In a sea of barely-there hosiery and wool tights worn for warmth, fashion’s cool girls have deemed this season’s hottest accessory a pair of bright red tights. Red is a color with a rich fashion history: red nails, red lips and red shoes have all been variously touted as the ideal attention-grabbers, while the trend “tomato girl summer” highlighted the hue when it took over the internet in 2023.
Now it’s time for bright red legwear to seize the spotlight.
It girls and starlets including Valentina Ferragni, Kylie Jenner, Anya Taylor-Joy and Elle Fanning have all sported scarlet stockings out and about in the past year.
Street stylistas have been spotted adopting the trend at various fashion weeks. And this February, Chloë Sevigny — who has been deemed “the It girl to end all It girls” — wore a full red ’fit and hose while staring down the camera on the cover of British Vogue.
But how do these trendsetters effortlessly pull off such a conspicuous accessory?
Many opt to lean into the power of red, and use the vermilion nylons to seamlessly blend a full monochrome look. Another pro tip is to opt for a short hem to show off your stems, or don darker colors up top to create a bold contrast. Unlike the hosiery meant to cover up skin while attracting minimal attention, bright tights accentuate the legs of the wearer and lend a pop of color to an otherwise simple ensemble.
The trickle-down trend originated in high fashion, beginning with the spring 2023 Valentino runway — a fashion house whose trademark red is their calling card — followed by fall 2023 collections from Jacquemus and Dolce & Gabbana. The tights proved they had legs when they carried over into spring 2024 looks from Givenchy and Burberry.
Red tights also have a formidable fashion pedigree which dates well before recent runways. Sixties mod styles incorporated the accessory, while Princess Diana of Wales royally rocked red hosiery with matching skirt suits on multiple occasions. Even Liza Minnelli famously frolicked in a pair of red tights in the early ’70s, performing “Liza with a Z.”
Fashionistas with an eye toward recent history may recall red tights as an iconic piece in the wardrobe of Blair Waldorf, the Upper-East-Side elite from the CW’s “Gossip Girl,” or as a beloved staple in the pantheon of early-aughts “indie sleaze.”
Fashionistas of the 2020s have declared that it’s time to bring back the trend.
Personally, we’re more than ready to paint the town red.
