L'HISTOIRE: Chloë Sevigny's Tiger Tights, One-Shoulder Dress in 1996
Her wildly pattern stocking offer fashion inspiration to this day, almost 30 years later.
L’HISTOIRE explores fashion history moments you should know, from what actors wore on a red carpet to celebrities who made cameos on the runway. Some are unsung, and some are better known. Each is part of the fabric of today’s fashion world, be it barrier breakers or culture makers.
Sometimes, pictures can say a thousand words. Though it's cliche, it's true. There have been thousands of words written and published trying to decipher Chloë Sevigny's effortlessly trend-setting style over decades. For lovers of downtown New York fashion, a young Sevigny at the premiere of Trees Lounge at Sony Village 7 Theatre in 1996 wearing animal-print tights is one of those unforgettable moments.
That evening, the young actor wore a sparkly, black one-shoulder dress with a small floral boutonniere, and open-toed heels, with the focal point being her tiger-patterned tights. Sevigny has a history of knowing how to clash patterns and colors tastefully, but it does help that everything she puts on looks effortlessly cool. Natural makeup and a boyish bob complete the look continuing to prove that less is more.
It's hard to say this is an example of '90s minimalism when she's wearing a black shimmery dress with tiger-striped tights, but it's an example that the best looks are born out of a strong sense of personal style. Still, she was known in the 1990s for being a master at thrifting, as she set trends by scavenging through discount shops, turning two-dollar frocks into must-have pieces. This look seems to be exactly that. It's nothing super curated or styled, but it's her following the beat of her own drum.
Colorful and leopard print tights have made a comeback in recent years, both in street style and on the runway. Gucci and Miu Miu have championed the trend, the latter of which Sevigny is both a fan and campaign face. Never has there been a better time to embrace the tiger stripe print. To recreate the essence of her 1996 look, shop tiger tights like the wildly patterned pairs available from Wolford, Calzedonia, and Commando.
