Legwear 101



This season, I resolve to wear skirts and dresses more often instead of resorting to jeans all the time. As cute as skirt/dress ensembles can be, though, the most important part of any cold weather outfit is whether it will keep you warm! One way to make sure you stay toasty is legwear--tights and leggings to be exact. If you're new to layering legwear under skirts, read on for a primer on some of the major snags you'll encounter and how to solve them. Enjoy!

Problem: Your legwear doesn't keep you warm.
Solution: When shopping, look for opaque tights with high denier counts rather than sheer ones, and opt for leggings made of artificial fibre blends (like nylon) rather than cotton and spandex. Alternatively, layer a pair of leggings on top of a pair of tights. I tried this trick last winter and the results were fantastically windproof.

Shown: BDG long legging ($24), UO sheer tights ($12)


Problem: Your skirt bunches up when you walk.
Solution: Your skirt is most likely bunching up because you're wearing two knit textures which are rubbing together when you walk (e.g. cotton leggings and a sweater dress). To keep your skirt from riding up, make sure that one element of your outfit has a smooth texture. Pair knit or cotton frocks with tights or leggings that are made of nylon or rayon and smooth to the touch. Wear skirts that have a silky built-in slip with knit leggings.



Problem: You're bored with the tights you own, but your budget prevents you from splurging on lots of new pairs.
Solution: Try getting a pair of black lacy or fishnet tights, or a pair of slashed leggings, to layer over your coloured tights. If you own a lot of black tights or tights in dark colours, get them in white instead.



Problem: Whenever you wear tights, your feet tend to slip out of your pumps when you walk.
Solution: As gross as this may sound, leather shoes stay on your feet partly because the leather adheres to your bare skin when you sweat--something which doesn't happen when you wear tights and slip your pumps on. Opt for shoes with ankle or T straps which will stay put on your feet. If you want to keep wearing your slip-on pumps and flats, try pairing them with stirrup tights.



What are your style resolutions for fall and winter? If you're a fan of tights and leggings, do you have any special tricks to make them extra comfy and stylish in layered ensembles?

40 comments

  1. I've found tights that are 100% wool to be the warmest solution when it comes to layering (they're usually not thick, but keep the heat in and the wind out). I'm pretty sure wool leggings exist as well and they're a bit more planet friendly than nylon. I love your advice on combining colored tights with darker ones. I've also read somewhere that attaching a safety pin on the inside hem of your dress/skirt will prevent static cling. I have no idea if it works, but I plan on trying it out soon!

    ReplyDelete
  2. love the tips! I am going to try the layering idea for sure :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great tips!

    If your feet slip when you wear tights with shoes then another tip is those rubber sticky inserts you get for the balls of your feet. They "grip" the tights and you won't slip around so much.

    I've tried any number of things to overcome static cling. If I find it happening in the middle of the day and I can't exactly change I find rubbing handcream on the thighs of my tights can help a little, at least temporarily. Not exactly glamorous, but great in a pinch

    ReplyDelete
  4. Haute-Shopper, kudos to you for mentioning wool tights! Wool sometimes makes me itch so I tend to avoid those, but they'd probably make someone who gets really cold a very happy girl.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That feeling of a dress clinging to tights reminds me in an unpleasant way of being in elementary school....

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great post! I never thought of layering leggings over tights. That sounds really warm.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ooh- great advice on mixing up your legwear! I am especially loving the slashed or textured tights over opaque ones. And I never thought about how legwear with artificial fibers would be warmer than cotton or natural mat'ls... Interesting! xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great post, in fact I even layered some tights today, a great way to wear the flimsy styles I bought in the summer. The tips about mixing cotton dresses with nylon leggings are great.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm thinking those stirrups are going to have to make into my wardrobe. Wow, never thought I would say that. Ah ha

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'd really love to wear my vintage coats more. I feel like I resort to the same old black trench and rarely break out the other stuff in my closet.

    Love the tights tips.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I wear tights and leggings ... almost every day! it's my daily wear with skirts and dresses, long tees etc... love them, I have a full closet of tights haha!

    *loves*

    ReplyDelete
  12. these are wonderful tips...it doesn't get too cold here, but I wear tights all the time in the winter!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am trying to wear more skirts and dresses too, but I have been having trouble forcing myself to wear them, since tights can be very annoying to wear.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great post!
    I found some leggings at Crystal Mall for $15 and the inside is lined with this super soft fleece! Sooo warm and comfy

    Def gonna try the layering when it gets colder

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great post! Gonna try this trick for sure when I'm over in Seattle this Dec!

    ReplyDelete
  16. you could also put those sticky things in your shoes for grip.

    white tights are so blair. haha.

    great post L!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Cute outfit :) Love your resolution to wear more skirts and dresses :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great post Lisa! Lots of really good tips, and I had to laugh about the sweaty feet sticking to shoes keeping them on your feet thing because as gross as it sounds, it's true. So I usually opt for stirrup leggings in that case and it works like a charm :)

    And the wearing leggings on top of tights does work well for the winter. Also like the idea of wearing open weave or fishnet type tights with coloured ones underneath, always fun.

    Thanks for all your lovely comments on my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great post Lisa! I don't wear too many skirts though but where do you think is the best place to buy leggings in Vancouver?

    ReplyDelete
  20. rocking such a cute cute floral dress!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Such a helpful post! I have never layered two pairs of tights but that is so worth a try - and yes a new pair of fishnets or patterned is a must - those ones you featured are delicious! I have been to The Bay DT but they moved everything so much I couldn't find the tights and ran out of time so gave up! lol

    ReplyDelete
  22. ko0ty, for opaque cotton leggings, I've found that F21 has ones of fairly decent quality for very low prices. (I bought two pairs of black ones for less than $5 US each when I went to San Fran.) H&M and Urban Outfitters are worth checking out too.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Gorgeous and informative post, darling! I looooove tights!

    xoxox,
    CC

    ReplyDelete
  24. Love your dress! And congrats on the Flare appearance!

    * Kelsey

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love tights but they are a little too tight on the toes, and after a long day my toes start to hurt. Know any tights that are easy on the toes?

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love the idea of layering leggings under tights for extra warmth! I hate resorting to strictly jeans when it gets cold outside :/

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am a huge fan of tights on a woman's legs, specially black tights or fish nets. I found this post very interesting. I never realized there can be so many problems with wearing tights.
    Great post, I enjoyed reading it.
    Colin.

    ReplyDelete
  28. i'm a big dress wearer - means lots of tights!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Genius, Lisa! Thanks for the tips. Those were all the reasons I tend to leave dresses in the closet in the winter. I'll try some of these out once it gets cold enough in the ATL ;)

    ReplyDelete
  30. leggings, how i love em! XoXO ♥ :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Good advice! My skirt always gets caught up. I thought it was just static, but I'll have to pay a little more attention to the combo next time!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Loving your dress! And tights do look like a wonderful piece to play with, so many colours and options. Haha, I content myself with wearing insanely bright long johns under my trousers during winter. Hope you're having a beautiful weekend :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Great tips! I'm a huge fan of skirts and dressed year round, but sometimes it does get a bit chilly :S
    Love your blog, I'll be sure to stop by more often!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi, love your blog and the pictures are stunning! now following you via rss ^^

    Follow me @
    MaisonChaplin.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Look at your comments! You are doing so well with your blog! I am going to be leaving Numazu in about a month so I will send you my change of address in the next letter!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Great advice! I like the idea of layering the colored tights with patterned ones!

    ReplyDelete

Back to Top