Then Hermès and Givenchy picked up on Balenciaga's fall tights-and-sandals concept. And a bevy of stylish celebrities - including Julianne Moore and Jessica Alba - started turning up on red carpets in open heels with opaque tights . . . and, then, well, we had to admit: It looked pretty good.
And that's where things got sticky.
Just try pairing tights and sandals on your own. Patterned or solid? Black or colored? Chunky shoes or stilettos? It was worse than an organic chemistry equation. We might as well have put on our Wigwams or Tevas and headed out the door.
So we raised a hand and asked Eric Daman, the costume designer on ''Gossip Girl,'' how to do it right. The show is the small screen's latest answer to a fashion glossy, and all season he has outfitted young stars Blake Lively, Taylor Momsen and Leighton Meester in a refined designer wardrobe that embodies the show's Upper East Side socialite set. The teen melodrama's salacious plot line is no match for its clothes, with entire Web sites (see www.gossip girlfashion.com) devoted to who wore what.
When it comes to tricky trends, Daman knows what he's doing. After three seasons of assisting Patricia Field on ''Sex and the City,'' he learned to shop with future style in mind. Though he frequently matches open-toe footwear with tights and socks on ''Gossip Girl,'' Daman also knows the look can be a disaster in real life.
Novices should start with a simple peep-toe pump and solid opaque tight. After that, a high-heel T-strap or platform sandals work best. For formal fetes, delicate stilettos look sleek with opaque tights. But avoid this season's popular gladiator sandal and anything with a lot of straps. Monochromatic shoes are much easier than shoes with wooden heels. Playful knee socks are another popular ''Gossip Girl'' look but are a no-no with thin stilettos. ''It comes off a little too kittenish.''
Decide if you're going for a sophisticated or good-humored look. For exceptionally grown-up protagonist Serena (Lively) and her best friend, Blair Waldorf (Meester), Daman uses dark colors and polished footwear to convey their 17-going-on-38 mentality. For a more amusing look, try lighter colored heels matched with textured tights.
Except for trusty black on black, the sandal and tights trend is one that should rarely be matching. Silver Miu Miu platform sandals provided a stunning contrast to the Wolford black tights that Lively donned during a December promotional appearance, a play that works with complementary colors such as magenta and turquoise too. Unless channeling Nurse Ratched, stay away from white-on-white and opt for a white heel with a primary color tight.
Personally, we pair socks only with a trusty pair of running shoes. But like it or not, sandals and anklets are on spring's style radar. Daman frequently outfits the Jenny Humphrey character in small socks and flirty open footwear. To make the lighthearted style work, ditch the sexpot heels in favor of chunkier sandals, wedges or kitten heel peep-toe pumps ''so it doesn't come off too trashy.''
Can anyone rock this trend?
''Not necessarily,'' Daman warns. Done correctly, the tights and sandals thing works at any age - though brighter color combinations are best left to those born post Reagan-era. However, anklet socks have no place on the ankles of those legally able to buy a keg. With either trend, confidence is the clear key to success. ''For any look, it's all about owning it and being happy with it.''
So the Pucci tights you put on Jenny Humphrey - are they for the rest of us?
''As long as you own it.''
No pedi? No problem
Legwear has blossomed into an ''it'' accessory in its own right. Fashion designers are getting in on the trend, with Tracy Reese and Tibi partnering with Hue to create dainty polka-dot tights and cozy cable-knit leggings.
But how do you pull off different tights, with their myriad colors, patterns and textures, in real life? Here are a few tips to help you coordinate the perfect pair of stockings with some stylish kicks. Get ready to cast off those basic black opaques.
* BRIGHT PATTERNS: Bold legwear calls for simple, classic flats. This combo is most chic when the shoes echo some element of the tights, such as the diamond-shaped applique on this pair. Restrict the palette of your tights to two hues: A bright shade with black works especially well. We Love Colors diamond tights, $14 at www.welovecolors.com. Belle by Sigerson Morrison flat, $270 at www.piperlime.com.
* TONY TEXTURES: Textured tights run the gamut, from ladylike laces to cuddly cable knits. A subtle, not-too-thick option in a neutral color is ideal for showcasing a pair of head-turning heels. With platform pumps as racy as these, you want tights that are sophisticated, not overtly sexy. No fishnets, please! DKNY pointelle tights, $18 at department stores and www.barenecessities.com. Dolce Vita ''Mamie'' pump, $144 at www.shopdolcevita.com.
* LUXE LAYERS: Besides adding warmth, layering tights and socks makes for a fun, bohemian look. How to keep things from getting too bulky? Try footless tights, which provide coverage sans crowding. Add slouchy socks in a neutral shade, allowing a couple of inches to peek over the top. Hue footless tights, $11 at department stores and www.barenecessities.com. American Apparel thigh-high socks, $17 at American Apparel stores and www.americanapparel.net. Steve Madden ''Intyce'' boot, $200 at Steve Madden stores and www.stevemadden.com
- The Washington Post
Costume designer for TV's "Gossip Girl"
