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Ask Angie and all: black tights styled intentionally?

Adelfa

Veteran

I'm piggy-backing off of cobaltblue's post. Angie, last winter I tried to take your advice to heart about black tights, but often felt unsure of how to style them well and ended up wearing them a lot less (probably a good thing). I would love it if you would sometime do a post or a pinterest board on styling black tights intentionally. With maybe even some counterexamples!

For the rest of you, how do you make sure that your black tights aren't a harsh and dowdy afterthought? I want to add that Lyn67's thoughts on styling black tights (in cobaltblue's post) were wonderful.

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Ingunn

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I prefer a sheer black tight to an all black tight. So I would be interested how to make this work. I've seen some very high contrast outfits look intentional.

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annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I wore opaque blacks tights with my owl dress and got a killer rating from Angie

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ost-753442

There is black in the pattern, and I didn't wear black shoes either.

Adelfa

Veteran

Great example, Anna. I'm especially interested that your shoes weren't black, though they did have black in them!

Denise, I prefer a sheerer black tight too. These tend to have a tiny bit of sheen. But I've read many times that only a completely opaque matte black tight is stylish.

sarah

Veteran

I didn't read the other thread, but I've pulled off opaque black tights with black boots and skirts/dresses, as long as the black is very intentionally bookended elsewhere in the outfit (e.g., a black/cream stripe dress, a top or sweater that is black or has a lot of black in it).

Deborah

Veteran

I wear black opaque tights (not as much as I used to) but I wear a lot of black in general so I use them at times to create a column of black. I also wear them with lighter skirts, often with some black in them, and black topper. I have not considered how to make them look intentional because when I do wear them they are also an integral part of the outfit, as considered as the other pieces. For example I'm posting a couple of my outfits for reference:)

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Adelfa

Veteran

Sarah, those are great ideas.

Deborah, I'm interested how in all three of these examples you avoid a straight cut at the waist. This seems to allow the eye to travel up and down and to avoid that half-and-half appearance that can happen when you pair black with something else.

cobaltblue

Veteran

Thanks for reshaping this question and drawing out these great examples, Adelfa!

Anna, I'm so glad you posted your owl outfit - I missed it the first time around, and you look amazing. Deborah, your signature black definitely serves you well as always, here.

Diana

Veteran

Here's a few of mine. I will state here that I have the one big advantage that Angie mentioned; namely I have dark hair that naturally bookends black. Also, having black hair, black suits my coloring. Finally, I own a lot of black clothes and a lot of black shoes, and pretty much my entire wardrobe goes with black.

In #1, I am creating a long leg line with the black tights and black booties, and I am bookending the black with my black jacket.

In #2, I have created a column of black and grey, broken up only by the bright green shirt.

In #3, I am actually using the black tights to make a column with the black skirt in the middle of the outfit, while bookending the taupe boots with the camel sweater. I actually find bookending the light boots to be a much more difficult task than bookending anything black, both because of my coloring and the coloring of my wardrobe.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Great question and brilliant examples.

Denise, the issue of opaque came up originally because those of us who live in a cold climate pretty much have to rely on opaque or forego skirts and dresses entirely in the winter (which for me, is about 6 months of the year). And as a blonde, I find this really tricky.

Adelfa

Veteran

Suz, I don't have light hair, but it's a lot lighter than it used to be--this wasn't planned, it's just that I have a policy of letting my colorist do whatever he wants to, and he keeps taking me lighter, and I do think it's less harsh on my face. Anyway it's affecting how I wear color. Black used to be a lot easier when I had dark brown hair. I still love black, but am looking for ways to use it "intentionally" so I'm grateful for all of the ideas.

Diana, these are great examples. I love how in the second picture you kept the column while actually breaking it up! And the last one--first, again I'm fascinated with how to wear black tights with lighter shoes. AND I think black and tan/taupe is such a GREAT color combination for those with black hair and some olive or tan in their skin tone.

Irene

Veteran

I think really opaque tights look better with shorter skirts that add youth and modernity to the look (like Anna's outfit). But I own 50 deniers tights and they are ok warm, and a bit sheer, so if you don't want to take the risk, you can always go for that, which might be easier to style. Because opaque tights can look frumpy, you have to pair them with something bold, the funner the better. A bit like black leggings, actually.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(Please remember ladies, that this in an opinion. Nothing more than that).

What Denise said, and I much prefer sheer black tights too. I do not wear opaques at all. Only once in the '90s - for a day - and retired them straight afterwards. It is absolutely not my style. That said, I help clients put together outfits with black opaques all the time, and enjoy doing it. Adelfa, I hope this info helps:

Anna's outfit is on trend, and looks as if she's wearing black skinnies with a tunic. The black opaques do not look heavy because the rest of her outfit and make-up is as bold and strong - which counter balances the heaviness of the opaques. A stunning look.

The photo that Denise linked to - pale pink outfit - is all the rage in London right now. I'm not that fond of the trend. But at least the model there has dark hair and there is *some* visual balance to the outfit. If the model had blonde hair, this would not look good to my eye at all.

I like the way Deb's wears her black opaques on this thread. There is unity between the black in her ensembles and her blonde hair. Her pieces are pretty trendy too. Again, it almost looks like she's wearing black skinnies. That's key with light hair.

Diana wears black opaques effortlessly because she has black hair. Like I said before - it's easy for ladies with that colouring. Plus she went on to further balance out the black in the rest of the outfit. Her outfits are smashing.

And to Irene's point, beware of the frump. That's really the long and short of it with black opaques.

Kat

I love black tights! I'm in love with neutrals these days and texture/fabric feel that gives dimension. I love black, camel, navy, and grey with some focal point, like Deborah's stripey skirt, which looks great. Black tights are also functional -- I run in and out of doors in all weather, and as always, my aesthetic is shaped by movement. Things I can run and move and be free in become beautiful to me. I want to live life in motion. I do like funky footwear to go with my black tights -- not what's trendy per se, but something unusual like Cydwoq (which I can run around in). Moreover, I bike commute and have the calves to show for it! I sometimes pop for charcoal tights, but black are flattering as well as functional. Gosh, I love fall. It's my favorite season of the year for dressing!

JulieJohn

Veteran

Kat, you are cute and fun!

Adelfa - I do love tights of any variety, and this is such a fun thread with awesome photos. I think my love of tights hearkens back to ballet lessons throughout my youth. Tights and a skirt and it just feels like time to dance!

I have been wearing black tights on the sheer side, they are knitted hemp in a lacy pattern. That helps them be less heavy looking when bookended with my not-dark brown hair.

I also love brown tights, and they look great with leopard pieces.

I think I'm going to try opaque black tights, especially after seeing Anna and Deb rock them so hard! Or I'll just use black leggings, and pay careful attention to Angie's caveats.

Adelfa

Veteran

Thanks, Angie! Realizing I don't think I've ever owned a pair of opaque black tights. All of mine have sheerness, but not by design. Maybe this is what's easily available in CA. I didn't know I was making it easier to style! What I've liked about the sheerness is that it helps the contours of the leg to show better, more shape.

ETA whoops, something strange got into this comment about dog training! Sorry! Fixed now.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

This is very interesting! I relize that I haven't been very observant until now. I'm curious: the tights I'm wearing in #2 here, what are they? Frumpy, opaque, sheer or what?
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....u-fall-ify

I think they are 50 denier microfiber tights. These are the kind that gets me through fall and warmer winter days

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ingunn, you and me both. Sigh. I fear we are treading on frumpy ground.

Do we need to start another thread on it? I so wish there were a way to wear more sheer in winter....hmmmm.....

dakotacheryl

Veteran

Ingunn, I'd call them opaque.

These type of tights, and boots are the only way I can wear a skirt during the winter where I live.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Yes, I think of them as opaque, too, although they do have some sheerness to them. I do in fact like this style because it can be playful, but it is difficult to pull off. I think Irene is onto something.

Suz, a thread about how we can create intentionally unfrumpy outfits instead of unintentionally frumpy ones with dark tights in our climate sounds interesting!

Adelfa

Veteran

Ingunn, I think the outfit is cute! I have a very similar one--polka dot skirt, tights, and denim jacket. Irene calls her 50 denier tights a little sheer, so I wonder if yours are too only not photographing as such. I'm not sure my tights are marked that way.

Suz, do not despair! Angie is mostly saying not to slap on black tights willy nilly but to make them part of a considered ensemble and I am sure you are doing that.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thank you Adelfa. Yes, they are a little sheer IRL. I do see Angie's point, too. All that black needs a counterpart somewhere in the outfit for balance.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nice, Adelfa. Sounds like you don't need to worry about opaques at all. Or wear them for that matter.

No need to worry, Suz. It's a question of counter balancing the harshness, bookending, and adding in that vital element of fashion.You are doing great.

Ingunn, great outfit. There you go: balancing the harshness, bookending, and adding in that vital element of fashion. Passes the frump-test with flying colours. Love the addition of the blue shoes.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Angie!