BLACK VARIATION- dress: Aritzia; jacket: Wilfred via Aritzia; tights: Wolford; boots: Costume Nationale; bag: Rebecca Minkoff; bracelets: DANNIJO
I promised myself I would not wear tights before November, so as it’s now officially November, it seems fitting to do an official TIGHTS post. The reason for my postponement was twofold: first, as hosiery is generally associated with the cooler months and those months represent my least favorite time of year (BRRRRRRR), I wanted to delay the start of that season in my sartorial calendar for as long as possible; secondly, I have ambivalent feelings towards tights themselves.
GRAY VARIATION: dress: Aritzia; tights: Tabio; shoes: Pour La Victoire; bag: Rebecca Minkoff
On the downside, there is the tendency towards static cling, the potential for the toe seam to bunch weirdly in your shoes and the ridiculous one-footed hopping dance that is sometimes required to get them on (this almost always results in the tights going on a bit squiffy which leaves you spending the rest of the day feeling like your leg was screwed on incorrectly…GAHHHHH).
Now for the upside (and OH, what an upside it is)…It has been mentioned on this site too many times to count that I love dresses and skirts. The simple fact is that I would not be able to wear these items year-round in New York were it not for tights. Then there is the immense variation of texture and color that tights come in and the flexibility this lends your wardrobe…
Which brings us to today’s post (oh dear, I’ve been rambling a bit haven’t I…thanks for sticking with me). In case you haven’t already figured it out, today I’ve taken one darling printed wrap dress and created two different looks utilizing different tights. One is rocker-esque with the black accents and kicking leather boots while the other is a more demure take on quirk with classic heels and satchel all in varying shades of gray. If I can do so much with one dress, imagine the versatility tights can lend my whole wardrobe?!! This is almost enough to make me giddy about Winter (I said almost).
So, darling reader, what is your take on tights? Do you regard them as friend or foe?!
I absolutely love both looks and your bags are amazing! I am not a fan of tights nor the cold weather either. You are so right about the awkward twisted leg feeling they give you and I don’t even think they keep your legs that warm. It’s one more obstacle to get through when you go to the bathroom too! Guys have it so easy, but at least we look cute:)
definitely friend!
From a guy’s point of view, I like tights. My main reason is because it gives you all (women) the chance to still wear dresses and skirts in these cold months (I wish women could wear dresses year round). In fact, one of my coworkers is wearing some today with a nice sweater dress and boots.
Sorry they make you feel so uncomfortable. Lol. Then again, I do remember my fiancee telling me about a similar experience she had with tights!
I just recently became a fan of tights after shunning them at the beginning of adulthood. Not only to they keep my always cold legs a wee bit warmer, they tend to make skirts of a questionable length much more appropriate!
YES!! This is one feature of tight that I love- skirts that were relegated to the evening are suddenly workable on Monday morning…YAY!!!
Tights = friend Hose = foe I only seem to get that twisty mess with hose, that is why I abandoned them years ago. I do like being able to carry on with dresses and skirts in the cold weather.
Hose is friend to no one. Forget the difficulty of putting it on, one wrong move and you’ve got a run. The one thing I would like to master is hose/tights with a sexy backseam but it’s so hard to get them straight! Thanks for commenting
Tights are my friend, all the way! I like collecting different patterns and textures. And I know you didn’t ask for a vote, but I’m going to vote for the gray version.
Sarah’s Real Life
Can you offer a tutorial on patterned tights? I find them a bit intimidating and worry my legs will look muppet-like. As the temperature is dropping in the city, tights are no longer a choice but a necessity…I better get on the bandwagon! Thanks for your comment:)
Hmm perhaps I will do a tights episode of “How to Wear”…thanks for the idea
I agree– winter is the worst!! I always find myself in such a style rut with the same pair of jeans when it gets cold. i love the idea of using colored tights to change up a simple dress!
I hear you when it comes to cold-weather ruts. This past week, with all that’s happened in NYC, I have spent A LOT of time in jeans. I think it’s time to break out some heels and put on some lippy!!! Have a great weekend
I love a good pair of tights. Especially textured tights. They’re the best! I love your grey ones.
~Whitney
http://www.whitneynicjames.com