All The Tights Of The Rainbow

Tights have often been a lifesaver for me. As a girl with ridiculously pale, almost translucent, bruise-like-a-peach pins, I rarely go out in skirts and dresses without them. In school, I was often pulled up about my odd looking tights. Choosing to wear ones with tribal patterned holes, or vertical opaque and sheer stripes – over anything plain. I loved nothing more than using them as a statement against the boring, black uniform.

But somewhere along the line I became bogged down in a sea of plain black deniers – I lost my sense of fun when it came to tights. I guess it was because they were easier to wear; they’d go with more things. Nude were useless to me, I’m yet to find a pair that doesn’t make my legs and arms completely different colours. But a recent trend sparked an idea. Rather than wearing plain or patterned tights, I plan on wearing coloured ones.

 

 

Colour blocking is such a big trend, and has been for a while now. When you look at editorial images in magazines, I for one keep missing the fact that all these models are sporting stunning colours, not only on their bodies – but also on their legs. Block coloured accessories are much easier to wear than patterned. A great way to dip your toe back into colour, after the grey winter months, is of course, tights.

People have been clashing and matching their clothes to their tights since the 60’s – when you see pictures, colour is clearly favoured over black. I think this pop of colour adds a touch of thought and glamour to an outfit, whereas black seems more of a thoughtless, obvious choice. After seeing such pictures, my idea of the complete head-to-toe colour ensemble has shifted from being associated with the crazy lady that hangs around town – to pure fashion genius.

Why for so many years have I settled with the belief of: “black goes with everything”. The statement may be true, but the option lacks that fashion edge the women of the 60’s made famous. Safe is very often, boring.

So I’ve decided from here on out, I am going to honour the crazy-legged-creative teenager I once was. LBDs will be paired with reds or bright blues. Check numbers will breathe a fresh, more colourful life, with mustard and bottle green. Pinks and oranges will poke out of ankle-bashing tailoring. And colour on colour will happen wherever I can fit it.

 

 

 

Throughout the years, tights have come to see their fair bit of backlash. They’re not the warmest things to wear, having to pull them up all the time quickly turns into a drag, and specialists have advised not to wear them every day. Too constricting for the legs, or something. Although these same specialists have advised us away from skinny jeans too – that hasn’t stopped anyone. We get it – everything in moderation, is always the healthiest option.

On the bright side, it’s the best of both worlds – being able to switch up your style every once in a while. I often go from colourful as a peacock to black as an emo, all in the space of one week. Why not? At the end of the day, fashion is meant to be fun. And what’s more fun than a rainbow on your legs?!