Patternity Tights

There’s a definite chill in the air, and most of us have already made the switch from bare legs to cosy tights. We’ve got a good five or six months of covering up ahead of us, and reaching for an identical pair of 40 deniers every day isn’t very exciting. So this is the perfect time to discover Patternity – a design studio that manages to make even tights look urban and modern.

'SEEING PATTERN EVERYWHERE — FROM THE MUNDANE TO THE MAGNIFICENT'

Patternity started out four years ago as a design blog, carefully curating an incredible archive of patterns, but they’ve grown into a creative studio, take on research and consultancy roles, and put on industry events, all around the idea of pattern. It’s a cool little company, with a big client list: Celine, Apple, Bompas & Parr, Selfridges, Nike, The V&A and The BBC.

So it’s no surprise that their tights line is based around the most eye-arresting of prints. After a limited-edition run sold out in 2012, they’ve teamed up with Pretty Polly to offer screen printed designs in blocks of nude and black colour. There’s something very edgy about their graphic stripes, square and triangles: seemingly simple shapes arranged in a new way, that you’re unlikely to see on anyone else. From a distance it actually looks like the patterns have been painted on bare legs.

Team them with a black skort and leather ankle boots if you’d rather keep the focus on your legs, or be brave and clash them with a printed skirt. Despite their eye-arresting patterns they’re actually incredibly versatile. My favourite is the ‘Tower Block Tights’ – you can see the architectural influence from Patternity’s design background, and they’d lend edge to classic pieces like the little black dress or white collared shirt.

There’s also the ‘Bricking It’ design, perfect if you prefer black tights but just want to break up that block of solid colour, and the ‘Shape Shifter’ if you really want to take the geometric look full tilt.

L-R: Tower Block, Bricking It, Shape Shifter

But if you’re after something a little more girly, Henry Holland has just launched a capsule collection of tights for Topshop. He’s spilled optician’s letters and dollar signs over semi sheer hosiery, but the pair with palm trees is my favourite – think of it as a tongue-in-cheek way to add a summery touch to your winter wardrobe. He’s worked with Pretty Polly in the past, on a collection of House of Holland tights that quickly sold out after they were spotted on Jessie J and Pixit Lott, so expect these to move just as quickly.

Which do you prefer – Patternity’s graphic, almost Aztec prints? Or Henry Holland’s quirky silhouettes?