Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Top: BCBG, thrifted
- Skirt: Gap, inherited from SIL
- Belt: tie from a jersey dress
- Red tights: costume store
- Lace tights: Target
- Booties: Steve Madden Ollie
End Notes:
Today was the last day of classes this semester, so I figured that I might as well leave my students with a striking final impression: the TA who wears crazy tights.
I don’t really know if I’ve ever had so many people talk to me about my outfit. When I first arrived on campus, a colleague stopped in his tracks and proclaimed his love of my tights. Although another colleague rolled her eyes at me, several others colleagues and undergrads had immediate and positive reactions. At a late afternoon haircut appointment, my hairdresser couldn’t stop talking about them and kept pointing them out to anyone who popped into his shop. And, judging from the head-whipping, I think I might have unnerved the construction workers as I whizzed past on my bike, a blur of red, black lace, and camel wool.
I am by nature an introvert, and I grew up in a culture that placed a stronger emphasis on communal rather than individual identity. As I’ve grown into my own skin — as a woman, wife, mother, and scholar — I’ve found that using my wardrobe as a means of creative expression is also a deeply personal means of overcoming my fears of what other people will think. These tights are a big deal. To me, it felt like I was walking around with a blinking sign above my head that read, “E HAS ENTERED THE ROOM.” But you know what? I think I held my own, and I’m already planning another outfit around this layered tights combination. Bam.
I LOVE the layered tights look! I’ve never bought lacy or fishnet tights, and I’m just easing myself into brightly colored ones. I can’t wait to try some combinations! I think your look is fab :)
I am sure they were just all jealous that you had the guts to wear something so incredibly awesome! It’s such a striking contrast of red and lace and stripes, it’s perfect! I think I’ve slowly grown to be okay with being a little wild sometimes as long as I feel good in that outfit and not doing it because someone told me to! Yay for confidence!
Also, that song is now stuck in my head.
I love them! I think they look really festive (I think it’s the red) and are ideal for the last day of classes before Christmas. Kudos for being brave enough to wear them to class!
I think this look is great, but I understand what you mean about the attention you get. Personally, I have done the layered lace tights but I’ve always used them to tone down a pair of frighteningly bright tights.
Not only are the tights FABULOUS in and of themselves, but the pattern mixing between them and the striped top is SO great! I love this outfit. I may have to file it away for future inspiration!
Yay! :) I’ve never commented before, but was planning to today anyway to report you all had inspired me to try layering tights like this…I did something similar yesterday for work and got *loads* of compliments, and I was toasty warm! Given that the weather promises to be below-average where I live for the next few weeks, I think is about to become a regular thing for me. Thanks for the fantastic inspiration!
That is amazing and I love the look — I wish I didn’t find tights horribly uncomfortable, or I would be imitating you today!
Great layering of the hosiery! I wish I had put a solid pair under my lace tights today.
Okay, so I know we’re supposed to be all professional and academic and thoughtful on here…but honestly…you are one HOT MAMA.
Grin. It’s your confidence that’s inspiring! I might even go layer some tights this morning, just to wear as I go Christmas shopping with The Pup. :)
I’m not sure if I’ve ever commented, but these tights (and the girl wearing them) deserve a standing ovation. I absolutely, 100% love this look, and I love it even more how well you pulled it off (because let’s be honest, bright tights are HARD). Awesome, awesome, awesome! Your confidence is clearly visible… You go girl. :)
I LOVE them! I love the fashion forward pattern mixing, and the richness of the color combined with the lace, and the sassy look on your face. You look HOT. You look confident and powerful and like you know who you are and what you want and you’re going to have fun while you’re doing it. I want to stand up and cheer for this outfit.
You are incredible. \o/
Right on, E.! Whenever I wear notable tights, I get compliments–at work, with friends, at Publix. I’ve never tried layering them, though…it’s time to kick things up a notch.
This outfit is amazing. You look awesome, and bump that eye-rolling colleague.
Well done! That looks great! I feel the same way often and also make myself overcome similar feelings and thoughts by making myself wear something that (for me) puts me out there :) By the way (geek moment) yesterday I read something by Csikszentmihalyi on his 1997 book “Finding Flow” (pg 96) about introvert vs extrovert which really made me re-think the whole dichotomy between those two traits and how we take for granted that we’re either one or the other ;)
You’re an inspiration on both a confidence and clothing level. I totally want to try both this look AND the ability to wear it without fear!!
Another introvert here… your comments about introversion and how that affects sartorial choices are giving me something to think about. Also, if I saw someone wearing tights layered like yours, I would indeed notice them enter the room, and blurt out something along the lines of “Dude! That looks so good together!”
I rarely comment, but as a fellow tights wearer, I just have to say: I LOVE THOSE TIGHTS! I might try some layering combos myself. Thanks for the inspiration, E.!
L. got a lot of compliments on her layered tights too a few posts back!
Nice combo of pattern mixing and pop of color. Well, I guess it’s bigger than a “pop.” LOL
I would’ve never thought you an introvert.
This outfit is spectacular. I love the subtle pattern mixing with the lacy tights and the stripey shirt. Saving it to my inspiration folder!
These are great! I’ve been wanting to try the lace layering with a pair of purple tights I have, and now I’m scouting out a pair of red tights. Love the nautical shirt thrown in there- red and nautical are two of my favorite things!
Wonderful! I tried layering the other night for our department holiday party, though I found the difficulty was in things like going to the bathroom when I had to deal with not one, but two pairs of tights!
Any suggestions for how to deal? Or anyone else had that issue?
You rock! Way to step out and be different. :) You are very inspring!
layered tights, OF COURSE! thank you for waking me up. i don’t know how i managed to sleep through that one.
i constantly feel the same way about taking chances with my wardrobe. you give me hope that i can be brave, too! :)
Oh, E.! This is such a great look on you — a perfect “statement” for the last day of the semester. I love the kind of feedback loop of confidence that comes from wearing looks like these — it takes a little bit of boldness to wear them, but they make (me at least) feel so brave all day long. Hope you had a great last day of class!
Love this — I have a pile of papers to grade in front of me and it made me smile!
I think your outfit looks very classy & refined (in a CorpGoth fashion ;-)
I don’t often talk outloud to my computer, but as this post loaded from the top down, I let out a “ooooooh, baby!” You would have laughed to hear it!
I love everything about this look! I haven’t got any lacy tights, but will be looking for some I can layer over the red tights I never seem to wear!
Great id :)
I love the layered tights! I’m curious if the person who rolled her eyes at you was a grad student or a faculty member…? Did you react to her?
This is the best layered tights combination I have ever seen!!! I wanted to rip them off you after the first picture :P I also understand what you mean about feeling like you have a blinking sign above you. I recently started wearing this skirt, and it generally draws the question “Are you wearing a tutu?” but I don’t care anymore. I love it too much!
Thanks, everyone! I loved this combination, and I’m certain I’ll be wearing this tights pairing again.
@Elissa – I can’t believe I’m writing this for the internet to see, but…when using the restroom, I pull both pairs down at the same time and then pull them back up one by one. And then I do a little jump and wiggle. It’s important to have tights that don’t bisect your midsection in an unflattering way. I feel like a dork with my tights pulled up over my belly button, but the line is so much smoother that way.
@LHDM – It was another grad student, female, who also has a feminist slant to her work. She’s always been a little patronizing of my attention to personal style, so I wasn’t really surprised by her response. I told her that I loved my tights and that I had a lot of tights-wearing to make up for since I spent my childhood in a warm climate.
omg, instant fave! wonderful pattern mix with the lace and stripes. the boldness of the red matches balances out strong wide stripes too – i don’t think this would work as well with thinner stripes.
I think the layered tights look fantastic! And I love the way it works with the stripes… Definitely one of my favorite outfits!
Your top is the EXACT type of nautical stripe 3/4 sleeved-boatneck I’ve been looking for. The perfect cut, line and silhouette. AM JEALOUS.
SUCH a great idea!! I might “borrow” this idea from you in the near future :)
You just blew my tight-lovin mind! :P
Hi! This is my first time visiting this site through Monkeyface and I’m like Wow! I love your style!! Very chic!!
Hooray for your personal triumph via tights!
What a great milestone market to show how far your authentic unfolding has brought you. Being who you are is a gutsy thing to do, especially when the old voices of wider cultures (and family cultures) are in opposition to your desires.
Thanks for the role modeling and congratulations. The whole outfit was worthy of every stare it received!
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