How to Wear Tights with Shorts – Styling Tips

If you think you only can wear your hosiery with dresses or skirts, think again. Hosiery with shorts can be a stylish, bohemian, or even edgy look that helps you bring your favorite shorts into each season effortlessly. Shorts are often relegated to only the hottest days of the year, and yet they can be an all-year style staple.

Nervous about how to pull off this chic layering technique? Not sure if this is something that will gel with your own personal style? We’ve collected our best styling tips to help you try this look with flair.

The Chic & Stylish Look

Looking to show off some leg but want the security that a skirt can’t provide? Hosiery can be styled with tailored shorts to give you a look that will carry you effortlessly from the office to a night out. Here are a few of our favorite looks:

The Power Shorts

Think of this as the stylish little sister of the power suit. For this style, you pair a structured, tailored short with sheer black tights, a white button-up, and a matching blazer. We recommend a nice plaid or cool houndstooth for the pattern.

The Sleek Bodysuit Combo

We love bodysuits; they give you a nice clean line and can elevate any look. We like to combine a body suit with a snug fit dress short and then patterned tights or thigh highs for a sexy and sleek look.

Shorts may be mostly relegated to casual looks, but they can be significantly elevated to be worn for all sorts of occasions.

The Bohemian Beauty

More is more when it comes to bohemian style. Comfortable shorts with cute hosiery is a great way to show your style and personality. Whether you’re looking for a cute festival look or just a way to style women's casual shorts, we have ideas for you.

The Cozy Earthy Look

This look is all about maximizing coziness, mixing fabrics, and embracing your inner flower child. Think big sweaters over crocheted shorts and thigh high cozy socks. Or fun patterned tights under an earthy toned short! The name of the game here is blending comfy and earthy pieces that are cute and cozy.

The Boho Chic Look

Looking for something less casual but just as boho? With a boho chic style you can incorporate elements of glamour in your earth mother look. Think matching crochet sets, shimmery tights, and body jewelry. For a more chic look, we recommend layering a belt with a fun buckle with your shorts to break up the silhouette of the outfit.

Boho style is all about comfort, connection to yourself, and joy. This look is simply another tool in your style belt to help you fully express yourself.

The Edgy & Effortless One

Remember 2012? Everyone was all about that cool-kid “indie sleaze” style. Shorts with tights or knee socks were a staple of the look, and this mid-2010s look is back a decade later to show some sass and some leg. After all, who among us was not reblogging these looks on Tumblr?

Rocker Girl Festival Look

Festival looks aren't just boho: rocker and edgy fashion has also started to take hold. On slide 11 of this Refinery 29 piece you can see Olivia Rodrigo slaying this look with hot pants and ripped tights. When it comes to the rocker girl look you can get really experimental with your hosiery. Fishnets, patterns, and bright colors all can complement your look. We recommend hot pants like the ones Olivia is wearing, or vintage high waisted denim shorts for a 90’s look.

Scene Queen

With 2010s fashion being back so is the edgy ‘scene queen’ look. For this look we like to layer thigh highs on top of sheer black tights or fishnets. This creates a sexy look while also keeping you comfortable. Don’t be afraid of rips in your tights either! The grungier the better. We recommend leather (or vegan leather) hot pants and cut off jean shorts for this look.

When it comes to these edgier styles the key is really to try to be as effortless as possible. This style favors high personalization and can be molded to the personal style of each individual person. So show off your edgy personal style and cause a ruckus!

Do The Unexpected

Wearing hosiery with shorts is an unexpected choice that can compliment your personal style no matter how you express yourself. It’s a stylish way to transition pieces in your closet into being year-round, and a fun way to show some leg without the anxiety that can come with wearing a skirt or dress. This cute and flirty style is here to stay, try it out today!