AS most women know all too well, tights can be both a blessing and a curse at the same time.
The best tights have the ability to slim your waist, elongate your pins, help you battle colder climes and even improve your circulation — but the secret is finding which ones actually work.
Not just a necessity, tights have always been trendy. In the 1960s, after the invention of Spandex, rainbow colours and bright white pairs were all the rage.
These bold styles were perfect for underpinning Mary Quant’s mini skirt and models such as Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton and Edie Sedgwick were rarely seen without them.
But it was 20 denier tights that saw us through the 1980s and 1990s and, with high-octane, thigh-skimming Dynasty style dresses coming back into fashion (thanks to Anthony Vaccarello at Saint Laurent and Attico), 2018 saw a serious comeback of these sheer styles, which are still trending today.
Patterned tights, floral lace and logo styles also have become hugely popular and designs including sheer polka dots have already been spotted on the likes of Miley Cyrus and Katie Holmes.
Thicker pairs work well for those who want to cover up from the cold, and even control their figure, too.
Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry, we got you — here’s our selection of the best tights on the market:
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We’ve tested: Snag Tights
Snag Tights has littered our Insta feed for as long as we can remember, and we finally put them to the test to see what all the fuss was about.
We are converted. Snag Tights *actually* fit — they’re not short and encourage dreaded chub rub, or too long that you have to keep hiking them up. They just fit.
Snag is pretty size inclusive, too, making tights for people up to 6’5 in height, and body sizes UK4 to 36. Its size guide is easy to follow too and determines your size by letter, not by number. You simply find your height, then scroll down to your body size. Simple.
The tights come in a variety of styles and colours, including glitter, footless tights, polka dot tights, rainbow, festive-themed, Merino wool and much more.
We tried its 80 denier black pair and its Polka Baby sheer spotted pair, both in size E (5’4 and size 16), each pair felt durable, supportive and fit all night long while dancing, and all day long while walking in boots. We never had to hike them up, or worry that we’d put our fingers through them when pulling them on and they were a total pleasure to wear. We’re hooked.
You can check out our full Snag Tights review, if you want to know more.
We’ve tested: Heist The Fifty
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We wanted to know if a pair of tights from Heist Studio were really worth the price tag.
The verdict? They’re a game changer and well worth the investment if you wear a lot of skirts and dresses.
Let’s start with the packaging. Our pair of tights arrived in an elegant box with a cloth bag to store them in — a nice touch when you’re paying over £20 per pair.
Heist tights are all about comfort, rather than just style, so you won’t find any seams where there shouldn’t be, which makes for a more comfortable wear throughout the day and super easy to put on.
Thanks to their supportive waistband, which keeps everything in one place, you won’t have to worry about your tights falling down either.
Perhaps Heist’s biggest advantage is the degree of personalisation it offers. You’ll be able to choose between a high or low waistband, with both designed to avoid rolling or digging into your skin.
Also available in grey and navy blue, and going up to a size 22, Heist recommends hand washing to make them last even longer, too, which could be a pain when it comes to time-saving.
We tested: Spanx High Waist Shaping Sheer Tights
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- Spanx High Waist Shaping Sheer Tights, £30 from Luxury Legs – buy here
Spanx is the queen of body shaping and these tights kill two birds with one stone, eliminating the need for any Bridget Jones-style underwear.
They’re a serious struggle to get on, but once you’ve battled through, the results are absolutely amazing.
This particular pair reach right up to below your bra strap (a subtle elastic waistband holds them in place) to create an hourglass silhouette — think flat tummy, sucked in thighs and a more defined waist.
Best tights for comfort: Wolford Comfort Cut tights
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- Wolford Comfort Cut tights, from £38.54 on Amazon – buy here
Dread the overhang when you put on a pair mid-rise of tights? Wolford’s got the answer.
Its comfort cut style allows you to customise the size of your pair of tights, so you can keep your leg length and tamper with the waist.
Put on a bit of weight? Don’t we all! In simple a few snips of the scissors, your favourite tights will fit perfectly once again.
Best patterned and party tights: Calzedonia Sheer Polka Dot Tights
- Sheer Polka-dot tights, £12.99 from Calzedonia – buy here
No one does patterned tights quite like Calzedonia.
One word of advice though: size up, because the gusset and waist are very shallow and you don’t want to stretch out the design by pulling them up too high.
For all year round wear, opt for chic polka-dots just like Kendall Jenner and Katie Holmes — they’ll go brilliantly with a LBD or a plain and super casual, T-shirt style cotton dress and trainers.
Best thermal tights: John Lewis 100 Denier Fleece Lined Thermal Tights
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- 100 Denier Fleece Lined Thermal Tights, £10 from John Lewis & Partners – buy here
For guaranteed warmth, John Lewis’ thermal tights are a winner every time.
These tights are fleece lined to keep you warm in minus temperatures. They have flat seams too, so you won’t be left with any unsightly markings on the skin or toes, either.
Available in 100 denier, they’ll keep legs warm and covered while looking great with skirt and dresses all-winter-long.
Best tights for circulation: Scholl Light Legs Compression Tights
- Scholl Light Legs tights, £5.99 from Amazon – buy here
Granted these tights aren’t the prettiest, but they are affordable, functional and can help with all manner of everyday issues.
Perfect for long haul flights, poor circulation and even knee pain, these 20 denier tights have a compression mechanism that encourages and boosts blood flow in the leg.
They are quite tough to get on and have a scratchy finish compared to our other favourite styles, but the benefits are well worth it.
Best sheer tights: Falke Shelina 12 Den Tights
- Shelina 12 Den Tights, £13 from Falke – buy here
For the smoothest finish and that perfect sheer sheen, you’ll need to invest in a pair of Falke’s best-selling Shelina ultra-sheer tights.
The 12 denier design is like make-up for the skin, and so lightweight that these tights can easily be worn all summer long. The tights are finished with a hygienic net gusset, too, for ultimate peace of mind.
Bonus: at £13, the Shelina is also the most affordable of the Falke range.
Best sustainable tights: Swedish Stockings Alma Ribbed 70 denier tights
- Swedish Stockings Alma Ribbed 70 denier tights, from £14.48 – buy here
Tights spell bad news for the planet since they’re amongst the most disposable fashion items.
Swedish Stockings aim to change that. The sustainable brand uses recycled fabrics and solar-powered processes to make beautiful looking, and feeling, hosiery like these stylish ribbed Alma tights, knitted from recycled yarn made from discard fishing nets.
With a thick 70 denier coverage, reinforced toe and cotton gusset, these semi-opaque tights combine comfort and style, can be dressed up or down, and are made in an emission-free facility in Italy.
For colour lovers, these tights also come in navy, red and wine colourways.
Best bamboo tights: Thought Elgin Bamboo Tights
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- Elgin Bamboo Tights, £18.95 from Thought – buy here
Hypoallergenic bamboo makes a great material for tights that are breathable, naturally antibacterial and pleasant on the skin.
Thought’s well-reviewed Elgin bamboo tights are ideal for the colder months, and fans describe them as “excellent,” “so comfy and warm” and as having “nice thick fabric, great quality [and] very good fit”.
They also come in a lovely selection of colours like grey and saffron yellow so you can mix and match with your outfits to your heart’s content.
Best value tights: M&S Body Sensor Tights
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- Body Sensor tights, £8 for three pairs at Marks & Spencer – buy here
Marks & Spencer’s Body Sensor tights claim to regulate your body temperature, keeping you warm in the cold, and cool when it’s hot.
We’re not 100 per cent sure about whether this technology works but what we do know is that these tights are amazing value for money and great for everyday wear.
They’re super smooth and opaque with a comfortable waist and come in a pack of three 60 denier pairs for less than a tenner. Winning.
Best cashmere tights: Falke No 1 Cashmere Tights
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- Falke No 1 Cashmere Tights, £180 from Harrods’s – buy here
There’s no denying that these Falke tights, available from Harrod’s, are a total luxury.
Made from super-soft cashmere, you’ll never want to take these trusty tights off and will probably want to return to them each winter.
The grey shade is on-trend, and ideal for work or play, while the pair’s elasticated waistband will leave you feeling comfortable and confident that they won’t fall down over the course of the day.
The tights are complete with a reinforced heel and toe seam, too, and thankfully are machine washable.
These opaque tights are expensive, but reliable and should hopefully last you one season to the next. Plus, you might just find your legs so irresistibly smooth you won’t be able to stop stroking them…
What’s the difference between leggings and tights?
Though they sometimes look the same, leggings and tights are two distinct pieces of clothing.
The key difference is that leggings run down from the waist to the ankle and do not cover the feet.
Leggings can also be worn alone or under long jumpers, T-shirts or tunics.
Sometimes made of elastic material, they can be great for both workouts and lazy Sunday afternoons spent on the couch.
Unlike leggings, tights can’t be worn on their own and should be paired with dresses, skirt or shorts.
They come in different patterns, designs and fabrics but they are usually made of thinner materials than leggings.
Are 20 denier tights thick?
The sheer qualities of materials are measured in denier or den. The lower the number, the lower the thickness and weight of the materials used.
Deniers lower than 20 are referred to as sheer tights, which are made of fine threads and offer light leg coverage.
While, opaque tights begin at 30 denier and mean you won’t be able to see as much skin through the fabric.
What are the different types of tights?
With trends changing throughout the years, the world of tights has seen many different varieties and styles, but some are here to stay.
The most popular types of tights include the control top tights, which usually gives the wearer a smoother figure.
There are also the support tights that some know as “granny tights” (although, of course, they can be worn by women of all ages).
Support tights help people suffering from poor circulation because of prolonged periods sitting — pretty good if you’re working in an office all day.
Women can also choose between sheer tights, made of thinner materials as well as opaque tights, which usually keep your legs warmer and are great for winter months.
How can I make my tights last longer?
There’s nothing worse than discovering your big toe poking through your tights at the end of the day.
As a general rule of thumb, opaque and thicker tights are more resistant but if you’re a sheer tights fan there are still a few hacks to make them last longer.
Fashion experts say that running your tights under cold water, placing them in a plastic bag and popping them in the freezer before the first wear will strengthen them, meaning it should make them less prone to ripping.
When washing tights, you can also place them into a delicate bag or pillowcase, to avoid tearing them.
To reinforce the seems, slip on a pair of thin socks before putting on your tights — this will protect them from your toe nails.
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