Miyako’s Mood Board: I Dream of Stockings
June 09, 2014
Every Monday, MM.LaFleur’s designer Miyako Nakamura ruminates on what’s inspiring her this week.
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I recently mentioned that I love stockings with runs in them, and it got me thinking about all of the different style statements you can make with stockings.
When it comes to everyday stockings, I think Commando tights have the best value. The seamless control top keeps your silhouette smooth under dresses, and they’re so durable. They keep their shape through countless wears and washes. Perfect for the busy modern woman.
But when I want something a bit more refined, I am a Wolford devotee. I love their Individual series, which comes in a variety of weights and colors. I find that Individual 20 is more opaque and has a more casual look. Individual 10 is the perfect sheer stocking. They make your legs look so smooth and elegant, and their shape is fitted but genuinely comfortable. The front waist is slightly lower than the back, so it sits nicely against the contours of your body.
When it comes to color, I love the subtle differences between the shades. My favorite Wolford colors are “Coca” (dark grey with a warm tone) and “Nearly Black” (very dark grey, but not quite black). For me, the appeal of these colors is to keep an all-black outfit from looking too flat. If your dress and shoes are black, wearing these not-quite-black stockings adds a layer of dimension and differentiation.
Wolford stockings are relatively expensive, and if you don’t treat them well, they can run. This is where my perspective is unique: I love my stockings with runs! When it happens, I just transfer them to my “casual” stocking collection, which I wear with cut-off shorts and other non-formal outfits.
To me, if it’s a high-quality stocking, it looks good even with a run. As far as I’m concerned, the worst offense is to wear a badly-made stocking that slouches around the ankle. But a run in my Wolfords? I can work with that. It’s like when I see a pretty woman wearing a cashmere sweater with a hole. It tells me she values her clothes enough to love them even when they don’t look perfectly proper anymore.
Holes and runs may not work at the office, but when it comes to personal style, I think it’s okay to make your own rules every now and then.
– Miyako
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