To rip or not to rip?

Celebrities and celebutantes alike have been spotted sporting ripped tights recently. The trend began on the catwalks – most notably that of Alexander Wang and Rodarte – and has now made the jump to the sidewalks on the gams of photog fodder such as Britney Spears, Mary-Kate Olsen and Miley Cyrus. However, this is a prime example of how catwalk fantasy does not always translate to fashion reality. Instead of looking rock ‘n roll or stylish gamine, it looks…well, trashy. If you want to add a bit of interest and texture to your legwear in order to make it through the final weeks (or, dare I say, months) of winter, try some patterned tights or the old standb-by – fishnets – instead. Both Spanx and Wolford offer a great selection, but you can also snag some cheap ones at Urban Outfitters and Forever 21.

–Marisa