Tights Are Right

With fall comes winter, and with winter comes cooler temperatures-okay, freezing temperatures.  However, one of my favorite parts of winter is tights!  Besides the obvious fact that they keep your feet warm, tights are a great way to update a boring dress or skirt.  They can also be the perfect thing to tone down an overly short dress or frock that could otherwise be deemed over the top.

And there are also lots of fun tights to choose from this year as well!  No longer relegated to black or opaque, colors and patterns are making a seriously fun and exciting comeback.  Here is just a sampling of my favorites.

For embellished tights, look no further than Cynthia Rowley Embellished Tights ($250).

Fresh off the runway, they are basic black tights with a kick-embellishments and beading all along the front.  Elaborate and so different from anything else in your hosiery drawer.  For another option try these Free People Rhinestone Lace Tights ($24) available at freepeople.com  Lace with a kick of rhinestones trailing down the back.

The latest and greatest way to wear tights is with serious patterns-seriously fun ones!  I am currently coveting these Blank Dinosaur Tights ($72), available at pixiemarket.com  Yes, those are tiny dinos printed on them!  Adore!

For other fun patterns, try Blank Soldier Tights ($72) also from Pixie Market's site, with, you guessed it, tiny toy soldiers printed all over them.  I am also obsessing over the Henry Holland Alphabet Tights ($17) available at figleaves.com.  These sheer tights are updated with the letters of the alphabet printed randomly all over.  Cute-and educational!  Also from figleaves.com the Jonathan Aston Animal Print Tights ($12) are great.  Purple leopard print?  Love!  And for those who need some sparkle (yours truly included!) look no further than TopShop's Glitter Dot Tights ($24) which you can snap at up topshop.com.  Black with tiny silver polka dots.

And of course, you can't go wrong with basic black.  They are a classic for a reason!  I've found that the very best out there are by Wolford.  Their Chicago shop, on Oak St., gets regular stops from me, and every winter I pick up two new pairs of their Satin de Luxe Tights ($65) available at most major department stores-I've seen them at Barney's, Saks, Bloomingdale's, and Neiman Marcus.  At first glance you may think-"$65 for tights?!" but let me convert you.  They are the softest, most flattering tights you'll ever wear.  Exceptionally soft, leg-lengthening, and as a bonus, a seam running up the back of each leg.  Sexy!  I look forward to the cool fall day when I slip into a silky pair for the first time.

This is just a (very) small sampling of the amazing hosiery that is available this season.  May your winter-and your legs!-be warm!