The Cheap and Easy Item WWW's EIC and I Are Buying to Mimic the Runways

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(Image credit: Launchmetrics; @katcollings)

There's no lack of creative ways to amp up your outfits this season—from adding a bow wherever humanly possible to big and even bolder belts. (Thanks, Sandy Liang and Khaite.) According to both the fall/winter 2023 and spring/summer 2024 runways, there's one item that is sure to make a major statement from here on out: colorful tights. While any color will make a stylish difference, it's specifically a striking shade of red that was spotted in multiple designers' collections. If you truly want to look like you're in the know, a pair of red tights will do the trick. (Plus, they're just so fun to look at.) Our team was pretty quick to get on board this season. When Proenza Schouler's S/S 24 runway collection included a few pairs of red tights contrasting against minimal pieces this past New York Fashion Week, Editor in Chief Kat Collings and I were quick to use an affordable pair of tights to mimic the look.

Some of the runway looks may have been unquestionably bold and daring, but the trend can easily translate to your everyday wardrobe. Don't let the funky layers at Gucci fool you—it's actually easier to pull off than you think. Whether you're wearing jeans or a classic LBD, a pair of colored tights will take the outfit to an A+ real quick. Keep scrolling to see how designers styled them on the runways how the fashion set is pulling off the joyful trend right now.

On the runways:

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(Image credit: Launchmetrics; Givenchy)

Even with this season's delicate design direction, Givenchy still managed to make a pop of red work flawlessly. I normally wouldn't think to put together a bright red with pretty pastels, but it actually creates a wonderful color story.

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(Image credit: Launchmetrics; Acne Studios)

Red pairs well with so many colors, but as ACNE Studios proves here, it's okay to go all the way in.

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(Image credit: Launchmetrics; Proenza Schouler)

It was this collection that tugged at my and Kat's fashion heartstrings. The styling is what always captures me about Proenza Schouler's collections, and it was no different this time around.

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(Image credit: Launchmetrics; Gucci )

As quirky as it may be, there are some style notes we can take from this Gucci look. Sheer fabrics are trending right now, and instead of baring it all (which was seen at Miu Miu), a pair of red tight underneath will provide an extra layer but also make your outfit stand out.

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(Image credit: Launchmetrics; Ferragamo)

Maximilian Davis has brought a freshness back to Ferragamo that is currently defining what's cool in the industry. Red has been a big theme in his past collections, and for spring/summer 2024, he combined fuchsia and red for a bold and beautiful look.

On the fashion set:

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(Image credit: @katcollings)

Leave it to Kat to look like she walked straight off a Proenza Schouler runway. The subtle peak of the tights underneath the baggy low-rise trousers just tickles the fashion part of your brain. 

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(Image credit: @thatgirlyusra)

Proven by Ferragamo, pink will always go with bright red. 

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(Image credit: @lucywilliams02)

With a heavy-duty leather jacket like this, colorful tights add a playful touch to an otherwise edgy ensemble.

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(Image credit: @elizagracehuber)

Remember what I said about a pair of tights having the power to elevate even a simple black dress? Case in point.

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(Image credit: @anaasaber)

Go all into the color wheel. The red will still pop, and you'll look like a chic but eclectic showgoer straight out of Copenhagen Fashion Week.

Shop the trend:

Associate Fashion Editor
Yusra Siddiqui is an editor who resides in New Jersey but bounces between the suburbs and NYC. (She's a Jersey girl at heart.) After interning at Who What Wear in 2019, she found her way to the team after graduating from LIM College in 2022 with a fashion media degree. She's also spent time writing and working for publications such as Fashionista, Coveteur, and Nylon, but she always knew that Who What Wear was where she was meant to be. When she's on the job, she's perusing runway shows, analyzing the latest thing fellow Gen Zers are up to on the internet, and sharing what she can about the modest-fashion market. You can also catch her dabbling in entertainment, talking about the costume choices of the latest Netflix series or diving deeper into how the plotline affects the viewers in a myriad of ways. Lastly, she likes to create content for Who What Wear's TikTok. Her personal time is spent doing similar but also different things—deep diving into almost every new TV show (Bridgerton, Gilmore Girls, and Stranger Things are favorites), planning her next local getaway (whenever that may be), and reading the latest Emily Henry or Sally Rooney novel in one sitting.