Guide to choosing stockings and tights

fashion tights skirt dress high heels

 

“I’m incapable of choosing the right colour for my tights. Especially during autumn, when the cold starts. I never look good. In the shops, they always tell you the same thing: they try them on your hand and based on that, they give you a certain colour. But I just can’t get it right. I hope you can help me…Thanks”

A lot of you have been asking for guidance on the differences between stockings and tights. And how to wear them. You’re in luck. Mid-season is the perfect time to get out your stockings and your tights and mix them for a perfect blend of style and warmth.

What do stockings bring to your look?

• Functionality

Take the chance to glamourise and remodel your legs and their contour. Or choose to Impress in a dress, mini-skirt or shorts even when you prefer to conceal any part of your legs.

















• Fun

Bring out the fantasy of your outfit with colour and daring style.














• Feminine Accessory

Stockings were a luxury item during war times. But the discovery of nylon popularised them, empowering women to take advantage of the first tights to show off their legs.

Understand the difference between tights, stockings and short stockings

Stockings

• The classics. Stockings were first to appear.
• Cover your leg up until about mid-thigh height.
• Reserve them for special occasions.

Short stockings

• Thin sock with a touch of sophistication.
• Pair them with specific footwear because they don’t heat as much.
• Add some fun to your trousers look.

Tights

• Sheer, skin-tight garment.
• Dress up your legs from feet to waist and ditch the girdle.
• Show off your legs and embrace the new sexy.

How to choose stockings

Consider the thickness

• If they’re thicker, they’re stronger, but they show less leg.
• Choose thicker stockings to reduce the volume of your legs or disguise imperfections
• Understand deniers to talk about the stockings’ opacity.

Consider the colour

Natural:

• There are almost as many tones as there are skin colours.
• Enhance the skin’s natural colour.
• Reach for them in spring and autumn or when you have a wedding or an event.
• Choose a tone that’s slightly darker than your skin.

Colour:

• Black is most common. But colours like marine blue, burgundy or green also look great.
• Feel liberated to combine skirts and dresses thanks to the different colours.
• Choose dark colours to sharpen, light colours to visually enlarge the legs.

Prints:

• There are a variety of prints (moles, stripes, flowers).
• Choose a bigger the print to bring more volume, an adventure, to the legs.

Finish

Reduce volume with a matte finish and bring out volume with a shine finish.

Events

The big question: Do you wear stockings or not?
If you have beautiful, tanned legs, the outfit doesn’t need an extra touch (fine dresses, satin, very tight) and it’s not cold you can leave the stockings at home.
If it’s cold or you feel overexposed, choose a stocking (even reductive ones) as similar as possible to your skin tone to avoid contrast, as matte as possible and if you wear sandals, choose a seamless finish on the toe.

7 Tips to help you choose the perfect stockings

1. Fuse your shoe colour with the colour of your stockings to lengthen your legs.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. For very high, or over the knee, boots choose the most worn or economical tights as they tear easily.
   
   
   
3. Be careful not to show the top of the tight if you wear shorts or skirts.
   
   
   
4. Take advantage of wearing tighter garments with reducing tights.
   
   
   
5. Explore the many options for compression stockings if you have problems with varicose veins or blood circulation.
   
   
   
6. Be careful where you sit to not tear your stockings. Choose a medium thickness and be sure they’re resistant.
   
   
   
7. Choose the right size of tights, by looking at the table in the packaging.

10 rules of wearing tights

fashion tights skirt dress high heels

For every dress or skirt that’s paired with tights, there’s a moment of contemplation that we all have about whether it’s being worn correctly: Is it ever OK to wear nude-coloured tights? Can you wear them with open-toe shoes? Life questions, friends. So we consulted Amy Lu, a Toronto-based fashion stylist, about the ways to wear tights properly—and of course, what is never deemed appropriate when it comes to hosiery. (Never again will we underestimate the power of a pair of black opaque tights.)

1. Tights are not leggings (or pants)

There’s a sad moment of truth when you realize that the girl in front of you probably isn’t heading to yoga or wearing actually leggings—and it comes in the form of a blaringly obvious visible panty line. “Tights are generally referring to more opaque hosiery made with a heavier knit,” says Lu (note: she said hosiery,
not pants). “Leggings are footless and seen as more of a stand-alone pant rather than hosiery.

2. Tights are worn best under skirts or dresses

For a formal occasion, like a
date night or a
sophisticated office look, tights are best to pair with a dress or pencil skirt (and you can add personality through colour and texture, and depending on dress code). “You can wear leggings as tights and pair them with more casual dresses and skirts but they are often thicker than tights and can appear bulky,” says Lu. “Plus leggings are always footless, which only works with more casual looks.”

3.Handle your tights with care
As a general rule with hosiery, “Hand-washing all intimate wear will help it last longer and maintain its colour, however it is more time consuming than throwing it in with your laundry,” says Lu. “I often machine-wash my tights and leggings on a gentle cycle in a mesh-bag.”

4. Tights with peep-toe shoes, is this a thing?
“The easy answer to this is no, it’s not an easy look to pull off,” says Lu. “Having said that, fashion rules are meant to be broken and it can be done. Fishnets paired with open-toe shoes can look really sexy and opaque tights can work as well, just make sure the reinforced toe does not show.”

5. Nude tights work in the right context
Sometimes it’s more appropriate to give the illusion of bare legs with your spring dress than it is to go completely bare legged. “Nude hosiery can look much more flattering than bruised legs or pasty white ones covered in goosebumps,” says Lu. “Plus, nude hosiery can double as shape-wear!” Choose a colour that is very similar to your natural skin tone and steer clear of iridescent ones.

6. Tights can add a chic pop of colour to your outfit
Liven up your little black dress with opaque cobalt tights. “When it comes to colour, go for it—bold colour looks great on everyone!” says Lu. “Think about keeping your look monochromatic or tone-on-tone to accentuate a more lean and flattering look.” But be more discerning with patterns. “Opt for one that is more classic, like polka-dots or lace, rather than kitschy, like trendy graphics or cutesy symbols. Pair your patterned tights and leggings with something solid and simple.”

7. You can totally pull off a sheer look
“Sheer tights are on trend right now and can look more sexy than their solid counterparts,” says Lu. “Make sure the fabric’s colour stays consistent from waist to foot.”

8. Invest in quality pair of black tights
If you’re going to own one pair of tights, make it a good pair of black opaque ones. “They look great with almost everything, from floral print sundresses and tailored sheaths, to sexy cocktail frocks and everything in between,” says Lu. Bonus? “They not only add warmth when it gets chilly out but pairing black opaque tights with black shoes gives the illusion of longer, leaner legs!” Sold.

9. They add sophistication—and are kind of a no-brainer style choice
With a great pair of opaque tights, you can make most outfits appropriate and chic for an office or more conservative setting. “You don’t have to worry as much about exposing too much when wearing a short skirt because they cover everything up,” says Lu. “I think of tights paired with black booties or heels as a part of my ‘uniform’, then wear whatever dress, skirt or shorts I feel like. It makes getting ready really easy!”

10. Tights are sexy!
Tights are great for adding the illusion of height. “If you keep your tights and footwear monochromatic, your legs can appear much longer,” she says. “Go for a pair of platforms or sky-high heels to accentuate them even more. A sexy go-to look for a night out would be your favourite LBD paired with opaque tights and killer heels,” says Lu. “This look works every time!”