This Is The £7 Party Hack Every Celebrity Is Depending On Right Now

Sheer tights are back, and here are the very best pairs which won't rip on first wear.

As we inch ever closer to Christmas, I'm slightly losing the enthusiasm to even think about how to dress for parties. Perhaps you feel the same way – slightly nauseous at the sight of a sequin – or perhaps you're waiting to unveil your most outlandish look yet at the annual family gathering. Either way, what I can happily tell you is that there's an accessory which might make your life easier and might even make you (and me) look forward to getting dressed up. Sheer tights, while nothing new, are enjoying something of a comeback, and every well-dressed celebrity at the moment has something to share in terms of how to employ them to greatest effect.

I noticed it at the Fashion Awards at the beginning of this month, where the red carpet was inundated with sheer tights. While the fashion world has previously baulked at the thought of anything other than a bare leg, even in positively Baltic temperatures, this year was a very different story. Stella McCartney, Alexa Chung and even Rihanna were showing off their stockings and, as various other A-list events have been taking place in recent weeks, I can tell you they're not the only ones; everyone from Lila Moss and Hailey Bieber to Chloë Sevigny and Anna Kendrick has been pulling on their tights, too.

According to Net-a-Porter, customer searches for ‘sheer tights’ have increased by 429% in the last three months, proving that us mere mortals are also shopping for these leg-warmers at the moment. Heist – the brand responsible for a pair of tights so good I wrote an entire article on the subject – says that sales of its 15 denier sheer tights are up 37% compared to last year, while its Contour Shaping Sheer Tights currently account for 21% of all sheer tights sales.

If you need further proof, Camille Charriere has just collaborated with Swedish Stockings on a collection of translucent tights, all of which boast an on-trend 30 denier. I asked her why she thinks sheer tights are so prolific right now. 'I want to believe it’s because people are trying to increase the lease of life of their clothes and learn how to actually style the pieces in their wardrobe, instead of wanting something new all the time,' Charriere says. 'Sheer tights add so much to a look, they can be elegant or sexy but also playful and impactful. They also put the fun in functional because you can really play around with layers, adding colour, texture, print, to an otherwise classic look, or just use a pair of classic black 30 denier to pair your summer dress with a cardigan and winter loafers. And, even if you are only catching a glimpse of an ankle peeking out of a coat, it’s still so nice to catch that extra layer. It feels intentional.'

While the classic black tights feel quite safe, Charriere's collection includes coloured pairs and even semi-sheer animal print tights. Even for tight-phobes, though, she has some advice on how to make them work. 'Start with black, you can’t go wrong. Ever. Channel chic Parisienne style with a LBD or style with a sun dress for a more retro feel. Tailored shorts and heels will also work for the '90s-obsessed girlies. Once you’ve mastered that and realised how easy it is, I think it’s time to venture into playful territory. It could be a light sparkle,  a rich burgundy, or even a fun animal print like what I designed with Swedish Stockings, but honestly its like picking a nail colour: it’s so personal. The key is to find joy in it. You are doing this for yourself, to add a little cheer to your silhouette during gloomy season. I find tights to be a great conversation starter, strangers always come and ask about mine.'

Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times, Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter. But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person.