Monday, December 13, 2010

Good Fences Make Good...

A break in the rain, so photos in the driveway! Let's see how this works out...


What I'm wearing:
Purple knit top with leg-o-mutton sleeves, Next in London
Dark grey denim pinstripe vest, Newport News
Black twill skirt with laced detail in back, MetroStyle
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Purple wide fishnet tights, Leg Avenue
Black pumps with buckles, Reaction by Kenneth Cole
Grey headband with lacy flowers, Forever 21
Hand-painted skull pendant on velvet ribbon, Jewels by Olivia (local artist)
Silver cameo earrings, vintage
Purple lipstick, Sephora

Trying layered tights, a la Kasmira of What I Wore Today & so many others out there in fashionista-blogland. I used to do this a lot with colored tights under black fishnets, but it's been a while. I wondered if it'd work on a curvier girl, & I can report that, sure, it does & was comfortable.

But there are some keys to making it work. The top layer should be a very loose weave, like these wide fishnets (also called fence net). A loose crochet or lace would work too, just not one of those tightly woven herringbones or laces. There must be enough stretch for the second layer to be really comfortable & prevent the dreaded Segmented Worm Syndrome (or just the Woman in Sausage Casing Feeling).

I also carefully chose what I wore over the tights. No elastic waistbands, to further prevent sausage-y stuffing. I'm wearing a skirt with a wide, fitted waistband & a shirt tucked in. A dress that skims the body would have been good too. Having something layered over the waist area (in this case, a vest, but a jacket or cardigan would have worked) helps camouflage any potential bunching up that might have happened later in the day (luckily, that didn't happen). I would *not* have worn this with a belt tho' because cinching on top of extra layers would have felt like a squeezed sausage to me!

Who else has been layering tights? Fave combos?

15 comments:

  1. I haven't layered tights in a long time. I used to layer using scallop tights and fleur de lis patterns.

    Perfect weather to start again.

    Love the pendant!

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  2. SiouxsieL - Scallops & fleur de lis sounds pretty!

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  3. I love this outfit, especially the purple shirt. I need to find a shirt with that style of sleeves for next winter.

    It's been a long time since I've layered tights like that & it's a bit too hot for me to start up again at the moment (I'm southern hemisphere, so going into summer at the moment). But I shall watch out for interesting coloured tights ready to try layering again when the weather cools again.

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  4. Toria - Thanks! I love this shirt too; it was in the window at a shop in London & drew me in. Yep, layering tights is definitely more for cool weather - it's been raining for the past month here.

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  5. Now THOSE are some skillfully layered tights. And hey, thanks for the shout-out!

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  6. This is one of my favourite outfits of yours, Trystan! Some fantastic layering going on here. I am a big fan of layering tights as well. I've done black over hot pink, olive green over burgundy (looked awesome) and many other combos.

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  7. Ooh, super cute! I really love the fishnets layered over tights and that vest is GREAT.

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  8. Sal - Thank *you*!

    Shelia - Awww, thanks! And look, I finally showed black + two colors (didn't plan it, just came together somehow ;-). I have to hunt thru my tights drawer bec. I know there are more loose-weave ones that'd be good for layering.

    Becky - I adore this vest too, think I got it on sale. Thanks!

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  9. I like to layer tights in a very subtle way, sheer black with black lace on top gives the illusion of a single tight and keeps me just a bit warmer in the winter.

    Chic on the Cheap

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  10. LyddieGal - Sheer w/lace sounds pretty. Need all the warmth ya can get ;-)

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  11. I just found your blog and I love your style!
    I've been layering tights for a few years now. I love colored tights under black lace/nets/fancy design tights.
    I like the cute accessories you wear to lighten the more serious pieces of your outfits.

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  12. Hexotica - I hope to do colored tights under nets too this winter. And thanks for the comment about the accessories - I love to collect & even make things to add to outfits :-)

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  13. I think you're pulling of Kasmira's layered legwear look and still making it your own by mixing some of the colors I associate so much with you: black and purple! Plus, what a cool way to wear fishnets farther into the winter without freezing your stems off!

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  14. freeda - Thanks!

    Vanessa - Yeah, I love fishnets, can't leave them when it's cold :-)

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