Gray and White lace tights

Lace is a popular look this spring, so why should your legs miss out on all the attention  

This pair of tights I bought at Anthropologie a year ago. I also have them in black. 

They are grey with a printed white lace design. They are very eye-catching, hard to miss especially in contrast to a darker skirt. I have been wearing this skirt a lot lately. Its from H&M. 

I have love to wear full circle skirts with cardigan, it makes me feel like I am a fifties housewife. 

The cardigan is from Eileen Fisher. 

I love adding lace whenever possible to an outfit. 

As far as white tights go, I don't particularly care for them although I do personally own opaque white tights, white fishnets and a few white tights that have a crochet type feel. I will try and integrate them into my summer/spring wardrobe. I also have a pair of Cervin white seamed stockings, I wore for my wedding in 2006. . 

I feel white tights are only appropriate for small girls preparing for their first Holy Communion or for ballet or to wear with a school uniform. 

If you do wear white tights, its important to choose the rest of your outfit wisely. To wear all white, could make you look like a nurse. Pairing it with other neutrals can look both modern and sophisticated. In this grim April month, winter white can be the natural transition to a zesty crisper summer white.

This pair of white lace tights have a light floral motif

This pair of Wolford White Tight, have a Cervon design. 

Trouser Socks are Hosiery too!

For those of you who don't wear stockings, tights or hold ups I decided to write about "socks" but not just any socks Trousers Socks. Trouser socks or Knee Highs are decorative or sheer socks worn under trousers as a more refined take on traditional cotton socks. Trouser socks can add a whimsical touch to any outfit just like a pair of tights or hold ups.

The are differences between trouser socks and knee highs. Knee highs are usually more sheer in a nude or sheer black color, the pantyhose of the lower knee world. They typically don't have a pattern or are really stylish. Trouser socks however are more patterned usually like intricate patterned tights. The are both typically made out of nylon or a lycra cotton blend. Before trouser socks were made with this stretchy material, men and women would have to wear sock garters.

Calzedonia makes an amazing collection of trouser socks, both for men and women. They even make trouser socks that have a rubber upper portion idenical to hold-ups. I particuarlly love the mens sock collection from Calzedonia, they come in a wide variety of fun patterns and colors, as well as all of your basics. I often have to restock on these since they are very comforatble and my husband ends up stealing them for his own use.

So for today I am wearing a pair of "Trouser socks" in a white with a black patterned up the front similar to the damask tights I spoke about here. I think I might have bought these in Calzedonia, but I am not entirely sure. But, I know that I didn't buy them in the States.



 

This outfit always makes me feel like Katherine Hepburn.

Stand out with these Great Damask and Cream Tights

On most days I consider my hosiery the center piece of my outfit. I first pick my hosiery and then create an outfit around it. With some of my more ornate pairs, this usually means something completely black and basic. So not to take away from the beauty of the hosiery. Today, I went with a complete deco look with a great pair of cream tights, from Anthropologie.

I fell in love with these tights the first time I saw them on line in October of 2010. To me the only problem was that they are white and thick Cotton! Then when I finally got around to seeing them in person I discovered they are more cream and a cotton blend. So I took the plunge and purchased them. After purchasing them they sat in my new purchase bin waiting for the right day to debut!

The tights have a beautiful Damask pattern going up the front and the back of the leg, so it's very important that they remained straight on the leg. Sometimes with cotton blend tights, that are one size fits all that it can be a little difficult. The cream color automatically draws your eye to the tights so keeping my outfit simple, left the tights to make a statement.

A special thanks to Max who took all of these photos!

He is only 3.5 but he already has a great eye!

"Stocking Around Town" Ali Casciano

This is the first in the series "Stocking Around Town" were I will take random people I see on the streets of NYC or happen to know and talk about their fabulous hosiery!

This is my cousin Ali. She is wearing a pair of amazing tights from Kohl's Simply Vera Vera Wang Collection. Kohl's is a great place to buy hosiery. They always have a great selection from their various brands in stylish and trendy styles and they also carry a great selection of basics.

Ali has done an amazing job of pairing these patterned tights with a simple dress and cute cropped cardigan! She wore this great outfit for our Grandparents 60th Wedding Anniversary Brunch which I talked about in my post from Sunday.

Thanks Ali for participating in my Blog and being the first person featured in "Stocking Around Town"!

If you have anyone you would like to recommend for "Stocking Around Town' or if you would like to send me a photo of you wearing your great Hosiery find email me at cristina.cascianoking@gmail.com make sure you tell me where you purchased the find and a little bit about why you chose them!

New-Gerbe Collant Kilim

These are brand new out of the package! I recently purchased them at the hosiery shop inside Penn Station, I know Penn Station but they are one of the only places in NYC that you can find this brand of hosiery. Gerbe is a French brand and is similar to Wolford. I have 6 pairs of this brand that I bought at Galeries Lafayette in Paris not Penn Station...

These tights are beautiful, the pattern is called Kilim . They have an all over folk art design on a sheer base. I find the pattern both exotic and exciting.

I always get asked how to wear a pattern tight with a patterned skirt. This is a nice example. This skirt looks like a cross between and ink blot and a watercolor, the skirt is from JCrew and no longer available. The structure to the pattern on the tights in a nice compliment to the abstract pattern of the skirt.
By pairing it with a plain top it makes your outfit seem less busy...

I recently came upon this posting at AlreadyPretty.com. I think this a great go to guide for anyone that might be nervous about wearing those great tights that have been hiding in your drawer.

Moroccan inspiration

These are my favorite pair of hold UPS! They are from the brand Love Me from Paris. I bought them in 2007. I like to pair them in ways that really make the leg detail pop. Notice the buttons on my cardigan match the pink in my blouse as well as the pink in the detail of the hold UPS.
Keep checking back for more of the Love Me brand!