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Holiday hosiery trends
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Explore four fabulous trends in leg-wear for the holiday season and get a professional stylist's advice on how to carry off those hosiery trends with class.
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By Janine Falcon
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Put away your leggings, ladies, this season's leg-wear trends are all about stockings. No, not sheer, nude pantyhose -- those are so 10 years ago. Right now the look is opaque tights and ranges from always-sophisticated black to colourful solid hues.
"The season's four key looks offer something for everyone," says stylist Karen Kwinter, who is the style editor-at-large for Homemakers and Canadian Living magazines. "Your decision can be based on personal preference, or the garment, or the occasion." Here, Kwinter shares her tips on what to wear and how.
1. Black
Black opaque tights are the strongest trend, but be careful not to veer accidentally into widow-in-mourning territory. For holiday, keep the look modern and fresh with a long- or short-sleeved little black dress and 40's-style peep-toe pumps. "Choose sandal-foot style stockings," says Kwinter. "But don't wear them with sandals -- those types of shoes are just too bare for this look." Stick to black shoes: black heels with black hosiery will make your legs look longer. According to Kwinter, tone-on-tone dressing is a goof-proof approach to wearing trends successfully. A simple palette of one or two colours flatters every body type by making it look streamlined.
2. Jewel tones
Coloured tights are the season's playful choices for adventurous types. Wear them with black or grey knits to stay on fun's sophisticated side, and ankle boots if you're blessed with long shapely legs. Keep the colour scheme simple: anchor coloured tights with shoes in the same colour family as your dress. Jewel-tone stockings look great with a black dress and black heels, or with a grey dress and gunmetal peep-toe pumps. Try purple, burgundy, blue or deep pink tights; they're shades for all ages. "Steer clear of yellow, orange and green," says Kwinter. "Avoid sparkly tights, too -- they're best for the under-25 set. Sparkle is more wearable in your dress or your accessories."
3. Bare legs
Yep, we're calling bare legs a stocking trend. And we acknowledge that bare legs in a Canadian winter are not practical. But for special occasions, especially if you have a long, warm coat while en route and door-to-door transportation, the effect is trés chic. "Bare legs are very New-York-City stylish," says Kwinter. "But to pull the look off, your legs need a light golden tan." Of course we mean faux colour. Balance bare legs with a sleeveless dress or a style that is also on the bare side (think spaghetti straps, strapless, or lots of sheer lace). Your dress colour and shoe options are unlimited. Try something metallic, and if you love sandals, this is the look with which to wear them.
4. Black fishnets
"Black fishnet tights are the only stylish novelty option right now," says Kwinter. "As usual, simplicity is key when it comes to the overall colour scheme of your outfit." Look for a small or medium-size mesh, and go with black heels for grown-up sexy style. You can play a little with colour here - a jewel-tone dress, perhaps deep red or emerald green, looks fabulous with fishnets and black pumps.
Stocking care tips
Although not as fragile as pantyhose, stockings still require some care when you put them on and when you wash them.
1. Keep legs, feet and hands smooth and moisturized to avoid snagging the fabric.
2. Remove any jewelry that might catch, and file away rough nail edges.
3. Keep a small bottle of clear nail polish handy to slow a run should one occur.
4. Yeah, yeah, hand-washing is best but for an easier route, turn tights inside out and pop them into a mesh bag or a pillowcase, then let the laundry machine do the work with a cold-water wash.
5. Heat damages the fibres and the stretch, so skip the dryer and hang up stockings to dry.
See? There's something for everyone. Black tights with black heels is a top choice for the woman who prefers to keep things simple and elongate the body. Colour is perfect for someone who has fun with fashion. Bare legs are for the brave (as well as for those who can't stand to wear tights in the first place!), and fishnets are a striking way to give a simple outfit pizzaz. Choose whichever feels best to you and kick up your holiday heels in style.
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