Are black opaque nylons really frumpy fashion?

[kranberrie]

I read an article in the Guardian on Saturday that stated that black 40/60D hoisiery is "out" and fancy colours and lacey ones are "in" for the party season. The statement was backed up with statistics of sales growth of colourful nylons and lacey ones with a decline of sales in 40/60D black.
I Google researched more and found that this ditching of classic black extends to the workplace and social settings. Looking around my office and offices of clients I visit, I'm shocked to find that I'm almost the only "frump" in standard class opaque black legs.
I can't bring myself to go jazzy colours or lacey. I had a big clearout of my tights draw about a month ago - ironically in my vast collection I had old red, navy, green (why?) and lacey tights (mostly unworn) - they got chucked. Those still in packets and unworn are now in the local Scope shop - maybe I should buy them back.
I'm extra miffed because the clearout coincided with a £150 spending spree on good quality black opaques.
Maybe I should buy trousers and never wear tights again.
Am I the last living fan of black opaques? - I think they are sexy, stylish, warm and practical.
What next - shoes out and only boots?

I don't know about fashion, but £150 on tights 😬

I wore my trusty 100 denier black tights under a beautiful new dress on my works xmas do last week. They were comforting and warm and hid the fact I haven't shaved in 2 weeks.

You'll have to pull them from my cold dead hands. I don't wear tights often, but when I do I want warmth.

I wear trousers exclusively in Winter. A dress does not appear on me until late Spring/Summer. I use fancy glittery tops to do the trick for gatherings/going out.

Consequently I wear opaque pop socks all the time. I absolutely detest tights. My nether regions are free to air all year round (apart from knickers of course)!

I do have a couple of silky patterned pop socks though. Must try and find em.

Spot on 😂

And there was I thinking it just sounded like a quick and cheap way of updating your look - if you so wish of course - and wondering why more trends can't be this easy. Silly, flighty, featherbrained me!

They were definitely still called 'nylons' in 1967 by the way. I say this with confidence because that was when I got my first pair.

The young hip and happening girls about town in the office are wearing sheer black tights with short skirts and heeled boots. I marvel at and am in awe of their dedication to fashion.

Meanwhile I'm just grumbling that M&S tights are more expensive (although not £150!) and no where near as good as they used to be.

They might be wearing similar tights to my DD - they look like sheer black tights but are actually warm fleecy material
They look super on DD

No hope for me. I wear wooden tights all the time because otherwise I'm freezing. Frequently stick a pair of leggings over then too. Anything thermal and I'm in.

I actually remember before black opaque tights existed. When I was at school in the 70s the tights we absolutely would not wear were tan. Grey tights for school or that cream shade. Black was only for going out. In the sixth form (early 80s) coloured tights were in. Patterns mid 80s. When they invented opaque black tights it was like wheel coming in. No going back as a everyday style for decades 🤣

Spell check is a pain

That's making me laugh. I'm imagining me in wooden tights. I bet I'd be in the Guardian with those on.

I only wear tights when it's cold and only a wool/cotton blend (Falke). I have them in a range of colours. I wouldn't dream of wearing nylons, I hate the feel of synthetic fabric. Bare legs if it's warm, warm tights if it's cold. I'm 54 but I've been like this my entire life.

@kranberrie I like black or barely black opaque, sheer or almost opaque. Also love the patterned ones. Could not give two hoots what anyone else thinks.

I'd rather wear opaques as they are warmer

It’s fine not to follow fashion and it’s fine to follow fashion. Sounds like you didn’t like the ones you had anyway, so what’s the point of wearing something you don’t like?

I generally quite approve of this as a trend, cheap, easy, not too exposing because you can get patterns with very full coverage or just go for coloured opaques. And most importantly I'm pretty sure I've got some already left over from the first time.

Do you remember the brief fad for diamond patterned black opaques? I rather liked them - I wonder if I can get away with digging a pair out from the lower reaches of my tights drawer?

I'm ptetty certain I wore what was then called "thick tights" all through secondary school from 1971 to 1977.

My first tights were hideous 1970's American Tan.
I would love some dark plum, navy, grey coloured opaque tights at a reasonable price.

Didn't they go a bit viral at one point?

Sheer looking but full opaque tights... with patterns...
Are they a thing? 🤔

They pay people to report on trends … they mostly make stuff up!!

My media friend used to request items from designers to “test” them out and only report on things she wanted. Polarised sunglasses for a ski trip, sun creams for holiday - specific interest was cosmetic sun blocks, diet pills etc
a true media hoar.

I prefer navy or burgundy to black, but they have to be properly opaque- 80 denier plus. Sheer take me straight back to the 80s in a particularly bad way.

I like the sound of wooden, though- about as opaque as you could possibly get.

Ooh interesting. I am wearing berry-coloured tights today (with a denim midi skirt and DMs). Surprised to hear I might be trendier than I realised

I’m with you! I had some many lacy and coloured pairs in my drawer and I I tend to throw them out. I prefer the black opaque ones.

Ha! Every ten years they make an effort to flog patterned and coloured tights. A few people buy them, wear them once or twice, realise they look shit, and go back to nude or black.

I had argyle tights in the 90s - it looked like I murdered and skinned a harlequin

If memory serves, it was fishnets last year, preferably micro. I remember because they were sold out everywhere and I couldn't get any and ended up buying an expensive pair in Belgium after New Year. They're still in the packaging upstairs.

Honestly, wear what you like.

(Although maybe exercise caution around red and yellow unless you want to look like a chicken or Mr Claypole, as mentioned upthread)