This Boring $15 Basic Just Became the Hottest Buy, Thanks to the Fall Runways

If there was only one theme I could tell you about from the fall/winter 2023 collections, it would have to the focus on wearability. Across the runways, designers put renewed focus on those foundational pieces that build a strong wardrobe and it was a great reminder of the power that these classic basics hold as well as a wealth of inspiration on how to style them in cool new ways. Perhaps the best example of this movement is with an item so benign and overlooked that it's almost silly to call it a trend: tights.

Boring as they may be, runway looks that featured tights where everywhere we looked this season, from established brands like Gucci, Versace, and Miu Miu to emerging labels including Luar and Puppets and Puppets, and it points to a major reinvention of the top-drawer mainstay. Calling it now: classic tights are in their comeback era. Not only your run-of-the-mill black tights, though, but fishnets, lace, and colored pairs are also undergoing a brand. Ahead, we're breaking down the five cool tights styles that will be trending hardest for fall and pointing out the new styling ideas to try out, too. 

First up are none other than classic sheer tights. You may keep a pair around to warm up your winter outfits, but it's time to look at them in a whole new light. Whether they were worn with long hemlines, mini ones, or even no bottoms at all, sheer tights were the basis to so many cool fall runway looks.

Styling notes: Layer with socks or leg warmers for a balletcore feel à la Sandy Liang or boldly embrace the no-pants look per Christian Siriano with sheer tights, briefs, and a big blazer.

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You might already have preconceived notions about fishnets but any negative connotations about them will dissipate once you see the elevated styling from the fall collections. At Tory Burch, they peeked out from between a maxi dress and point-toe pumps while at Victoria Beckham, fishnets were hiked up above the waistband of pencil skirts for a cool contrast between sultry and tailored.

Styling notes: Pair fishnet tights with ladylike shoes like point-toe pumps or patent Mary Janes.

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The defining color trend of the season is none other than fiery red and one major way it showed up is via opaque tights in the bold hue.

Styling notes: Red tights feel especially editorial and directional (rather than costume-y) when they're styled monochromatically with red shoes or a red skirt.

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Lace and floral tights are also undergoing a renaissance of sorts. Indie designers subverted the super-sweet stockings by styling them with pantsless ensembles that highlighted the texture of the tights.

Styling notes: Per the runways, let textured and lace tights take center stage by embracing embracing the no-pants look with just tights and something structured like a blazer, corset top or strong-shouldered jacket on top.

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Colored tights have been deemed outdated in recent years but fall '23 stands to bring them back in a major way. They appeared in all manner of candy colors like bubblegum pink, mint green, and royal purple to add a pretty (and unexpected) pop to the looks.

Styling notes: Designers primarily styled colored tights in monochromatic looks that matched the color of the tights to the rest of the look, whether it was a bubblegum pink-hued skirt suit at Versace or sequined briefs at Miu Miu. Another cool way to wear colored tights is to let them show above the waistband of a skirt like Gucci did.

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Up next, see five more easy staples that are runway-approved.