The February Issue of Vogue may be slightly ahead of us with its Spring/Summer fashion shoots, but recently we’ve noticed bikinis and sunglasses creeping back onto the high street so we’ve decided to embrace it. In fact, with the snow disrupting our travel and our house being colder than the inside of a fridge, pictures of blue skies and deckchairs are exactly what we need.
And THEN we spotted the Henry Holland Knee Highs nestling in between the couture clothes and high end jewellery! At just £7.50 a pair, the socks aren’t exactly designer prices but the bold design from Henry Holland has found favour with the fashion elite.
Available in pretty ice cream shades like pale pink and pastel green, they have a summery feel to them and will go perfectly with your Riviera chic this spring. You could even try layering over nude sheer tights now for a warmer version of the look. Knee highs can be tricky to wear if you are conscious of your calves looking bulky but the vertical stripe design on these balances them out for super flattering accessorising.
Team them with white basics if your dare or your spring pastel colours, and retro accessories like stack heels, oversized sunglasses and statement necklaces. You can wear them as normal knee high socks or push them down Vogue style, but beware – these are not the kind of suntan marks you want to get.
It’s not often something this cheap gets the stamp of approval from a fashion giant like Vogue, so snap these up quickly for a burst of sunshine in your winter wardrobe.
Dione Bromfield (singer and goddaughter of Amy Winehouse) and Jade Thirlwall from Little Mix have both been spotted out and about recently in a twist on the classic suspender tights. Both girls stepped out in tights which were opaque to just above the knee and then gave way to sheer hosiery, with a pretty line of opaque hearts around the top of the opaque leg – perfect with Valentine’s day just around the corner! You can get the look with the Pamela Mann Large Overknee Heart Tights (pictured), a snip at just £7.99!
Both girls are no stranger to exciting and unique hosiery – Jade stepped out in customised Little Mix Henry Holland tights just before her and the rest of the band won the X Factor, while Dionne has been spotted in suspender tights and polka dots among others.
Jade wore hers to the Tickled Pink Girls’ Night Out gig and teamed them with black shorts, and a zip up jumper over a black shirt with a pink tie – see her look here. Coincidentally, Dionne also performed at the gig and plumped for the classic suspender tights design. However, the singer must have recognised Jade’s tights as she had worn them already – to switch on the Christmas lights at the Brunswick at the end of November.
Dionne dressed hers up with a black prom style dress but added an edge with some heavy duty black army boots. A slick of pillar box red lipstick completed the look that earned her a nod of approval from the fashion elite including Vogue Italia, who named it their “Look of the Day” (see it here). But Jade isn’t without her fair share of admirers, with designer Henry Holland counted among the bands biggest supporters.
So who do you think wore it best? Do you like Dionne’s Punk Princess take or is Jade’s urban cool more your thing? Tell us on Facebook or Twitter!
The style gurus at Cosmopolitan Magazine always seem to get it right… so who are we to argue with their rules for a happy wardrobe even when we’re broke and freezing? You can read the entire article here, but we’ve pulled together the highlights …
1) There’s no shame in faking it
Cosmo reckons that when push comes to shove, there’s no harm in using shapewear to supplement your gym routine in the quest for a gorgeous figure. Having felt our own resolve dwindle as January went by and watching every single New Year’s Resolution fly out of the window, we reckon there’ no harm in using shapewear to replace your gym routine. Flat stomach in 2 minutes? Yes please.
2) You CAN work bright colours and still feel chic
If the thought of acid and neon brights coming back into vogue any time soon is enough to make you break out in a nervous rash, it’s time to learn that colour is not a no-no. Pastels are going to be everywhere this spring and there’s nothing easier than a mint green handbag or pale lilac pair of tights to perk you up for Spring (when it finally arrives, of course). Browse our range of coloured tights and team with creams and pale greys for a look that is as right on trend as it is classically simple.
3) It’s “All in the Legs”
Of course Cosmo caters for the braver fashionistas, too, and they think that a pair of statement tights are “an ingenious and affordable way of updating and changing your look”. They love the Pamela Mann coloured Fishnet Tights(pictured), supplied by MyTights,and the Henry Hollandfor Pretty Polly range, as worn by Jessie J.
Great style advice from the Cosmo team, and just in time to update your wardrobe before it begins to look horribly bare!
Exclusive personalised shopping site Free to be Supreme is giving away a pair of MyTights.com tights – all you have to do is head to their Facebook page! They’ve created a range of gorgeous hosiery centred looks perfect for any occasion – and not only are they all so on trend, they’re all completely wearable, too.
Sports Luxe
Get the Look: Coloured Socks clashed with a colour pop sports top is the key to this look. Keep the rest of your outfit neutral to avoid overkill. These Henry Holland socks are in the sale at the moment- or try the Trasparenze Monique Ankle Socks which are available in tons of colours.
Film Noir
Get the Look: You can’t go wrong with Henry Holland tights. With celebrity fans everywhere, the Brit designer is a MyTights.com favourite and his quirky styles look great with monochrome looks finished with metallic accessories. The studs are optional, but can really finish an outfit. If you want the exact look, get the Alphabet Tights, but there are tons of styles to choose from so don’t feel you can’t adapt the style to suit your favourite!
Ladylike
Get the Look: The ladylike trend is always around in some guise or another, but it can feel too toned down for some fashion queens. But fear not – stick to on trend choices like pleated skirts and fitted jumpers and add one colour pop accessory to work girly chic with an edge. Lilac Tightsare a perfect choice as they are neutral enough to blend with the rest of the look and the colour will work with any skin tone.
Prints
Get the Look: Patterned Tights like those from print queen Celeste Stein are the perfect way to get the urban feel of the latest prints trend. For a daytime friendly look, try printed hosiery under knee high boots with a skirt so that the tights are glimpsed as you walk rather than on full display. And for night, rock them with the tiniest hotpants you can lay your hands on! The ones pictured are the Celeste Stein Black Butterflies Tights.
Society Heiress Paris Hilton has been spotted in LA working the trend for suspender tights in the Henry Holland Mesh Suspender Tights (see the photo here). Despite being the heiress to an estimated $20 million fortune, she shows us that fashion doesn’t have to be expensive with the £12 tights. Paris teamed her hosiery with an unusually understated and demure (for her) combo of a black dress, gilet and heels.
The mesh version of Henry Holland’s bestselling Super Suspender Tights work perfectly if you want to try the trend for suspender tights but are worried about looking like you’ve come out in your underwear, as the mesh, which from a distance just looks like sheer hosiery, lends the design a subtler look. They are perfect for everyday wear too, because the mesh at the top makes them more difficult to ladder.
Paris is just the latest in a long list of stars to tap into the suspender tights trend, including Saturdays star Frankie Sandford and pop sensation Rihanna. With a line up like that, it’s hardly surprising that the design has been honoured by other hosiery designers who have created variations featuring hearts and pearls – check out our full suspender tights range and pick your favourite!
Try rocking your suspender tights with simple basics like Paris has – it’s too cold for bare arms this side of the pond at the moment, plus we’re not entirely convinced by the furry gilet if we’re honest (and yes, we KNOW it was on the AW Gucci catwalk). Try an all black look like Paris with a skater style black dress and leather jacket, or if you want to add a splash of colour keep lines clean with shift dresses and tailored cocktail shorts.
If you’re anything like us, you’ll be feeling the shame of your Christmas eating binge whilst simultaneously turning green eyed over pictured of celebs who should KNOW BETTER than to flaunt their perfect bodies in front of us at such a vulnerable time. So hurrah for Kristen Stewart, who let us catch a glimpse of her figure fixing Spanx not once, but TWICE in one day back in November.
It just goes to show that no matter how slim, beautiful and successful you are, body insecurities just don’t go away (not even if you have a boyfriend as hot as Robert Pattinson). And although we’re betting that Kristen was red-faced about flashing her slimming secret (first at the Grauman’s Theatre where she was taking part in the hand and foot prints ceremony with Robert and Taylor Lautner, then later on the Jay Leno Show), the fact is that almost all of the celebs wear them for extra slimming and an elegant streamlined figure.
Kristen looks like she’s wearing a shorts shapewear product such as the Spanx Undie-tectable High-Waisted Mid Thigh Shaper. By getting something that extends right the way up to your bra line, you can pretty much eliminate the possibility of telltale lines under your clothing – or alternatively choose a seamless product for a similar effect.
If you’re struggling with the extra pounds that Christmas can bring, why not try a shapewear product from the new ShaToBu Get Fit Range, which is shapewear featuring inbuilt resistance band technology that means you actually burn more calories when going about your everyday life with no extra effort!
Oh, and FYI, Kristen… most shapewear products come in nude shades which are perfect for blending in a bit better if you’re wearing a shorter dress, or else try a briefs product rather than shorts, which will be no more visible than normal underwear, no matter how short your hemline is!
The new Jessie J single, Domino, has already reached number 7 in the midweek iTunes charts and is AMAZING! The video is equally brilliant, with tons of Jessie’s trademark cool and an eye catching array of outfits. From Goth style studded lips to acid bright colours, there’s no trend too out there for Jessie. She also wears her favourite I’m Laddered Tights, with mock hold up top, backseam and witty “I’m Laddered” motif which she’s been spotted in all over the place recently, plus we catch a glimpse of her in the super cool Mock Fishnet Suspender Tights, which feature the uber-trendy mock suspender top and mesh panelling at the top of the thigh which looks like sheer hosiery from a distance.Both of these styles are from the hugely talented Brit designer Henry Hollandin collaboration with hosiery legends Pretty Polly, and are available at MyTights.com for less than the price of a pub lunch.
Watch the video and let us know what you think – is Jessie the Queen of Cool?
In the second part of my 12 Trends for 2012 style guide I’ll be looking at the colours and print. This is where hosiery really comes into its own so I’ve saved the best to last! Tights and socks are one of the most affordable ways to give your wardrobe an update with the season’s key colour trends so without further delay here are the colours and prints you will be rocking through 2012.
Floral
Oscar de la Renta, Normaluisa and Blumarine all used florals to give a fresh, summery feel to their latest catwalk collections. In a couple of weeks Jonathan Aston’s new Spring Summer Collection will be hitting our site so keep an eye out for their fab florals! In the meantime, check out the floral tights section on our website for colourful floral tights by brand like Pamela Mann and Celeste Stein.
Animal
This season we’ll be moving on from leopard and into even more unusual and exotic animal prints like zebra, snake and tiger. Wolford’s Tiger Tights and Celeste Stein’s Black Faces Zoo Tights will have you on trend in an instant.
White
Get ready to dress in white from head to for summer 2012 as the all white looks at Daks, Nina Ricci and Lanvin got a lot of attention from the fashionistas. Nothing looks more serene and summery, but brilliant white can be a little harsh and unflattering unless you are very tanned. Softer shades like cream and ivory will give the same effect but are more forgiving. Cover up under those hotpants (see 12 Trends for 2012: part 1) or short skirts with the Jonathan Aston Lace Shorts in Ivory.
Black and White
Good old black and white combinations never fail to turn heads and there were lots of black skirt white top combinations on the SS12 catwalks. We’d recommend adding a funky edge to a classically tailored plain white or black dress with the Pamela Mann Duo Tone Tights in Black and White. Combine with courts or peep toes with a modest platform – perfect.
Sweetie Shop
Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton hove shown the way to the sweetie shop with their gorgeous pastel collections. The colours of this look remind me of sugared almonds so accessorise with Jonathan Aston’s Sheer Coloured Tights which give just the right touch of translucent colour.
Bright Colour
If whisper soft pastel shades are too demure for your taste, the other signature colours of the season are orange, yellow and blue. Wear these shades for maximum impact in their brightest most electric guises. Pamela Mann’s 50 Denier Opaque Coloured Tights with their range of “Flo” colours in blue, yellow and orange are the best place to start. Highlight with crisp white and you have a look that could have jumped straight off the Nicole Fahri catwalk!
Shake off the winter gloom by planning your spring and summer wardrobe. If you are feeling the pinch after Christmas then tights are a great way to update your look without spending a fortune.
There’s plenty to have fun with this Spring Summer season. I hope you are looking forward to playing with these colour and pattern combinations as much as I am!
Happy New Year everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas too.
A new year means a new season to look forward to and we’ve been scouring the catwalks to find the trends that will be making a serious impact this year. In the first part of my 12 Trends for 2012 style guide I’ve picked out some of the key shapes and styles that we’ll be seeing more of in 2012 and how to dress your legs to go with them.
Fishnet
Rihanna and Beyonce have both shown a love of fishnet tights for recent performances and mesh and fishnet inserts appeared on tops and skirts to give a sporty look on the Alexander Wang and Aquascutum catwalk. Fishnet is going to be huge for 2012 – you’ll be wearing it on your arms and legs so pick up a pair of Pamela Mann’s Fishnet Tights in every colour!
Rockabilly
It has been a burgeoning underground fashion trend for a couple of years but 2012 will be the year that Rockabilly style goes mainstream. After circle skirts, petticoats and perfectly coiffed hair, your next essential accessory for this look is ankle socks. Pick up the Monique Ankle Socks in all the colours of the rainbow but keep an eye on the site as Spring Summer approaches as we’ll be bringing in loads of new styles to work with this look.
Dropped Waists
1920s style dropped waists made an impact on 2011’s Christmas party wear but this pretty, feminine silhouette will endure well into Spring Summer 2012. Give yourself a cute and sexy 1920s flapper makeover with a short, dropped waist dress accessorised with Henry Holland Pearly Suspender Tights.
Hotpants
Shorts are getting shorter next season so be prepared for the return of hotpants! Wear with opaque tights for spring and with sheer tights like Falke’s Shelina Tights for flawless pins when the weather warms up.
Sheer Clothing
Beautifully draped, sheer dresses are making the transition from catwalk to high street now. Flowing chiffon and mesh fabrics make an elegant statement but what do you wear underneath? Invest in slips like the Spanx Slimmer and Shine Strapless Slip which cover up, pull you in, and with its pretty detailing, will look like an integral part of your outfit. Choose nude or black depending on your outfit and how daring you feel!
Peplums
Those funny little skirts that flare out from tops, skirts and trousers to give you an ultra curvy silhouette are back. Fashionable in the 1980s, the peplum creates an extremely womanly shape. Take notes from Nicole Kidman and Emma Stone and wear your peplum dress in bold shades but with minimal accessories and nude legs. Pretty Polly’s Nylon Backseam Tights will add subtle sex appeal and old fashioned glamour while Wolford’s Sundot Tights add a delightful touch of discreet and sophisticated pattern.
Tomorrow I’ll be looking at the prints and colours that will keep you on trend through 2012.
So far this week, we’ve brought you the MyTights Hosiery Awards, with our nominees winning… well, nothing actually. Never mind. We’ve already seen Mary Portas pip shapewear giant Spanx to the post for best brand, and all other trends bow down to the mighty suspender tights as the winner of Trend of the Year.
We also saw Kate Middleton unexpectedly take the crown for Trendsetter of the Year, thanks to her love of sheer tights, and teen-brat Taylor Momsen take the trophy for Mess of the Year. So it’s finally time for the big one: who will be our hosiery icon of the year?
HOSIERY ICON OF THE YEAR
Winner: Jessie J
Honourable Mention: Fearne Cotton
Maybe it was obvious, but we don’t care. Named as the new face of Pretty Polly, exploding onto the music scene and making everyone fall in love with her were just three of a hundred achievements. And she did it all wearing some amazing hosiery – to get her look, all you need to do is check out the Henry Holland collection… We can’t wait to see what the next year will bring for the Essex girl.
A worthy runner up, Fearne Cotton turned up at the last moment last week after taking a hiatus from her amazing tights collection. The DJ and presenter’s love for quirky fashion extends to her weird and wonderful choice of tights, from lace to prints and everything in between with nothing off limits – our kind of girl!
So that’s it for another year! Here’s to the next twelve months of hosiery, and may we wish all of our customers a very happy new year.
The February Issue of Vogue may be slightly ahead of us with its Spring/Summer fashion shoots, but recently we’ve noticed bikinis and sunglasses creeping back onto the high street so we’ve decided to embrace it. In fact, with the snow disrupting our travel and our house being colder than the inside of a fridge, pictures of blue skies and deckchairs are exactly what we need.
