Tights To Talk About: Katie Holmes Just Proved That Hosiery Is Anything But Boring

Katie Holmes has done it again. She has taken a seemingly basic item of clothing and elevated it to stratospheric new heights. First there was the cardigan, which she essentially reinvented as the sex symbol of autumn 2019 – now, it's the turn of that timeless (if not fairly basic) combo: the LBD and tights. OK, it was a Saint Laurent LBD – and ITEM m6 tights for anyone interested – but still.

Is this woman a genius? Are we overreacting? (Yes.) But through whatever alchemy, Holmes has suddenly made us yearn for a pair of sheer, polka dot tights as fervently as we may have done in, say, 2013 (which, incidentally, is when Holmes herself last wore a pair). But this hysteria over yet another Katie Holmes Outfit is not as surprising, or indeed baffling, as you might think. Tights are, in fact, one of the most fashion-forward statements you could make right now.

For one thing, if you're looking for a way to refresh your wardrobe without buying new clothes – thereby avoiding a contribution to fashion's detrimental impact on the planet– then the fact that tights are a major focus for the new season is a handy bonus. This may sound ridiculous. 'Of course they are!' you may cry. Who doesn't wear tights when it starts getting colder? But I'm not just talking about your regular old opaques (although let's not disregard those – more on that later) but the new breed of hosiery crafted from coloured lace, stamped with logos (Sienna Miller was spotted at Milan Fashion Week in a Gucci pair), decorated with diamante and – as in the case of Holmes' legs – printed with polka dots.

Ever since last winter, tights have become something much more interesting than mere practical leg coverings. Gucci and Danish brand Saks Potts both made logo tights, for instance, that flew off shelves all over the world, only to end up on a million Insta feeds, swiftly becoming one of the most talked-about buys of the season.

This year, that sense of fervour has only intensified, with Paco Rabanne showing diamante-encrusted black tights, Saint Laurent producing polka dots (Hi, Katie!) and both Gucci and Versace championing coloured lace tights. The latter may sound rather terrifying but at Versace, there was just a glimpse of red lace under a black pencil skirt, worn with a slouchy Blondie tee half-tucked.

The rules have changed, too. On a lot of catwalks (Gucci and Versace included), tights were worn with open-toe sandals, an excellent way of breathing new life into your more summery shoes. Sheer tights, too, have made something of a comeback, spotted at Givenchy, Moschino and Saint Laurent. And at Valentino, Louis Vuitton and Balmain, thick opaques were the order of the day, which is just great news all round.

Off catwalks, show-goers wore white tights with Mary-Janes, logo tights with slingback shoes and fishnets under jeans. On the high street, there are more options than ever. Heist has just launched three new colours, for example, including fuchsia and ice blue, while Calzedonia has everything from leopard print to polka dot and even its very own logos.

While the debate about when it's officially autumnal enough to wear tights rages every year, I'd suggest that there's no better time than the present to start contemplating which statement style you'll be wearing this season. I'm backing Versace's approach (a glimpse of colour beneath a monochrome combo) as well as Katie Holmes' sheer polka dots, obviously – they're crying out to be taken to a party.

SHOP: The Tights To Talk About (And To Wear)