Winter comes every year, bringing cold nights and a sudden bitterness about our colorless seasonal garb. A common ailment in young women during these long months short of daylight is a disease called Fashion Boredom. After the novelty of holiday gifts has worn off, there is often a feeling of post-festivity blues. And a great way to spruce up an oft-worn outfit is with colored tights! Nowadays, tights/stockings/hose come in shades from the entire rainbow and are sold in almost every store. Here are some tips about what NOT to wear with a new spectrum of legwear:
Color Matters: Yellows, oranges, and neons are the least flattering colors, regardless of body type. Yellows and light greens can make you look sick, orange has the police on alert since you look like a runaway convict or a walking pumpkin (both are hazardous to civilians), and neons are good nowhere but in the presence of glow lights. Obviously fun party themes and Blowout are exceptions to the rules, but be aware that unfortunate-looking legwear detracts from your cute outfit and general awesomeness. A note on white: it, too, can add weight, so make sure the tights are opaque and that you are aware that you may look like a preppy kindergartener. Rachel Berry knows how to rock this look.
Jewel Tones: Opaque or semi-opaque jewel tone tights are the most fun, flattering, and fashion forward option for any cool CollegietteTM. I Googled it, and the first words that pop up are “stylish,” “trendy,” “college,” and “Marc Jacobs,” so even pros are onboard. A wonderful way to add a bit of fun to a winter day or your usual all-black weekend outfit, jewel tones look rich and are dark enough to not be too distracting. Their darker color is also flattering because it slims the legs. Emerald, amethyst, deep sapphire, and ruby look luxe and ladylike while still being fun!
Head-to-Toe is a NO: Unless you have just attended a Rubik’s Cube party, dressing all in one color other than neutrals is not the way to go. Every outfit needs its fair share of sanity, and everyone knows dressing like a cartoon character is only ever okay for a mixer, or if the date happens to be October 31. This is one of the few times I am going to say that “Go Big or Go Home” does not apply (and personal philosophies die hard). However, other colors in your outfit are strongly encouraged!
Bring it Together: Having the only color on your body be on your legs looks awkward because it is the only part of your outfit attracting attention. Try to bring the whole look together by having a similar color to your tights be somewhere else on your body. For example, a pretty lavender necklace to coordinate with purple tights is a Do, or matching your lipstick to your red tights and LBD. Hair accessories, jewelry, makeup, scarves, and colors in your shirt/sweater are great ways to tie the whole look together. If this seems like too much color, then try to mix a few different neutrals and metallics so that your outfit stays fresh.
Regardless of what you have read above, fashion should be fun. Somewhere over the rainbow is the right color for you. Find a way to make colored tights work for you and own it!