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A sudden drop in temperature always has me rummaging around at the bottom of my drawers, searching for any tights that might have survived last winter!
I've always had a bit of a love-hate relationship with tights. They rip, they go baggy, they get bobbly, and there's nothing quite like spending an entire day pulling up a pair that just won't stay put!
BUT, there's no denying that they're an autumn/winter wardrobe essential, especially if you want to keep wearing your favourite dresses and skirts when the temperature drops.
And actually, tights can do much more than just keep your legs warm. The colour, thickness and texture you choose can completely change how an outfit looks and feels.
So, today's Joy Drop is all about tights, with a few simple tips to help you decide which ones to reach for!
1. Understanding denier
First, a quick lesson in denier!
Denier is a measurement of the weight of the fibres used to make your tights. Generally speaking, the higher the denier, the thicker and more opaque your tights will be.
10–20 denier: Sheer
These are lightweight and allow your skin to show through. They give an outfit a softer, lighter appearance and are particularly lovely with finer fabrics, delicate footwear or dressier outfits.
30–50 denier: Semi-opaque
A brilliant middle ground! You get more coverage without quite the same visual heaviness as thicker tights. They're incredibly versatile and work with lots of different outfits.
60–100+ denier: Opaque
These create a stronger, more solid block of colour. They're particularly useful with heavier winter fabrics, chunky boots and knitted dresses, and generally offer more warmth too.
As you can see from my photographs, I've styled the same dress and boots with three different deniers, and each creates a slightly different effect.
But which looks best?
Well, that really depends on what you're trying to achieve!
2. Think about visual weight
This is probably my biggest tip when choosing tights.
Visual weight is simply how heavy or substantial something looks within an outfit.
Think about the difference between a floaty dress with delicate ballet flats and a thick knitted dress with chunky boots.
Both outfits could work with tights, but you might want to choose different deniers.
Lighter fabrics and delicate footwear: Sheer or semi-opaque tights can create a softer finish.
Heavier fabrics and chunky footwear: Opaque tights can help balance the weight of the outfit.
Somewhere in between: Try 40 denier as a starting point.
So, if you put on an outfit and something doesn't feel quite right, ask yourself:
Do my tights feel too heavy or too light for the rest of my outfit?
Sometimes changing the denier is all it takes to make everything feel more balanced.
Of course, you can deliberately mix visual weights too. A delicate dress with thick tights and chunky boots can look brilliant! Understanding visual weight isn't about making everything match, but recognising the effect you're creating.
3. Think about your footwear
Another really useful styling trick is to consider the relationship between your tights and shoes.
Matching your tights to your footwear creates a continuous line of colour, which can help your legs appear longer.
For example, black tights with black ankle boots create a relatively uninterrupted line, whereas black tights with tan boots introduce a much more noticeable break.
Neither is wrong, but they do create different effects.
And this doesn't just work with black!
Navy tights with navy shoes, chocolate-brown tights with brown boots or burgundy tights with burgundy loafers can all create a similar effect.
Your tights don't have to match your footwear perfectly either. Sometimes choosing a similar colour or depth is enough.
Something to try: Next time you're wearing a dress and ankle boots, compare a pair of tights that matches your boots with one that contrasts. Notice how it changes the proportions of your outfit.
And if you prefer the contrasting version? Wear that one!
4. Don't automatically reach for black!
I think most of us have a drawer full of black tights, and it's easy to understand why. They're practical, versatile and work with so many outfits.
But they're not always the best choice!
Sometimes swapping black tights for navy, brown or grey can make an outfit feel much more harmonious, particularly if you're wearing softer or warmer colours.
And this brings me to something that can cause a little confusion when you first discover your colour season... If black isn't in your seasonal palette, does that mean you shouldn't wear black tights anymore?
Absolutely not! Remember, your seasonal colours are most important close to your face, so there's much more flexibility when it comes to tights and footwear.
However, if you're looking for some alternatives to black, here are a few useful colours to consider:
Spring: Warm navy, chocolate brown or caramel. Lovely with your fresh, warm colours, particularly when paired with tan or brown boots.
Summer: Soft navy, cool grey, slate or plum. These can create a softer effect alongside your muted, cooler colours.
Autumn: Chocolate brown, olive green, rust or deep teal. Gorgeous alternatives that work beautifully with your rich, earthy palette.
Winter: Black is already a brilliant staple! But you could also try charcoal, cool navy, burgundy or even a bold cobalt blue.
My biggest tip? Rather than worrying about whether your tights are technically in your seasonal palette, think about how they connect with the rest of your outfit.
You could match them to your footwear, pick out a colour from your dress or skirt, or use them to introduce a little contrast.
And remember our recent Joy Drop about connecting accessories? The same ideas apply here. A little colour echo between your tights and another part of your outfit can make everything feel intentional.
You could even have a play with your Joyfully Dressed Colour Wheel if you're looking for some more adventurous combinations!
Your colour season should make getting dressed easier, not leave you worrying about whether you're allowed to wear black tights.
5. Have some fun with pattern and texture!
Tights can be an accessory in their own right, and they're a lovely way to add personality to an otherwise simple outfit.
Think delicate polka dots, lace, ribbed textures or even a bold colour!
A plain dress with simple boots can suddenly feel much more interesting when you introduce patterned tights and actually I have a pair of dotty tights which I love and do just that!
Related Joy Drops
Some other recent Joy Drops to have a look at:
