Ask Angie: Black matte tights, stylish or not? - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie: Black matte tights, stylish or not?

Hadilly

Hi Angie,

i would love your take on black, matte tights. I used to love wearing them as a teenager, in my twenties and even in my thirties. I thought they were chic, flattering, rebellious, minimal, and went perfectly with boots. Miniskirts, dresses, chunky boots, black tights were perfect.

Now I am not so sure. Perhaps the fact that I started wearing them so long ago means they are automatically juvenile/out of style. When I try black tights now, they look visually very heavy to me. I have largely shifted away from wearing black in general. Unfortunately, they are a practical choice for dresses in cold weather, especially with mid-calf boots. Yet when I put them on, say, under my bright red, v-neck sweater dress, they feel clunky to me.

I personally don’t wear warm colors and don’t skew very cozy, so I haven’t considered other colors or knit tights.

Am I correct in thinking them less stylish now? Are there alternatives? Should I try more sheer tights? Patterns?

Needless to say, I welcome hearing from others too.

Thank you!

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Echo

Joy

Veteran

It Angie, but wear them. The look of opaque black tights is heavy to me. I prefer off black sheers or grey if I can find them. I love black fish nets and often wear them over sheers. If any one sees hose without the compression panel let me know. It presses too much
on my abdomen and glucose monitor. And that messes up readings. I do not need the control feature. If you feel great in black opaque, go ahead and wear them.

Ginger

Veteran

I have a hard time wearing black opaque tights since I also feel it looks heavy; I wear them if I'm wearing an outfit with black elsewhere, which isn't frequent. What I tried last year was "nude" dance tights. They're not very see-through at all and stand up to a lot of repeated wears. I feel warm as if I'm wearing black opaques. Joy, dance tights don't have control panels, though you'd have to try to see if the fabrication itself is okay. They're relatively thick and very stretchy.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

If you mean black opaques Hadily, then go for it if you like the vibe - and especially if you wear a lot of black! Totally fab in a pulled together outfit. They are VERY '90s and the '90s are trending big time

Personally, I don't wear black, so black opaques are a no-go for me. I also prefer the look of pretty, soft, and sheer hosiery, so stick to that. It's a better match with my style.

Roberta

Veteran

Hear, hear, Angie, I'm seeing them on celebrities everywhere for the past year. Myself, I switched from black tights to leggings, when I was wearing the outfit that needed them (meaning boots).

And I second Ginger's recommendation of dance tights and leggings. I wore those for several years when I was still working because they were so comfortable- no control panel or tight waist, and they gave me a layer of warmth in cooler weather when I didn't want to wear something dark on my legs. Capezio makes them in a range of "nude" colors, too. Cheap and durable!

Jen

I still wear black opaque tights all winter long, because I love wearing dresses and skirts in winter. My sense is that this is no longer a trendy look, but like you, I don’t see a good replacement (and I guess I haven’t totally gotten over that rock and roll style). The only option I can think of is wearing non-black boots that are high enough with a skirt that is low enough that the tights play less of a visual role in how the outfit is perceived. I don’t skew “cozy” either, but in a situation like that I wonder if thicker nude-for-you tights could be worn and, again, wouldn’t really be noticed much because of the boots.

Joy

Veteran

Thank you, Roberta. I will look into dance tights for their lack a control panel. Do you have to go to a dance store for them? Do you size up ?

kkards

Veteran

so, i was in the middle of college town this weekend, and i saw a 20something wearing black tights and a pair of denim shorts...so yes apparently they are back!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I used to wear black opaque hosiery all the time in the 90s and early 2000s, but now it does look rather heavy to me. But my hemlines have also gone longer (I only wear midi or midaxi lengths now, and sheerer hosiery looks fine with not seeing much of my legs now — when I was younger, opaque tights made mini lengths more wearable).

Helena

Veteran

From what I've been noticing, a more sheer stocking is more 'on trend' at the moment. That said, sometimes when it comes to weather, practicality reigns, so it's probably worth having a pair or two ready for when the weather demands it.

Just to add, I notice your instinct is telling you something is 'off' about them for you at the moment ... as someone who is working on trusting my own fashion instincts, I say trust yourself!

Jules

Veteran

I think they are both 90s/trending and also signature for some people’s style. If you’re not feeling it currently have you tried fleece lined tights? They have a sheer black or coloured outer layer and a pale or beige fleece lining (not sure if they come in other skin tone options or not).

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What others have said -- if they work for you and your style, it's a trending look, so enjoy it! However, if they feel heavy and unflattering, leave them be.

I don't wear a lot of black and find black tights too intense/ dark for me. I do wear dresses and skirts in cooler weather but really only midi or mid-axi length and have boots that "close the gap" so the colour of the tights isn't so important. I have some navy opaques (my dark neutral is navy) but they almost never show.

The Cat

Veteran

Black tights are not out of style. I see lots of them everywhere.

However, a couple of years ago, I found that opaque black tights and black leggings look too heavy on me. So I don't wear them anymore.

I still wear black SHEER tights. If necessary, in low temperatures, I wear a pair of nude tights underneath.

I also still wear opaque tights. (And in winter, I sometimes wear fleeced leggings, but only outdoors.). However, instead of black, I now choose grey (light, medium or charcoal) or navy. I also enjoy wearing non-neutral tights (i.e. purple or blue) and repeating the colour in an item near my face (I.e. a scarf).

Roberta

Veteran

Joy, I bought my dance tights online at Dancewear Solutions. Mine were actually Balera, and I thought they ran true to size. I bought XL because I didn't want any tightness at all, but they weren't baggy anywhere.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

For cool tones, what about navy blue or dark grey opaque tights (with matching boots colours) instead?

Hadilly

Hi Everyone,
thank you all so much for your thoughtful replies. I will experiment with some of those options, flesh tone, fleece lined, more sheer, other colors, possibly new boots.

Helena: I really appreciated what you said about trusting my fashion instincts. It’s just so odd, I loved black matte tights for so long and I’m having trouble admitting that they do not work anymore.

Well, it’s supposed to be 90 degrees tomorrow, so this is a very theoretical problem at the moment.

lyn67

Veteran

I always loved (and wore) the look of black opaqus with black booties or loafers and skirts for warmth, the edgy(for me) look and the leg lengthening effect. That been said I think for achieving a "not heavy" or "not juvenille" BUT more stylish grown up look you have to ground them with darker colors all together (which I always did- just because I always preffered monochromatic or no block contrasted outfits for myself). But sadly (or nowadays with this energetic crisis we can also say fortunately?:-)) our winters are so mild now I just cannot wear opaque hosiery (which for me is more than 20DEN)-I feel too warm in them. But would wear them again in a heartbeat if needed.

ETA: I am 55 and dress mostly for work in an office where mononochromatic with blacks/charcoals was my prefference for a pulled together look but also felt in place (or was even required back then even some years ago). I still dress mostly that way in colder weather for the same office just not opaques (rather matte black sheers) -because now feels too warm.

gryffin

Veteran

I personally love and wear opaque black tights. I only wear black sheets for very dressy events. I favor knee length or right above the knee mini skirts. I’m 64 and even though I have nice legs (or so I have been told!) I have never worn the bare leg look. It’s not me. I love the drama and silhouette of opaque black but I favor black, charcoal, pearl gray. I love boots OTK, knee or booties. I am one of those who is comfortable going my own way so this is my look regardless of trends. But you should wear what makes you comfortable and feel great. Because that’s what it’s all about. Hope you find your perfect leg wear!!

unfrumped

Veteran

I have still been wearing black opaque and black fleece tights. Without warm tights I won’t wear my skirts in winter, whereas I have several warm sweaters that go with them if I can keep legs warm. I also have burgundy colors.

I used to wear pencil skirts, tights & loafers in winter when no one my age did ( with the slightly dressed down fluid sweater over), but my pencil skirt days are over, MOSTLY! I’m saving one skirt that might still work.

I also have moved to longer skirts, mainly knife- pleated ones, and mid- calf or so boots , skewing towards almost combat styles because I can get more comfortable fit that way, so not as much tights show. I don’t like the loafers look with midi skirts on me.

I used to be a big wearer of gray opaque tights and still have them, but interestingly they are starting to look “ heavier” to me, maybe because it’s kind of a flat dull color.

I haven’t pulled these outfits out yet to see if my “ eye” has changed about all this.

Echo

Veteran

I still wear black tights all the time in the fall/winter; I never actually stopped. Like Gryffinsaid, it is my vibe, and I'm not particulary fussed about what's trending or what isn't. I wear sheers for dressier events and occasionally with longer skirts, but with knee length and above the knee skirts and dresses, I always wear black tights. It is just too bare for my personal taste without them, and even skin colored tights look seasonally confused for me with a fall or winter outfit.

But I very much agree that you need to trust your feelings and don't try to force yourself into a box you aren't comfortable with. If you are personally moving away from black tights, there are lots of alternatives!