a touch of pizazz to any outfit, but also to give themselves more comfort and support. With the advancements in manufacturing and textile technology that have given rise to a myriad of designs and styles, tights have transformed from mere fashion accessories to everyday must-haves. As the seasons change, so, too, do women change up their favorite pairs of tights to match their ensembles.
If you’re new to wearing tights, don’t fret. It’s relatively easy to figure out how to pull them off. You can definitely shop for tights today and learn how to pair them with any outfit you may have. Still unsure where to start? Here are some simple tips:
Wear Nude Tights with Corporate Attire
Sheer or skin-tone tights create the illusion of not wearing any tights at all. It also helps to make your legs look flawless, covering up hair and skin imperfections perfectly. As a result, these types of tights don’t draw any unwanted attention to yourself or your outfit. That’s why they’re appropriate for business meetings or office settings, where you need to come across as professional and trustworthy.
If you’re going for nude tights, make sure to get ones that are matte and match your skin color well. Avoid nude tights that are shiny or sparkly, as they defeat the purpose of being low-key and unassuming.
Wear Thicker Tights with Chunky Shoes
Fall or winter is the perfect season to wear stylishly dark and heavy tights. They match well with thick winter coats and dresses as well as more sturdy and substantial footwear such as ankle or winter boots. Pairs in black, gray, or dark brown are excellent choices for putting together a stunning and extremely comfortable cold-weather look.
Keep in mind that for chilly weather, you’ll want to get tights that have a denier of more than 20. That way, you’ll be sure that the pair you’ll get will be thick enough to keep you sufficiently warm during the colder months of the year.
Wear Colorful Tights with a Neutral Outfit
Tights come in a dizzying array of colors, styles, and designs. If you want to try a more adventurous pair of tights, be sure to match them with a simple, straightforward outfit. For instance, you can pair colorful or printed tights with a basic shift dress. The latter can either be in a neutral color like black or white, or a solid color.
Experts recommend matching warm-colored tights with an equally warm-colored dress or skirt, and the same goes for garments in cool colors. Just keep your overall look in mind and stick to no more than three color variations within your entire ensemble.
Wear Patterned and Fantasy Tights with a Simple Outfit
If you want to try out tights with patterns, stay on the safe side by wearing them with a simple, unornamented dress or a skirt and top combo. Otherwise, your outfit will look extremely busy. This is because patterns and textures tend to clash with each other, and can result in a visually distracting outfit.
That said, there are certain ways to pull off patterned tights. Small polka-dot designs on tights are a classic, as they’re classy and elegant enough to go with almost any plain outfit without making things look too busy. You can also consider small diamond or checkered patterns, and then move on to more complicated designs like fishnet tights and those with seams that run down the back of your legs.
Feeling particularly courageous? Consider putting on fashionable fantasy tights with eye-catching designs, such as those that create the illusion of a tattoo on your legs. These are very difficult to pull off, but as long as you stick to a simple, uncomplicated outfit, you shouldn’t have any problems.
Wear Tights with Closed Shoes
Tights have always been best worn with closed shoes, not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for practical ones as well. If the toes of your tights were to be exposed, they’d become more prone to snags and rips as you go about your day. And given that tights are usually worn to keep warm during colder weather, it doesn’t make much sense to expose one’s toes to the freezing cold.
Thus, make sure that you wear closed shoes with your tights at all times. That being said, you can pull off wearing open-toed shoes with tights, as long as you follow certain conditions. Essentially, the tights should not come in a nude shade, and they should not feature prominent or reinforced toes, either.
Wear an All-black Outfit with Matching Black Tights
One of the most classic and chic ways you can wear black tights is by matching them with an all-black outfit. This color combination conveys sophistication and class and is versatile enough to wear to a date, an office meeting, or a trip out of town. Just be sure to match the thickness of your black tights with the rest of your clothes. The colder the weather, the heavier and thicker your tights should be.
Some Final Tips: Things to Watch Out For When Wearing Tights
Now that you know what articles of clothing you can match your tights with, it’s time to move on to what you shouldn’t pair them with. Make sure not to commit any of the following fashion faux pas:
- Never put on a pair of tights if it has any runs or snags. It is extremely unsightly and speaks of poor personal grooming. Always check your tights for any damage before wearing them. Should your tights snag on anything while you’re going about your day, you can prevent the damage from getting worse by applying a dab of clear nail polish on the hole.
- Never wear fishnet tights to the office. Fishnet patterns are difficult to pull off without looking provocative, and they simply aren’t appropriate for the workplace.
- Never wear socks with tights. If you must wear a pair of socks over your tights for extra warmth, make sure that your feet are completely covered by wearing a nice pair of thick boots.
- Never wear white tights, as they’re typically associated with little girls’ school uniforms. For an adult, white tights are a no-no.
As with any other article of clothing, mastering the art of wearing tights takes time and practice. With enough experimentation, though, you’ll surely become an expert at wearing tights for any occasion. Most importantly, have fun with it! What matters most is that you like how you look and feel.
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