Hosiery 101

September 21st officially ushered in autumn, and while the temperatures are taking a bit of time to catch up, we all know that it's time to start the annual migration from sundresses and sandals to cardigans and boots. In honor of the season, I thought a primer on hosiery would be a befitting way to get ready for the rain.

When I was small, there were three things a hated above all else; taking naps, yard work, and wearing tights. Now, I've gotten over my aversion to yard work by having my own (very small) garden plot, and I absolutely love to take naps, particularly in the middle of the afternoon when I'm supposed to be cleaning my house. However, it took me quite a while to really appreciate tights. This may be due to the fact that most of my childhood memories of hosiery involve wearing uncomfortable white tights to church and having to sit still for what seemed like hours on end. Even now, I am very talented at fidgeting.

I currently love to wear tights, stockings, and socks of all kinds. What started out as a childhood aversion is now an integral part of my wardrobe choice nearly every day. Due to my love, I find I am very grateful for the recent resurgence of the popularity of hosiery in general.

This season in fashion introduces even more color, pattern, and fiber options. Hosiery was largely present on the fall runway. Many designers, including Chanel, Proenza Schouler, and Stella McCartney, incorporated basic opaque or sheer black hosiery as an accent for everything from pumps and semi formal gowns to sassy thigh high boots with miniskirts. My personal favorite was the use of subtle fishnets to accent Zac Posen's lushly exquisite dresses.



While we may not be able to recreate runway looks on our own, there are clever tricks to making your hosiery work for you. Simple black tights, whether in ultra sheer or opaque, lend a polished air to a look while lengthening legs and trimming thighs and calves. Colored tights are a fun way to provide a pop of color to monochromatic looks, and an easy way to wear the jewel tones so prevalent this season.

Tights and socks are very practical for Portland as well. As a city full of bicyclists, walkers, and Trimet riders, Portlanders spend a great deal of time outside in the cold and windy rain. Thicker cotton and wool tights, on their own or layered with knee high and over the knee socks, keep us warm and toasty while expressing our personal styles. For those days that are a bit chilly, but not too cold, knee highs and over the knees on their own are very fun. Available in a variety of colors, and great patterns such as stripes, argyles, polka dots, and cable knits, these socks are an exciting addition to skirts and dresses.

Now, lets go get ready for fall! Class dismissed. :)

Rhapsody in Blue

Navy Blue. While recently that phrase might have conjured up images of babies in sailor outfits and my grammy’s best polyester pantsuit, today navy blue is my new obsession. Being a newly turned acolyte, I find I cannot be emphatic enough in support of my new true love.


Like most obsessions, navy blue snuck up on me. I realized while rifling through my closet one morning that this color has insinuated itself throughout my entire wardrobe. I have multiple navy skirts, tops and accessories. The other day I even bought myself a pair of navy pinstripe trousers, and I don’t even own any decent black ones.


One of the wonderful things about navy is that it looks great with most coloring, from my olive skin and dark hair to my stepsister’s pale, blonde look. It has the effortless quality of black, but is richer in tone and slightly unexpected. While it has not been plentiful on the runways for fall; which have been full of conservative black and irreverent pops of color, navy fits well into many of the current trends. It is a great complement to the ever-strong 80’s looks, particularly hot pink pieces; is beautiful with a 40’s style suit; and is a hot new color in eye makeup.


Now never fear, this does not mean I intend to throw off my dear old friend, the basic and elegant black, in favor of my new love. I just think it’s high time to shake things up a bit in the wardrobe department.