Tights

What denier tights should I choose?

Denier is the weight of the yarn, so a lower number means a sheerer leg. Up to 15 denier gives a light, barely-there finish for summer and occasions. 20 and 30 denier are the everyday middle ground, sheer enough to look smart but a little more hard-wearing. From 40 denier the leg starts to look solid, and 60 to 100 denier gives full opaque coverage for winter. Above that, 150 to 300 denier tights are thermal styles, often fleece-lined. Finish changes the look too. A gloss 15 denier looks different from a matt one, and black always reads darker than a skin tone in the same denier. Our Sheer Tights and Opaque Tights collections split the range in two.

What is the difference between support and shaping tights?

Support tights put graduated pressure through the leg itself, firmest at the ankle. They are designed for tired legs, long days standing and travel. Charnos and Elbeo both label their support level, from light to extra firm. Shaping tights work on the brief section instead, with a control panel that smooths the tummy, hips or bottom. Some pairs, such as the Wolford Tummy 20, combine a control top with light leg support. Support styles are grouped in Support Tights, and control top styles in Shaper Tights.

Which tights suit larger and smaller sizes?

Sizing is set by each brand, so the same label can fit differently from one pair to the next. Several ranges are made specifically for fuller figures, including Pretty Polly Curves, Glamory, and the Gipsy Fuller Figure tights that fit hips up to 54 inches. These usually have a deeper brief and wider waistband rather than simply longer legs. At the other end, a smaller number of styles come in extra small for petite frames. Our Plus Size Tights and Extra Small Tights collections group these together.

Patterned, fishnet and seamed tights

Fashion tights are bought for how they look, but fit still matters. Patterned tights are usually built on a 20 to 50 denier base, so check the base denier if you want to know how much leg will show through. Fishnets are measured by the size of the net rather than denier, from fine micronet to wide whale net. Seamed tights add a line up the back of the leg, with plain, contrast and sparkle seams. Each style has its own collection: Patterned Tights, Fishnet Tights and Seamed Tights.

Why do some tights cost more?

The price difference usually comes from the knit and the finishing. Higher priced pairs from Wolford and Falke use features such as seamless circular knitting, bonded seams in the brief, wide comfort waistbands and invisible toes, which make them sit more smoothly and last longer with care. Everyday multipacks, such as the Charnos 24/7 and Gipsy Smooth Knit packs, keep the cost per pair down for regular wear. Both have their place, depending on how often you wear tights and what you wear them with.