How to wear red tights (colours, shoes and occasions)
The colours that work with red tights, the shoes, the right denier and outfits for day and night, with a chart and the examples we saw in London's street style.
The short answer: red tights go with black, grey, navy and camel, with a black or red shoe, and opaque 40 denier and up for daytime. It is the colour London's street style wore everywhere this autumn, as we covered in London street style in red tights.
The colours that work
| With | Effect | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Black | Graphic, the easiest | Black dress, black pumps |
| Grey | Soft, office-friendly | Grey skirt, black loafers |
| Navy | Classic, contrasting | Navy suit, black Mary Janes |
| Camel | Warm, autumnal | Camel coat, brown ankle boots |
| Pink or burgundy | Tone on tone | Pink knit, burgundy skirt |
| Red | Head to toe | Red shoes and bag |
Red tights and matching pumps: Elisabetta Franchi, spring/summer 2027. Photo: Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana.
The shoes
- Black: the most graphic look, the red leg "closed" by a dark shoe.
- Red: tights and shoe in the same colour lengthen the leg; it is the London street-style pairing with patent kitten heels.
- Loafers and Mary Janes for daytime, pumps for the evening, ankle boots for winter.
Sheer or opaque
An opaque red (40–60 denier) is full and even, daytime, and the easiest to wear. A sheer red (15–20 denier) shows the skin and changes tone on the leg: more delicate, for the evening. For the difference, see our denier chart.
Three outfits
- Office: knee-length grey skirt, black knit, opaque red tights, black loafers.
- Weekend: grey wool shorts, camel coat, red tights, ankle boots. More ideas in how to wear shorts with tights.
- Evening: short black dress, sheer red tights, red patent pumps.
What to avoid
- Red with strong prints: a red leg wants a plain outfit.
- Mismatched reds between tights and shoes (orange with burgundy): stick to the same red or to black.
For more colour on the runway and in the street, see our piece on colourful tights; for black, what colour tights with a black dress.
Frequently asked questions
What colours go with red tights?
Black, grey, navy and camel, which let the red lead; pink and burgundy for tone on tone; red itself for a head-to-toe look from shoe to coat.
What shoes to wear with red tights?
Black for a graphic look, red to lengthen the leg, loafers or Mary Janes for daytime, patent pumps for the evening.
Sheer or opaque red tights?
Opaque, 40 denier and up, for a full, daytime red; sheer, 15 to 20 denier, for a more transparent, evening red.
What dress to wear with red tights?
A black dress, a grey skirt, a navy suit or a camel coat: a plain, neutral piece lets the colour on the legs do the work.
