Would You Wear Printed Tights?

Mar 14, 2008 @ 3:48pm

Fashion's been carrying on a love affair with tights for a few years now.

They're mostly black, always opaque, and sometimes lacy.

But we're starting to notice more diversity in the world of hosiery, and we don't just mean varying textures.

We fell in love with the polka dot tights Siri wore in this month's Lula. Agyness Deyn's tights are always anything but plain and MIA's been rocking loud, colorful tights for as long as we've been listening to her music. Anna Sui's Fall '08 runway was covered in them, as was Prada's Spring '08 show.

Here's the thing - we love opaque black tights because they make our legs look both long and slender. Printed tights aren't so flattering and have the potential to make us look twelve.

On the other hand, they'd definitely spice up even the most boring outfit and now that Lindsay's guaranteeing both "prints and patterns," they're sure to be a must.

Are you wearing them?

posted by guest

Mar 14, 2008 4:06PM

I would def consider wearing them. But where do you cross the line of dressing too young for your age? I am 25 and I love the lacey ankle socks and the striped knee high but am I too old? I have to wear the stuffy suit look to work so my fashionable side gets stifled all week long, on the weekends I want to let me hair and my look down.

posted by iximisspiggyixi

Mar 14, 2008 4:23PM

I personally wouldn't, but just because it's not my style. However I think they're awesome and great for other people!

posted by guest

Mar 14, 2008 4:53PM

I wear some floral ones that are fun if you keep the rest simple. BUT I did buy a striped pair and I looked a little witchy..

posted by guest

Mar 14, 2008 4:53PM

i think they're great fun with a solid dress. hard to find really fantastic ones here though, the few i have are from europe.

posted by sydneyt

Mar 14, 2008 5:40PM

i love printed tights! they really make you stand out.

posted by Jac

Mar 14, 2008 8:26PM

I love them too. for some ungodly reason, my aunt bought a bunch of leggings/tights things in the 80's and they are amazingly patterned. Stuff you just don't see anymore. I want to wear them really bad, but I think if I ever tried to walk down the street in Seattle, people would shun me.

posted by guest

Mar 14, 2008 8:27PM

They're adorable, as long as the rest of your outfit isn't too busy.

posted by chowmeng

Mar 14, 2008 8:55PM

i would wear them but i agree that sometimes they do look unflattering. I usually go for less crazy ones like small patterns on a solid color.

posted by guest

Mar 14, 2008 10:30PM

i agree with britt 100%, always black & opaque. every now and then i wear a solid gray or brown, maybe a subtle pattern, but colors, oh no.

posted by guest

Mar 14, 2008 11:13PM

I am "betwixt and between" on your meaning of "potential to make us look a twelve." If, by your grammatically incorrect statement, you are referring to size 12, I'll have you know that I am a buyer for a very well respected retailer and a size 12. Difference, perhaps, between yourself(writer) and myself, is I am absolutely gorgeous and have nothing to prove, I tried all the bullshit traditional diets, and at the end of the day, this is my body, and trust me I am gorgeous. If that wasn't your meaning, I still have a gripe, check your facts before a posting, numerous times, besides ridiculous, your wrong .. get a real job..assistant, perhaps.. well, if your lucky.

posted by guest

Mar 15, 2008 12:56AM

i wear them all the time.
i think i must have over 30 pairs in all different colours, patterns and textures.
they're wonderful.

posted by guest

Mar 15, 2008 2:24AM

I would love to! I especially love the polka-dotted ones Siri wore...It's just such a fun look.

posted by curlytop

Mar 15, 2008 6:48AM

i don't know.. i guess it will depend on the print!

posted by guest

Mar 15, 2008 8:14AM

I used to collect colorful tights when I used to dance, I even had lightning blue ones with lightning bolts all over it! But you definitely have to watch yourself when wearing them... It's a black and white matter. It's either people love it or hate it.. I love it though!

posted by dumbbrunette5

Mar 15, 2008 8:56AM

ive been searching for a pair of polka dot tights since i saw that editorial in lula, I plan to pair them with hot pink pumps. and i already own dark red tights and im gonna get purple too. i dont think it makes me look any younger but im still 18 so maybe thats why. id never wear striped tights though, i outgrew that in 8th grade when i had striped tights and socks in every single color possible.

posted by guest

Mar 15, 2008 9:59AM

never.

posted by guest

Mar 15, 2008 10:10AM

I would wear printed tights and I do! I get compliments on my polka dotted pair all the time.

And, wow, guest @ 11:13, she was refering to looking like a twelve year old, making your defense of your body size irrelavant and a tad "ridiculous". Even if she meant size twelve, if your so offended by this comment and other "mistakes" on Fashionista that you feel the need to insult the the writers, than you shouldn't be reading this blog now should you?

posted by dcchung86

Mar 15, 2008 10:26AM

Tsumori Chisato just did a show with ombre tights. I am totally curious about these tights.

posted by guest

Mar 15, 2008 1:05PM

Yes. I would wear printed tights. Like any style, I would need to find something that works for me / my outfit.

posted by Modupe

Mar 15, 2008 1:27PM

I love printed tights, though i wear opaques to school each day, i have gray ones too which look great, but printed tights are the perfect thing for standing out, which is why i just got a new pair of black and pink striped ones which look like something from the Pippi Longstockings cartoon.

posted by guest

Mar 15, 2008 9:08PM

hey guest at 11:13, there was no A in that sentence, she meant 12 as in the age.

So probably YOU should check your facts before leaving nasty rambling comments

also rpeating that you are gorgeous makes others wonder what you are trying to prove

posted by Jac

Mar 16, 2008 2:51PM

yeah, i love when women feel the need to call themselves gorgeous. you very well may be, but um, shutup.

posted by syako

Mar 16, 2008 9:42PM

your = your (possessive)
you're = you are

sorry I just find it funny when people point out other's grammar errors and then make their own, quite blatantly.

posted by Annmarie

Mar 17, 2008 12:45AM

And, ah, 11:13, you might want to grammar check your "yours" before you comment on anyone else's editing skills.

posted by guest

Mar 17, 2008 1:43PM

oh, i love, love, love, love, love, love PRADA, but i don't think any of their outfits would work on me. So i sit back, sigh and appreciate their beauty from afar, except for their handbags, i can actually pull those off and i've already bought two from their spring line. the fairy bags are fantastic, but very delicate because they're handpainted. anyway i digress, the printed/color tights are a great idea for breaking from the old black tights mold. i wore bright pink tights with a silver dress for new years eve and got many compliments. i say if you like it do it, and 25 is not too young to take any kind of fashion leap, it's the prefect age in fact. i mean, look at "carrie" she's suppose to be around 40 and she doesn't dress like a spinster!

posted by guest

Mar 17, 2008 3:18PM

Colored tights were all the rage on the runway in February. One of the hottest tights were solid olive tights worn with everything. It was if olive became the new neutral.

Patterned tights, if done correctly can really rock an outfit. Tiny fishnet patterns have become a very accepted alternative to boring basic black tights.

Height doesn't matter with tights,it's all about proportion and of course, the right heel.

I think that Mara Hoffman's patterned tights, made to look like horse bridles were brilliant. I'll be definitely hunting them for fall.