Finally Tights Season Again: Nylons, Ankle Boots and Evening Walks

There is one morning every autumn when I open the front door, breathe in the air and think: This is it. Ten, twelve degrees, a bit of wind, the leaves turning. For other people that is the moment to dig out a scarf. For me it is the starting signal for tights season. Finally, nylons again.

In summer I often wear dresses and skirts with bare legs, whatever feels right. But tights are something else. They are not just warmth, they are a feeling. And that is exactly what I have missed all through the warm months.

Why I love tights so much

First of all there is the fabric. Fine, smooth nylon sliding up the legs inch by inch has something calm, almost ritual about it. I take my time, ease the tights up carefully and straighten the seam at the toe. Afterwards my legs feel different: smooth, protected and a little elegant at the same time.

Then there is the look. Tights turn a skirt into an outfit. A sheer pair makes the leg look soft and understated, an opaque 60-denier pair makes it clean and graphic. Even the suspender look, where the tights look like over-the-knee stockings with garters, has its charm without anything that can slip.

My autumn outfit at 10 to 15 degrees

At these temperatures my standard outfit is quickly explained:

• Tights: opaque (40 to 60 den) at 10 to 12 degrees, semi-sheer with 20 to 30 den from about 14, 15 degrees.
• Skirt: short to knee length. Check, tweed or wool suit the season perfectly.
• Ankle boots: with a low or block heel. For me ankle boots are the best partner for tights, because they finish the leg softly and stay comfortable.
• Light jacket: a tailored blazer, a light trench-style coat or a thinly lined jacket that covers the hips.

The combination is almost perfect: the skirt stays visible, the legs are warm, the boots keep the feet dry and the jacket blocks the wind. Anyone who has walked around in a skirt with bare legs in autumn knows how quickly you start to shiver. With tights that is over.

My evening walks

I like to wear this outfit best in the evening. When dusk falls and the streets get quieter, I change and take a walk around the neighbourhood, after dinner or when I want to clear my head. No special route, no destination, just walking.

It is a small time-out. The air is cool and clear, somewhere there is a smell of leaves or wood smoke. Warm light falls from the windows onto the pavement. And I hear that quiet, even click of the ankle boots that makes me stand a little straighter and pull my shoulders back without thinking.

I take my time on purpose. I do not rush, I walk at my own pace, stop at a corner for a moment, look at the lights and simply enjoy feeling right in what I am wearing. After half an hour I am usually calmer, more awake and in a much better mood than before. When I get back, dinner tastes better and I sleep better.

If you are trying this for the first time, my advice: start when it gets dark and pick a familiar route. With time you will notice that the feeling of standing out fades quickly. It is a pair of tights that nobody except you questions. Most people hardly look.

Tips for getting started with tights

A few things I have learned over the years:

1. Choose generous sizes. Most tights are made for women's sizes. With a bigger frame, sizes L or XL make sense so the waistband does not dig in and the mesh is not overstretched.
2. Match the denier to the temperature. 15 to 20 den for mild days, 40 to 60 den for 10 degrees and below.
3. Always pack a spare pair. A ladder comes faster than you think. Soft gloves or short nails help when putting them on.
4. Shoes in the right size. Ankle boots from size 42 (EU) are an issue for many men. It pays to look for them specifically instead of settling for a compromise.

If you are looking for a wide selection of classic tights, you will find one at Kunert, and ankle boots in larger sizes are available at Schuhcenter and eschuhe, for example. More shops for skirts, dresses and shoes are collected in my shopping guide.

And what about you?

I am looking forward to the coming weeks: autumn light, skirts, nylons, ankle boots and lots of evenings when I just set off walking. If you are a tights fan too, or only just finding your way into it, write and tell me which combination is your favourite. You can find more about shoes in my post As a man in high heels, and in Wearing a skirt and pumps to the office I tell how I wear skirt and pumps in everyday life.