Can I Wear Red Tights Without Feeling Like Blair Waldorf?

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Not long after Blair Waldorf brought her red tights to the Met steps, others began following in suit. On Glee, Rachel Berry was a major proponent of colorful hosiery. Before long, they were back on the runways, with Gaultier repeating his early ’90s proclivity for the accessory for the fall 2012 show. That same season, Vivienne Westwood also opted for the styling trick.

With the Indie Sleaze revival of the past few years, the look returned in full swing. During the fall 2023 season, Gucci and Miu Miu were among the top brands who rubber-stamped the look. Since then, it’s been popping up left and right, on influencers, members of the fashion industry, and celebrities.

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But still, I wasn’t convinced that these bright red tights were for me. After trying “Tomato Girl Summer,” which begot the color of the fall, I was feeling serious red fatigue. But soon enough, I took stock of people injecting some color into their neutral-heavy wardrobes, many starting with red socks or other accents that Trojan horsed their way into full-fledged red tights. As a purveyor of grays and blacks, I figured my own wardrobe could probably benefit from some color.

When it came to styling my red Calzedonia tights, I struggled to build an outfit that didn’t make me look like Blair Waldorf, or a spokeswoman for Campbell’s Tomato Soup, or an adult Eloise who wandered from the Plaza. I definitely had one of those mornings where you end up with more clothing on your bed than hanging in your closet. I considered going for an all-black outfit, but I figured that Vogue’s audience deserved more. In the end, I settled on a black pleated miniskirt from Mango, and a vintage white batwing sleeved button-up with black ribbon trim. For my shoes, I debate between a pair of black Gucci horsebit loafers and red patent leather Repetto block heeled ballerinas. I decided on the red Repettos because they match the color of the tights and make my legs look a little bit longer. (My colleagues confirmed that I made the right decision.)