The weather in New York has taken a turn for the cold and blustery incredibly quickly. It’s making me sad. Except for the fact that I can start busting out my tights on a regular basis.

What I’ve realized I’m lacking is an array of black patterned ones. Every night this week, I’ve seen at least one adorable pair on a girl in a simple outfit that becomes a little less simple with that extra addition.

Unfortunately the Louis Vuitton and Chanel versions aren’t exactly how I should be spending my paycheck right now. Unless of course I decide to give up Christmas presents for the fam. Last night at the hair salon one of the girls (who also happened to be a dead ringer for Rayanne Graff) told me hers were from Urban Outfitters and that she’d just picked up a whole bunch of them.

This Betsey Johnson pair seem to fit my criteria perfectly: black, not so dark as to obscure the pattern, and affordable. Plus they have bows! Even if those aren’t your style, there are tons of others to choose from.

Friday shopping complete. Now if that wind would just die down.

We almost forgot about fall given the SS10 hysteria.

Now that it’s freezing outside, we’re digging to the bottom of our closets to find the ball of tights that gets us through every winter, but plain black tights are significantly less satisfying than usual.

For FW09 designers showed a range of patterned and embellished tights that left us longing for something more exciting. From Marc Jacobs 80’s neon paisley to McQueen’s optical houndstooth, tights stopped being just something to keep warm, and started being a crucial accessory with which to liven your outfit.

Wouldn’t you rather brighten your fall wardrobe with some sparkle tights a la Anna Sui or some bejeweled Miu Mius? And if you still feel for black, try the sheer dotted tights seen at Balenciaga, which are perfect for adding a detail to a simple outfit.

We say ditch the black tights and start walking in technicolor!

Kate, 33, Stylist and Creative Director

Got Her: Walking down Prince Street on one of the first really chilly days of the year.

Stalked Her: We knew as soon as we stepped outside today that people all over town would be piling on the layers and breaking out their new fall pieces. Bring on the cute hats and scarves.

Shot Her: Because she has transitional dressing down. Her simple, classic look works perfectly for the current weather, but would be just as great in the spring — sans the tights and chunky sweater.

She Said: “I collect striped shirts, and that’s why I put this one on this morning. A friend of mine recently wrote a piece for Vogue about how to wear shorts in the Fall, so I was inspired to try it out.”

We Say: We’re actually pretty excited about this change in temperature. New outfits for all.

I was taking the 6 uptown yesterday when the chicest girl stepped on. She was wearing what I can only describe as a short-sleeved trench coat dress (it was not this cute Doo.Ri one that we found, but that’s your basic idea), with flats and an orange scarf. I was cursing myself for not having a camera with me, when a totally different thought struck me - isn’t she overheated wearing that?

We keep hearing about, and seeing, girls wearing tights this summer. And we’re even really digging the ones that Vogue UK wrote about today. A trench and a scarf in the middle of a New York summer, especially underground, seems even crazier.

“That tights aren’t pants?!” - Blair, reprimanding a crying underclassmen (and sending a cryptic message via prime time to Lindsay), over her front steps outfit of choice, on last night’s Gossip Girl.

Today, Britt came into the office with a startling revelation: it’s mid August. That’s right. Somehow, summer got sucked through a black hole of white dresses and messy buns, and now Fall is basically one click away on our calendar.

But here’s one bright, albeit frank, spot - we can’t wait for the day we skip shaving and slide on a pair of tights instead; which is exactly why ripped ones have been playing on our minds recently.

Our mothers always told us that the best place for ripped stockings was the garbage can. But they also told us not to wear white after labor day or mix prints - so, like so much of their fashion wisdom, has the no ripped tights rule died with decorum?

On the one hand, they looked awesome on Alexander Wang’s runway. Nylon rips gave the collection an endearing edge of “who cares”. On the other hand, they might make you look like you’ve been sleeping in a dumpster for the past week - after all, Wang actually poured pounds of dirt all over his runway to make sure the models looked extra messy.

In other words, we’re afraid this could be taking the whole grunge revival thing just a little too far - not to mention, purposefully tattered clothes (think artfully destroyed $300 jeans) kind of makes us want to use the word “poser” for the first time in years.

So what do you think? Would you wear ripped tights?

—HAYLEY PHELAN

Caroline, 19

Got Her: Crosby and Prince

Stalked Her: Because her adorable sun dress made us momentarily forget how depressing the weather is today - plus it stood out from down the block set against those black opaque tights.

Shot Her: Because we love the romantic print and effortless flounce of her dress. While it’s weird to wear tights in late June, we think it totally works in this case. Plus, her boyfriend Johan is a super cute accessory (click through!)

She says: We live together in Sweden. He’s only here visiting for a week!

We say: Cute couple, cuter outfit. Adjö!

—HAYLEY PHELAN

Suzanne, 30 , Executive Assistant

Got Her: Texting a friend at Style.com’s party at Glass Houses last night

Stalked Her: Because anyone who goes out in green tights deserves to be noticed

Shot Her: Because upon closer inspection, we realized the tights are genius (we noticed her from across the room and it was super packed), and there was something really cool happening on her back (click through!)

She Says: “I originally had on just black tights, but they had a huge snag in them, so I switched to this green pair I got at Target instead. And this is actually a long, open-backed top! I sewed straps into the back, and made it into a kind of dress!”

We Say: We’re green, people.