Wearing Tights at Work: The Ultimate M.M. Guide

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Chilly winter weather whittles your wardrobe down to two options: trousers or tights—unless the forecast calls for ski pants. Unlike more utilitarian clothing (sorry, socks), your hosiery can either enhance or take away from your look. Below, our guide for how to wear tights to work.

The M.M. Guide to Tights at Work

Read The Room

The color of your tights should directly correlate to your workplace: “For business formal, it’s really only safe to wear neutral tights in opaque or sheer tones that match back to your outfit,” says MM.LaFleur stylist Nyjerah Cunningham. Black tights or nude tights are the most traditional, according to Cunningham, and the foolproof option for any and every office. If you’re into patterned tights, save them for a casual Friday or avoid them altogether if you’re in a business-formal setting.

Know What Not to Wear

Bypass the fishnets. “Fishnet tights are considered risqué and are almost always inappropriate for the office,” says Cunningham. If you can’t resist, put ‘em on after-hours only.

Consider the Fabric

When you’re wearing tights, you need to consider the weight of the fabric in your dress or skirt. “I like to pair sheer tights with heavier fabrics and opaque tights with lighter fabrics,” Cunningham says. “It gives me a sense of balance.” And although tights with shorter hemlines (at the knee and above) are a chic combination, pairing them with a longer skirt is a great look in a more formal office environment.

Treat Them Kindly

So you snagged your tights on a chair and got a run. All is not lost. “Applying nail polish ensures that the run won’t get any longer,” says Cunningham. Dab clear nail polish at the edges of the tear, which will secure it in place for the rest of the day. Cunningham also recommends that, before slipping into your skirt or dress in the morning, you mist hairspray over your tights to keep static cling at bay. Finally, hand-wash your pair of tights in cold water and lie them flat to dry. When you treat them right, they’ll last you all winter long.