Some people refer to this time of year as sweater weather, but we prefer to think of it as sweater dress weather. Before the tide turns toward snow and freezing temps, now is the prime time to rock fall dresses. You just need one key accessory to make them season-appropriate: a great pair of tights.
And this styling trick doesn’t just apply to sweater dresses. For the perfect fall dress, look for one with long sleeves and a slightly thicker material or opt for a piece that you can layer thin tops and turtlenecks under with ease. If you want a leg-lengthening look, make sure you match your shoes to your hosiery. Or if you want to mimic a street style star, go with completely contrasting footwear for an extra kick. When it comes to top hosiery brands, we’re big fans of Wolford’s long-lasting versions.
Tights literally come in a rainbow of colors, so in addition to putting together a shopping list of scene-stealing fall dresses, we’re also offering up some styling tips to find your perfect match.
[ Next: Dresses Over Pants: The Perfect Compromise ]
Fall Dresses With Tights
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& Other Stories
Cotton Shirt Dress, $55 at & Other Stories
Navy tights are a definite must with this vivid shirtdress. Slip on a pair of open-back mules, preferably in white, to really make the pattern pop.
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Carven
Tie Loop Dress, $550 at Farfetch
The tie loop detail provides the perfect opening for showcasing the upper band of navy tights, thus producing a subtle colorblocking effect.
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Mango
Wool Blazer Dress, $299.99 at Mango
Put your own spin on this Working Girl blazer dress by rocking some textured black tights that coordinate perfectly with a ribbed mock-neck top layered underneath the dress.
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Zara
Floral Print Dress With Gathered Detail, $39.90 at Zara
That gathered detail at the hem already draws the eye, so up the ante with a pair of colorful tights that matches any one of the vibrant shades featured on the dress.
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Hellessy
Amarylis Dress in White Poplin, $990 at Need Supply Co.
It's a shirtdress on steroids and we love it. Stick with black or dark blue wool tights and you can always layer a thin sweater underneath the dress when it gets nippy.
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Cult Gaia
Rosa Trapeze Sleeveless Dress, $580 at Moda Operandi
The trapeze hem simply begs for some peekaboo tights. If you're going to layer a turtleneck under the dress to stay toasty, make sure your tights complement the top.
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A New Day
Women's Plus Size Smocked Dress With Gold Foil, $29.99 at Target
With a gold foil pattern and smocked neckline, keep it simple down below with a basic black pair of tights.
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MISA
Colorblock Velvet Wrap Maxi Dress, $312 at Anthropologie
Keep the plush vibe of this fall dress going with a set of Wolford Cotton Velvet Tights in Coca-Melé.
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Opening Ceremony
Space Dye Maxi Dress, $475 at Opening Ceremony
Sweater dresses demand tights. Highlight the maroon stripes by picking tights that match.
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Topshop
Foil Floral Plunge Wrap Dress, $100 at Topshop
This fall dress is already so ornate, there's no need to go glitzy when it comes to hosiery. Rely on your trusted set of opaque black tights to polish things off.
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Toit Volant
Cecil Dress, $198 at Need Supply Co.
We recommend opting for burgundy or navy tights to play off the dress' rich brick hue.
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Faithfull The Brand
Striped Wrap Midi Dress, $219 at Urban Outfitters
If you dare, seek out a pair of orange or rust-colored tights to make a statement against these stripes.
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H&M
Draped Dress, $59.99 at H&M
We actually love H&M's styling here, so just work in some red tights to match the red sock boots for a leg-lengthening look.
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ROUTE1
Black Pattern Blocked Dress, $330 at W Concept
Though it may seem counterintuitive, the pattern blocking on this fall dress needs to be set off by a patterned pair of black tights. Clashing FTW.
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Zara
Gathered Dress With Asymmetric Sleeves, $149 at Zara
While red tights and boots will work wonders here, we like the idea of plum tights and boots as an alternative.
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Dries Van Noten
Wool Dress, $725 at mytheresa.com
If ever a dress called for camel-colored tights, this would be it. In a pinch, you can also opt for green.
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Mango
Puffed Sleeves Dress, $45.99 at Mango
As the weather gets chillier, layer a neutral thermal underneath and add some mustard tights, if you can find them.
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Vanessa Bruno
Hevi Pussy-Bow Printed Crepe Midi Dress, $715 at Net-a-Porter
If left free-flowing, black tights are the prime pick. If you cinch it with a belt, then plan your legwear accordingly.
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Free People
Rock Candy Lace Dress, $128 at Free People
Lace in the fall looks lovely and we can actually picture this fall dress working with chocolate tights.
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Opening Ceremony
Plaid Flare Dress, $425 at Opening Ceremony
When your sleeves are this exaggerated, you need to balance things out with some black tights and flat booties.
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Violeta by Mango
Flowy Bow Dress, $99.99 at Mango
That black bow detail doesn't just earn style points. It's actually a great base to match your wool tights to.
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Sonia by Sonia Rykiel
Embroidered Zip Dress, $470 at Farfetch
Amp up the striped trim on this fall dress by slipping on crimson tights.
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& Other Stories
One Shoulder Dress, $58 at & Other Stories
Sometimes the best tights are no tights — or at least ones that give off that illusion. Go with a set of nude hosiery and work in a white dress shirt underneath to stay warm and show people you mean business.
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Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini
Floral-Print Silk Mini Dress, $990 at Barneys
The sheer black lace panel on this floral mini is the real star. Make it shine even brighter by sporting black lace tights in a similar weave (or as close as you can get).
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Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy x Gigi Colour Block Sweater Dress, $226 at Farfetch
If you want to lengthen your legs, go with navy tights and shoes to extend the dress' bottom half. For those days you want to make more of an impression, select red hosiery for maximum street style cred.
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Dodo Bar Or
Jaeger Ruffled Paisley-Print Silk Dress, $725 at Net-a-Porter
Paisley patterns are made for fall...and tights. Pick up the blue in this ruffled dress by working in slightly darker blue tights.
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Zara
Long Sleeve Midi Dress, $119 at Zara
Team this gray long-sleeve midi with black tights and ankle boots for the office, then switch just the tights to purple for a night on the town.
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ANEDIT
U Check Dress Re, $86 at W Concept
Check, please. We just want to cuddle up in this fall dress styled with black wool tights and combat boots.
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Ranna Gill
Fluttered Tunic Dress, $168 at Anthropologie
Keep the tiered sleeves the focus by sticking with basic black tights and boots.
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Rachel Comey
Upland Neck-Tie Lamé Dress, $391 at Matches Fashion
While shown here with the complementary trousers, we love this fall dress with patterned black tights and black pumps with an edge.
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MICHAEL Michael Kors
Ruffled Knitted Dress, $275 at Net-a-Porter
An ivory sweater dress is like a clean slate. Pick different tights on different days depending on your mood.
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See by Chloe
Pussy-Bow Stretch-Crepe Dress, $415 at Net-a-Porter
The mustard color and pussybow collar give off serious 70s vibes. Keep the theme going with brown tights and matching oxfords.
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Zara
Floral Print Dress With Ruffle, $49.90 at Zara
Wear this Hawaiian-style dress with navy tights and a rust-colored turtleneck (as shown). In a few months, you can always slip on the tunic's matching pants over the tights.
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Esteban Cortazar
Asymmetric Printed Satin and Poplin Tunic, $770 at Net-a-Porter
Mixed patterns allow for a lot of tight experimentation. From red-orange to navy, the options are endless.
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Zara
Checked Combination Dress, $39.90 at Zara
This is what Cher Horowitz would be wearing if Clueless took place in 2017. She'd favor yellow tights and black mules to round out the outfit.
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Zara
Flounced Dress With Lace Front, $129 at Zara
There's something a bit Victorian about this LWD. Follow Zara's stylist's lead and add in black opaque tights along with chunky lace-up boots in the same shade.
