3 Ways To Wear Thigh Highs And Still Look Tasteful

By

For the September issue of W Magazine, Giovanna Battaglia — frequent W Magazine contributor and Vogue Japan editor — has styled a crimson-themed, old-Hollywood-esque shoot.

Which reminds me: thigh highs. The W Magazine spread is one of the best examples of a well-styled thigh high I’ve seen in awhile. Because it must be said: thigh highs tread a very thin line; one slight misstep and you could end up looking like a botched American Apparel ad. Yet if done right, they can have the racy feel of an American Apparel ad, minus the whole nonconsensual, pedophile vibe they usually got going on. That is: thigh highs can look sexy and still be classy. A rough guideline, if you will:

1. Stocking thigh highs.

http://instagram.com/p/rpmCVpATjx/?modal=true

Already, these are so much tasteful looking than the thick knit thigh highs sold at American Apparel. There’s something very elegant about the diaphanous, sheer material. With these, thigh highs are not supposed to stand out; they’re supposed to appear seamless, light and airy.

http://instagram.com/p/oQDNLwqsew/?modal=true

2. Thigh high boots.

With these guys, you can’t help but have them stand out. Thigh high boots are a lot, and that’s sort of their point. Which is why they’re best paired with your simplest outfit.

3. School girl look.

http://instagram.com/p/f0fPZYwdmF/?modal=true

If you’re going to go the underage, American Apparel route, best to take a cue form Kiko Mizuhara and wear something conservative on top, lest you want to be mistaken for a backup singer in a 1998 Britney Spears music video.