How to Choose Color Stockings or Tights

Co-authored by Susan Kim

Last Updated: November 29, 2022

Choosing the color of stockings, pantyhose, or tights is not always straightforward because there are many color choices. Knowing what to match with your skin tone or your clothing can help you a lot in choosing the color. There are more than just neutral colors, such as skin-toned and black, however; there are fun colors as well, and those have their own special "rules."

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing and Wearing Neutral Colors

1
Choose skin-toned tights and stockings with care. Nude is a great option, but you should also pay attention to your personal skin tone. Just because the package says "skin tone" or "natural," does not necessarily mean that it will match your skin tone. For example, if you have very pale skin, you don't want something that is tanned or dark; it will look fake against your complexion. Instead, you could try ivory or something labeled "fair."^{[1]
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2
Match your tights or stockings to the hemline of your skirt or dress. For example, if you have a black dress, then choose a pair of black tights or stockings. There is an exception to this rule, however; if your outfit is darker than the shoes you are wearing, choose nude-colored tights or stockings instead.^{[2]
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- The nude color should match the color of your legs, be it fair, neutral, Nubian, etc.
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3
Consider matching your tights or stockings to your shoes instead. For example, you are wearing black shoes, then you could wear black tights or stockings.^{[3]
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Research source} You could also wear tights or stockings that are a little bit lighter than your shoes, but within reason. You don't want to wear white, opaque tights with black shoes.
- If your shoes are darker than the skirt or dress you are wearing, then wear stockings that match your skin color instead.
- If you are wearing open-toed shoes, go sheer and nude-colored. It would be best to skip tights or stockings altogether, however.
- Avoid wearing black tights with brightly-colored shoes. The contrast is stark and often cartoonish. It will also make your legs look shorter and chunkier than they actually are.
4
Choose something sheer that matches your skin tone if your shoes and skirt/dress are both bright colors.^{[4]
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Research source} Remember, not everything that is labeled "nude," "skin tone," or "buff" will match your legs. Some of these might be too dark for you, while others might be too light. If you have very fair skin, you might even have to go with "off-white" or "ivory." If you have very dark skin, you might have to stick with "brown," "espresso," or even special order them online; sheer black might be too dark for you.
- The material should match your skin tone. If you go too dark, the color will look fake, instead of "sun-kissed" or "tanned."
5
Avoid wearing white tights, especially with black shoes. White, especially opaque white, is often associated with children and the Victorian and Colonial time eras. Unless this is the look you are going for, you might want to avoid wearing white, opaque tights and black shoes.
- This look is appropriate for young children.
- If you have very fair skin, most "nude" colored tights and stockings might be too dark for you. In this case, sheer ivory or sheer off-white might be light enough for you.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Choosing and Wearing Fun Colors

1
Choose darker, richer colors if you'd like to make your legs appear longer and slimmer. These include colors like eggplant, burgundy, navy, and hunter green. Avoid bright colors, like purple, red, blue, and green. For an even more slimming effect, go for opaque-colored tights or stockings.^{[5]
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2
Choose bright colors if you want to make a statement, but be mindful of what shoes you'll be wearing. Bright colors don't necessarily have to be hot pink and neon green. They can be red, blue, and green.
- Consider opaque tights and stockings for this; they'll work better with dark-colored shoes than sheers. This will help blend your legs into your shoes and make them appear longer.
3
Try pairing warm colors or cool colors together. For example, if you have a dark blue dress, you can pair it with forest green tights or plum-colored tights.^{[6]
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Match solid-colored tights to the print in your outfit. If your outfit has a colorful print, you could choose a pair of tights that matches that color. For example, if you are wearing an ivory skirt with a purple, green, and brown pattern on it, you could wear plum, dark-green, or brown tights. The colors will match your outfit and bring it together, but they will be dark enough so that they don't detract from your outfit.
5
Match your colored tights to your hemline with care. In general, you'd want to match your tights to the hem of your skirt or dress, but you don't want them to be the same, exact color. For example, if you wear a dark blue dress blue dress with dark blue tights, your entire outfit will blend together too much, and lose all of its uniqueness. Instead, you could try a dark blue dress and grey or brown tights.^{[7]
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6
Avoid wearing tights that are the exact, same color as your shoes. When it comes to neutral colors, you want to try to match your tights and stockings to your shoes, but this is not the case when it comes to fun colors, such as plum, blue, green, and burgundy. Matching your tights to your shoes in this case will bring in too much of the same color, and make your outfit look less unique.^{[8]
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Research source} Instead, you could try lighter green tights and darker green shoes.
- On the other hand, you want to avoid creating too much contrast between your tights and shoes. Light blue tights and black shoes will make your legs look short. Dark blue tights and black shoes will make your legs look longer.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Following General Fashion Advice

1
Choose colors based on the dominant colors in your wardrobe. Take a look at your closet, and see what is the dominant color among your skirts and dresses. Next, buy some tights or stockings that match those colors. This will make creating outfits easier in the future. For example, if you have mostly grey or brown skirts and dresses, choose tights or stockings in those colors.
2
Pair the right colors with the right occasions. Certain colors just go better with certain occasions and locations than others. For example, bright red tights might not look very professional in an office-type setting, but they'd work great for a party or concert. On the other hand, black might be too severe for a casual picnic in the park, but they'd be appropriate for a grand evening at the opera.^{[9]
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- Nude-colored tights and stockings are suitable for all occasions.^{[11]
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  Research source} Remember to choose a color that matches your skin tone.
3
Wear colors that are appropriate for the season. There are no rules as to what you should and should not wear, but dark colors tend to look better when it's cold, and light colors tend to look better when it's warm. You'd probably want to avoid wearing dark colors during the hot summer month; they are too warm and absorb too much heat. In fact, you might want to skip wearing tights or stockings during the warmer months altogether!^{[12]
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- If you do choose or need to wear tights or stockings during the warmer months, choose something that is lighter in color, or something that is close to your skin tone.
4
Be careful with patterns. Many fun-colored tights contain patterns. This is a great way to add movement to your outfit and make it look more complete. You have to be careful, however; too many patterns can make your outfit look cluttered. Stay on the safe side, and choose a pattern that matches your outfit. Another option would be to pair patterned tights with a solid-colored outfit.^{[13]
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Research source} For example, a pair of lacey black tights would look cute with an ivory, fit-and-flare dress and a thin, black belt.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I make my tights look good?

Susan Kim
Professional Stylist
Susan Kim is the owner of Sum+Style Co., a Seattle-based personal styling company focused on innovative and approachable fashion. She has over 5 years of experience in the fashion industry, and received her AA from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.

Susan Kim

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

Keep the rest of your outfit simple. If you want to show off a pair of tights in a bright shade or a bold pattern, like red polka dots, go with a more subtle dress or skirt. That way, the emphasis will be on your tights, and your outfit won't be too overwhelming.
Question

What color stockings should I wear with green dress?

Community Answer

Try to go with a light blue or dark blue. Black is good if you cant find blue.
Question

What color stockings for an old guy with cut off jeans and sneakers?

Community Answer

Try and match your skin tone as close as possible if you shave your leg hair. If not, go with an opaque black. I do suggest you reconsider cut off jeans shorts, though; hosiery is a better look on guys when paired with more tailored khaki or dark-colored golf shorts.