So Yeah, I've Found the Trick That Makes Any Outfit Look Cool

Tights get a bad rap. Indeed, they're regularly associated with prudish women of a certain age, but they can also be surprisingly fun and experimental. If someone time-warped to only a few years ago, I would've vehemently proclaimed that tights could never be cool. But here we are, in the midst of 2023, when anything could happen, and I'm eating my words.

The first time I hopped onto the patterned tights wave, I wore them with a floral midi dress and received compliments the entire day. In all of my outfit's simplicity—literally just a dress and tights—it looked like I spent much more time meticulously styling myself. And that's the beauty of this trend; slip them underneath a dress, pants, or shorts if you're feeling fancy, and you have an instantly cool outfit that does the heavy lifting for you.

Lately, I've been throwing on patterned tights to jazz up cropped jeans in place of socks, or with sandals as a way to get more wear out of my summer shoes. Now that you're privy to my incognito obsession with pattern tights, it's about time you check out what all the fuss is about for yourself. Keep scrolling to shop all of the best ones to buy now.

Black and Sheer

Here's a good place to start if you're a bit timid to take patterned tights head-on (it's perfectly okay to wade the waters before deciding if a trend works for you!). Black-on-black print is a nice beginner-friendly piece that will be much easier to style than bold colors straight out of the gate.

Tie-Dye 

It turns out matching tights and dresses are a perfect pair. So much so that it was a major trend on Copenhagen's spring summer runways. Take a cue from Versace's runway styling and try the same outfit combo with regular tie-dye stockings. 

Florals

Floral tights are also another cool alternative when trying out the matching dress and tights trend. A few seasons ago, Ganni and Swedish Stockings teamed up for a sustainably made, zero waste collection of printed stockings. Unfortunately, the matching dress is sold out (you gotta act fast with these things!), but you can still get your hands on a few pairs of the eco-conscious range of tights.

Saturated Shades 

Unapologetically bold tights are easier to pull than you might think. If you're still mulling over how to incorporate them into your wardrobe, try color-blocking or mismatching prints. Your audaciousness will be appreciated. 

Logo Mania

Saks Potts logo emblazoned black and white stockings might just be one of social media's most recognizable. It was particularly a huge street style favorite, as evidenced by my picture here.

Plaid

In a throwback to your primary-school days, plaid is an obvious choice for the fall season. 

Animal Prints

As far as we're concerned, animal prints are neutral. They look especially amazing with a sleek leather dress or a Matrix-style trench. Remember, there are varying degrees of animal print, like Junya Watanabe's opaque leopard tights to Commando's black sheer versions. Pick how intensely you want to go, and don't be afraid to have fun with it!