Want a quick, affordable way to perk up a look that will also help you chase winter`s chill? Pull on a pair of tights, which this season come in more vibrant and sophisticated varieties than ever before.
Tights ”are the answer for the imperfect leg,” says Stephanie Solomon, fashion director of accessories at Bloomingdale`s in New York. ”They make the leg look better than it really is.”
”And with shorter skirts, women feel the tights really cover their legs more,” says Lisa Ferraro, marketing director for HUE, a New York-based hosiery company.
What sets tights apart from standard hose is their usually solid matte finish and the addition of cotton, wool or Lycra, a durable, synthetic, stretchable fiber.
Selecting the right tight, however, can be a daunting prospect, given the range of choices. Generally, for work, choose a tight that contains Lycra. These tights usually offer a more polished, professional look than those made primarily of cotton and/or wool. Lycra versions also will hold their shape longer than those of other components.
Tights come in all price ranges. Here`s a brief market sampling of legwear you can wear to work-what`s out there and what you can get for your dollar:
For under $5, you can get the look of an opaque tight with a pair of 100 percent nylon hose. They will give you a similar matte look but lack the weight and elasticity of a a Lycra tight. Clothing stores and drugstores carry these hose, which are made by many companies.
The next step up is a pair of opaque tights by Hanes, or another non-designer hosiery line, for about $6.95.
For about the same price, you can buy store brands and expect consistently good quality. Bloomingdale`s, for instance, sells its own label for $5.50. These tights contain 93 percent nylon and 7 percent Lycra.
Next up the price scale are offerings by HUE, one of the industry`s leaders, especially when it comes to color. Its best seller is a 90 percent nylon and 10 percent Lycra matte tight that retails for $10.50. A ribbed version sells for $12; a thicker cotton/Lycra tight for $12.50. Control tops are available in the Lycra opaque, for $12.50, and the super opaque, for $15. Designers also offer a collection of tight options. For example, DKNY`s 86 percent nylon and 14 percent Lycra tight costs $10.50. For $14, you can buy a cotton/Lycra tight. The DKNY label is made by Hanes (as are versions sold by Liz Claiborne).
”The most important difference between the opaques in our designer brands is the yarn used, like the difference between single and double ply cashmeres,” explains Cathy Volker, vice president, fashion merchandising, for Hanes Hosiery.
Norma Kamali makes an 87 percent nylon and 13 percent Lycra tight for $12. And Anne Klein offers an opaque tight of 86 percent nylon and 14 percent Lycra, as well as a velour opaque version made from 96 percent nylon. Both sell for $12.
The most flattering way to wear tights is up to you. Either employ the monochromatic-color-equals-length theory and match them to the tones of your skirt and shoes, or slide on a pair in a contrasting color or pattern to add the perfect punctuation to your look.
Where to buy
Top photo, from left: blue Gracile tights, $12, from Express; yellow DKNY tights, $10.50, and loden DKNY tights, $10.50, both from Bloomingdale`s; red ribbed HUE tights, $14, and ivory striped HUE, $14, from This Little Piggy, Water Tower Place; Fuchsia Ultra tights, $18, from Fogal, 900 N. Michigan Ave. Lower photo: Striped tights, $79, from Fogal, 900 N. Michigan Ave. Houndstooth Discretion tights, $12, from Le Chateau, 2828 N. Clark St. Dress in both photos, $120, drop earrings, $18, and printed scarf, $24, all from The Limited. Hat, $44, from Express. Flats, $85.90, from The Seasons Best, 645 N. Michigan Ave. Pine bench, $399, from Crate & Barrel.
Models: Dawn Stern and Woodie, from Elite/Chicago. Photo styling: Ron Laxamana.
