Guide
5 ways to spice up your tights
by Stephanie Vinzens
Is it okay to wear tights with open-toed shoes?
12.9.2023
Translation: Katherine Martin
Wearing tights with sandals is considered a fashion blunder. That said, there are definitely ways to pull off the look. Just make sure you follow this advice.
Combining tights with open-toed shoes is roundly considered to be a fashion faux pas. But contrary to popular belief, fashion’s so-called no-nos aren’t actually set in stone. At most, they’re risks. While breaking with established style rules may draw negative attention and be tricky to master, taking the gamble can still pay off.
On the catwalk, for example, tights and sandals have long ceased to be a rare duo, be it at Gucci, Jil Sander or Celine. When New York-based label Proenza Schouler recently unveiled its Spring/Summer 24 collection at Fashion Week, more than a third of its looks featured the controversial ensemble. Meanwhile, trendsetters such as Alexa Chung, Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner have been wearing tights with open-toed shoes for ages now.
Source: Spotlight,
Source: Spotlight
What’s more, a tights-and-sandals combo can be good for practical as well as aesthetic reasons. At least when it comes to Western European climates, sandals are only worn for a few months a year. Add a pair of tights, however, and you’ll be able to wear them in spring and autumn too.
Avoid thick seams
This is probably the most important rule for this rule-breaker. If you wear stockings with open-toed shoes, you need to keep the cross seam at the toes as inconspicuous as possible. A visible, thick seam will give your look a sloppy, unfinished vibe.
Black tights (either sheer or opaque) and black shoes make for a trusty combination. Speaking of which, dark tights also make a good canvas for ultra-colourful sandals. Other monochrome arrangements, for example in red or white, usually look very stylish and attract attention, but they’re more for people who like to experiment. Fishnet, lace or patterned stockings are another interesting option.
Source: Spotlight
Source: Spotlight,
Source: Spotlight
I would, however, steer clear of tights in your skin colour. After all, their job is to be as inconspicuous as possible. This subtlety, however, goes completely out the window when your tights are clearly visible at the toes. Not only that, but they don’t set an interesting accent, and the combination with open-toed shoes quickly looks clumsy.
The right sandals
Your shoes should also be as elegant as possible. Simple, strappy, delicate sandals are a safe choice. If you prefer more eccentric looks, however, you could also go for platform sandals. Peep-toes are also a popular choice, as they only expose a flash of your toes. Paired with flat sandals, however, tights won’t look as elegant. When it comes to flats, you’re better off opting for closed varieties such as loafers or pumps.
Source: Spotlight
However, no matter how well you combine the ensemble, wearing tights with open-toed shoes is controversial. It’s definitely one of those looks you need to wear with a sense of style confidence in order to pull off. That way, it’s clear that you chose the combo deliberately.
Header image: Rankzl via Pexels
Has endless love for shoulder pads, Stratocasters and sashimi, but a limited tolerance for bad impressions of her Eastern Swiss dialect.
Fashion
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