7 Content Creators On How To Style Colorful Tights For Fall
This fall, the revival of colorful socks and tights is becoming a hallmark feature of 2023 fall fashion. Betty Suarez would be so proud. A colorful pair of tights can be the defining factor of an outfit or a subtle detail that elevates your look. If the fashion girlies on your feed have inspired you to channel the colorful tights trend yourself, here are tips from 7 of your fave sustainable baddies to help get started.
I think there are different levels to wearing colorful tights and it will depend on the mood I’m in. For my more subtle, casual day I like to pair colorful tights with a more neutral outfit to let the tights really shine. But for a bolder feel, I like to have them either match an accent color I’m already wearing to emphasize that more or fit it into a color scheme that just feels very homogeneous. I feel like that describes my style in general where I keep playing with the colors till it feels balanced to the eye, which I think comes from practice and having fun!
Pink tights are always my go-to. I love pairing them with Mary Janes and midi skirts, they create the perfect peek-a-boo pop of color! On the flip side, bold tights can define the entire look. Choosing an all-white or monochromatic ensemble to complement a pair of vibrant red stockings creates the perfect combination. Plus it’s easy to do!
If you wear neutrals during fall (ex: a white turtleneck and black mini skirt), adding a pop of color tights can elevate the look and bring a totally different vibe to what you are wearing because there is a new colorful element.
Second, when buying tights, it’s important to really consider what colors you have in your wardrobe—especially within patterns. If you have a lot of teal accents in your personal wardrobe, for example, it makes sense to buy teal tights so that they create a new subtle dimension of color that can also enhance the colors being worn.
If I’m wearing my tie-dye tights from Shop Journal, which I often am, I pair them with a solid-colored skirt or dress to make them pop. If I’m feeling particularly adventurous, I’ll wear them with something patterned that’s in the same color world as the tights! When I wear solid-color tights, I like to wear plaid or something patterned - where a color from the pattern goes with the tights. Truthfully, I don’t think too hard about it, and go where my tights take me!
You can use them to add another texture to your outfit to bring it up a fun notch or to pull out a secondary color in your outfit and make it even more cohesive!
Get funky! I love any excuse to pull off a tights look. I am always expanding my collection of fun, funky tights. Don't be afraid to mix and match. If your tights are multi-colored, you can start by pulling from one color in the tights. A full monochromatic look would be complete with a pair of matching color tights. Also, color block with your tights by pulling from unique color combinations.
Don't be afraid to layer on top of your tights with fun socks and leg warmers, or even layering tights together, for example, layering a fishnet tight over a sheer or opaque tight. You can really style your tights with ANYTHING; I love styling my tights with long-line shorts. Just have fun with it. Some good references for inspiration are the 60s and the 2010s twee era.
The simplest tip Björk has abided by since her Sugarcubes days is that any dress, in any color, can do with some bright, solid-colored tights underneath. I think it’s so cool to brazenly pair red and green as if you are not already an elfin creature and top the ensemble off with incredibly unbrushed hair. This look is more punk than wearing all black, somehow.
Styling a brightly colored flat with a sock of the same hue creates a trompe l’oeil boot effect but with a slimmer profile (and extends the wear of your S/S shoes into F/W)! Think Fruits Magazine. You can also layer shorts over neon tights and wear them as pants! Lastly, there’s the triple-layer cake: capris + socks, both over a pair of tights—all three in wildly different patterns.