Should I match my legwear to my shoes or my dress?

We like to use the “rule of 2” when matching legwear – your hosiery should match either your shoes OR your dress. For a sleek, elongated look, try matching all three.  And for the more adventurous, match your shoes to your dress and wear a contrasting or patterned tight.

I like the look of bare legs but don’t feel comfortable without coverage – are nude stockings acceptable?

There’s nothing worse than a nude stocking that looks like stockings, which is why we love sheer Silken Mist Luxury by L’Eggs.  They are truly transparent and come in a variety shades to match any skin tone so it looks like bare legs, only better. Also try Silk Reflections Transparent Sheer Collection

How do I mix patterned or textured tights with patterned clothing?

Our model wore a mixture of luxe textures and patterns that subtly work together. We paired a nubby boucle skirt and ribbed sweater with DKNY Graphic Chevron tights (Available at Bloomingdales and Nordstrom)

The key to mixing patterns is to pair a large pattern with a smaller print/texture – 2 bold patterns will just compete with each other. We also carried the chocolate color throughout the look which helps to unify the varying textures.

Can I wear hosiery with open toe shoes?

Our model wore peep toe shoes with her tights – a question we’re often asked about. As long as your tights or hose are not sandalfoot style and have no visible seams (or tuck the seams under your toes), you can absolutely wear them with open toe shoes. If you're wearing nude hose, make sure they are truly transparent to avoid looking like you have webbed toes.

Am I too old for leggings? How can I wear them age-appropriately?

We’ve heard a lot about leggings this season. Worn correctly, they’re a great look for women of any age.

We featured a legging look that is sophisticated and age appropriate. We paired luxe Donna Karan Cashmere leggings ($28, at Nordstrom) with a gorgeous sweater coat, wide belt and ballet flats. When wearing leggings with an oversized sweater or tunic, make sure they are completely opaque; footless tights are slightly thinner and should be worn only with dresses or skirts.

 


For evening, are there any alternatives to basic sheer black hose?

Absolutely. Think of your hosiery as an accessory just as you would shoes or jewelry.

To add interest to your little black dress, try sheer lace hosiery (ours are from Hanes), or perhaps a sheer style with a back seam.

How do I wear the new layered trend I hear so much about?

A big trend we’re seeing this season is layered hosiery. We layered ribbed leg warmers over smooth opaque tights (both from DKNY, available at Nordstrom) with knee high boots – a great look to wear with a mini or short dress. Ribbed or nubby socks also work – or try boots and legwarmers over skinny jeans instead of tights.

All shoes in the segment were found at onlineshoes.com and include:

BCBGirls black plaid peep-toe, $100

Steve Madden Pawla suede platform peep-toe $70

Steve Madden Tipie ballet flats, $70

Hype Farfalla evening slingback, $130

Bronx Morgan tall boots, $153

Selected clothes in the segment were provided by Banana Republic