What Colour of Tights to Pair with Which Dress Shade?

Wondering what shade of tights to wear with a blue, red, black, or even yellow dress? Looking for practical tips on how to match your tights?

You're in the right place.

As a fashion enthusiast, I pay attention to every detail when putting together my outfits. When I wear a dress in winter, I make sure to carefully choose my tights, so they enhance the rest of my look.

Today, I’ll be sharing my best tips on tights, whether they’re simple or brightly coloured!

When wearing a dress, opt for tights in complementary colours that match well, such as grey and mustard yellow, or navy blue and burgundy. If you're aiming for a classic look or wearing a formal dress with subtle tights, go for slightly sheer black tights. Lastly, consider coordinating the colour of your tights with hair accessories, a handbag, or a nice jacket.

Want to know more? Keep reading to find out:

• Where tights come from and what contributed to their popularity,

• How to choose the colour of your tights basing it on the colour of your dress,
• What colour of tights to wear with a skirt,
• All our tips for matching your tights with the rest of your outfit,
• And plenty of super stylish outfit ideas featuring coloured tights!

Why and how has tights become a must-have in our wardrobes?

Which woman doesn’t have tights in her wardrobe these days? Discover their success story in the following lines!

Stockings, a Revolutionary Fashion Accessory...

Contrary to what you might think, tights as we know them have only existed since the 1940s! It wasn't until 1935 that Wallace Carothers, an American researcher from Harvard University, discovered nylon fibre. In France, this groundbreaking product made its debut in the 1950s and quickly became essential. It's much more affordable than the silk and cotton stockings that were available before, allowing people to customise their outfits.

In the 1960s, with the rise of short skirts, a trend emerged: wearing a colourful skirt with matching tights, whether solid or patterned! It became a true fashion accessory for the young women of that era.

In the late 1970s, leggings experienced a new revolution with the rise of the grunge trend: this was when fishnet tights began to emerge, influenced by designers like Vivienne Westwood.

… Reinventing Itself!

Today, tights are an essential part of most wardrobes and styles. Without them, wearing skirts or dresses in winter would be quite tricky! In response to criticism about their fragility, more and more brands are offering more durable models that are suitable for all body types! There’s a wide variety of models available, giving you plenty of options to personalise your outfits. 😉

What colour of tights should I wear?

Wondering which colours to choose to match your favourite dresses? In the lines that follow, I'll share some simple tips on how to create chic and stylish outfits.

What tights to wear with a navy blue dress?

Navy blue is a classic colour that is very easy to wear every day. If you’re looking for a subtle outfit, you can go for black tights. If your dress is a solid colour, you might want to consider pairing it with patterned stockings, which will add a touch of sophistication to your look. The options are endless: floral, polka dots, checks…

👉 If you want to slim down your legs, consider choosing tights with vertical stripes, as they can create a flattering look.

Looking to add a splash of colour and uniqueness to a navy blue dress? In that case, you can go for some colourful tights:

• in mustard yellow, which is the complementary colour to dark blue and will match very well with it,
• in burgundy red, to keep it classic and elegant,
• in cognac, if you are wearing shoes or accessories in natural brown leather.

What Tights to Wear with a Red Dress?

A stylish outfit featuring a red dress is a fashion must-have. To complement it, you can choose dark tights, black or grey. If your dress is burgundy, navy blue tights will also be a great match.

👉 Want to create a unique and original look with a bright red dress? Go for turquoise blue tights and pair them with shiny red heels that match your dress. This two-tone style is perfect for those who love to experiment with trendy and original outfits!

What tights go well with a mustard yellow dress?

In recent years, mustard yellow has become quite trendy and is a perfect shade for those looking to add some colour to their wardrobe. It's really easy to pair with other hues, and it brings a cheerful touch to your daily look while keeping it stylish.

With a mustard yellow dress, you can pair it with navy blue tights, while adding a touch of red to the rest of your outfit to complete the look.

You can also choose to wear dark grey tights, which you can pair with black shoes and accessories.

What tights to wear with a black dress?

Sometimes, simplicity is the most beautiful form of elegance. This is especially true for black dresses, which are usually complemented well by black tights. One detail to keep in mind is the opacity of your tights: with a black dress, it's best to opt for slightly sheer tights that hint at your legs, helping to avoid a monotonous look. You can pair them with colourful shoes to brighten up the whole outfit.

👉 Want to add a splash of colour to your outfit? If so, I suggest you try red tights, which will highlight your legs without clashing with the rest of your look!

What Colour Tights to Wear with a Skirt or Shorts?

When planning to wear a skirt or shorts, it's important to consider the overall look of your outfit to choose the right tights. To keep it simple, you can select tights that match your skirt, ideally in a shade that is similar to the top you'll be wearing. For instance, if you're wearing a navy top, you might go for tights in the same shade.

In any case, it's best to wear no more than three different shades in the same outfit to avoid looking mismatched.

Dare to go monochrome with stylish tights!

Do you love wearing dresses with tights but want to switch things up from the usual colour combinations? For a bold and unique look that showcases your fashion sense, consider matching your tights to the colour of your dress. You can even pair them with shoes in similar shades: high heels or ankle boots would be perfect! If you don’t have those types of shoes, going for black is also a great option to create a lovely contrast. 😉

3 Tips for Matching Your Tights

No matter what colors you have in the rest of your outfit, it can be very simple to pick your tights once you know a few basic rules. I'll share them with you in the following paragraphs!

Choose Based on Your Shoes

When picking tights to wear with a skirt or dress, it’s important to consider not just matching them to the colour and style of the outfit, but also to your shoes. Depending on whether your shoes are made of genuine leather, black leather, or a less conventional colour, certain tights will complement your look better than others.

For example, cognac tights often tend to match tonally with light brown shoes, which makes them a bit dull.

Opaque black tights aren't the best choice for pairing with open-toed shoes or heels in the same colour: save them for outfits with boots or shoes in a contrasting shade that stands out.

Choose the Right Thickness

When shopping for your tights, make sure to check the thickness indicated on the label. It's measured in den, or denier, which is an old unit of measurement.

🔸Below 40 deniers, tights are considered sheer, which means they will be slightly transparent. They are a bit less warm and less durable, but they let you show off your legs, adding a touch of glamour and sensuality.

🔸Above 40 denier, these are thick and opaque tights. They are durable and perfect for doing crafts or hands-on activities. They also provide more warmth. These tights are great for achieving a monochrome look!

Create Colour Reminders with Accessories

If you're wearing tights, especially if they're colored, it's a good idea to subtly incorporate hints of that shade into your outfit. A simple trick is to wear hair clips, a headband, or a scrunchie in the same color.

👉 Just go for a handbag in the same shade to add the perfect finishing touch to a stylish outfit!

How to Wear a Dressy Outfit with Tights?

Looking to wear a dressy outfit in winter for a special occasion (wedding, baptism) or just for a night out? To keep it classy and stylish, I recommend opting for sheer tights without any patterns. You can also go for stockings, which are both elegant and quite sexy. Black is usually the most classic choice, but it also makes a chic statement.

I hope this article has given you the keys to match your tights, no matter the occasion! They are a simple and effective way to add a unique touch to your outfit, so don’t hesitate to try out the colours that you like best!

Bohemian Long Dress