Trend – Patterned Tights

Recently I have been revisiting one of my personal favorite looks – patterned tights. Of course in the 80’s we just couldn’t get enough, then came the 90’s when it was all about fishnets (the more holes- the better to grunge with). Though nothing can replace my favorite – opaque tights, this season with all the delicious ankle and thigh high boots what could be better than a pairs of spotted, zig zagged or tone on tone stripes? It’s a flirty and fun option to dress up an otherwise sedate outfit. At the Barneys pre-opening I received several gushing comments about my own patterned gams, so, there’s proof positive – if I can wear them, you can wear them.

At the Fall shows speckled tights were running rampant and looking uber chic. Moschino one of my favs added a little leg pattern for an extra does of excitement.

This season black patterned tights in particular are the hot ticket, and they pair best with darker shades be it above the knee skirts, dresses or shorts especially if you are vertically challenged. I personally like to stick with black on black to lengthen the leg and to give a better overall silhouette.

If you are feeling less than confident on your first time out… black on black calls attention to your overall look and doesn’t scream – please look at my legs!

Add a little back booties or shoetie with at least a three inch heel to keep the lines of the body looking long and lean.

If you are blessed with height you can definitely rock the flat boot or shoe, but skip the colored or metallic shoes with this trend to avoid looking like you just stepped out of an 80’s revival band.

As for patterns – there are hundreds of options to choose from, Spanx has a new line of patterns perfect for the season, or try mytights.com. The louder the pattern, the more chic and subtle the rest of the outfit should be unless of course you like being the winner of the “trying –to- hard” award. Vertical tone on tone stripes and textures work on just about everyone no matter your size or height because they elongate the leg…and really who doesn’t want elongated legs?

Speckles and spotted patterns are fresh, flirty and best worn with solid pieces not other patterns, unless you are part of the under 25 set- again this kind of living on the edge could tragically lead to the use of words like “fashion victim” and your name in the same sentence. Oh darling…. Let’s not go there!