A Cold Weather Approved Guide on How To Style Colored Tights
Just in time for your winter fashion inspiration.
With the summer over and now fully into the fall (with the winter season coming,) it's time to start planning for your cold-weather wardrobe. From the typical chunky sweaters to neutral colors to knit fabrics, there's another piece to add to the winter inspiration board: colored tights. Colored tights, though controversial and notoriously hard to style, never really seem to leave us. From the runway to street style to even showing up on TikTok, nothing stops them from popping up.
A few designers worked the garment into their Fall/Winter 2023 collections. Sergio Hudson embraced opaque monochromatic pieces; Versace put out models in bright pink stockings; Miu Miu kept it chic with simple silhouettes layered atop the colored ensemble. Colored tights being in for the fall season shouldn't come as too much of a shock, considering it was highly prevalent on the Spring/Summer 2023 runways — as seen by Ferragamo, Prabal Gurung, and Victoria Beckham — along with the popularity of balletcore and Barbie pink. Throughout 2022, endless celebrities were spotted decked in Valentino's bright pink colored tights—which were first introduced during the Fall/Winter 2022 season. It's already been proven that when styled right, colored tights can be a major eye-catching piece.
If you dare to go there with colored tights, here's our advice.
Go For Maximalism
Colored tights, by nature, are maximalist. They turn your legs into all sorts of neon hues. Sometimes, it is best to not resist the pull and go all the way out there with your outfit. Match your tights to another bright shade, or even a print. Mixing and matching can, in some ways, actually tone down how loud your lower half is.
Make It Monochrome
Monochromatic outfits are wonderful for two reasons: they are always easy to put together and they always look incredibly chic. If you have a pair of colored tights in an easy shade to match, try extending that color to your entire look. Either match the shade exactly or try playing around with different tones and textures. Reds, greens, or blues may work especially well, as most people tend to have at least one of these colors stocked up.
Try A Retro Flair
Colored tights were all the rage in the neon-soaked '70s and '80s. If you are bringing back the stockings, you might as well go full retro. Pull out your shoulder pads or mod mini dress and pair the tights with their most iconic counterparts. A touch of modern styling will stop your outfit from looking too costumey.
Keep It Subtle
If you enjoy colored tights, but don't want them to overpower your outfit or frame, try making them a more subtle aspect of your look. Cover up loud tights with a long skirt or jacket. Alternatively, choose a muted tone, something close to your skin color or a more sheer fabric that lessens the impact of a bright shade. It's easy to let your clothes wear you, instead of the other way around. These tips should lessen that concern.
