It's late January, it’s mind-bendingly cold and payday seems to be approaching at what feels like a glacial pace.
And yet despite your relative poverty, you can't help but fill basket after online basket with new season freshness. Oh for a mood-boosting sartorial splurge…
But wait, I have an answer. A last-week-of-January-pick-me-up that will instantly breathe life into your winter wardrobe without you needing to spend more than a tenner.
Tights. Coloured tights, patterned tights, all kinds of tights in any shade other than black are the street style set-approved winter warmer.
Be bold my friends, and read on for the coolest ways to tackle the trend.
Monogram mania
Monograms and logos were big news for fashion in general in 2018, and this year it's all about flexing your brand allegiance with every step. Whether Gucci's lacey interlocking Gs, or fashion influencer favourite Saks Potts's squiggly logo print, monogram tights are a big bang for your buck boost to any outfit.
What to buy:
These lesser-grammed Fendi monogram tights are already added my bag.
Embroidered FF logo tights, £170, Fendi. Shop them here
Sheer heaven
Classic, chic, not always the warmest but, outfit-wise, it's hard to go wrong.
What to buy:
Heist tights are seam and gusset-free, with one of the most comfortable waist bands I've ever experienced.
The 30 denier black tights, £21, Heist. Shop them here
White is the new black
There's a good chance you'll not have worn white tights since nursery school, when you paired them with pretty floral smock dresses for birthday parties, but this year the palest of pins have popped themselves back on the sartorial table. Pair with pastels for a springtime cuteness overload.
What to buy:
Calzedonia's whites are a bit of all right... and cost less than a glass of white wine.
50 Denier Soft Touch opaque white tights, £7, Calzedonia. Shop them here
Pops of colour
The scarier end of the trend perhaps, but a sure-fire way to add some 2k19 sheen to your lower half. Feeling intimidated? Opt for tonal hues (deep purple to go with that lavender midi, say) and keep hemlines of dresses and skirts long, to make it more of a flash of colour than a full-leg look.
What to buy:
Falke has a good selection of not-too-Primary colours that'll keep your pins on point.
Pure Matt 50 Denier tights, £19, Falke (come in a range of 14 colours). Shop them here
