Joy of Tights (aka pantyhose): Tights or freeze?

Now here is the kind of question Joy of Tights is interested in

"DEAR STYLEBOOK: It’s getting cold, and holiday parties are arriving. What do I wear on my legs? I can’t wear those black tights all the time. Hiking boots and leggings don’t work at a cocktail party. The “talking ladies” on TV are all bare legged. That just doesn’t work for Pittsburgh winters. It seems only Kate Middleton wears stockings and doesn’t look passe.

So what to wear with the classic LBD (little black dress) or the new glittery short sheath?"

Bare legs or nylned legs?

The reply is encouraging

"DEAR COLD-LEGGED AND CONFUSED: Nevermind those talking heads on television! They’re probably sitting in a studio basking beneath the warmth of TV lights. Once temperatures outside start to flirt with freezing, there’s no way I’m stepping out for a party (or anything) without something on my legs. Plus, for most of us, our legs don’t look that great this time of year now that our sun-kissed glow from the summer months has faded. Of course, sunless tanners are always an option, but I tend to cut off my use of those this time of year to save time and money now that sweater season is upon us."

If you needed your tights at the end of autumn.....

How much more will you need them when it freezes

But not all TV "talking heads" are found with bare legs

Here's Julia Bradbury in nice fishnets....

and Jameela Jamil former TV presneter

And the respond from SYLEBOOK gets better

"But you’re in luck! From the halls of Kensington Palace to the runways of New York Fashion Week, hosiery is having a moment in fashion. Rebecca Minkoff, Monique Lhuillier, Diane von Furstenberg and Nicole Miller were among the designers who treated legwear like another accessory for their fall/winter collections. "

Kate at NY Fashion Week

Diane von Furstenberg accessorises tights

Rebecca Minkoff accessorises tights

Monique Lhuillier designs starlight tights

Nicole Miller designs lacey tights

What do we learn from these royal and fashion icons?

As ever Kate gives us permission to wear opaques .

Diane von Furstenberg and Monique Lhuillier show us its OK to wear dots on our legs - even if they aren't 3D.

Nicole Miller and Rebecca Minkoff legitimise lacy and patterned black tights.

Sara Bauknecht goes on to say in her STYLEBOOK post

"So sheer or opaque black tights beneath a LBD or sparkly sheath is perfectly acceptable."

Here are a couple of pics just to reinforce the point

However, Ms Bauknecht is all for us being more adventurous.

"But if you want to spice things up for the holidays, try thinking about legwear like you would statement jewelry: play with a different style or color to give a little black dress a completely different look..Fishnets or hosiery with a hint of sparkle add sophisticated for a holiday gathering."

In fact even the dreaded nude tights get the thumbs up for party wear.

"There’s nothing dowdy about donning a sheer nude pair of pantyhose either. Rite Aid actually is my go-to for that. I love the No Nonsense brand that’s sold there; it’s affordable, comfortable and looks natural. (In fact, I’ve had several people ask me how my bare legs look so flawless in the winter and then were surprised when I told them I was actually wearing pantyhose.)"

That really is a little - little BJ. Very sheer nude tights though

But its not all good news for tights.

"One longtime debate about legwear is whether it’s appropriate to wear open-toed shoes with hosiery. I personally am not a fan of pantyhouse peeking through peep-toed pumps, but that’s just me. Designers are doing it more and more on the runway, proving yet again that the rules of fashion are made to be broken."

Now I must disagree here and not just because designers are breaking the rules. I think a when the tights colour matches the shoe colour a nyloned toe can give a smoother and more sophisticated look