Black opaque tights have been a winter staple for women for years, but this party season they’ve been relegated to the bottom of the sock drawer. Instead, retailers are reporting a surge in sales of “fashion tights.”
This genre covers everything from vibrant floral pairs to lacy and glittery versions. At Marks & Spencer, where three packs of 60 denier tights are usually a winter rite of passage, this December customers are opting for lacy styles instead. Sales increased 50% year over year, with a £12 French inspired heavyweight black pair tops the sales charts. At John Lewis, sales of red tights are up 55% year-on-year. Other top sellers include fuchsia and fir green versions.
On Thursday, French-born, London-based influencer Camille Charrière launched a capsule collection with Swedish Stockings, featuring a pair of zebra-print tights and a sparkling silver version. Charrière describes adding jazzy tight to a look as “using a colorful bag or shoe as an accessory to make the look pop, when done right, it really ties the look together.”
While colorful tights were championed by Mary Quant in the 1960s and ripped fishnets dominated the indie era, in recent years plain black tights have become the default choice. But there is definitely a change in mood. On the catwalks this season were Isabel Marant’s leopard-print tights, Rabanne’s glittery embellished versions and Miu Miu’s pair of orange satsumas.
Claire Breslin, managing director of Heist Studios, a tights brand that specializes in shapewear and whose fans include Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan and Industry’s Marisa Abella, says sales of the various colored tights have increased by 100% compared to the same period last year. Customers started buying them in late summer. “Lace tights in both our floral and peacock styles are also selling very well,” said Breslin, “especially in red and ivory, while our bolder color blocks like 60 and 80 are featured across the palette with precious stones’. A burgundy pair and a dark plum version sold out within six weeks of their release in August.
Fashion tights are an easy and relatively inexpensive party update. They also add a practical warm touch while waiting for a night bus. Charrière wears them all year round. “Living in London has taught me to just accept that bad weather doesn’t stop you from enjoying your wardrobe. As the trend cycle becomes more frenetic and we as consumers begin to unpack our consumption patterns, little tricks like changing tights allow you to update your wardrobe to the tones of the season without the need to buy anything extra.”
