Now. Autumn 2026 officially began on 22 September at 8:05 p.m. Eastern time, at the moment of the September equinox. And in Québec, that is precisely the point in the year when tights stop being an accessory and go back to being a real layer of clothing.
The question we get most at this time of year is not "which ones", it is "when". Here is the rule of thumb we give, and what we reach for ourselves at each stage of the season.
When did autumn 2026 officially begin?
On 22 September 2026 at 8:05 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, which is 23 September at 00:05 UTC. The September equinox is the exact moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator heading south. Day and night are of almost equal length everywhere on the planet.
The date shifts from year to year, between 21 and 24 September, because the calendar year and the astronomical year do not line up exactly. For 2026 it falls on the evening of the 22nd here. EarthSky has the detail of the calculation.
When should you start wearing tights again?
Our honest answer: if the question crosses your mind in the morning, it is already time.
The real trigger is not a number on a thermometer, it is what time you leave the house. A late September morning at 7 a.m. in Québec and the same day at 2 p.m. are two different seasons. Tights solve exactly that problem: they cover you on the way out without weighing you down on the way back, and they go under the outfit you were already wearing in August.
Which pair for which point in the season?
Here is our rule of thumb. It is a recommendation, not an exact science, and it is worth exactly what your own tolerance for cold says it is.
| The moment | What we reach for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Late September, cool mornings and mild afternoons | The Midi Prima or the Mi-Cuisse Prima | They cover the leg without the full layer, and work under trousers as well as under a skirt |
| October, when the morning decides the outfit | The Prima Durables, full tights | The first real layer of the season, sheer and discreet under anything |
| November and the first real cold | The Deluxe Unbreakables | The most resistant model in the catalogue, the one that carries through the whole season |
| An office day, morning to evening | The Deluxe Unbreakable Black | Sarah's favourite, and the easiest shade to wear with the rest of the wardrobe |
| An evening out | The Élégante or Scarlett patterned tights | Lace and pattern change the whole outfit without you having to change anything else |
Do you need different tights in September and in November?
No, which is good news for the budget. What changes from one end of autumn to the other is not the range, it is the length and what you put over the top.
In our catalogue the real distinction sits there: tights come up to the waist, and bas stop at the knee, the ankle or the mid-thigh. Same fabric, same logic, different lengths. We gave that question a full guide, Bas and tights, if you want the detail before choosing.
A pair chosen well in September will therefore see you through to April. That is the calculation that actually matters, and it has its own article: How long should a good pair of tights last?
Which colours are people wearing this autumn?
Black is still the simplest place to start, and it has never needed defending. Brown is the shade making the case for itself this season, and we explained why in Why brown is THE colour of autumn 2026.
If you are after texture rather than colour, lace and fishnet are the strong pieces of the season over in Copenhagen. That is the subject of our article Why are tights the strong piece of autumn in Copenhagen?
How do you make one pair last the whole season?
- Get the size right: your height and your hip measurement, keeping the larger of the two answers. The size guide has the full chart.
- Roll them up the leg rather than pulling them on.
- Wash cold, by hand or in a wash bag.
- Air dry, never in the dryer.
The rest is in our care guide.
Where do you start if this is a first pair?
With the Deluxe Unbreakable Black. It is the most resistant model we make, the most versatile shade, and the one retailers choose to stock. If you would rather compare the ranges first, the Our Tights page puts them side by side.
And if you would rather see them in person before buying, the map on our Store Locator page shows the nearest shops.
