7 ways to wear black stockings
The most underrated garment in your drawer
Black hosiery is often dismissed as something for the evening. Unfairly so, because the denier is precisely what determines whether it looks understated or striking. The same color, a different effect.
Seven combinations that work, with the denier that makes the difference for each look.
1. Under a midi skirt, 40 denier
The safest and perhaps the most beautiful option. An opaque black stocking under a midi skirt creates an unbroken line from skirt to shoe, making your silhouette look more streamlined. Choose a shoe in the same color and the effect becomes even stronger.
2. With a short-sleeved dress, 20 denier
A finer stocking keeps the focus on the dress rather than your legs. It works well in the transitional season, when bare legs are still too chilly but a thick stocking looks too heavy.
3. Under a suit with shorts or culottes, 40 to 60 denier
A combination you mainly see in winter. The opaque stocking connects the shorts or culottes to the shoe and keeps the overall look sleek. Stick to matte, as shine draws too much attention here.
4. With boots, 60 denier or higher
If the stocking mostly disappears into the boot shaft, transparency is a waste of money. Choose a thicker yarn: warmer, stronger, and the visible section looks even.
5. The evening look, 10 to 15 denier
This is where the classic fine stocking comes into its own. The skin shows through and the leg takes on a subtle sheen. Pair it with a closed shoe featuring a slender heel.
6. With a back seam, 15 to 20 denier
The seam visually lengthens the leg and adds a clear vintage element. It does require attention, though: if the seam runs crooked, you will see nothing else. Check in the mirror, including the back.
7. With a subtle pattern, 20 to 40 denier
Fine dots, a checked pattern, or a vertical stripe. Keep the rest of your outfit plain, otherwise the patterns will compete with one another.
Three things that make or break the look
- Matte or shiny. Matte looks understated and works during the day. Shine belongs in the evening.
- The transition to the shoe. Hosiery and shoes in the same color lengthen the leg. A contrasting color interrupts the line.
- The right size. Hosiery that is too small becomes visibly lighter around the thigh, and this stands out even more with black than with nude shades.
