We came across this photo of Gwen Stefani today. Usually, she can do no wrong in our style books, but we’re not too sure about these white tights. What do you think? [NYC, 9/12/09]

Are you on Twitter and looking for more followers? Take your tweet campaign to the streets with these “Follow Me” knee-high socks created by Tel Aviv design team Gabby and Tal. With this Twitter faux tattoo, the invite and bird will encourage prospective followers to add you to their list. Of course, it’s also possible you’ll draw some attention from suitors who think you’re in the market for a stalker, not a Twitter groupie. But that’s a fashionista risk you’ll have to take. [NOTCOT]

We’re loving the continuous line of Reese Witherspoon‘s gray tights (click to find a pair of your own) and shoes. She bucked the black tights trend while promoting her new Avon fragrance, “In Bloom,” on “Good Morning America.” [NYC, 10/28/09]

Not everyone enjoys dressing in costume for Halloween, but that doesn’t you need to be a total Debbie Downer and wear your normal clothes on Saturday, either. Jewelry of the spider, bat, or vampire varieties is the easiest way to acknowledge it’s Oct. 31 without donning a full-on costume.

If you’d like to take things up a notch without putting on a “sexy fill-in-the-blank” outfit, go for these spider knee highs. They’d look great—elegant even—with a simple black dress. And unless your skirt is lady-of-the-night short, only your suitor, perhaps dressed as Prince Charming, will be privy to the spiders’ webs at the top of the socks. [Pyramid Collection via Trend de la Crème]

Run, do not walk to Topshop. Henry Holland—the British designer who is best friends with Agyness Deyn and the master behind the polka dot dress that a pregnant M.I.A wore to the Grammy Awards—collaborated with U.K. hosiery brand Pretty Polly to create a limited edition series of tights that non-supermodels and celebs can afford. And now they’re finally available in Topshop stores.

Opaque tights are a tricky beast; sometimes they’re too light, other times they rip really easily. And most of them have that obnoxious little elastic waistband that lends itself to endless fidgeting. But for those of us who wear skirts and dresses all winter long, they’re a necessary evil. Being a hater of regular pants myself, I fall into this skirt-wearing, tights-needing category. Extensive research has finally lead me to arguably the best opaque tights out there. I’ve tried Fogal and Wolford at $50-$80 a pop, American Apparel for $20 a pair and everything in between. As it turns out, though, 2/$20 HUE Super Opaques are far and away better than the competition. They’re totally opaque instead of that in-between BS. They don’t rip easily and are super comfortable and generally sleek-looking. Time to stock up!

Say hello to Blank, a Japanese import. I’m so into these accessories I found while browsing the “new” section at PixieMarket.com, that I’m literally drawing a blank. Except for maybe an internal dialogue that goes like this: Cute. Cute! Cuuuuuuute. Loving the non-traditional prints of soldiers and dinosaurs on tights, another dinosaur design on an umbrella that makes it look like a piece of vintage china, and a blue and white scarf featuring Greco-Roman motifs. Also available is the Batwing dress, a roomy black tunic, and a leather brooch in the shape of a blue ribbon prize. Freaking. Out. [PixieMarket.com]

This Marios top connects with leggings for those who need help keeping things together. So organized! [HighSnobette.com]

“This winter the city’s most stylish men will have a secret weapon hidden in their trousers.”

No, no, no, get your mind out of the gutter, kids! That’s David Walker-Smith, the director of menswear and beauty of the famous London department store Selfridges, commenting on the fact that the huge (ha) new craze amongst British men is to wear tights (over their knickers and under their trousers) to keep their legs feeling warm and looking trim. In fact, demand for mantyhose has skyrocketed to the point where they’ve developed a line of them by lingerie brand Unconditional that are strong enough for a man at “a tough 120 denier thickness,” whatever the hell that means. And now dudes will get a taste of how expensive ladies’ “accessories” can be, as each pair costs a whopping $114. (REALLY!?) Hey, supply and demand folks, supply and demand. Those dudes must be seriously wanting to get their tights on. [Daily Mail]

We have to take issue with September because, yes, it makes us all giddy for fall fashion, but it’s often still too hot to wear most of it. Sweaters, fine—you can layer and take them on and off. But it’s not like you can so easily slip your pantyhose off when you’re walking down the street. (Or maybe you do. We don’t know.) Do you have this problem around this time of year? Where it feels really out of place to wear tights because even though it might be kind of chilly today, it seems weird that you were just sweating your ass off in a sundress in yesterday’s 80-degree weather? For us, September can often still feel like summer.

While flipping through the September/October issue of Manhattan magazine, we noticed a fashion spread with a model wearing what looks like the nonsensical Siwy see-through jeans. Upon closer inspection, however, we discovered they are, in fact, Jean Paul Gaultier fishnet panel tights, and they retail at Bergdorf Goodman for a mere $135. Can you imagine spending that much on hosiery? They’d better be run-proof and last a lifetime.

Remember how people always used to ink up their Converse? That’s what these cute tights from Scottish designer Hillary Laing remind us of. Simpler times. Get your legs in them for about $30 here. [Kingdom of Style]

We love this image from Kate Moss’ new fall Topshop collection, but the snagged tights give us pause. Since last time we were caught with major runs in our stockings we were embarrassed and had to pop home for another pair, we can’t wait to say, “I meant to look like this,” next time it happens.

Shaving disaster much? Introducing mohawks for your legs. [$88, Urban Outfitters]

I’m all for most hosiery trends, whether it be two-toned, crazy-patterned, or studded leg wear. And I’ve never been an opponent of “tights as pants,” as long as it’s done tastefully. But I have to admit that I don’t know what to make of Wolford‘s Voile leggings/footless tights.

Camel toe has stepped up its presence across America since leggings are back in style and tighter than ever. Instead of just switching back to pants, people keep coming up with ways to smooth things over. First, there was the
Cuchini, and now there’s Camel Ammo!  For 10 bucks, you can get a pink camo print U-shaped disc that slips right into the cotton flap in the crotch of your panties, which prevents your lady bits from going toe up. Plus, it’s machine washable! Clever, sure, as is the Camel Ammo slogan, “Waging war on the front lines.” But maybe the real problem here isn’t the fabric lip stick, it’s giving women more excuses to continue to wear the fashions that show camel toe. So, just for the record, ladies: tights are still not pants. [Trendhunter]

Tights seem to be the final frontier in the fashion world, and, at last!, they’re getting explored with Christopher Columbus-like voracity. During Fall 2009 fashion weeks, Marc Jacobs showed some tights with interestingly placed blocks of color and fun stripes, but there are even wilder tights available outside the U.S., like the ones pictured at left and after the jump, which are sold in France.

The ants-crawling-up-your-legs tights would be perfect for a picnic in October. The X-marks-the-spot tights should be worn when you’re visiting your plastic surgeon for a knee lift. You might not want to put on the veiny tights if you have a date with Robert Pattinson, or any vampire for that matter. And the mouth-below-the-knee tights? Well, those are for the girl who has an upper-shin erogenous zone she wants to point out. [The Trendy Girl]

American Apparel’s Coming Soon section shows products that will be sold by the retailer in the near future. Along with an oversized hair bow, a shiny vinyl weekend bag, and a nylon spandex micro-mesh long sleeve button-up, the store is planning to offer “sheer luxe cut-out pantyhose.” The name is misleading. It’s not like these tights have a fancy cut-out pattern in them. No, there isn’t anything covering the wearer’s ass. I guess American Apparel knows what its clientele wants? [American Apparel via Refinery29]