Chic Winter Tights You'll Actually Want to Wear

Tights aren’t some passing accessories fad. They exist to keep our legs warm, extend the life of our summer bottoms, add interest to otherwise straightforward outfits, and make our favorite minis a touch less scandalous. And because they’re essentials, they consistently show up on the runways, giving birth to little micro-tight-trends as they do. (So as not to bore you, we’ll only go three seasons back.) In Spring 2017, Céline’s Phoebe Philo, Balenciaga’s Demna Gvasalia and Pierpaolo Piccioli at Valentino made the case for brightly colored tights. The Fall 2017 runways saw an influx of white, most notably at Thom Browne. (Key players like Off-White, Alessandra Rich, Gucci and Celine have all backed up white in the past). Gvasalia dabbled in lace but mostly continued with loud primaries, Joseph Altuzarra embraced lace (and classic, semi-sheer black tights) wholeheartedly. This past September, designers — Alessandro Michele at Gucci, Shayne Oliver at Helmut Lang, Raul Lopez at Luar — were all about the tasteful, not-your-drugstore nudes. All this to say, when you’re picking out winter tights to wear this incredibly chilling season, you’ve got options. Below, we’ve rounded up 22 that don’t bore us/drive us insane by sliding down/itch us to death. Happy browsing — and good luck getting through winter. [ Pro Tip: Three things to keep in mind whilst tights shopping: (1) Denier is a unit of measure that indicates the density of fibers. (2) If you really love a certain pattern but your hosiery won’t stay in place, a good pair of 3” bike shorts — worn over the tights and under the rest of your outfit — will quickly solve that problem. (3) This site is a must-pillage for any fan of the Balenciaga-bright tights trend. (Sadly, it doesn’t have pictures to accompany each color, hence its absence from the following roundup.) ]

[ Next: Proof That Statement Tights Are This Season’s Secret Style Weapon ]

Tights 2018

& Other Stories

Metallic Tights 30 Denier, $17 at & Other Stories

Wear with a textural party skirt and satiny ankle boots or with pumps and light denim (in which case everyone will think they're socks, and you get a surreptitious extra layer.)
Plush

Fleece Lined Tights, $35 at Shopbop

When the temperatures dip to the teens but you still want to show off your stems, reach for these winter tights. They take the bite out of sub-zero winds without bulking up your look. It's like wearing a sweatshirt on your legs.
Pretty Polly

House of Holland Super Suspender Tights, $30 at Revolve

Style with thigh-skimming boots and dresses and skirts that hit just above the tops of said boots to play up the faux garter belt effect.
Free People

Fleece Lined Tight, $16 at Free People

Same principle, more colorful. These look especially great with Barbie-pink blazers (or dresses) and jewel-tone shoes.
Zara

Fishnet Tights, $9.99 at Zara

And now for something completely different. If you're going to get in on the whole fishnet craze, save your money and experiment with an inexpensive pair by the leader in (passing) trends.
Wolford

Set of Two Satin Touch 20 Denier Tights, $70 at Net-a-Porter

It's a truth universally acknowledged that Wolford makes the best hosiery out there. These are coated in elastane — a spandex fiber that provides extra elasticity — so you don't have to worry about snags and tears. On top of that, they've got a reinforced toe. They lift and smooth the appearance of your legs, plus they're clean and chic enough to wear with literally everything. Best of all, their shiny, lustrous finish sets them apart from the sort of tacky nude "panty hose" you might find at Walgreens.
Calzedonia

Openwork Diamond Tights, $7 at Calzedonia

Your classic, tried-and-true opaque black tights, only slightly more interesting.
Urban Outfitters

Argyle Sweater Knit Tight, $5 at Urban Outfitters

Pair sweater-covered legs with strappy metallic sandals, a silky slip dress and a heavy-duty coat. Preferably one with colorful faux fur lapels. Go hard or go home.
Calzedonia

Macro Flock Polka Dot Tights, $24.50 at Calzedonia

Embellished tights pair well with a cocktail frock or wide-cuffed jeans.
DKNY

Opaque Control Top Tights, $16 at Nordstrom

Pay homage to the great Phoebe Philo — wear your white tights with matching white mules, a breezy, pleated (patterned) skirt and a cropped V-neck sweater layered over a neutral turtleneck. DKNY's tights are a fashion favorite and come in regular and plus.
COS

Wool Tights, $22 at COS

Simple, practical and toasty warm, these wool-reinforced winter tights look great with bunched-up calf-high socks and hiking boots. Take advantage of their insulating abilities and wear 'em with a high hem.
Sarah Borghi

Vel 40 Tights, $28 at Nordstrom

Blair Waldorf, we presume? Per Queen B, don't try to downplay expressive, super-saturated tights with a minimalist outfit. Rather, rock your Smurf legs with bold-patterned pieces and strappy heels that put most of your foot on display.
Tintoretta

Sparkle Party Tights, $28 at Anthropologie

When the winter blahs have you down, upgrade a simple sweater/mini skirt combo with sparkly tights.
H&M

2-Pack Control-Top Tights, $12.99 at H&M

These hit at mid-hip, only have the teensiest bit of roll-down and are so opaque they're basically black leggings (with nice little sheen).
Acne Studios

Niola Stocking, $39 at Forward by Elyse Walker

Amp up a romantic prairie (midi) dress with floral print hosiery.
Strathcona Stockings

Turquoise Rose, $45 at Flora & Co.

...Now do the same, but pretend you're on a Balenciaga runway. Our favorite thing about these tights — aside from their obvious joie de vivre — is their clingy-but-not-suffocating top band and the fact that they're one size fits literally all.
Balenciaga

Pink BB Tights, $125 at SSENSE

Speaking of Balenciaga, here's Demna Gvasalia's take on the brightly colored tight. Note: If you're going to spend $125 on spandex, be sure to let the double-B branded waistline peak out from beneath your mini skirt/sweatpants/etc.
Gucci

Interlocking G Tights, $100 at Gucci

For the logomaniacs who'd rather not leave their hips exposed. Gucci-fy your look: for optimal geek-chic, cheekily vintage vibes, pair with a bright babydoll dress and embellished Mary Janes.
Commando

Ultimate Opaque Matte Tights, $36 at Nordstrom

Wear these classic black tights with skintight outfits (a bodycon dress, a pencil skirt...). Though only 70 denier, they're still pretty opaque. Plus, they lack the blacked-out control top feature so ubiquitous among black tights, so you can wear them with hems of any height. Lastly, the sheer microfiber waistband works like no-show underwear — no weird, bumpy seam lines here.
MeMoi

Cable Sweater Tight, $24 at Free People

The more visible the knit detailing on your sweater tights, the better. Create texture tension by pairing these with satin or PVC.
Hue

Super Opaque Tights With Control Top, $15 at Hue

These rich, forest green tights are slightly less in-your-face than the aforementioned blue and lilac pairs, but still give relatively straightforward outfits a kick. We like 'em with velvety (turquoise or burnt orange) shoes.
Just My Size

Women's Blackout Tights With Soft-Touch Finish, $5.59 at Hanes

These are easy on the wallet, black as night and retain their shape. They're a rarity among plus-size tights.