EVELYSS / Guides / Fashion Sense

What Color Tights to Wear With Any Dress (Navy, Brown, Burgundy and More)

“Tights are the least glamorous thing in your wardrobe and the thing that most often decides whether a winter outfit works. Matching them to your shoes is the trick I come back to every time, because it makes your legs one long line.”Her take

The three rules that cover most outfits

You don't need to memorize a chart if you remember three options. First, match your tights to your shoes: black tights with black boots, brown with brown. This creates one long line from hem to toe. Second, match your tights to the dress, which is especially polished with dark, solid colors. Third, choose sheer tights close to your skin tone when you want the look of bare legs.

When a dress has a print, pick the darkest color in the print and match the tights to that. It grounds the pattern without competing with it.

Tight color by dress color

Use this as a starting point and adjust to your shoes.

• Navy dress: navy opaque tights for a tonal look, or sheer black. Navy tights with navy or black shoes both work.
• Brown dress: chocolate brown opaque tights with brown boots, or black opaque with black boots. Sheer warm-toned tights also work.
• Burgundy dress: burgundy tights for a tonal look, black opaque for the classic option, or dark brown with brown boots.
• Olive or green dress: dark brown or black opaque tights. Brown looks warmer and softer, black looks sharper.
• Pink dress: sheer skin-tone tights for pale pink, black or gray opaque tights for a bolder, more modern look with hot pink.
• White or cream dress: sheer skin-tone tights, or cream or ivory opaque tights. Black can work with black boots but feels heavy with a pale dress.
• Light blue dress: sheer skin-tone, gray or navy tights.
• Black dress: black, either sheer or opaque. Sheer looks dressier, opaque looks more casual.

Sheer, semi-opaque or opaque?

Tights are labeled by denier, a measure of the yarn's thickness. Roughly, up to about 20 denier reads as sheer, around 30 to 40 as semi-opaque, and 50 and above as opaque. Brands draw these lines differently, and knit quality matters too, so check the photos and the description as well as the number.

Sheer tights look dressier and work for evening, weddings and the office with heels. Opaque tights look more casual and modern, and they're warmer, which makes them the everyday choice with boots, knit dresses and wool skirts. Semi-opaque sits between the two and is a useful first pair in a new color.

Matching tights to boots and shoes

Knee boots: match the tights to the boots for the longest, cleanest line. Ankle boots: matching matters even more, because the gap between hem and boot shows a lot of leg. Black opaque tights with black ankle boots is the most flattering pairing for many people.

Pumps and flats: sheer tights in black or skin tone look most polished. With colored shoes, keep the tights neutral rather than trying to match the shoe exactly.

When to choose colored tights

Colored tights in burgundy, forest green, navy or chocolate look most grown-up when they echo the dress or the shoes. A burgundy knit dress with burgundy tights and burgundy boots is a full tonal outfit and looks deliberate.

Bright colors such as red or cobalt are a statement. Wear them with a simple dress in black, gray or camel and plain shoes, so the tights are the only bold thing in the outfit.

Small details that make tights look better

Check that the waistband doesn't show through a fitted dress, and choose a smooth or seamless top for knit and jersey fabrics. Keep a spare pair in your bag in winter, because a run often appears at the worst moment.

Wash tights in a mesh laundry bag on a gentle cycle, or by hand, and let them air dry. They'll keep their color and shape longer.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Match tights to your shoes or the darkest color in the dress, go opaque for everyday and sheer for dressy, and let colored tights echo something else you're wearing.

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