How to wear shorts with tights, from day to night
Shorts with tights: which denier, which shoes and which length for the office, the weekend and the evening, with five simple rules and the examples we saw on the runway.
The short answer: with shorts, choose opaque 40 to 60 denier tights for daytime and sheer ones for the evening, a shoe in the same colour as the tights, and tailored or wool shorts. The rest is variation. It is a pairing London's spring/summer 2027 runways brought back, as we covered in shorts over tights.
1. Denier first
The tights do half the work. Opaque and dark, they turn shorts into city wear; sheer, they take them towards the evening.
| Occasion | Tights | Denier | Shorts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Opaque black, grey, navy | 40–60 | Tailored, knee-length |
| Weekend | Opaque or ribbed, even coloured | 50–80 | Denim, corduroy, wool |
| Evening | Sheer black or fine fishnet | 15–20 | Satin, leather, sequins |
| Winter | Heavy opaque or thermal | 80–100+ | Wool, tweed |
For the right weight see our denier chart; for real cold, thermal tights.
Suit shorts and opaque tights: Jil Sander, spring/summer 2027. Photo: Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana.
2. One colour from waist to shoe
Tights and shoes in the same colour lengthen the leg, and with shorts it is the most useful trick: black with black, brown with brown. Contrast (pale tights, dark shoe) cuts the figure and only works with long legs and short shorts.
3. The length of the shorts
- Knee-length Bermudas: the easiest, almost cropped trousers. They go with everything, coloured tights included.
- Mid-thigh shorts: the most versatile. With opaque tights they are daywear.
- Very short shorts: only with opaque tights and a long jacket or coat on top, so the proportions stay balanced.
Suit Bermudas, leopard tights and loafers: Telfar, spring/summer 2027. Photo: courtesy of Telfar, via WWD.
4. The shoes
For daytime, loafers, ankle boots and Mary Janes: a flat shoe takes away any evening feel. For the evening, pointed pumps or tall boots. Sneakers work with opaque tights and sporty shorts, as at Maxhosa Africa on the runway.
5. On top: a jacket
With shorts and tights, the piece that holds the look together is a jacket: a blazer for the office, a long coat for winter, a leather jacket for the weekend. The shorts become half of a suit.
What to avoid
- Sheer nude tights with short shorts in daytime: it looks like imperfect bare legs.
- Pale tights and a dark shoe with very short shorts: the leg looks shorter.
- Too many patterns at once: if the tights are dotted, fishnet or coloured, keep the shorts plain.
For colour, see our guide to red tights; for fishnets, how to wear fishnet tights.
Frequently asked questions
What tights should I wear with shorts?
For daytime, opaque 40 to 60 denier tights in black, grey or brown; for the evening, sheer 15 to 20 denier or a fine fishnet. The shorter and lighter the shorts, the more a dark opaque pair makes them wearable.
What shoes go with shorts and tights?
Loafers, ankle boots and Mary Janes for daytime; pumps and tall boots for the evening. A shoe in the same colour as the tights lengthens the leg.
Can you wear shorts and tights to the office?
Yes, if the shorts are tailored, knee-length or just above, in wool or suiting fabric, with opaque tights and a matching jacket.
What length of shorts works with tights?
Above the knee, from Bermudas to mid-thigh shorts. Very short shorts work best with opaque tights and a long jacket on top.
