College Fashion Trend: Opaque Tights
Move over, leggings – this winter, there’s a hot new trend in legware that’s much more chic. If you can’t guess by the title of this article; I’m talking about opaque tights.
We saw the look all over the runways, and now the opaque tights trend has finally hit the streets (not to mention all the college campuses.) They’re everywhere – paired with ankle boots, dresses, and even shorts.
Opaque tights truly are this year’s leggings are a must-have trendy item that works in so many different outfits. The most popular tights are opaque black, but the look also works with bright colors from red to electric blue.
Edie in her opaque tights.
Why Tights Rock
Let me just take a second to say that I’m obsessed with this trend! Tights are a fab way to wear your fall dresses into winter (hello stretching the clothing budget), and a huge bonus – most are inexpensive! Also, I love the throwback to Edie Sedgwick and the 60’s mod look (see photo on the right – how fabulous does Edie look?) But here’s the best part – tights actually do keep your legs warm!
How To Wear Opaque Tights
Tights are so versatile and they truly work with tons of different looks! Here are a few tips to get you started rocking this trend.
- Try them with a sweater dress. Talk about cozy chic! Try a sweater dress over black opaque tights with cute ankle boots for effortless style.
- Use bright colors sparingly. Remember that if you rock brightly colored opaque tights, keep the rest of your outfit simple and let your legs be the focus.
- Try them with a party dress. Glam up your going-out look and stay warm while you walk to the bars or parties! Pair a sparkly dress with opaque tights, hot accessories and peep toe heels!
- Try matching your shoes. Wear your tights with flats or heels in the same color for a look that makes your legs look a mile long!
- Remember: Opaque, not semi opaque! There IS a difference. Opaque is hot this season, while semiopaque tights just look dated and are also much less slimming for your legs.
Shop This Trend
 Xhilaration Low Rise Tights $5.99 | Sparkle & Fade Opaque Tights $12.00 |  Hot Sox Metallic Tights $18.00 |
What do you think of the opaque tights trend? Do you love it as much as I do, or are you going to rock bare legs this winter instead? Take the poll below and let me know your opinions in the comments!
[poll id="8"]
Posted on on November 22, 2007 / Filed Under: Trends / Tags: Clothing, Dresses, Edie Sedgwick, Tights, Trends
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Gemma
Just had to comment on this – I love this trend and I’m glad to see it here on the site. Black tights are so hot and I love how they go with so many outfits and different types of weather. And they really are warm too just like you say.
Thanks for posting the hot trends and I’ll be checking back for updates of course :)
— Gemma
Zephyr
Aw, thanks Gemma, and yay I’m happy you like the tights too, I’m really obsessed haha
Christy
Opaque tights are my favorite trend this season! i love how great the look with everything, and the come in so many colors! at my college, alot of people are still wearing mini skirts! i’m glad you’re trying to teach people layering CAN BE cute!
Chanel
Zephyr-
I added you to my link list (Hip Links), and please know that it is honestly never my intention to be unfair.
Love your blog as well…
Chanel
FRANCIS
hey,
I know this might seem a bit weird a guy commenting on this but the site was left up after my girlfriend left. She wears tights all the time to keep warm and i think there quite attractive. I wear a really thin pair of pants to work and get cold all the time, if only they made mens tights, they look quite comfy as well? :P..
Francis
Zephyr
Chanel – Thanks so much hun xoxo
Francis – Haha, my boyfriend loves tights on me too – for some reason tights and leggings seem like a favorite of boys everywhere. But, I gotta say, mens tights would not be cute… peter pan anyone? Thanks for commenting, a guys opinion is always welcome here of course!
Eric
Hello Girlies,
You gals want my two cents here it is,,,
First off you girls put off leggings because of comfort issues, But why wear heels then? This is a look that I personally love on a girl. Not due to the fact that I love to look at girls legs, (If you didn’t know I’m a leg and butt man), but I feel that this a professional look for a girl and at the same time super cute. If you really want a guys attention maybe sexually but to show that you like to look nice from time to time. If a girl is wearing something interesting she would get my attention 50% of the time but with the proper attire, hint hint, she would not cease to amaze me. Definately a thumbs up, so why not.
Best Wishes,
Eric
Edna
OPAQUE IS that WHAT these thick Black Tights that every young women wear are called…? i Abhor them..Hate them …my grandaughter she.s 17 wears them all the time..when she,s finished with them ,i have them and let my Cat play with them ,they get ripped to shreds…..or i cut them up into plant ties for my garden.
Jim
Hey ladies,
Let me tell you from a guy’s perspective–tights are sexy. Many women in the U. S. seem to have a phobia of hosiery nowadays. Bare legs in the middle of winter are not a turn-on! What if a guy wore shorts in the winter? I think that a short denim skirt with opaque tights and a cable-knit sweater is a classic look that’s quite appealing.
Rick
I agree with the others here, the opaque tights look sexy and classy. It’s strange and kind of gross looking to see girls wearing leggings instead of tights in the middle of winter with heels (leggings in winter require boots, otherwise it looks silly). And it’s just out of place and not very classy to walk around in 0 degree weather in a dress with bare legs. Tights allow women to look fashionable, sexy, and not clueless to the temperature. Great winter, and all cool weather fashion trend.
Paul
Hi
I also love opaque tights. I wear them at home just with a tee-shirt, although if going out I will wear them under jeans-(which my wife prefers me to do). They fit well, are really comfortable and look good.
Just a word for Francis – why not try some anyhow, there are quite a few (designated) tights for men available, just put that in your search engine to find out more, but you may well find it easier and cheaper to do as many many men do and just buy some tights/hose from your nearest store or on-line.
Nicole
Hey,
I’m confused as to what type of black leggings every girl is wearing? I mean this has to be a special type to wear in the winter time. So are these a special type that The North Face would make? I’ve been looking for these and I know everyone is not wearing the basic $4.00 brand of black leggings in 20 degree weather? I know that these are pretty much only worn with boots. An example is the UGG boots. I should know this but I don’t…and I’m only 22. I’m just extremely busy with school and my elementary students I tutor, and one day I decided that, “Hey, I want those pants!” hmm…??
Paul
Hi
Nicole, if you dont mind my responding, here in the UK, a lot of girls will wear shiny opaque tights with boots, but I think you’ll find most of the leggings that are worn (especially) with the uggs are shiny leggings from American Apparel.
They certainly do look hot when worn with the UGG boots, you may also find that some girls will wear (generally less expensive) shiny leggings (footless or otherwise) that may be easier obtained from your more local larger stores.
Hope this helps.
Jess
i love this! in january to a party i wore a black dress with hot pink opaque tights and black ankle boots and everyone loved it! this is great :)
laura
love this article! You need to mention welovecolors.com, I buy from them, and they have some many colors for each of their products and their tights are comfy!!
Victor
I love opaque hosiery; I’ve been many places and have yet to see anyone who doesn’t look great in them. As recent as this week in NYC, I saw women of nearly every age (estimating to beyond late 40’s) in black opaque tights – mostly those wearing regular leggings (without boots) were probably between 20 and 30. I have noticed that the older a gal is, the more likely she will choose a darker color for her skirt/dress.
I agree that denim (shorts or skirt) goes great with black tights; and is definitely my favorite combination to wear. I will mix it up on occasion with an olive skirt and black tights (brown looks good too) and have experimented with an off-white skirt. I’ve always been intrigued by heather gray – what do you wear with it…it doesn’t look quite right with denim…a black skirt is OK…but what really looks good?? In case you are wondering, I am a very straight married guy; I love the feel and the freedom of a skirt and tights and am absolutely jealous of the ladies because you can wear skirts and hosiery with impunity; I hope you don’t mind… I suppose you could say that I like ‘chasing a skirt’ as much as I like wearing one…I’m not trying to look like anything other than a guy wearing a skirt; I wear guy shirts and shoes, just what is in between is stereotyped as being ‘non-guy’ wear…
I’ve heard much complaining over the years by ladies about the discomfort of wearing hosiery; I partly chalk that up to buying cheap. My experience is that the old-fashioned hosiery (with a rare exceptions – Convenience and Dollar Store fare, No-nonsense Regular & Leggs Everyday – NOT Sheer Energy) will disappoint the wearer almost every time. I think this is partly to blame for the disparaging view many women have of hosiery in general. The weave has everything to do with how they fit and feel; the lower the cost, the more coarse the weave, and the more scratchy they will be. I’ve tried just about every major brand below $15 per pair and am convinced that – to a point – you definitely get what you pay for. Mostly – from brands that are mid-level and higher – that means a better fit, feel, look and durability.
For the budget conscious, I’ve found that the new George tights at Wal-Mart are probably the best value out there (the old style almost as good) for performance (coverage and comfort). If you shop at the discount stores, you can sometimes score some DKNY tights; well worth the $2.99 to $5.99 that I have seen, though they aren’t the same that they were 12 years ago – I’m wearing a pair as I type this. The Leggs Microfiber tights that CVS and Walgreen’s sell are also of reasonable quality and price; good thing we all like black, because that is the only choice there. A good guide that I have found is to watch the Lycra content; above 15% in the leg helps keep sags around the ankles and wrinkles behind the knees at bay; the Lycra % is also a good indicator of durability. Among brands I have tried, belive it or not, dance tights have had the best durability and look really good if you like the shine; I’ve only ever tried Danskin and Body Wrappers. Sears and JCPenny used to have a great selection of good-to-great quality tights; I haven’t checked those stores in a couple of years. I’ve never been willing to pay the price tag for the higher-end brands like Wolford, although I did look at them once when I was in Vegas.
Well, I hope that I’ve contributed something to this recently-revived discussion.
Paul
Hi
If you can get hold of ‘Golden Lady’ tights/ph, I would really recommend them, as well as good sheers (sheer to waist,) they have some decent opaques too.
Gorgeous tights.
Sweet
I love this article and it makes my heart proud to see the younger generation is beginning to catch on with the legwear. Opaque Tights come in so many colors and patterns now! Men love and appreciate ladies who go the extra mile to wear sexy pantyhose or tights.
I found personally the cheap pantyhose feel uncomfortable and never fit…so I only wear the high end or European hosiery, such as the Wolford’s.
If you ever want to write an article for my blog to tell my readers all about your great site here…please feel free to contact me!
Sweet Dreams,
Sweet
barbara almond
I am 47 years old and 118 lbs. I just bought a dress from bcbg for a special occasion in October 09. The dress is a silvery dark grey taffeta with a collar and “ballon” three quarter sleeves, it is cinched in at the waist with a 3″ black sort of woven “belt” look, it balloons out a bit in the skirt and comes in maybe 4″ above the knee (wish I could attach a picture!). It was $350 dollars but got my size 2 on ebay alot cheaper!
Okay so my question is what do I wear on my legs? I was thinking of wearing full tights and I have patent leather ankel boots (it will be mid October).
Or tights to the ankle foot out with a strappy shoes – but maybe I am too old for this nonesense !
I have thin legs and NEVER wear dresses but I felt this one suited me well and I love it.
I think it would probably look best with nude ultra sheer pantyhose and a nice peep to high heel shoe but concious of my thin legs PLUS
I think the tights and maybe even a flat shoe would take the outfit further fur the future (ie: so I will be able to wear it often elsewear) then I could invest in good tights and interesting flat shoe
which i will get more wear out of..
would love everyone’s feedback ! thanks,
Paul
Hi Barbara,
If you dont mind my saying, I would go for either black pantyhose or 40 den black tights (opaques) with your ankle boots. Why not treat yourself to a pair of Hanes Silk Reflections, for example – if you havent tried them before, I am very confident you will like them, and you will look – and feel – gorgeous.
Emma
can opaque tights be worn as pants? or is that just wrong
Paul
I would not think anything wrong with that, Emma ?
Perhaps a 70 or 100 denier might be most suitable, and such with a long
t-shirt and belt over would look really nice.
aish
i like them with dresses and sweater dresses, some times even tunics