Tights for the curvy woman: What not to do

Does anyone remember the world before tights? Neither can I. And with the change in weather it is about to get interesting.

Words like comfortable, trendy, stylish and easy to wear are now been used to reference tights. Just so we are all clear, tights are lower body con stuff in many guises but they are not pants.

Leggings are like thicker stockings sometimes swirling with patterns, prints and textures. Jeggings are a blend of leggings with jeans. Treggings are the marriage of leggings and trousers. Leggings are made out of lycra, spandex, polyester, cotton and nylon, that may feel like biker shorts.

Jeggings have the look of skinny jeans, only they are not, though they may or may not have denim embellishments such as pockets, stitching and colour. Treggings are a pair of really liquid pants and may or may not come complete with zippers. They could also be made of sequins and leather. 

The problem with tights is how so very asexual they are not, mainly because the African lower body is a magnificent construction of curves that can strain the patience of any seam. Tights on a Kenyan woman work hard for their money. They also spill over into conversations about camel toes. 

Depending on how you wear them, they can make not just the wearer uncomfortable, but her audience too.

There are many rules around wearing tights. Tights have a stretch limit and you will always know when you have exceeded it.

Also don’t wear something that highlights what you are most insecure about. In this case, bum, thighs and hips which contribute to making tights a rather unsolvable problem for the delicious African pear.

Tights are the fitted version of harem pants. They arouse curiosity, inspire praise and work on other people so why not? The biggest challenge is not modifying the tights with one’s lifestyle, body and personal comfort level, and instead doing what everyone else does. Treggings, for instance, have been spotted on yummy mummy celebs. Leggings have been seen on pregnant women.

Treggings may or may not have zippers and have been worn with tunics, kurtis, dresses, shorts and skirts.

NOT A LEGGINGS FAN

I am not a fan of leggings, treggings or jeggings. Still there are moments I yearn for a pair of treggings with a blazer, camisole and heels. Some women can really “werk” it! Especially knowing jeggings and treggings are the perfect replacement for jeans, can go from night to day, the latter ideal even for work. 

It appears that only women who are lean and athletic, which pretty much means if you are a supermodel who is two-thirds leg, can wear a fitted head to toe look. Pears with curves opt for flats, which can make a woman look shorter and depending on where you are at, look like a college student. The more professional woman is best served wearing treggings or jeggings which are thicker, and a bit of height in her shoe.

If your choice of tights leaves you with a road map when you take them off, they are one size too small and probably give you a muffin top. The darker your treggings and jeggings, the more polished your look.

The secret to a classy silhouette with treggings is a boyfriend blazer or a fitted blazer that falls just below your hips with a narrow waist and paired with heels. Curvier women can wear a belted tunic top with leggings to enhance their shape.

I repeat, tights are not pants. In such cases, if your butt does not look big in it, and you will know it, you can wear a cropped top or blazer or even tuck it in.

Tights are great with all manner of boots from ankle, slouchy, flat, knee high or thigh highs. Matching your bottoms to your boots makes your legs look longer. To avoid looking like a fashion victim, pick one trendy piece, keeping the rest of your look simple.

Women who are 40+ have a lot in common with curvier women. Tunics, high low tops, waterfall cardigans, short dresses, long, slouchy sweaters, asymmetrical tops and anything that is not tight on the upper body and lends itself to layering is a good look.