Trading pants for tights blowing up TikTok thanks to fashionista Kendall Jenner

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Just when you thought it was safe to put on a pair of comfortable pants again comes this: Tights.

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Wearing them as pants.

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And yes, leading the charge is everyone’s most prominent fashionista – Kendall Jenner, who recently started sporting the look known simply as Tight As Pants.

You heard me.

Just before the holidays, Jenner was seen in LA wearing an off-the-runway look from designer Mattheiu Blazy’s 2023 spring collection for Bottega Veneta, in which she was basically sashaying around town in translucent tights (pantyhose) worn over black underwear, to be exact.

And they pretty well looked like tights – like she had forgotten her skirt or dress. That said, this thrilling new look garnered her more than 7.4 million likes on her social media accounts, and it’s now taking off like wildfire on TikTok, where it seems just about everyone is scrambling to recreate this look, winter weather notwithstanding. Pinterest and Instagram are also crammed with photos of this daring new fashion trend.

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Adding to the excitement is Google searches for “Kendall Jenner tights” has shot up some +806% compared to last year globally, as people (read: young girls) look for inspiration.

It seems, swapping pants for tights is this year’s hot new trend, and Jenner is once again inspiring plenty of fans to try her fashion choices, note the trend experts at the UK-based Pour Moi (www.pourmoi.co.uk) fashion company.

Let’s not give Kendall all the credit – her sis, Kylie, first caused heads to turn back in the early fall, when she attended the Loewe spring collection with nothing more than her tights, white underpants, and a maxi coat, just in case she got cold. Sis Kim also stepped out on the town in black tights with a black thong visible.

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So – what exactly is this Tight as Pants look? Who can pull it off? And can we stand the cold while pulling off the look at the same time?

Let’s first look at pant trends that are in – or out – for this year:

Various fashion sources are stating leggings are THE look for the season, especially as they act as the base for the real fashion stars, namely tops with attitude. So look for leggings as the latest fashion attitude this year. Meanwhile, British Vogue (www.vogue.co.uk) has reported that anything skin-tight and shiny is the look to look out for as well.

According to Insider (www.insider.com), distressed denim (you know – all those ratty-at-the-knees jeans)  are out (finally!) and tailored looks are in. “Wide-leg anything is set to trend for 2023, according to Sarah Sommer, stylist and associate of Wardrobe Apparel,” notes the site. Plus vinyl leggings and even leather pants are coming back (why?), and tailored trousers are set to return – perhaps as a nod to people returning to an office environment.

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Skinny jeans are being replaced with straight-leg, and say good-bye to the sweats.

But back to the tights as pants look. According to writer Carolyn Twersky in a November article for W Magazine (www.wmagazin.com), “there’s something very jarring and half-dressed about tights…but we better get used to it because chances are we’re about to see a whole lot more of these tight-based looks.”

As trends go, it’s a little on the weird side, but who are we to judge?

Fashion buyer Charlotte Johnson for Pour Moi said in a recent email release, “the Jenner/Kardashian women are often seen sporting trends we’ll be jumping on months later; not only do their outfit choices often get us all talking but they’re often wearing looks straight off the runway. “Whilst this (particular) trend won’t be to everyone’s taste, it can be a fun and daring way to spice up your outfit.”

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Johnson offers the following tips on how you can pull this look off without looking like you forgot to put your pants on:

Choose the right denier fabric: The heavier the (fabric), the more opaque your tights will be, so if you’re worried about bearing a bit too much leg you could always wear a heavier denier.

Pair it with darker tones: Such as black, navy or dark grey. To make it look a little more pulled together and wearable, you also don’t want it to contrast too much with anything else you’re wearing, so try to team it with a black bodysuit and an oversized jacket.

Layer up to keep warm whilst you’re out: If you’re thinking about trying this trend out, make sure you layer up to ensure you don’t feel the cold too much. Try doubling up on tights, or you could add a maxi length coat, like Kylie Jenner did when she also sported the trend back in September.

Be careful when wearing your tights: This look doesn’t look good with ladders or snag. Put them on carefully, and watch for any accessories or zips that can catch and cause damage.

Wear heels to elongate your legs: Pairing the outfit with either a heeled boot or a classic heel will help make your legs appear longer and make them look supermodel worthy. As the tights and legs are the main star of the show with this outfit, it will help show them off in the best light.

– Pour Moi (www.pourmoi.co.uk/clothing).