How to Get the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Look: Thigh Highs Edition

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is BACK after a seven-year hiatus, and let's just say – runway hosiery is having its main character moment. Since that last show in 2018, thigh high stockings have gone from "special occasion only" to "why would I NOT wear these?"

And honestly? We're here for it.

If you've been frantically Googling how to steal those showstopping runway looks, welcome to the club. The good news? You don't need angel wings or a Victoria's Secret contract to nail the aesthetic. You just need the right thigh highs and the confidence to wear them like you own the place.

What Separates Runway Thigh Highs from... Everything Else

Here's the thing about fashion show hosiery – it gets TESTED. Models are constantly moving, cameras are unforgiving, and those runway lights? They show EVERYTHING. One wardrobe malfunction and it's all over social media within minutes.

So runway stockings need to be bulletproof: fabric that looks flawless under interrogation lighting, silicone bands that refuse to budge during outfit changes, and construction quality that won't betray you mid-strut.

These aren't your "grabbed them at the drugstore on the way to a wedding" stockings. These are the stockings that perform under pressure and photograph like a dream.

The Thigh High Styles Dominating Every Runway Right Now

Fashion shows worship thigh highs because they create instant drama while keeping everything sophisticated and editorial. Here's what's actually walking the runways.

Opaque Black Thigh Highs: Start Here

If you're dipping your toes into runway-style hosiery, start with opaque black. Full coverage, matte finish, legs for days. They add edge to girly pieces and polish to literally everything else.

But what makes them "opaque"? Two words: denier count. It's basically a measurement of how thick the fabric is. Anything 50+ denier gives you that opaque, matte look you see on runways. Lower denier = sheerer. Higher denier = more coverage. Science!

For that sleek, no-nonsense look, meet CLAUDIA Matte. She's 55 denier with a smooth silicone band – no lace, no frills, just pure sophisticated coverage that STAYS PUT. This is your go-to when you want your legs to make a statement without shouting. Pairs beautifully with structured pieces or anytime you want clean lines and serious style.

Want opaque coverage with a little personality? Enter ANDREA – a substantial 70 denier with a floral lace band. More coverage than CLAUDIA (yes, that's possible) but with a feminine touch that adds interest without being fussy. Perfect under dresses when you want that lace detail to peek out and say "yes, I thought about this."

Sheer Black Thigh Highs: For When Opaque Feels Too Heavy

Once you're comfortable going full opaque, sheer black thigh highs offer a lighter vibe while keeping things polished. Around 20 denier – enough coverage to smooth and perfect, barely-there enough to feel effortless.

ISABELLA in sheer black hits that sweet spot. You get the leg-lengthening magic of dark hosiery without the weight. Perfect for warmer weather, date nights, or when you want "my legs but make them runway-ready."

Sheer stockings create that editorial "I woke up like this" effect – they even out skin tone and photograph beautifully without screaming "I'M WEARING STOCKINGS."

Backseam Thigh Highs: Old Hollywood Meets 2025

Backseams are EVERYWHERE on runways right now. That single line up the back of your leg? Pure vintage glamour that somehow feels completely current when styled right. Fashion shows pair them with minimal pieces, letting the seam do all the talking.

The only rule with backseams? Keep them STRAIGHT. A crooked seam is a fashion crime. Runway dressers obsess over alignment before models hit the catwalk, and you should too. Mirror check before you leave the house = non-negotiable.

Not Ready for Thigh Highs? We Get It

If thigh highs feel like advanced-level hosiery (fair!), black tights give you similar effects with less commitment. CRISTINA offers sheer black coverage in tights form – easier to style, no band placement anxiety, same elevated look.

For backseam lovers who want the full-leg experience, BETTINA gives you that seam from waist to toe in sheer black tights. Same vintage glamour, different format. Sometimes runways actually prefer the continuous line that tights create.

How Fashion Shows Actually Style Thigh Highs (Steal These Ideas)

Runway styling teaches the difference between "wow, gorgeous" and "um, is she wearing pants?"

With Blazers: The Power Move

Runways are OBSESSED with pairing thigh highs with menswear pieces. Oversized blazers, tailored shorts, crisp button-ups. The contrast between ultra-feminine hosiery and masculine tailoring? Chef's kiss. Very high-fashion, very "I know exactly what I'm doing."

Pro tip: Keep your thigh highs simple here. Classic opaque black with a solid band (hello, CLAUDIA). The contrast is the statement – you don't need extra embellishment fighting for attention.

Under Slit Dresses: Where Thigh Highs SHINE

This is THE runway styling trick, and it's devastatingly effective. A dress with a high slit + beautiful thigh highs = your legs become the entire focal point. When you walk, sit, or basically move at all, the slit reveals the stocking detail. Sophisticated. Eye-catching. Utterly intentional.

The magic is in the proportion. Runways typically show 2-4 inches of thigh between the slit and the stocking band. Not too much (looks unfinished), not too little (feels cramped). That sweet spot creates the most elegant, leg-lengthening line possible.

Works with both opaque and sheer depending on your vibe. Opaque = high drama and definition. Sheer = lighter, more subtle, but still impossibly chic.

Tights and Stockings Without Pants: Yes, Really

Plot twist: The fastest-growing trend isn't thigh highs under something – it's thigh highs AS the something. Just tights, a top or bodysuit, and the confidence of someone who knows they look incredible.

Celebrities are pushing this HARD, and it's spreading worldwide. The styling works because high-quality opaque thigh highs provide substantial coverage – they're not flimsy 90s pantyhose. When you're wearing 50+ denier stockings, they read almost like pants themselves, especially with an oversized blazer or long coat.

And here's the kicker: you don't need over-the-knee boots to pull this off. The thigh highs ARE the statement. Add patent pumps, ankle boots, even loafers depending on your destination and desired vibe.

Is it bold? Absolutely. Is it becoming mainstream enough to spot on city streets? Also yes. Start with opaque black thigh highs, keep everything else relatively simple – blazer, bodysuit, structured coat – and you've got a look that stops traffic for all the right reasons.

With Garters & Suspender Belts: Full Vintage Glamour

Some fashion shows go completely retro with visible garter belts holding up thigh highs. This works on runways because everything else stays minimal – the garters ARE the statement.

In real life? Treat visible garters like major statement jewelry. When they're showing, everything else needs to be streamlined and classic. It's a strong look that demands commitment and a relatively simple canvas to really work.

What Actually Matters When Shopping for Runway-Quality Thigh Highs

Not all thigh highs are created equal. Here's what separates the runway-worthy from the "why did I buy these?"

Silicone Bands: No Compromises

Fashion show thigh highs survive constant movement, quick changes, and marathon wear sessions. That requires SERIOUS silicone grip bands – 2-3 centimeters wide minimum, multiple rows of grips. Thin bands with wimpy silicone will betray you. Guaranteed.

Good bands feel slightly tacky when you touch them and grip immediately when you pull them on. If they're smooth or slippery? They won't perform when you need them most (which is always).

Fabric That Photographs Well

Cheap stockings show their flaws under any decent lighting – visible texture, uneven sheerness, weird shimmer. Runway hosiery looks impeccable under those brutal lights because the fabric quality is THERE.

Look for matte finishes and rich, consistent color. The fabric should feel smooth and substantial, never flimsy or scratchy. If it feels cheap in your hands, it'll look cheap on your legs.

Construction That Survives Real Life

Runway thigh highs can't run mid-show. Period. That means reinforced toes, solid seams, materials that can handle stress without falling apart.

Better strategy: fewer pairs of quality thigh highs than a drawer full of cheap ones that won't last past their third wear. Runway-quality stockings should survive many wears with proper care, making them the smarter investment anyway.

Sizing: Get This Right

Fashion shows fit every model precisely for their hosiery. You deserve the same attention. Measure your thighs where the bands will sit. Check sizing charts. Between sizes? Consider your height – taller women often need to size up even when measurements suggest otherwise.

Why VienneMilano Gets It

Creating runway-worthy thigh highs means understanding what hosiery needs to deliver under pressure. Multi-row silicone bands that refuse to quit. Premium fabrics that look camera-ready. Construction that doesn't fall apart when life happens.

Whether it's CLAUDIA Matte for sleek opaque sophistication, ANDREA for substantial 70 denier coverage with lace personality, or ISABELLA for sheer elegance, the mission stays consistent: thigh highs that look and perform like what's happening backstage at major fashion shows.

Making Runway Style Work IRL

Fashion shows inspire – they don't write your daily dress code. Making runway-inspired thigh highs work in actual life means adapting the styling to your reality while keeping the quality and intention.

Start classic: opaque black with solid or lace bands. These work with the most outfits and feel appropriate for the most situations. Once you're comfortable? Experiment with sheers, backseams, bolder moves.

Watch proportions. When thigh highs are visible, balance with more coverage elsewhere. Visible bands + structured blazer + shorts = yes. Same bands + crop top + mini skirt = probably too much unless you're literally on a runway.

Most importantly? COMMIT. Thigh highs you're constantly adjusting or second-guessing will never look as good as ones you wear with confidence. Fashion show models own their looks because they trust everything fits and will stay put. You can achieve the same energy by investing in quality and checking yourself before you walk out the door.

Your Runway Moment Awaits

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show returning after seven years proves runway glamour never really goes out of style. You don't need a literal runway to capture that polished, show-stopping aesthetic. You need thigh highs that perform like runway pieces, styled with the same attention to detail and proportion that makes fashion shows so visually magnetic.

Get those elements right? People will absolutely wonder if you just walked off a runway. And honestly? Let them wonder.