Ah Hosiery...
It could only be a matter of time before we got to hosiery... Love it or hate it, it causes me confusion. And as with all things that cause me confusion sartorially, I lay my troubles at YOUR feet!!! Every pun intended!
So many questions, so little time before it gets cold!
1) Is it better for your tights to match your shoes/boots or the skirt/dress above it? I always wonder about this - if I am wearing navy shoes, can I/should I wear navy hose or black hose or would it be chicer to wear burgundy hose that matches the burgundy skirt?
2) Are black shoes or black hose the great equalizer? i.e. can I wear any colour hose with black shoes?
3) why do I feel odd wearing black tights with my bright red winter suede heels? Is it because it doesn't look or because I am timid? What colour would you wear with red shoes? red?
4) It is too cold NOT to wear hosiery in the winter where I live. Is it ever okay now to pull a Kate or Pippa and wear nude pantyhose again? What do you think? I have none to my name, though I do have nude fishnets... Tim Gunn says no....
5) Should really colourful tights be left to you younger ladies? I will wear more muted tones, but I tend to only wear colourful tights when I have boots on. What do you think?
6) what about patterned tights for work? Again - if I chose these I would only wear them with boots...
or perhaps slightly more sedate:
All advice is gratefully accepted! I look forward to hearing how I ought to be "hosed"! Anyone else have any hosiery questions????
Today's outfit of the day:
the navy and black dress I bought in Paris at the monoprix for $39 euros, a little ca va de soie black merino cardigan (an oldie, but goodie), textured tights and 4 year old Donald J. Pliner fabric boots that kind of make me feel like Robin Hood when I wear them....
The lipstick is new - drop dead red by Too Faced. I understand they are discontinuing it - likely because I really like it!
have a happy Wednesday and stay safe out there!
Hi WMM,i love tights in the winter.
ReplyDeleteI wear wine-colored tights all the time,it looks great with grey and black.This year i want to get a pair of bright blue one,which looks great with black and grey too.
I wouldnt wear nude tights,but i saw some ladies wear them in paris.
It is hard to match black tights with a black skirt\dress,so i always buy charcoal grey tights.It shows its a different color,but it doesnt look like i got dressed in the dark and mismatched my black.Plus it is not so harsh as black.
I also love patterened tights,i have a herringbone tight from jcrew and it so sophisticated.
Have a great day!
Thanks Ina - I never thought about the mismatched black tights! Oh Lord! Another worry!!!
DeleteI can't bear coloured tights, they are too zany for me, I like shoes and tights too match, and the shoes have to be 'just right', they can't be a dainty shoe with thick tights, suede is best as the matte line is uninterrupted but not so great in our weather. I prefer grey or chocolate, I also can't bear looking down at opaque black legs and tights, it depresses me.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing I make it through the day really, anything can set me off!
Ha! You are a woman of definite tastes, Tabs - nothing wrong with that! I always feel better with tights with boots myself. But I need to wear hosiery at work with my shoes in winter. So interesting. The patterned tights make me nervous!
DeleteI agree hosiery is confusing. I like Ina's suggestion of charcoal tights with black. I would avoid nude tights, you could accidentally look like an ice skater. With boots, your options are much easier. I'd probably avoid the zany patterned tights at work. You could ask yourself, would Lauren Hutton (or Kate Middleton) wear it?
ReplyDeleteI am liking the charcoal tights as well - I do find the black severe - it makes me feel nun-like... Charcoal would be softer with the red shoes especially!
DeleteI like your last question Cate - you leave me some wiggle room as I think Lauren would be a bit more adventurous! :-)
I am so happy you posted on this today. I am packing for Paris and I bought a pile of chocolate-colored tights to wear with my brown skirt and brown-themed frocks. Should I have gone with nude hosiery instead? I'm trying to match my shoes and boots, oh well you'll see in the pictures later today. I was looking at them wondering if it looked quite right, and I need to solve it as I cannot go without tights walking around Paris in 60 degree weather with rain!
ReplyDeleteAs Cate mentions I do not want to look like an ice skater! I really like the brown tights as they are dark but not black, I'm with Tabs, I prefer the gray or chocolate shades, though I do own black tights to wear with my black riding boots.
I don't think I can do patterned tights except for a very subtle polka dot, I do like colorful tights on other people, I like Ina's suggestion of wine colored tights.
Love the outfit on you, I must hit that Monoprix!
I actually have chocolate tights. Must dig them out! My favourite brand are bleuforet, which are french and ungodly expensive, but they have cotton ones which are divine with boots in the dead of winter!
DeleteI don't think nude hose would make one look like an ice skater, but opaque nude tights might (no offense to ice skaters :) ).
DeleteLike the navy and black outfit for today-- looks professional.
ReplyDeleteFellow confused about legwear girl. All September i wore mostly pants as going without tights seemed wrong but so did tights. I wear black/charcoal/brown tights and no other colors, but I like the textured tights for variety. I should branch out and try wine colored legs-- sounds pretty.
Hey Lane - this is the conundrum of living wear we do! It is so frustrating!!! I have no charcoal, so I think they are now on the list!
DeleteWMM, First I abhor wearing tights. But since they are necessary about seven months of the year here, my tendencies:
ReplyDelete1. MATCH TIGHTS TO SKIRT: I am a shorty with short legs and I find this gives the best uninterrupted look.
2. MATCH TIGHTS TO FOOTWEAR: If I am wearing a lighter coloured (like a camel shade) or printed skirt (like JC's Belles) I will usually match my tights to my boots.
3. DARK NEUTRALS As others have mentioned, charcoals and browns are forgiving, I also have a lot of dark green, navy, plum and burgundy.
3. STALK OF COLOUR If my outfit and coat are very dull (like a grey flannel dress and a dark coat) I will occasionally use tights as my "brighten up", usually pulling that colour from my scarf etc.
4. DERNIER As others have noted, I think it's important to have tights in various weights/ textures so that they fit well with the vamp and style of shoes, no bunching etc. I also generally think matte finishes are best.
5. PATTERN I do like some subtle, tightly woven vertical designs with boots, particularly in tights from Brora and Wolford (pricey but with care they last and don't itch or bunch) as well as very subtle marls, dots etc.
6. CONFESSION I am regularly mesmerized by the tights wall of candy colour at my local stand-alone Joe Fresh. And at their prices I feel fine with experimenting on a new shade, although will always leave chartruese, pumpkin and screaming electric teal to the teeners. And yes, in depths of Februray closet boredom, I have been known to pull favourite tights and boots first, then build the outfit above.
Stride on!
GetFresh - you rock! I am with you on dernier especially - so important! I like the plum idea as well - so fall!
DeleteI have seen lots of colourful hue tights this fall but have left them there, but some colours are very pretty, especially with boots!
I ahve almost no chocolate in my wardrobe, so have no tights in this colour. I can see that they would like nice with some other things I have, so am going to get some!
thanks for the great advice!
Sorry for rambling, but on way down Bay St. last week I was wondering if tights have become a badge of individuality for the conservative office set, like ties for the men? I saw lots of women rocking darker fall hues and subtle patterns with booties, wedges etc.
DeleteI so rarely disagree with Tabitha, but I find opaque black tights with black heeled shoes to be iconically pleasing. Yes, all the rest is tricky territory, and the rules shift more with changes in fashion than in many other style categories. I don't mind a bit of color play between shoe, tights and skirt, especially on the young and/or fashion-forward, but it has to look intentional, and is best in a light-hearted environment, obviously. In terms of pure design, matching shoe to tights creates the uninterrupted line that is most leg lengthening, and the greater the contrast, the more apt to cut your legs off at the top of your shoe, but with your legs, that is SO not an issue!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliment n.b.! I almost excluvely wear black opaque, so I do see I have some room here to move into other subtle colours without causing an international incident!
DeleteI loe black tights (but hate wearing tights in general lol). I think black goes with everything. If you are going to wear a read, yellow or whatever colorful shoe I would go with sheer black or sheer grey tights. I think it looks clean and nice.
ReplyDeleteI also really like the nude ones that Kate wears. They are unlike the nudes of the past. They look like skin, not a white or beige gauze like they did back in the day. I need to research where he gets hers. I need some to wear with my nude shoes.
I love patterned tights like the ones that you have on today. Betsey Johnson makes the best ones. I buy a few every Fall. I think they work with boots and pumps.
I absolutely dislike colorful and flower paterned tights. IMO they never look good, maybe on 5 year olds.
I like your outfit today and of course they are discontinuing the ls you like. That's how it always works. All of my favorite ones were limited editions from MAC. Great business model - stop making your best selling products.
Do you or does anyone have a picture of Kate with the nude tights? I'm not sure what these are, thanks!
DeleteCate, Duchess Kate is rumoured to wear nude tights from Wolford, John Lewis (a British retailer) and Philippe Matignon. Pricier and more sheer/ fine than a lot of "back in the 1980s" hose and in a wider range of skin hues for an almost invisible look. If you google Duchess of Cambridge + hosiery several of the blogs etc. have pictures of her pins.
Deletethanks GetFresh!
DeleteWaiting room over. But I think chocolate tights could look great with some of your signature blue outfits/ brown boots. As for the red shoes, that's a tricky one not to look trashy. I would stick to black but nothing too sheer or fishnet. Or wear them with menswear trousers. You have the pins, so step out with confidence (channel Pippi Longstocking in mentality, not literally.)
ReplyDeleteOh you are killing me!!!!!
DeletePippi!
I prefer to wear dark-colored tights and usually always match them to my footwear, occasionally to my dress. I wear black tights with my black boots and shoes the most during the winter, but will occasionally wear navy or dark brown. I also have a pair of nude stockings that I wear with my brown boots, since I haven't been successful in finding a pair of brown ones that are a close enough match to them.
ReplyDeleteI think tights with a subtle pattern are nice on others, but I don't wear them. I also do not wear bright colored tights, or any with large patterns, since my legs are my 'trouble' spot, and I don't care to draw any unnecessary attention to them. ;)
Love your outfit and your new lipstick, WMM! Perhaps you should stock up on that shade before it sells out?
thanks for the great advice FFM!!! I think I am with you! I am off to find charcoal tights, chocolate and I wll leave the red shoes to trousers! You guys are savigns me a bundle!
DeleteNude hosiery is never ok unless you are wearing a formal suit. That is my rule, and I'm sticking to it! haha! In fact, I would never wear a skirt suit without hose, but then I'm a lawyer, and we're stuffy and old fashioned :)
ReplyDeleteRe: tights and shoes matching/not matching, I say, as long as your whole outfit looks good, don't worry about what matches what. If that makes any sense. I just try to make sure my entire outfit "goes", so sometimes my tights probably match my shoes and sometimes they match my skirt and sometimes they are a complimentary color.
Your patterned tights look AWESOME. I wear them sometimes, but like you are wearing them - with boots so most of the tight is covered. Would look great with just pumps, too.
I love these posts... it's so fun to read what everyone thinks!
Thanks! I agree - people have such interesting perspectives and I learn so much! Damn - I now need to find something to wear with the 3 pairs of pale grey patterned tights I bought at the end of last season. Always something!
DeleteHi WMM, I love woolly tights with boots in the winter. They are usually black, but I also have brown, grey and aubergine. Years ago, in my twenties, I used to wear patterned tights - I remember I had a pair of blue tartan ones, cringe!!! I think, in general, if you are wearing boots then brightly coloured or patterned tights are ok.
ReplyDeleteI love your Monoprix dress - they have such great classic pieces, don't they? And you can't beat the prices. I can't wait to see if our own Dani BP comes back with something from there.
I think Miss Dani ought to pop in - am still kicking myself for not buying the gorgeous pumpkin velvet blazer I left behind there. We are talking SOFT velvet!
DeleteI'm loving your 'questions' series--so helpful! I wear black tights the most often, but have ventured into brown, gray, and a few subtle patterns. My fave way to wear patterned tights is with a black dress and black pumps, so that the pattern is the focus of the outfit.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to Tim's opinion of nude hose, I have found that while he is unquestionably stylish (and I love him!), I have to part ways with him on some things. He hates capri pants, but where I live (deep South) there is no other way to get through Summer while wearing 'pants' without melting. If you like nude hose, I think you should wear them :)