AS most women know all too well, tights can be both a blessing and a curse. 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’ve got you — here’s our tried-and-tested selection of the best tights on the market:
Best tights at a glance:
- Best anti-snag tights: Snag Tights
- Best high waisted tights:Heist the Fifty
- Best spanx: Spanx High Waist Shaping Sheer Tights
- Best tights for softness:Wolford Velvet De Luxe 50 Tights
- Best patterned and party tights: Calzedonia Sheer Polka Dot Tights
- Best thermal tights: M&S Collection 200 Denier Thermal Fleece Lined Tights
- Best tights for circulation:Scholl Light Legs Compression Tights
- Best sheer tights: Falke Shelina 12 Den Tights
Wolford Velvet De Luxe 50 Tights
Wolford Velvet De Luxe 50, £34.95 from The Tight Spot – buy here
Wolford is an instantly recognisable name when it comes to quality tights: the Austrian brand has been making hosiery since the 1950s, but surprisingly, we’ve never tried a pair before.
Coming in at over £30, in all honesty, it’s probably because this isn’t a price point we’d normally entertain for tights. However, the pair we received courtesy of The Tight Spot has certainly opened our eyes to the world of luxury tights.
These are ridiculously soft and comfy to wear – there was no annoying scratchy feeling on our skin or ill-fitting shape around the crotch, as is often the case with cheap tights and poor seams.
In short: we totally see why they’re called ‘velvet’ as they’re wonderfully soft and a dream to wear.
Our only critique would be that the admiral shade we tried is more of a darker navy than the image shows – but this wasn’t a problem as we prefer dark tights anyway.
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Trasparenze Gennifer Merino Wool Tights
Trasparenze Gennifer Merino Wool Tights, £21.95 from The Tight Spot – buy here
Wool tights: you either love them or hate them, so with this in mind, we tried this pair by Italian luxury hosiery brand Trasparenze.
Made from 60% merino wool, these come in a 100 denier finish, although be aware that they do still have a semi-sheer appearance.
In terms of the cut, there’s a reinforced toe and gusset, so they were definitely comfy and fit well.
However, we’re still not sold on wool tights: they feel quite itchy to us compared to smoother fabrics and we’re not a fan of the ‘stripey’ texture they create.
That being said, the customer reviews on The Tight Spot are pretty glowing, so if you’re someone who likes wool tights, maybe you’ll get on well with this pair.
Cecilia De Rafael Samburu New Chacal 50 Tights
- Cecilia De Rafael Samburu New Chacal 50 Tights, £9.95 from The Tight Spot – buy here
Another pair we tried from The Tight Spot was this coloured 50-denier style by Spanish brand Cecilia De Rafael.
We have to say, the choice of colours are pretty amazing: from vivid turquoise and cobalt to bold mustard and orange.
We chose a slightly more understated khaki and are really enjoying this hue.
The tights are made with a cotton gusset and the overall finish is a soft and matt look that’s ultra flattering, while still being slightly sheer.
For just under £10, we’re really impressed with the softness and overall quality of these tights.
Falke Pure Matt 100 Tights
Falke Pure Matt 100 Tights, £6.74 – £26.99 from SockShop – buy here
Falke prides itself on its ‘125 years of German precision’, so we were looking forward to trying this 100-denier pair sent to us by SockShop.
As with the Wolford tights, they’re more than we’d usually pay, but once again we’re impressed with the quality and think they’re absolutely worth the price.
From the moment of opening the pack, you know it’s a luxury experience: the tights feel nicely thick but incredibly soft.
The 100 denier finish definitely gives an opaque and matt finish which we love, while the gusset structure has a hygienic effect that makes these breathable to boot.
All in all, a supremely comfortable pair of tights.
SockShop Brushed Inside Bamboo Tights
SockShop Brushed Inside Bamboo Tights, £9.99 from SockShop – buy here
We love our bamboo leggings, so the prospect of bamboo tights certainly had us intrigued: the sustainable fibre has three times the absorbency of cotton, making it a breathable, naturally anti-bacterial and thermo-regulating fabric.
A match made in heaven for tights, essentially!
Not only is this pair by SockShop made from 59% bamboo but it’s also lined with brushed fleece.
The effect is a nicely thick pair of tights that feels like a superior option to wool, in our eyes.
We loved that they’re super soft and comfy, with flat seams and a full panel gusset for zero restriction.
At just under £10, these are a must.
Sheertex Shaping Luxury Semi-Sheer Rip-Resist Tights
Shaping Luxury Semi-Sheer Rip-Resist Tights, now £44 (was £73) from Sheertex – buy here
Founded in 2017, Sheertex is a relatively new name in the hosiery world, but it’s made its presence known thanks to its strong Instagram game and rip-resist tights which it claims are ‘made with one of the strongest materials in the world.’
We opted to try the brand’s new shaping tights, made with a 50 denier knit that Sheertex says is softer than ever – but crucially, just as strong.
One thing we love off the bat with Sheertex is the way it makes hosiery more accessible and easy to understand, compared with traditional brands that assume the customer knows everything there is to know about deniers, strengths and opacities.
A handy slider bar on the site allows you to select a skin tone and then see the visual difference between each of its three deniers. Nifty.
Onto the tights, and the fabric certainly feels freakishly strong. The packaging insert (super cute) suggests to ‘pull, tug and stomp on your tights to show just how strong they really are’ – and we have to say, they really do hold up to force.
The supportive control top was smoothing without being overly constricted and the tights themselves were comfy.
Our only critique is that softness is slightly sacrificed in order for Sheertex to be so sturdy – this means that if you have thighs that touch, you’ll probably get that friction sound as you walk.
But hey: no rips, nevertheless!
Snag Tights
- Snag Tights, from £6.99 – buy here
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. The tights *actually* fit — they’re not short, so they don’t encourage dreaded chub rub, or too long so 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. There is 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), and 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.
Heist The Fifty
- The Fifty, £28 from Heist – Heist the Fifty
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 them super easy to put on and ideal for wearing throughout the day.
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.
Spanx High Waist Shaping Sheer Tights
- Spanx High Waist Shaping Sheer Tights, now £22.49 (was £29.99) from Love Shapewear – 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.
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, skirts 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 control top tights, which usually give the wearer a smoother figure.
There are also 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 of sitting — pretty good if you’re working in an office all day.
You 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 seams, slip on a pair of thin socks before putting on your tights — this will protect them from your toenails.
How to fix a snag in my tights
Nails and delicate tights are often a recipe for disaster: we’ve all been there.
However, if you notice a snag in your tights and want to do some damage control before it turns into a full-on rip, it’s super easy to fix the problem.
A snag will appear as dark lines in your tights: all you need to do when you spot one is to very gently pull on the sides and rub ever so slightly.
The snag will disappear, as if by magic! If it’s a hole that you’re dealing with, then one of the best tips to stop it from running is to dab a bit of clear nail varnish onto the edge to ‘seal’ it.
Once it’s dry, you can even sew a few stitches in a similar coloured thread to close the hole and get some more wear out of your tights.
