9 Types of Shoes to Wear With Tights

It’s easy to overthink your outfit, second-guessing whether or not you’ve chosen the right shoe to ground out your look. Luckily, there’s a method for constructing a chic outfit around a pair of tights, as long as you start with any of the nine shoes we’ve outlined below (many of which you already have in your closet). We tapped experts Chloe Griffin and Tracy Shapoff to weigh in on dos and don'ts for pulling off this combination.

Meet the expert

Griffin believes any glossy, closed-toe shoe looks most elegant with tights, and maintains the following rules: “A huge no for me is tights and trainers—it reminds me of being at school! Generally, the lower your hem is to the ground, the higher you want to go with the heel,” she tells InStyle via email. Meanwhile, Shapoff says that if your goal is to elongate the leg, you should aim to show more of it. “Proportions do make a difference with tights and the style of shoe,” she says, “I love a three-quarter or ankle-length dress with tall pumps, as to just see the tights on the foot and ankle.”

Of course, these aren’t the only options to consider. Ahead, we’ve pinpointed nine great shoes to wear with tights and offered an outfit idea for each, so you have plenty of inspiration to go off of with trusted advice from fashion experts.

Slingback Heels

Regardless of the color of your tights, a slick slingback kitten heel adds polish to your look and instantly elevates it to business attire. Of course, you can play around with the rest of your pieces to evoke a different vibe, but when it comes to the shoe, ensure it’s one your heel won’t slip out of by ticking off the boxes: Is the strap at the back adjustable? Is the heel height one you’re comfortable in? The more neutral the colorway, the easier it’ll be to team up with a variety of tights.

Chunky Loafers

With the rise of the preppy academia trend, loafers are at the forefront of footwear, and the silhouette just so happens to look great with tights. The trend du jour is to style a pair with a small platform with slouchy white ankle socks over sheer black tights. Griffin points to Hailey Bieber as an example of bringing the balletcore trend into winter and spring.

Pointed Toe Pumps

When it comes to pumps and tights, we recommend upping the ante with a monochrome moment. Shapoff offers sound advice for building an outfit around the pairing: “When doing the matching tight and heel it is best to wear a shorter skirt/dress to really give the illusion of length.” You can also try a sheer tight with a back seam finished with a stiletto pump.

Ballerina Pumps or Flats

Whether you’re a short pump or flats person, the ballerina shoe is distinct in that it hugs your foot like a glove, particularly noticeable in a flexible leather or with a cap-toe, to draw attention down to your feet. We love the added detail of a delicate bow at the top.

Wear yours with black tights if they have extra decals, embellishments, or mixed materials, or play up a simple black version with lace or colored tights.

Ankle Boots

Ankle boots make for another great answer to tights since they add shape and attitude to your look. For example, a sleek sock boot is more streamlined and minimalist than a tough combat boot, which you could employ to round out a punk moment that incorporates tweed or a leather bomber jacket. In this category, Shapoff also recommends Dr. Martens: “A chunky flat boot that goes a little higher on the ankle is a fun daytime look with tights,” she says.

Knee-High Boots

Knee-high boots hit higher on the leg, thereby covering more of your tights. We recommend a neutral tight in this case—however sheer or opaque you like—so as not to interrupt the flow of your look. Try out the leather shorts and tights combination, or opt for a simple miniskirt, finished with your knee-high boots.

Mules

Mules work well with tights as a way to contrast and highlight the silhouette of the shoe. Style them with a miniskirt or longer dress that’s sheer at the bottom so it doesn’t take away from your footwear.

Mary Janes

We’re all for the schoolgirl aesthetic of tights meeting a Mary-Jane shoe. If you add a contrast ankle sock over your tights, it’ll work to highlight the shape of your heel, so keep that in mind if you’re opting for a relatively simple outfit up top and want to incorporate a playful element.

Open-Toe Sandals

The most polarizing combination of the bunch is the open-toe sandal—should you or shouldn’t you? As street-style savants prove, it is possible and our experts agree. The key is to keep the sandal as minimal and “evening” as possible, with just one or two thin straps. “Make sure you choose lace, patterned, or super-sheer tights if you opt for an open toe,” Griffin recommends. Shapoff also notes to make sure the toe seam of your tights is hidden under your foot.

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