Bright, bold tights are one of the seasons’ hottest fashion do’s. They take an ordinary outfit and make it a fashion statement. They take a fashion statement to the extreme and make you an icon on your own block. But there are rules, missy. And if you choose to break them, you’ll go from amazing to disaster before you’ve stepped out your front door.

Repeat after me: Keep it simple! That’s the mantra you’ve got to follow to pull-off tights of any color. Simple is defined here by patterns, not necessarily color. It’s quite alright to pair periwinkle tights with a chartreuse dress so long as they are both solid colors and you don’t overkill other accessories. Think of your tights as the ultimate accessory that none other can compete with. If you must add more to your outfit, think hats and bags, not loads of beads or bangles. Tights make a statement all their own and it doesn’t take much to take you from fashionable to cartoony.

Be brave! You are, after all, wearing hot pink tights! So why not put them on under a pair of cowboy boots and a simple black and gray plaid mini-dress? Or how about turning your LBD straight into a super hot number for a night out dancing by adding black patent leather, wedge Mary Janes and violet tights?

Now that you’ve mastered the bright tights, don’t overlook good old black opaque tights just like you wore back in the day. They are still as slimming and sexy as ever. Black tights can pull off super shimmer or matte which adds a whole new dimension to your wardrobe. You can also branch out a little more with patterns when opting for black tights – but only one item. Use color rather than designs to make your statement.

Now for the big fat don’ts. Don’t wear white tights unless you’re age is in the single digits. Little girls look cute as anything in white tights, but you don’t. Choose big girl colors like… well, anything not white.

You’re not Punky Brewster (remember her?) Do not under any circumstances other than a Halloween costume, wear tights of two different colors – one color on the left leg, another color on the right.

Don’t wear bright tights with super casual outfits. Rule of thumb: if your outfit would look great with a pair of flip flips, don’t put on your tights. And at the other end of the spectrum, if your outfit is outrageous, forgo the tights. They’ll make you look like a Nickelodeon TV host.

We love fancy patterned tights, but they only really work with fancy dresses and skirts – plain ones.

Don’t think denim can make just any old tights work. On the contrary, denim is one of the last fabrics you should pair with bright tights.

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