Leggings versus tights

I’ve come to the conclusion that leggings are for either the young (teenybopper young) or very trendy. When I do wear them in public (always in black) I always feel like I’m conspicuously making a “statement”. Leggings are too much of a trendy thing for a professional wardrobe. On a college campus, fine. But opaque tights are much more *in* right now, and don’t scream “trendy”.

If you *have* to have leggings, go either for Hollister HCO ankle-length or Old Navy. Neither legging has obnoxious embellishments or graphics, and can be had in basic black (but also in navy, brown, grey, white, and pink). Rue 21 had some respectable choices but the pair I have (white, ankle-length) are really too polyester/spandex-y for my taste. I prefer a cotton blend myself….that’s just me. The whole trick to the mastery of the leggings craze is for it to NOT look like spandex.

If you’d rather not spend 18 bucks on a pair of leggings, then go the Wal-Mart (aka Evil Empire) route. You can’t beat $5.82. Be forewarned, though, this less expensive alternative to Old Navy/Hollister will pill/fade faster. You get what you pay for.

But if you are over 21, and trying to establish a professional self-image, try for the tights. Believe it or not, they’re back, and options abound. Get them textured or patterned, or wear them with a contrasting colour of shoes for a mod effect.

Ribbed knit tights in cream or white capture the essence of this A/W ‘06/’07-specific style, but skip it if you carry extra weight in your legs. Opt instead for the slenderizing effect of opaque tights in black, navy, brown, eggplant, or charcoal. Patterned tights are better left to the experimental or gazelle-legged. An interesting combination that keeps cropping up on runways is an opaque-tights-with-knee-socks-in-a-contrasting-colour effect. This is in keeping with the layering trademark of the season. On the subject of knee socks, they seem to be especially popular in an argyle pattern, worn to best effect with collegiate tartan/pleated skirts (think “Love Story”) — a byproduct of the teasing schoolgirl theme that is only hinted at in today’s fashion — case in point: babydoll dresses — but will come full circle in Spring ‘07.

In late Novemeber weather, tights are a much-appreciated accessory, in regards to keeping the chill factor at bay, and in being able to pull off the season’s skyward skirt hemlines without losing modesty. Avoid nude stockings — they scream “old lady” — but if you must go that route, make sure they match the skin tone of your legs EXACTLY, and are extremely sheer…the orangey fake-tan look in hosiery is tacky and will date you.

If you aren’t a fashion risk-taker, stick with black opaque tights — universally flattering and timeless.