I have always been an enthusiastic ambassador for the joys of coloured tights, so it is with a heavy heart that I announce my resignation. That is not to say that I am abandoning tights as a whole, it’s just that I’m a little bored of the block colour variety.

I am still a firm believer in the magical and economical ability of hoisery to transform a look, especially in between seasons. Fortunately, there is a whole line up of inspiration with which to spring clean for my sad tights drawer.

The A/W 08 shows were truly a feast for the legs – there was the modern take on fishnets at Rodarte which, although an excellent accessory for ‘slasher movie’ chic, were not quite enough to coax my fishnets out of the dressing up box.

Similarly, the two-tone legs at Chanel might be best left to children’s birthday parties and Mr Lagerfield’s carousel. His lace tights, however, along with those that drifted down the runways at Emma Cook and Chloe are the kind of lace-spun and romantic legs that I am currently lusting after.

Tights like these remind me all at once of,

1. The white tights I wore as my childhood ‘Sunday Best’,

2. Ethereal ballet dancers in enchanted forests,

3. Prada’s Autumn 08 lace extravaganza

4. Spring/Summer 08 fascination with visible lingerie

All four being very good reasons to replace my tired opaques with lace-spun dreams!