Forget delicate opaque tights, there’s a fresh icy chill in the air that demands more substantial hosiery. With leggings having definitely dropped off the fashion radar, there are more inventive ways emerging to wrap up your legs this season.

At the height of fashion right now are socks. Good old-fashioned knee-high socks that you loathed pairing with a dowdy pleated skirt in your school days. Now, with the freedom of dressing them in whichever way you desire, socks have been unleashed on the fashion pack with a vengeance. They, along with turbans and leather trousers, lie on the thin line between making you look ridiculous or amazing. The choice is yours whether you relish the challenge of carrying off a tricky trend or smugly revert back to last years woollen tights confident in the knowledge there’ll be no pointing and sniggering. Either way, there’s no denying that socks are the optimum choice when it comes to updating any clothes in need of a season overhaul.

Prada displayed a soft spot for socks on the catwalk, teaming them with knee length hemlines enabling a mere sliver of skin on display. Burberry too sported woolly socks but this time they were slouched down to the ankle with platform heels. Perhaps not the most practical look for frosty winter mornings.

Socks are flawlessly displayed when teamed with a tunic, the length will sit perfectly above the sock’s finish height, leaving enough leg baring skin and enough cover up in the warm. Winter’s favourite staple item, a slouchy, oversized knitted dress can carry off knee-high socks particularly well. Stella McCartney’s acclaimed boyfriend jumper will remain as a hot look for winter this year meaning there are loads of notable imitations on the high street.

In fact, this is where socks particularly excel. They will cost you next to nothing and have the invaluable quality of transforming an outfit. Head down to Marks and Spencer for a bargainous sock frenzy, you can pick up any length you want in a vast array of colours. Alternatively, nearly all the high street shops have enrolled on their own take on socks. A few of the best include H&M, Oasis, Dorothy Perkins and of course, Topshop.

SJP’s highly broadcasted outfit in the new SATC movie will inevitably fuel the trend. Her stunning combination of cardigan, mini skirt, brogues and over-the-knee socks is bound to be a look to be copied everywhere.

I suggest the best style of socks to go for are woollen, ribbed and just over-the-knee but there is an expansive selection from opaque to leopard print so don’t be afraid to experiment. After all, you can always pull out you old school socks from the back of the cupboard if all else fails.