Technicolour Tights

The invention of tights is attributed to Allen E. Grant in 1959, spurred by his pregnant wife's frustration with the cumbersome attire of the era, which included thigh-high stockings, girdle and garter. Tights, or pantyhose, soon emerged as a symbol of liberation, simplifying the dressing process for everyday ease.

But tights didn't have their moment in vogue until the rise of the mini skirt in the mid-’60s when popularised by models like Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton. After all, a thigh-grazing mini skirt couldn't be properly executed with the difficult combination of girdle and garter.

Now, tomato red, teal, hot pink and cobalt blue tights can become a part of every outfit. Over the Spring/Summer 2024 collections, a kaleidoscope of colourful tights were seen in the fashion capitals. Posy pink pantyhose at Gucci’s elevated evening looks and Miu Miu’s rusted orange tights were paired with butter-soft leather. Acne illuminated theirs in cobalt, emerald, red and pink to match full-block colour looks, while Marc Jacobs opted for more pastel offerings.

From the runway into the wardrobes of many, colourful tights have trickled down to the masses on TikTok, with #colorfultights gaining over 6 million views. Most recently, during the festive season, red tights paired with black footwear struck a stylish balance. Today, we are seeing people experiment with all tints and tones.

When the mods first slipped into their technicolour tights, newspapers described them as being “dressed like fugitives from kindergarten” and while we understand that this colourful-legged look might not be to everyone’s taste, the chance to be likened to a criminal toddler is quite exciting.