Lisa Armstrong is The Telegraph’s head of fashion. She began her career in fashion at Vogue. She has written four novels, has an honorary doctorate from the University of Arts in London, and was awarded an OBE in 2022 for services to fashion.
Each week, she responds to your queries, lending her expertise to help you shop smart. Have a question for her? Submit it below
Dear Lisa,
Should I wear tights to an upcoming family wedding? It seems the current fashion is bare legs…
– Dorothy
Dear Dorothy,
There’s no should about it. The question is could you wear them? If you feel the cold then do not, I repeat not, put yourself at risk of hypothermia. Making an effort is one thing. Making yourself into a human sacrifice is another.
That said, you have a point in that designers all too often style dresses and skirts with bare legs on the catwalks, regardless of season. Cop-out, in my opinion. Black tights can age/deaden/kill an outfit, but that doesn’t rule out all tights. (Very) sheer black tights have come back into style with celebrities and the early adopters.
If you’re looking for longevity rather than ultra sheer, Sheertex, which are more like a demi-opaque, are excellent – rip proof and, they say, four times stronger than the average pair. As they’re not super fines, the dotted pair might be the best option.
Mini-dot super sheer tights, £32.95, Sheertex
If you’re wearing a pale outfit, then black tights could be quite the statement. You could also get away with them if you’re wearing red or orange (yellow is a bumblebee step too far).
If you’re wearing prints, you could try matching your legwear with one of the minor colours. If that’s too bright, then choose a pattern that incorporates a darker shade or trim you can match to. Better Tights have a wide choice, from £7.50.
A navy outfit probably presents the biggest challenge – navy or black tights risk looking like some kind of corporate uniform. You could go for a pale grey or chinchilla, or even nude. Or go for very sheer black tights à la Saint Laurent. Calzedonia are a good-value option.
20 denier tights, £6.99, Calzedonia
There are some excellent invisible nude options these days with seam-free toes. The Marks & Spencer Autograph five denier style comes at a bargain – a pack of two will set you back just £12.
Two-pack five denier tights, £12, Marks & Spencer
Alternatively, a pair of tan or chocolate boots would look very smart.
