How long have men been wearing tights?
Tights were probably invented by men. They were certainly worn by them for a long time as any look at historical paintings will show – think Henry VIII!
I don’t think there was any point when men stopped wearing tights. Fashion changes of course, but men have continued to wear them.
Some of the world’s leading hosiery brands, (Wolford, Falke, Kunert etc.) have all made and marketed tights for men at different times.
What is happening more recently is that some of the stigma and worry that some men have had about wearing tights is starting to go. For example, a really popular street fashion look is to wear compression or running tights under shorts. This is starting to cross over into mainstream fashion.
What do you see as the benefits of men wearing tights? Well the main benefit of wearing tights is that they keep your legs warm. Tights are much better fitting than traditional men’s long johns and are not so bulky and uncomfortable. Plus the options and choice of tights available is much more extensive, and there is a much wider choice of fabric and denier than long johns. It is interesting that long johns being marketed now (see the ranges at Marks & Spencer and Uniqlo for example) now closely resemble footless tights. The other benefits are that tights provide support for the legs. If you choose support tights then this benefit is enhanced further. So they are perfect for men who spend long periods on their feet or sitting down. Of course a further benefit is that they feel good to wear!
In your opinion, what does the future hold for men’s tights?
It seems clear that the overall trend now is for men’s tights to become more visible and acceptable. This can be seen in the wide range of fashion designers who are styling tights with shorts in men’s collections. There is actually a blog called Men Wearing Tights Under Shorts that documents this.
I think the other thing we will see is more and more hosiery retailers marketing tights to men. They all know that men are an important segment of their customer market and it makes sense to ensure men’s needs are addressed.
There are now several hosiery brands making tights specifically for men. These brands include Glamory, Adrian, Comfort4Men and others. It is likely that we will see their ranges expand further.
What difference do various deniers make when men wear tights?
It’s perhaps useful to explain what is meant by ‘denier’. Technically denier relates to the weight (i.e. thickness) of the yarn from which hosiery is woven, one denier means that 9,000 metres of yarn weighs 1 gram. Generally the lower the denier, the sheerer the appearance and the more fragile the tights.
Hosiery retailers and manufacturers use terms such sheer tights, ultra sheer tights, opaque tights and thick tights.
Sheer tights are usually 5 – 20 denier. Semi-opaque tights are usually 20 – 40 denier. 40 – 70 denier tights are usually described as opaque. Tights described as 70 – 250 denier are often described as thick or super opaque.
Generally then, higher opaque tights will be warmer and thicker.
If men wear sheer tights it is likely that leg hair will show through and this is generally not an attractive look. However, if they are worn under trousers then this isn’t an issue. Some of the shinier sheer tights are good to wear under trousers as they prevent chafing and feel really good.
Opaque tights are best when you want to keep legs warm and comfortable. Choosing a higher denier tight is also good if you want to wear them under shorts as this will hide leg hair and provide a nice smooth, even appearance.
What styles do you predict to be big in 2016? Generally, it seems that patterned tights are becoming more and more popular. However, men will tend to go for plain opaque styles and I don’t really see that changing this year. 
Which tights do you recommend for this time of year? Autumn and winter is the perfect time to wear tights. When the weather is cool and damp, I recommend opaque or semi-opaque tights. The range at Tights Tights Tights is really good and I suggest the following: The Falke Pure Matt 50 Tights are a great product and the sizing goes up to XL. They have great stretch and fit beautifully. The Falke Pure Shine 40 Tights are also a good choice. They are not quite as shiny as their name suggests. Wolford are also a great choice for men. They are superbly made and have generous sizing options. The Wolford Velvet De Luxe 50 Tights are one of the best styles Wolford make and are a popular choice for men. Nice range of dark colours also. When it gets really cold you need tights that are going to provide good insulation. When the temperature plummets, my first choice would be the Falke Pure Matt 100 Tights. They are completely opaque and very comfortable. Try them when it’s freezing and you will see the difference they make to keep the whole body warm. They are also available as leggings. I also recommend the Falke Warm Deluxe 80 Thermo Tights. These were launched recently by Falke and have a warm plush fabric inside the tights. They are also super warm and comfortable. Both of these Falke styles can be worn with shorts even in the coldest weather. For the more budget conscious the Gipsy 100 Denier Luxury Opaque Tights are a good choice and are available in an impressive range of shades. 
