The leaves are turning orange. Suddenly the air is filled with the smell of woodsmoke as the first fires of the year are lit. Shop window displays are full of pumpkins, witches and skeletons. It can only mean one thing- the witching season is here and halloween is just around the corner.
Halloween, or Samhain as it was known in the old days, is an ancient festival, dating back hundreds of years. It was traditionally the Celtic new year, and it is said it is the time when the veil between our world and that of the spirits is at its thinnest. It was the last of the three harvest festivals celebrated by old cultures, a time when the last of the animals were slaughtered and their meat stored for winter, and any remaining livestock were brought in from the fields. It was a time when dark nights started to creep in, driving people indoors to huddle around their fires, and with more time spent inside with the night pressing in, it was only natural that people’s minds would turn to spirits and the telling of ghost stories.
Of course how we celebrate now has changed dramatically. Most of us are not so directly dependent on the seasons and the harvest. And while we have retained some old traditions, such as the telling of ghost stories and fortune telling with apples, you’re more likely to find yourself attending a fancy dress party than droving the herds down from their fields to the winter pastures. But even the act of dressing up comes form an old belief that with so many errant spirits around you should come up with a clever disguise to trick them and protect you from falling foul of their mischief. With this in mind, you may be starting to think about outfits to match this time of year. Chances are you might have a party to two to attend, and whether or not it’s fancy dress you might want to incorporate some themes of the season into your look. Or maybe you just want to find a way to inject a bit of spooky fun into your everyday outfit. So, while picking out your witches hat or your dress, don’t forget that you’re tights can do their bit too- you could use them to inject a subtle hint of halloween into your everyday wear, or go all out for that seasonal party. Here’s some ideas to inspire you and to bring out your inner witch (or goth, or vampire, or whatever spooky thing you want to be!)
Hitting the town
You
don’t have to be a kid to enjoy getting dressed up for halloween- from
you’re local pub to the nightclubs in the city- there’ll be no shortage
of adult fancy dress parties to choose from that will allow you to go
wild, get creative and come up with the perfect outfit. Pamela Mann do a
fabulous pair of leggings which will transform your lower half into a
creepy skeleton. With details of femurs, fibulas, pelvis and even a tail
bone, the design is surprisingly realistic! You could pair these with
some torn up clothes of your choice, some deathly white make-up, and
some splashes of fake blood and gore and you’ve turned yourself into a
decomposing zombie!
If you’d rather something less stomach churning, and a bit more sexy, why not go as slinky black cat, the favourite of witches everywhere! Leg avenue’s Black Cat Opaque tights are so cute they’ll have you purring in no time. Partner them with a pair of black hot pants so you can really showcase the design, a black top, add some ears and a swishy tail, and you’re good to go!
Trick or Treating with the Kids
Some say it’s just an American tradition that we’ve adopted, but guising has been around in this country for generations (all be it in a slightly different format). If you have kids you’ll know how much delight they take in getting dressed up and going door to door shouting ‘trick or treat!’ If your little monsters aren’t old enough to be out on their own you’ll probably find yourself going along with them, so why not join in the fun and add a little ghoulish twist to your outfit. The good news is, you don’t have to go all out, you can still stay snuggled under your coat and scarf and let your legs do the talking! A real classic that screams halloween is a pair or bright, bold, stripy tights! Who can forget the Wicked Witch of the East in The Wizard of Oz with just her legs sticking out form under the house, adorned in, yes, you guessed it, a pair of black and white striped tights. Tiffany Quinn do a great pair which come in a dazzling ten different colours, enough choice to satisfy any witch chaperoning her trick or treaters. They’re also 40 denier so thick enough to keep you warm on brisk autumn nights. Don’t worry, the sparkly red shoes are optional, you’ll be fine with your boots or trainers!
If you want something really fun and a bit different, look to Dracula for inspiration. Legs Avenue do a brilliant pair of tights with a quirky pop art style print featuring a repeating pattern of vampire fangs. They’ll deliver just enough bite to keep you in the halloween vibe without having to go all out with a cape and fangs of your own.
In the Office
If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to inject some of this season’s spirit into everything you do. And while turning up to work in full on pointed hat, brandishing a broomstick and cackling may be tempting, unless it’s a specific fancy dress day, it might be frowned upon (spoil sports, right?). But don’t worry, there are more subtle ways you can give a nod to this spooky time without risking being asked to clear out your desk. If you want to go really subtle, the easiest thing you can do is pick some leg wear that reflects the traditional colours of halloween. Think oranges, purples and greens. Orublu do a range of tights called ‘All Colours’ which come in an incredible array of shades. Orange 19, Yellow 10, or Green 28 would all be good choices. And again, they are 50 denier, ideal for when things start to get a little chillier.
Stars and moons often appear in halloween decor, invoking images of midnight, the witching hour, magic, and the arrival of longer nights that come with this time of year. Marilyn Emmy’s Star tights wouldn’t look out of place with your everyday work wear, they’re subtle enough, yet they will still lend you a little sparkle of witchy magic. The perfect low key way to celebrate halloween!
Halloween can be great fun. It really is a time to get creative, and while I hope these suggestions have leant you some inspiration, there is so much out there that can really let you express yourself. Wether your vibe is scary, sexy, cute or fun, I’m sure there is a perfect pair of tights out there to complete your outfit, however you choose to celebrate this wonderful time of year. Happy Halloween!
Find more inspiration at...
https://www.uktights.com/
https://www.tightstightstights.co.uk/