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Tights for Summer?

footless.jpg
Like everyone else, we’ve been pondering one of the great dilemmas of the summer. Black leggings are pretty much unwearable at this point, because if the heat doesn’t kill you, then the conformity will.

And yet…the black tight is pretty much the ideal summer layering item for when it´s slightly too cold to wear your cutest dress with bare legs - or when your favorite summer heels won’t work against pale skin.

So what´s a girl to do?

We think these adorable floral print footless tights from The Sock Man are a good solution. You won’t die of fashion boredom and they’re simple enough to pair with most dresses (and here’s a note from Faran: they also rememble the babydoll textures of summer, without the sack silhouette).

But how are you solving your summer legwear dilemma?

—ALISON COOL

Comments

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1

posted by Chels

Jun 26, 2007 3:27PM

Ugh, I hate tights in summer. I also hate closed-toe shoes and jeans in summer.

But then, I grew up in Michigan, where summer lasted about 4 days, and now I live in Florida, where it's winter for about 4 days. I like to at least have sartoiral seasons, if not actual weather-related ones.

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2

posted by p.

Jun 26, 2007 3:31PM

I must object to the lacy floral tights. Sorry, but they remind me of the 80s in a really bad way (maybe if you're a bit younger you have a different take on it).

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3

posted by annie

Jun 26, 2007 3:31PM

not really on topic, but i LOVE the sock man

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4

posted by e

Jun 26, 2007 3:34PM

Why would you wear tights in the summer?

I think my Jem doll had a pair of those.

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5

posted by mpw

Jun 26, 2007 3:36PM

Eh, don't really like them; they remind me of the mean girl in third grade who was obsessed with NKOTB and wore a big scrunchy on the side of her head.

I think we're past the point of needing legwear anyway. It's bloody miserable out today!

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posted by m

Jun 26, 2007 3:37PM

fugly. its also wayyyy too hot here to wear tights in the summertime- girl where you FROM?

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posted by ashleydc

Jun 26, 2007 3:38PM

@e- my Jem doll did too and they always ripped in the crotch, much like I anticipate these would.

I wear microfishnets in the summer- I have to keep my legs covered at my job because I have a large-ish tattoo on my leg so I find those are a happy, slightly ventilated medium

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8

posted by andrea

Jun 26, 2007 3:39PM

As a woman who no longer want to see her knees when I wear a dress but still loves the trends of the moment, I wear these very lightweight mesh capri leggings by Anna Sui from last spring/summer. They give the same look as the occlusive black ones that I wear when it's cooler but you barely feel like you have them on. I have them in black and cream. I think she did them again this season. And no floral and no lace. Too juvenile!

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9

posted by I dont just like you. I like you, like you.

Jun 26, 2007 3:40PM

i dont even want to have CLOTHES on today.
its so damn hot.

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posted by kelly

Jun 26, 2007 3:44PM

When it's chilly during the summer, can't you just wear trousers and be happy that you don't need to shave your legs that day?

I also dislike these. Way too 1980s, and not in a cleverly vintage kind of way.

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posted by Donna

Jun 26, 2007 3:45PM

Gag. Those tights are are worn by girls who want their legs to appear rash-y and bumpy (from far away).

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12

posted by Thea

Jun 26, 2007 3:46PM

That's the best part about summer! Show a little leg! Save the tween tights for layering under dressy shorts come October.

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posted by anonymous

Jun 26, 2007 3:51PM

I don't like these tights, but I am one of the proponents for tights in NYC. I wish I didn't have to wear them, especially in the summer, but I love dresses and can't tell you how many times I have been *this close* to exposing myself after an unexpected gust of wind, or when entering the subway. I wish there was an alternative, but boxer shorts just do not work under my sheer Alexander Wang shift dress.

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posted by JD

Jun 26, 2007 3:52PM

I understand the tights dilemma at hand, being a girl who doesn't have the greatest legs to show off. I've been wearing my footless tights in a bunch of colors and, yes, its hot but not as hot as jeans! Anyway, I like the idea of these, but they're kind of ugly. :/

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15

posted by guest

Jun 26, 2007 3:52PM

OH MY GOD HELL NO.

Leggings are for pregnant women and poor people.

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16

posted by guest

Jun 26, 2007 3:59PM

you're kidding, right?

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posted by Faran

Jun 26, 2007 4:01PM

I often ask Alison if she's kidding and then three weeks later, every girl on the street is wearing whatever she's already picked out. It's freaky.

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18

posted by guest

Jun 26, 2007 4:02PM

I got mine, that look almost exactly like those only they don't go to the ankle...they're calf length...at Urban Outfitters last summer for like $7 after I saw Ashley Olsen wearing a similar pair in Nylon. I'm an Olsen whore what can I say? But I love em. especially since I never see anyone else wearing white lace leggings.

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19

posted by arcadia

Jun 26, 2007 4:04PM

this is a joke, right? Faran, has the heat gone to your head? those tights are fug! they were fug during Madonna's "Lucky Star/Like a Virgin" days and they are still fug now!

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20

posted by party

Jun 26, 2007 4:08PM

I guess they're fashionable if you're getting hitched at a Whitesnake concert and celebrating your wedding night at the Motel 6 in Des Moines, Iowa.

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21

posted by kenbot

Jun 26, 2007 4:08PM

These are so, so bad.

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posted by Rebe

Jun 26, 2007 4:11PM

"OH MY GOD HELL NO.

Leggings are for pregnant women and poor people."

....Charming.

As for myself, I'm perpetually broke, but I wouldn't wear these if you PAID me to.

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23

posted by brendastarlet

Jun 26, 2007 4:16PM

Those white lace ones are fugly. I bought the Eileen Fisher leggings in black and cocoa, and I don't care what you think, they fit well and are lightweight. Out here in Michigan I'm two years ahead of fashion anyway. I go bare with a calf-length skirt but anything shorter gets covered legs.

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posted by The Fashion Informer

Jun 26, 2007 4:23PM

These are beyond bufugly. No. Just...no.

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25

posted by guest

Jun 26, 2007 4:36PM

Let's just bring back Boy Toy belt buckles while we're at it.

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posted by anotheralison

Jun 26, 2007 4:39PM

i absolutely HATE leggings on anyone at any time of the year..they belong on little poseurs at a fall out boy concert or something..My friend wears leggings constantly with every skirt she owns and I just wanna say NOOOO.

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posted by Kristen

Jun 26, 2007 4:39PM

I wouldn't wear these because I wore them in third grade whilst lip syncing to Lucky Star, but on the right late teenage girl I think they would look cute. I think the key to leggings looking not tired is to wear them under something LONG, not short, so that they're pleasantly dada ish in their pointlessness. This - especially true in summer when leggings are kind of retarded. The only thing that has felt right to me about leggings is wearing them under this weird Comme dress I have so only an inch or two of them show. Anyway, to each her own that is what style is.

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posted by Rachel

Jun 26, 2007 4:39PM

Horrible. Flatter no one.

Footless tights in a sheer grey are my summer choice. They look good with a white or black dress/tunic and silver sandals.

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posted by marisha

Jun 26, 2007 4:54PM

Not a big fan, they're a bit too Hot Topic.

I second someone's comment above about the need to protect oneself from exposing gusts of wind. I would love to find a little short-short that doesn't show.

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posted by annie

Jun 26, 2007 5:01PM

marisha - i buy everlast (random) short shorts in bulk. They are like boy cute underwear but just a tiny bit more coverage plush more opaque. i'm a huge fan of super short skirts and i wear them under everything. i recommend them highly.

i have to say at first i thought allison was insane, but i'm really starting to appreciate her own take on things. i would never wear those tights but i also agree with faran, that certain people do and will wear them this summer. okay, rambling.

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31

posted by guest

Jun 26, 2007 5:02PM

I agree with anotherallison, I absolutly hate leggings on everyone, and I'm still to meet a girl in this city that doesn't wear them. It's absolutly horrible that everyone now thinks they are being original, because just they bough a sweater/dress in a charity shop that they accessorize with a belt and the damn leggings. It's like a F***** uniform here in London.

This ones are appaling, i had a Barbie in The 80's that wore them, EXACTLY but EXACTLY like this ones, together with a cropped Pinkish Floral jacket and a skirt to match..

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32

posted by anais

Jun 26, 2007 5:15PM

NO.

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33

posted by guest

Jun 26, 2007 5:25PM

I love leggings the right way (i.e. not under a denim skirt like the abercrombie crowd) and tights...but seriously, white lace footless tights?!

ew.

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34

posted by sll

Jun 26, 2007 5:32PM

My summer legwear dilemma would take a sudden turn toward tragic in a pair of those. They look like the bottom half of one of those nasty *Frederick's of Hollywood* crotchless bodysuits best worn by ladies of the night in Vegas. And not the tramps at Bellagio, either. Strictly denizens of Stardust and Golden Nugget.

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35

posted by Katie

Jun 26, 2007 5:34PM

I HATE leggings and almost died when I saw people wearing them again. But, I guess if you really feel like you have to wear them, these are probably the best.

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36

posted by miss

Jun 26, 2007 5:59PM

Girls!

What's the only thing to wear on legs this summer?

A nice TAN!
(bottle or beach)

Come on! let go of this silly cropped leggings trend from 2005!

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37

posted by rachel

Jun 26, 2007 6:54PM

the only girl who can rock this right is a skinny skinny model type. no hipsters please

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38

posted by jpc

Jun 26, 2007 6:55PM

Love these fabulous leggings!

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39

posted by Courtney

Jun 26, 2007 6:57PM

I agree with miss. WHat's the point of wearing a skirt if you're going to cover your legs?

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40

posted by Thea

Jun 26, 2007 7:47PM

Note to brendastarlet--- I live in Michigan too. In fact, I'm a fashion writer, AND I live in Michigan. And where the hell are you finding these "we're two years ahead of you all in fashion" folks??

I'm lucky if I see two well-dressed people in the state capitol over the span of a week...

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41

posted by sfl

Jun 26, 2007 8:13PM

Try gap body boy shorts

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42

posted by GG

Jun 26, 2007 10:50PM

they are so funny. White tights in general though are hot! But I am not super into footless tights even though I love Alison!

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43

posted by Connie

Jun 27, 2007 1:23AM

It's like wearable eczema?

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44

posted by The Fashion Informer

Jun 27, 2007 7:02AM

Also, these are kind of Madonna in her "Like a Virgin" phase, no?

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posted by marisha

Jun 27, 2007 11:27AM

thanks for the suggestions!

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posted by eye4style

Jun 27, 2007 12:36PM

Oh hells no.

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posted by melissa

Jun 27, 2007 1:09PM

worst idea ever

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posted by brendastarlet

Jun 27, 2007 2:22PM

Note to Thea: LOL. And try visiting D.C. (I was there last week.) Hot trend: black sleeveless sheath dresses with black stockings. UGH.

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49

posted by Zoë

Jun 28, 2007 1:27AM

When will people ever learn?
Lace is fabulous, you are not unless you utilize it.

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50

posted by KA

Jun 28, 2007 9:30PM

This will be the "trend" that normal people will follow.

and

the trend that fashionable people laugh at.

Kind of like the denim skirt, mid calf length leggings, and ugg boots all at once.


UGHKKK

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51

posted by lovelegs

Jun 29, 2007 1:33PM

i've gotta say i love these... but not for summer, for spring, no, not for me to wear (i'm a guy,) but to see on a beautiful woman. there's something about white lace that's soooooo freakin sexy! white lace hosiery for everyday wear -- a little weird and not in like it once was, but do your man a favor and wear white lace stockings in the bedroom!

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52

posted by mad

Jun 29, 2007 11:53PM

Sometimes during the summer, a short shift dress just doesn't cut it for whatever reason - for me, it's because I'm deathly pale well into July, and I just can't bare that much leg (and thigh!) looking like I just came out from under a rock.

I hate these particular tights, but I like sheer black ones with a bit of lace at the bottom, right below the knee...

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