Referencing {FAQ}

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Love It Or Leave It: J.Crew's Tights


Cass brought up an interesting topic in yesterday's "The Great (Weekly) Exchange" post, which is about the tights in color trend. Last year, black opaque tights were all the rage. However, tights in a variety of colors are making their way as part of the trend this Fall. (Click here to see Collegefashion.net's "Fall 2008 Fashion Trend: Tights" post that includes several images of models wearing color tights on the runway).

J.Crew has recognized this trend by currently offering the Solid opaque tights (Item 97788; $16.50) in a variety of colors (shown in the image above) like honey glaze and deep peacock.

I purchased a pair of black solid opaque tights from J.Crew last year (on sale) and really like them. The material was not only soft but very durable (e.g. resistant to tears) as well. Unfortunately, I don't wear the tights often enough. (I tend to gravitate towards pants during the Fall and Winter months.) I am also unsure if I would buy a pair in a honey glaze or deep peacock.

Do you like the tights trend? Would you wear tights in different colors this Fall season? How would you wear them? Would you purchase tights from J.Crew (or from another retailer)?

46 comments:

  1. I own black J. Crew tights as well, and also really like them. I wear them with long belted tunics or dresses. It's a great way to make a dress more warm and wearable in the the fall and winter. I am probably going to buy the tights in deep peacock because they're dark enough to still look winter-like and not like a circus clown. But the honey glaze are definitely iffy and very hard to pull off, definitely not for me.

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  2. Like I said in another thread, I, personally, would not waste my money on the J. Crew tights. I have gotten excellent quality tights from Target for half the price. In fact, last year I got tights there that were very similar in color to JC's deep peacock. I wore them with a black sweater dress.

    I think the brighter colors of tights would look good with solid sweater dresses in muted colors such as grey. The honey glaze tights could work well with the Cashmere Peyton Dress in heather graphite. The same dress in royal violet or honey glaze would look great with some grey colored tights.

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  3. I'm planning on trying the peacock and honey glaze. I will wear them with a knee length skirt and either heels or boots. I would not wear colored tights with an over the knee skirt, no one need to see my thighs in technicolor!

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  4. Oh I forgot to say, I would rather pay more and buy the tights from J crew knowing they will match my other j crew pieces. I don't have the patience to run all over town looking for a duplicate that will probably be a shade or more off

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  5. Here
    is a simple example of how to work in the colored J. Crew tights.

    As you can see in this example, the exact shade of tights doesn't matter, so they wouldn't necessarily have to be from J. Crew.

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  6. I agree with Ashley. I also found some great colors on clearance at Target. I figured I wouldn't mind never wearing them at only $1.99/ea. Plus, I'd probably only wear them once or twice anyway. That said, if I were to try and match/coordinate J Crew pieces their specific tights might come in handy. I think this is an item the SAs can suggestive sell, esp to educate customers on how to wear them. I don't even recall seeing them in the store.

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  7. i wore tights a lot last season, as a teacher, they were my saving grace in terms of modesty (i prefer dresses to pants and i look awful in longer dresses). i actually purchased one pair of j crew tights and one pair of spanx tights, for double the price of the j crew pair. the spanx tights were much better and more durable and comfortable in my opinion. since i wear tights frequently, it was worth the investment. i also am not worried about my tights matching my other j crew pieces because i will only wear tights in black, brown or navy. i don't think anyone needs to see my thighs encased in honey glaze!

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  8. I admire the tights trend, but don't think I'd like them on me. Too many flashbacks to my childhood! I'm definitely a nude stockings person but am totally jealous of the women who have the confidence / flair to pull these off!

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  9. I would only wear black tights...Don't think the other color would work for most people. It's a leave it for me without a doubt.

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  10. I bought the honey glaze tights and plan to wear them with the honey glaze cord skirt and tall black boots.

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  11. Yes, sometimes inexpensive tights are just as good as expensive ones. Hue tights have always been the highest of quality in my opinion. As for colored tights, I will be wearing them this fall/winter season.

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  12. I don't wear tights... so they are a leave it for me! I hate stockings enough and they always make me too hot even in the middle of winter--- why would I ever add on more fabric? Haha

    --However I dont buy Jcrew socks--- no one sees my socks and no one cares. Like ashley said Tarjay actually has the same stuff, just cheaper.

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  13. I already did the Colored Tights trend about 20 years ago, and I am not so sure it is age-appropriate for me this time around...I usually do wear dark colored tights in the Fall/Winter, especially with skirts and knee boots, but to me that is not a trend...it's just part of my individual style. I do think the colored tights are cute, and I might give them a try with knee boots and a skirt, but doubt I would wear them with pumps so that my entire leg would be seen.

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  14. Last year to a dance I wore a short cocktail dress by bcbg that was black on top and white silk on the bottom... and looked 10 times cooler when I put on opaque black tights underneath! Everyone else was wearing their "barely there" dresses and (not to brag) but my look was unique. The only thing I fretted about was that my shoes were patent leather and open toed - but I didn't have anything else suitable and the tights were a spur of the moment thing. (I bought them at Nordstrom for around $9.)

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  15. I do buy JCrew socks...have tons of them...I have a HUGE sock collection. I do notice socks on people. They can add a fashion touch to an outfit. I love www.sockdreams.com---free shipping and excellent customer service. I haven't bought from them in a long while but they have some really unique items. I have hundreds and hundreds of pairs of socks....

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  16. Anon: For men yes, I just never wear socks (well to the gym I do). But thats about it. On my boyfriend yes, I love argyle trouser socks... but for me... there is no point.

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  17. Blumre - I saw in a previous post that you had a good look at the Astrid Berry jacket. I was totally in love with that jacket until seeing it in person and the lack of finish on the silk ruffles, so I passed. Thanks for voicing your opinion, it helped me get over my disappointment. That was going to be my one big showstopper for the fall.

    I think I am a little old for the colored tights trend! However, love the look on younger, thinner women.

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  18. jenn_brak: yes I saw it in person too at the greenwich store. I still think that it look like someone threw up blue garbage all over it. It looks like all that was just poorly pasted on. I think a kindergartener could make the same thing!

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  19. My husband wouldn't wear an argyle sock if I paid him....or even a pair of them for that matter:) I love argyles:)

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  20. Anonymous - One of the benefits of having a DH who doesn't care how he dresses, is that he wears whatever I buy. Has only balked once, at a gorgeous purple Polo shirt. Hw wears A LOT of argyle socks, cuase I love them.

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  21. blumre: I just spit coffee all over my laptop. Your remark about the Astrid looking like someone "threw up blue garbage all over it" was hysterical. I'd write more, but I need to clean up this mess! LOL.

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  22. Can't lie, I love tights. I've been wearing tights in neutral colors forever but caught onto the colored trend last year. I have a bright blue pair that I adore wearing with a black sheath and black peeptoes. I love a way to wear all of my peeptoes in the winter! :) That being said, I won't be buying J.Crew tights. I ruin my tights after about 2-3 wears (if I'm lucky). I do like the deep peacock color though!

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  23. I'm still thinking about this trend...if I do end up doing it, I'm sure it will be with knee boots and a skirt. I just don't think I carry off a whole leg of the bright color. But I admire anyone that can!

    Like its.a.southern.thing though, I trash tights and am lucky if I get 2 wears out of a pair. No matter what the brand. So I too will be sticking to the target versions...

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  24. anonymous @ 8:35 a.m.: I also have a huge sock collection. It's sort of an addiction. I especially like wool socks (I live in CT where it's cold in winter), especially Smartwool brand. Last year I got three pairs of JC's brightly colored wool knee socks with the contrasting color on the heel and toe. Nobody really sees them except me but I like them anyway. Thanks for the sock website tip!

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  25. jenn b--That is nice for you. A benefit to a husband who cares about how he looks...he shops pretty much at BR and buys for himself...more time to shop for my daughter and me at JCrew:)

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  26. slightlyoldersally, Have fun on the sock website....I love their wool socks and their sock garters...really fun to wear:)

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  27. anon @ 835am: I too am a sock lover!! I have a giant collection of them, but I hate wearing socks in the summer - only the winter. I'm definitely checking out this sockdreams place.

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  28. jenn_brak: Your husband sounds so lucky to have someone with taste dressing him. :) I pick out things for my fiancee, but he manages to not care what he wears while simultaneously being picky. Not too sure how he pulls that one off! If only I could show him the way ...

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  29. What do most of you wear with skirts/dresses in winter - especially in colder climates? I have never been a fan of "pantyhose".

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  30. I either do panty hose or bare legs... But I just dont get very cold. As a competitive skier for many years you just get used to not being warm in the winter.

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  31. Blumre: I'm glad to hear you do bare legs in winter. I've thought about it, but assumed it would be "frowned upon" like wearing white after Labor Day used to be!

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  32. Daisy: I worked at a place where they cared but unless it is stated no one really cares... just be careful to moisturize with something that is scent free and keep your legs well hydrated.

    I tend to wear slacks in the winter anyway... but to dressy occasions I always go bare legs... most people dont even notice!

    Although to black tie occasions if I wear a shorter dress I do wear stockings in the winter. I just deal with it.

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  33. Colored opaque tights are one of my style staples. I own 40 pairs in all sorts of colors, and plan to buy more. To me, they've never been out of style. I've been wearing colored tights since I was like 2 when my mom put me in weirdo rainbow tights and tights with hearts. :) I remember specific outfits throughout childhood, teens and early adulthood that had different color tights. In middle school, burgundy and hunter green were my faves. In high school, rust, grey, and dark teal. Now, royal blue, yellow, and purple are tops.

    I'm slowly moving back to patterned tights--not rainbows or hearts this time, but plaid, paisely, maybe floral.

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  34. I also wear opaque tights with shorts in the spring when it's a little too cold for bare legs. I dunno, guess I am less traditional in this regard... I will wear any color tights with minis, shorts, etc. But, I feel more covered when wearing opaques with a short hemline..

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  35. I've never gotten tights from jcrew, so I don't know how durable they are. Most of my tights nowadays are from HUE, welovecolor, and sometimes urban outfitters. They all seem pretty durable, but I also have very short (read: bitten down to nothing) fingernails, so I don't have to worry about snagging a nail. I have a pair of black tights from the Gap that are, unbelieveably, 10 years old! I still wear them! The elastic in the waist is a little stretched out, but other than that, they are fine.

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  36. FFM,

    I hear you! Same here, tights have always just been part of how I dressed... probably had a lot to do with growing up in the northeast and needing to bundle up (I'd even wear tights under pants!).

    I do worry about age appropriateness... even though I am only turning 26 in a few weeks, I am starting to wonder how long I can get away with wearing bright blue fishnets and orange opaque tights... maybe when I'm 30 I'll reassess the situation LOL :) But in all seriousness, the jcrew peacock color would be fine for someone over 25, I think.

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  37. melanie, I don't like wearing socks in the summer either...I wear flip flops or Birks (I have 30 pair) all summer long:) I have to wear socks when I go walking/running however....but I take them off ASAP when I am done:)

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  38. Sock dreams sells Hosiery Mate...it really does work to extend the life of your hose/tights.

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  39. I usually hand wash my tights with Woolite, but am thinking about trying something specifically for hosiery to see if there's a difference.

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  40. Heather: I've seen tights under shorts! It's sort of like in Gossip Girl, as worn by Blair. I feel like I couldn't pull that off but liked how she did.

    Anon: Agreed! The only time I will wear socks in the summer is if I am running / working out and I take them off when I take my shoes off! I don't own Birks, but have Rainbows and flip flops that I wear pretty much ALL SUMMER.

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  41. ugggh gosip girl. I've never seen that show but I am annoyed that apparently I dress like the characters. shorts + tights is one of my trademarks, has been for years. oh well. :/ I guess I should take those comparisions as flattery... :)

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  42. Heather: I certainly meant nothing but a compliment by the comparison. I just thought that some people might like a better visual (aka, tights + shorts on a model) and I remembered Blair wearing that outfit. I could have probably searched the J.Crew site now that I think about it. :) Sorry about that.

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  43. no it's ok, I shouldn't have such a visceral reaction to a tv show character that I've never even seen anyway, LOL! :)

    truth is, a lot of people take style cues from that show. I'd rather see teens dressing preppy than slutty, so that's a plus, hah. and yes, now I feel super old for never having seen it, even though I'm 25...! :P

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  44. ffm: I agree with you about wearing the colored tights - for me, over 20 years ago. It just brings back too many high school fashion memories. :)

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