Colourful tights: yay or nay

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Colourful tights: yay or nay

— by Angie

on January 9, 2009

A subdued pair of colourful tights worn within a monochromatic palette looks great. Our forum member Shiny captures the look perfectly in this ensemble. Her plum tights are a similar shade to the sweater dress and boots. The overall effect is playful yet sophisticated and very flattering.

The brightly coloured pink and red tights below are a different story. I don’t see them working for anything other than a theatrical occasion.

I surprised myself on this one. I adore bright colours and encourage people to add fun, colour-rich elements to their wardrobes. But somehow bright tights don’t make the cut. They look juvenile and jarring, rather than stylish. Maybe my eye will adapt to this trend, but for now, I say nay.

Accessories · Yay or Nay

46 comments · Add a comment

Tanya

I adore Shiny’s look and would wear it in a heartbeat. But I wouldn’t wear those bright pink and orange ones. I guess the only colored tights I would wear are very dark and muted: deep eggplant ( like Shiny), deep maroon and navy.

January 9, 2009 at 8:41 am

Meredith

This is great, and I totally agree. I love Shiny’s tights.

I did buy a pair of red leggings a few years ago, but every time I try to put them with an outfit, I feel a bit clownish. Glad to know it’s not just me! I’ll save them for a Wonder Woman Costume.

January 9, 2009 at 8:43 am

Real Style Real People

(website)

Hmmm… Angie, I say, it depends on the outfit. For example, if you had on a knee length black dress and black tall boots and then you had fuscia tights peeking out at the knees it would look cool. But I think darker colored hues would be more apropriate in general, plums and cranberries (BTW, those red tights you show looked rust colored to me for some reason)

January 9, 2009 at 8:43 am

CaramelBlondie

“Yay!”
I simply adore them, especially bright colored patterns.
I am actually on the hunt for a pair of mustard yellow ones!
I think they spice up an otherwise drab ensemble
I just bought a pair in red, like bright red lipstick. I am looking forward to wearing them with patent stilletos. Also, a patterned tight looks great on top.

January 9, 2009 at 8:46 am

Charlie

I have a couple pairs of brightly colored tights, and what I like to do is layer them under a textured pair of black (or other darker colored) tights to get texture & contrast.

You’d be surprised how chic & savvy this can appear–but it is something to be reserved for very cold days!

January 9, 2009 at 8:49 am

Holly G

I’m with Charlie. Brightly colored tights under a darker pair can be a fun way to add some subtle color.

January 9, 2009 at 8:54 am

Keri

Yay!
I LOVE colourful and patterned tights for the way they spice things up in winter, when you are inclined to wear darker colours. In fact I saw a pair of bright red tartan ones in H&M yesterday that I might just go and buy…

January 9, 2009 at 9:04 am

Ellen

I love the more muted tights (like Shiny sported), but I will pass on the others. I do not wear a lot of colour anyway, though I like it on others, and agree that this look is juvenile. I will be adding pops of colour to outfits with scarves!

January 9, 2009 at 9:10 am

Patience

I’ve been wondering about this. I’ve seen photos of outfits with a black day dress and teal tights which I liked but at the same time, I can’t bring myself to try it. I kind of like the idea of the color peaking out above tall boots but I wouldn’t do pink. Actually, I probably wouldn’t do it at all but might admire it on someone else.

January 9, 2009 at 9:10 am

Susan H.

Thanks for this tip, Angie–I’ve had the same instinctive reaction you have to brightly colored tights and I think that made me unjustly biased against all colored tights. Maybe I’ll give one of the more subdued colors a try.

January 9, 2009 at 9:51 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Tanya, Meredith, Ellen, Susan and Patience, we see bright tights through the same eyes.

I really want to like this look! I’ve tried it several times myself and on clients and I still can’t help but think that something is not quite right. You are a walking work of art with one focal point . If you wear a black or grey ensemble with bright tights, your legs become the focal point and that seems a little odd, and “clownish”. Red tights feel Chritsmas-y and to match a bright pair of tights with the same colour in your ensemble seems cheesy. But then, I personally prefer to mismatch clothing and accessories because I think it looks nicer. This might not be your cuppa tea.

However if Shiny was wearing black boots and a black sweater dress with the same deep plum tights– that might work. Not as monochromatic, but still subdued. Does that make sense?

When it comes to patterned tights and hose, I’m all for it – but self colour, not an assortment of colours. Charlie and Holy mention a great idea. I like the idea of combining bright tights with a darker muted pair,. This could be fab AND warm.

January 9, 2009 at 9:58 am

Antje

Interesting. I really like the fuchsia tights in the left picture, because it looks like they do have a texture pattern. I’d wear these in a heart beat.

I agree that red tights without a pattern would be hard to pull off. However, just today (what a coincidence!!) I’m wearing a pair of tights in several shades of red with some black – under a denim skirt, paired withi black boots – and I feel very stylish and funky I took a picture this morning since I haven’t posted outfit photos in so long, and will upload it when I get home in the afternoon so you can review. You can be honest, I won’t be offended if they don’t pass muster! Stay tuned…

January 9, 2009 at 10:05 am

Antje

Oh, I just found the tights I’m wearing today! Here they are:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....rchresults

I have them in the “Rumba Red”, and obviously my skirt is longer than the model’s I’m wearing a simple denim skirt that ends just above the knee, and black boots. (On top I’m wearing a white button down shirt with a v-neck lace top over it and a tartan flower pin.)

January 9, 2009 at 10:08 am

Tanya

Antje, if anyone can pull off those tights than it is you! i can’t wait to see the photo on the forum.

January 9, 2009 at 10:18 am

Antje

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Tanya. Of course I’m tiny bit scared now
But I do really think that colorful tights can work really well as long as as they worked into an outfit carefully, e.g. avoiding the “bright legs” effect as Angie points out. I bet others on the forum wear colorful tights, too, so maybe we can all post outfits and try to change Angie’s mind

January 9, 2009 at 10:45 am

pavlina

(website)

I love bright tights and stocking! I wear them on casual fridays!

January 9, 2009 at 10:57 am

Sal

(website)

Oooh, gotta disagree with ya, Angie. I LOVE ridiculously bright tights and think they can add life and vibrancy to otherwise staid outfits. They work best as the main source of color, but I’ve seen many women rock them this season.

January 9, 2009 at 10:57 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I always have an open fashion and style mind! I look forward to having my opinion changed, Antje.

Sal, I know you’re fond of wearing bright tights and was hoping you would chime in.

January 9, 2009 at 11:07 am

BLB

(website)

My eye has adjusted to colored tights on others. I run with a very artsy crowd and they’ve been rocking this look for at least 2 years. Some of my friends even wear the AA tights where one leg is one color and the other leg is another color! On me, I still often feel they’re a bit costumey. I do have a few pairs so I’ll play with some outfits later this week and photo them for the forums and you all can tell me what you think

January 9, 2009 at 11:08 am

Kyla

Most of my winter dresses and skirts are black or grey, and I love coloured tights as a bit of colour in an outfit. I have a pair of maroon ones, and a pair of eggplant ones. I’d love another in blue/teal, too.

January 9, 2009 at 11:27 am

Joy

I wore wildly patterned and colored tights 30+ years ago but will skip this trend this time around except for a subtle black texture like the micro fishnets, especially with boots. I think the bright or light colors make legs look heavier and often more shapeless than they actually are and most women shouldn’t wear that look.

January 9, 2009 at 11:38 am

Ryan

I like colored tights in rich colors like wine or plum. I recently wore wine colored tights with a gray sweater dress and black boots.

January 9, 2009 at 11:45 am

shiny

Thanks Angie!

The examples you show are VERY bright – I don’t think I’d ever pull off anything quite like that. Also, I don’t think the bright colors work with black shoes, but that may just be my eye. There’s too much contrast. Though I have no idea what other shoes would work!

As I mentioned on the forum, I wouldn’t mind attempting a pair of teal tights with my cream and teal t-straps, or trying colored tights with my gray spectators, but they wouldn’t be as bright as what you show.

In the first case, I’d match the hose and shoe color for one long uninterrupted look (and the teal in the shoe is not a bright color – it’s more muted). In the second case, I might mis-match, but I would go with a color in a tone that is harmonious with the shoe color, if that makes sense? The shoes are a soft gray so I’d stick with a soft, not vibrantly bright, color.

I love the look of black microfishnets over colored tights, though I’ve never tried it myself. I really don’t wear skirts all that often in the colder months, so much of this is just theoretical musing on my part.

Can’t wait to see Antje’s outfit!

January 9, 2009 at 11:56 am

kellee

First of all Shiny you look a star in that picture. Great example Angie.
I love tone on tone color in clothing .
The fact that the tights are not a bright color allows the eye flow right from top to bottom. You take in the whole outfit and then see the details. Like unwrapping a visual present.
Wearing bright tights(my opinion) it is like framing a piece of artwork with the wrong frame. Something that overpowers the item of consequence (the artwork)because of a poor color, pattern or proportion choice. A great painting is allowed to breath in it’s frame, so that when you see the overall presentation the art is seen first and the frame unfolds around it.

I think of mannequins when I see solid bright tights ,which is fine in a window when the idea is to try to catch the eye of even the people driving by(Guilty- I am a drive by shopper too). You see the legs first and then take in what else is left,in a fragmented way.
On the other hand ,Inge ,I love the tights you have from Nordstrom’s. I am too old to wear them(52) but they have personality and interest besides color. Like Tanya, I am also looking forward to seeing pictures of your outfit.

January 9, 2009 at 12:13 pm

Style Eyes Fashion Blog

(website)

I love the pink tights, in fact I have a pair of bright pink tights myself. I wear them with a slate grey dress and ankle boots. Actually I have loads of different tights pattered, sparkly and coloured and I love them all.

January 9, 2009 at 12:51 pm

Sarah

It took my eye a while to adjust to this look, but I love it now. I desperately wanted a cobalt blue pair of tights, but my husband hated them with a passion. So I chose a more subdued blue to add color to my winter outfits. I do think that this is a young look. Also the wearer must have confidence and not mind drawing attention to her legs to pull this off. Most of the places I’ve seen it have been adds for stores such as Charlotte Russe and Express. I can’t wait to see Antje’s outfit though, and any others that are posted. My personal favorite tights at the moment are black argyle. Yum!

January 9, 2009 at 1:02 pm

amanda

I love colorful tights and wear them often. I don’t mind my legs being the focal point of an outfit, so I don’t see that as a downside. I have blue, yellow and green pairs–but they are not “bright”; they are more jewel tones. Even the yellow are really more of a deep mustard. I do think they are a young look, though I wouldn’t go as far as to say juvenile. I’m in my 20’s and feel like they work for me, so I have to put in a good word for colorful tights

January 9, 2009 at 1:26 pm

carissa

(website)

I would only wear muted colors, and have yet to see any brightly colored tights looking great on the street.

However I just read Isaac Mizrahi’s new book and he made a girl look great in them. She had on a black & white houndstooth-ish shift dress paired with lipstick red tights and shoes. It looked so good. The leg line was long b/c the skirt was short and the patent shoes were the same exact match as the tights. To pull the look off one has to be confident and ready for some attention.

January 9, 2009 at 1:47 pm

Maya

I have fuschia tights and I love them.

It’s true that I don’t wear them a whole lot, but they add some fun to an otherwise boring and neutral outfit and they were only $1.59 on sale. I guess I’ll add those to my list of confessions.

January 9, 2009 at 1:48 pm

JessicaLynn

I too have fuschia tights and haven’t worn them in public yet. When I first tried them on I paired them with a black mini dress and ankle boots- it looked ok but a little too rockstar for my style. I saw another girl wearing the same tights with a black skirt, booties, and a cardigan and scarf. She looked really cool but again wasn’t my style.
Finally I think I found a look that kind of works- a black knee length dress and patent pumps. (The look is posted in my poll on the forum under “Banquet next weekend”) I think it’d look just as good with black tall boots.
I do LOVE those plum tights though and would love to find inexpensive ones soon.

January 9, 2009 at 3:06 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Very interesting. I’d say we have a 50/50 split so far. I’m all for colourful tights if the look is subdued. I’m still not sold on bright tights. Kellee, your explanation sums up my perception perfectly. Well said.

Shiny, I have a pair of very sparkly, glittery grey tights that come out on special occasions. I pop them under a little black dress and finish off the look with tomato red stacked pumps. The colour of the tights and footwear is different, but it works.

Sarah and Maya, you hit the nail on the head – this is a young look. I hope I don’t sound like an old fuddy-duddy.

January 9, 2009 at 4:46 pm

dee2do

I like colored tights on artsy people who know how work the colors for a complete interesting outfit.

January 9, 2009 at 5:13 pm

Julia

I’m less adventurous in this area. I consider my light Grey opaque tights as my colorful tights.

However, I adore them on younger people or those who have the right attitude. I saw a picture in Target’s shoe department where the model wore cobalt blue tights with plum specs, it looked funky and chic.

January 9, 2009 at 5:18 pm

Nicole

Maybe on a pre teen girl in a funky sort of way..but on me and my legs? No thanks!

How about the opposite look though? I saw a young girl in a very bright turquois blue dress and very black very opaque tights. I didn’t care for the overall look personally. The girl was young and playful and I appreciate the effort, but I didn’t care for the contrast.

January 9, 2009 at 5:52 pm

Kyle

(website)

I love tights, and I love many of the colors, but I asked Angie about this once, and I was surprised when she gave the thumbs down. Now I can’t bring myself to wear them — probably for the best!

January 9, 2009 at 7:53 pm

Fab50Plus

(website)

I love tights too, but usually wear them as the lovely Shiny did – matching the color of the outfit as closely as possible to elongate the look. (And trust me, when you’re only 5′ 3″ you need all the elongatin’ you can get! )

January 10, 2009 at 8:40 am

Mary

(website)

Maybe a little off topic – but what tights do you pair with high chunky heeled cordovan loafers? I bought the loafers to go with a dark olive pair of pants. I wore black tights but they looked too heavy and too dark with that shoe. I got away with it because my pants were long and full (and I was working with a bunch of IT guys that day!) It didn’t look right but I didn’t know what would!

Thanks for any advice!

January 11, 2009 at 1:25 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Mary, what colour are the loafers? Also olive? I’d stick to sheer knee highs. What colour was your top?

January 11, 2009 at 10:01 am

Eco-friendly Fabric | Organic and vegetarian information

(website)

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January 11, 2009 at 12:22 pm

Mai

I love colorful tights, but I’m not so fond of the colors here … hopefully it’s just my monitor and not a reflection of the upcoming season :).

I have red tights, and I most often wear them with my blue velveteen (velour? Never sure of the difference between all those vel- fabrics, but it’s not quite velvet) dress. The underside of the nap is red, so the tights bring that out – then I wear black knee high boots and an accessory of choice, a scarf or most recently a black vest. It’s not, you know, a *subtle* outfit ( ), but it’s not crazy-loud either.

I think colorful tights work best when they’re used to bring out aspects of the rest of the outfit that you might not notice otherwise. Otherwise it can get a bit costumey. Of course, sometimes it’s fun to be costumey, but that’s another story.

January 11, 2009 at 12:44 pm

Mochaccino

I think the main problem with this picture is that neither of these tights should have been worn with black shoes, let alone patent black shoes with foot straps. I personally don’t think that tights need to perfectly match the shoes or dress or both. They just need to be in the same tone, purple with brown for example. Anthropologie catalogs have always been absolutely full of this look for some reason, and it always looks arty and sophisticated instead of childish. Then again hot pink tights might be impossible to pull off.

January 11, 2009 at 1:42 pm

Joelle

Shiny, you look great in that outfit! I have not yet succeeded in finding a sweater dress that fits properly, but I haven’t given up yet.

In general I don’t like bright tights or leggings either. Although I think they might look interesting with certain outfits, where the clothes and shoes are all a dark, subdued color and only a little bit of knee or ankle is showing. That way you just get a little pop of color instead of clown legs.

January 12, 2009 at 7:33 am

Rachel

I love brightly coloured tights. For myself, I like to mix them with other bright colours (I have a mustard dress that I wear with kelly green tights), but I think they also look fabulous as the one piece of colour in a very classy all-black look, the way you might use a red purse or something like that. Gorgeous!

January 13, 2009 at 12:39 pm

Jamie

I love colored tights, I think it’s definitely possible to pull them off with the right outfit. I normally go to Welovecolors.com to get some, they have so many different styles so it’s convenient to match them up with my clothes.

January 15, 2009 at 3:00 pm

ShoeHunting

(website)

I like both looks! Love tights and pumps, a very cute look indeed.

January 15, 2009 at 6:38 pm

Grace

ok so i just found this website! Tonight is my school’s homecoming dance, and i am planning on wearing a sleeveless black and white dress with bright red tights and black heels, with a lot of silver bracelets. I think it looks good, and I will probably put a link to a picture of it soon!

October 8, 2011 at 11:06 am

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