You don’t have to classify as pro-tights to know that once the weather drops past a certain temperature, they’re your in to survival. Cold-weather layering can make it easy to overthink your outfit, second-guessing whether or not you’ve chosen the right shoe to ground out your look.
But you’ve been thinking about tights all wrong. In fact, there’s a method to the madness behind constructing a chic outfit around a pair of tights, and you can start brainstorming with some of the shoes we’ve outlined below (many of which you already have in your closet). We tapped fashion stylists Chloe Griffin and Tracy Shapoff to weigh in on dos and don’ts for pulling off this combination.
Griffin believes any glossy, closed-toe shoe looks most elegant with tights, and maintains the following rules: “A huge no for me is tights and trainers—it reminds me of being at school! Generally, the lower your hem is to the ground, the higher you want to go with the heel,” she tells InStyle. Meanwhile, Shapoff says that if your goal is to elongate the leg, you should aim to show more of it. “Proportions do make a difference with tights and the style of shoe,” she says. “I love a three-quarter or ankle-length dress with tall pumps, as to just see the tights on the foot and ankle.”
Of course, these aren’t the only options to consider. Ahead, we’ve pinpointed ten great shoes to wear with tights and offered an outfit idea for each, so you have plenty of inspiration to go off of with trusted advice from fashion experts.
Pointed Toe Pumps
When it comes to pumps and tights, we recommend upping the ante with a slightly mismatched pick. Shapoff offers sound advice for building an outfit around the pairing. You can also try a sheer tight with a back seam finished with a stiletto pump.
Knee-High Boots
Knee-high boots hit higher on the leg, thereby covering more of your tights. We recommend a neutral tight in this case—however sheer, opaque, or lacy as you’d like—so as not to interrupt the flow of your look. Try out the ruffled skirt and tights combination, or opt for a simple miniskirt instead.
Mules
Mules work well with tights as a way to highlight the silhouette of the shoe. Style them with a mini skirt, shorts, or any cropped bottom so they look more like a natural extension to your outfit rather than a harsh contrast. You can even go for a shade that closely matches your footwear to make it look more seamless.
Ballerina Pumps or Flats
Whether you’re a short pump or flats person, the ballerina shoe is distinct in that it hugs your foot like a glove. Its a universally loved shoe for a reason. It’s particularly noticeable in a flexible leather, with a cap-toe, or a unique design (hi, Tabis!) to draw attention down to your feet.
Slingback Heels
Regardless of the color of your tights, a slick slingback kitten heel adds polish to your look and instantly elevates it to business attire. Of course, you can play around with the rest of your pieces to evoke a different vibe, but when it comes to the shoe, ensure it’s one your heel won’t slip out of by ticking off the boxes: Is the strap at the back adjustable? Is the heel height one you’re comfortable in? The more neutral the colorway, the easier it’ll be to team up with a variety of tights.
Ankle Boots
Ankle boots make for a great answer to tights since they add shape and attitude to your look. For example, a sleek sock boot is more streamlined and minimalist than a tough combat boot. You could employ the latter to round out a punk moment. In this category, Shapoff also recommends Dr. Martens: “A chunky flat boot that goes a little higher on the ankle is a fun daytime look with tights,” she says.
Chunky Loafers
With the rise of the preppy academia trend, loafers are at the forefront of footwear, and the silhouette just so happens to look great with tights. The trend du jour is to style a pair with a small platform with slouchy white ankle socks over sheer black tights. Griffin points to Hailey Bieber as an example of bringing the balletcore trend from one season into the next.
Mary Janes
We’re all for the schoolgirl aesthetic of tights meeting a Mary Jane shoe. If you add a contrast ankle sock over your tights, it’ll work to highlight the shape of your heel. Keep that in mind if you’re opting for a relatively simple outfit up top and want to incorporate a playful element.
Open-Toe Sandals
The most polarizing combination of the bunch is the open-toe sandal—should you or shouldn’t you? As street style savants prove, it is possible and our experts agree. The key is to keep the sandal as minimal and “evening” as possible, with just a few thin straps. “Make sure you choose lace, patterned, or super-sheer tights if you opt for an open toe,” Griffin recommends. Shapoff also notes to make sure the toe seam of your tights is hidden under your foot.
Sneakers
Here’s the thing: The only rule in fashion is that there are no rules. While sneakers might not be at the top of our expert tips, that doesn’t mean it can’t be styled (and be done well!). Our advice is to incorporate the tights with a neutral shade that blends in with your footwear or delivers a unique twist with a unique pattern or hue.
