Tights have come a long way from the choice between opaque and sheer in brown, navy or black. From patterns to fabric to colour, leggings and tights are now available in amazing variety. The most extreme versions even have pictures or text on them, like these Twitter tights.

Coloured tights have made an appearance on the runway in recent years in an interesting version of colour blocking - wearing shorts or skirts in clashing colours with opaque, coloured tights. We've seen this style on Blair (Leighton Meester) in Gossip Girl, with her signature red tights and Riviera style navy and white outfits.

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But this season, tights have branched out from classic red or neon colours to encompass an entire spectrum of rainbow shades. Anything from emerald green to cobalt blue to blazing white is fair game for tights this season, with no limit on how to co-ordinate them. You can wear opaque tights under shorts and pair them with ankle boots in contrasting shades. One thing is certain, tights this season are meant to be noticed.

The other major trend in tights this season is patterned tights and leggings. Some of these draw on the Navajo trend with ethnic print designs, while others may be geometric shapes or icons, printed on opaque tights or in a lace, cut-out style. For truly daring fashionistas, put these two trends together with printed tights in bright colours, or go for the ultimate trend by layering your tights, wearing opaque coloured tights underneath cut-out patterned ones. 

The great thing about this trend is that it allows you to rock your summer wardrobe favourites a little longer and pepping them up with a little extra colour and character.

Image credit: Simon Deiner Photography/SDR Photo/Africa Fashion Week 2010