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Jun 05, 2023

The Best Editor

It can be lonely being a tights enthusiast. Most people, you see, are either entirely indifferent—the ones who haven’t worn them since their mother forced them into a pair for family holiday photos—or

It can be lonely being a tights enthusiast.

Most people, you see, are either entirely indifferent—the ones who haven’t worn them since their mother forced them into a pair for family holiday photos—or loathe them fiercely. “Honestly, I hate all stockings,” said one friend, a committed trousers lover, when I broached the subject in a group chat recently. “They either dig in, or get holes or pill straight away.”

“So many say they’re opaque, but they’re never really opaque,” added another pal with the kind of bitterness reserved for an unfaithful lover. Further recrimination was doled out to pairs that constantly fall down, slipping to mid thigh when you’re miles from a secluded spot to hike them up. (I’m convinced that this is often due those confusing size charts on the back of many tights packets, where you have to triangulate a confusing y-axis of height and x-axis of weight that, if you’re me, never actually seem to meet.) Then there’s the searing despair that is crossing your legs—perhaps in a job interview, or while meeting a potential MIL who’d certainly judge you for this—and realizing there’s a ladder in your tights.

And yet! I regard a good pair of tights as nothing short of miraculous. They’re the definition of “looks like nothing on the hanger”—funny shrunken tubes, like wilted candy floss—and somehow on legs they transform: Into confidence, warmth, practicality (wear your dresses year round!) and the perfect finishing touch to an outfit. (One word illustrates this point better than any other, and it’s “fishnets.” Right? Right.) Plus, in plenty of professions, they’re part of the dress code.

Tights are so much more than the sum of their spun parts, and yet we so often settle for a scratchy, ill-fitting pair and wonder why we hate them. Which brings us, finally, to some good—nay, great—tights that I’m convinced will make you a convert or pad out your hosiery drawer if you’re already among the enlightened. While there are nuances depending on the kind of pantyhose we’re talking about, there were three key things I was looking for in my exhaustive road-testing: Comfort (did I forget that I was wearing them, basically), durability (absolutely no ladders allowed) and an ineffable quality I’d summarize as “how they made me feel,” which could mean glamorous, cozy or polished depending on the pair.

So whether you’re a fellow pantyhose enthusiast or a longterm holdout, here are the very best tights.

$30

A to F (aka 90 lbs to 260 lbs / 4″10′ to 6″5′)

The fabric

Polyamide and elastane

If you own just one pair of tights, make it these. Ethically made in Italy using European yarn, this Canadian brand’s tights were born out of one woman’s frustration—that’s brand founder, Xenia Chen—and refined using feedback from over 200 people. The mission was to address all the annoying things about traditional pantyhose, like bizarrely short leg lengths that result in the dreaded “double crotch,” bands that dig in and toes that get holes in them so quickly you feel like some clawed beast must be wearing them when you’re not looking. It shows when you try on a pair of Threads tights. The yarn is just the right amount of stretchy and this opaque pair is seriously opaque and matte. I can also confirm that they hold up in a washing machine very well. The real selling point is the waistband, a genius bit of engineering that is smoothing and supportive in a gentle, coddling sort of way—I’m 5″2′, and I could pull the waistband up almost to the top of my ribcage, which is exactly what I want. I also tried a sheer pair and a nude-for-me pair, and I’d wholeheartedly endorse all three.

$85

XS to XL

Virgin wool, polyamide, elastane

These are like the Max Mara camel coat of tights: An investment in a classic piece that oozes quality, and which you just know you’ll have forever. Wolford is the gold standard in hosiery, and these merino-blend tights feel like the pièce de resistance. They are breathable, cozy, elegantly designed—the knitted waistband hugs the curve of the body; the fineness of the knit is the farthest thing from wearing a sweater on your legs. They’re far too elegant to be as practical as they are, but we are very much here for that wool gusset and those reinforced toes. A splurge, yes, but one that will make hauling on your tights on a frigid morning a true pleasure.

$20

S to L

Acrylic, nylon, rayon, modal, spandex

I first discovered Uniqlo’s Heat Tech tights during the Polar Vortex (remember that?!), and they’ve been my go-to for the depths of winter ever since, whether that’s braving the February chill in a dress or layering them under jeans or trousers in the direst of extremes. The technology behind Uniqlo’s entire Heat Tech line uses special fibres to capture the moisture released by your body and convert it into heat, which I can attest holds up even on your extremities. Pro-tip: I find these fit quite small, so size up (and while we’re on the subject, we’d love to see more inclusive sizing, please!).

$97

XS to 3XL

Nylon, polyethylene, spandex

If it’s stockings with some visual interest you’re after—we’re talking elegant polka dots, not circa 2008 neon hues—Sheertex should be your first port of call. From lattice patterns to stripes to argyle print, the brand has an excellent range of patterned tights as well as solids and sheers, all made in the signature “Rip Resist” fabric, which Sheertex guarantees won’t rip. That’s thanks to a patent-pending technology that uses the same polymers you’d find in climbing equipment and ballistics. While I can’t say I’ve tested whether they hold up to cannon fire or a climb up Everest, these tights do seem ridiculously durable, and would certainly withstand, say, acrylic nails hoiking them up in a rush. Sheertex tights are expensive (although they’re often on sale—currently for $67 as a pre-Black Friday deal), but they last ages, whatever you throw at them. Bonus points for a much more inclusive size range than most.

$54

S to XL

Nylon, elastane

Many tights will claim they’re opaque but these ones actually deliver, with a coverage so matte and solid it’s just this side of a light-sucking black hole. (This is a good thing.) There’s something “shapewear for your legs”-esque about these tights, a subtle contouring effect that feels polished. They also offer the kind of opacity that makes wearing a mini (trending this season, we hear) suddenly a much less risqué proposition. At the same time, these don’t feel like footed leggings: They feel super-soft and lightweight on, and the waistband is nice and wide for all-day comfort.

$35

S to 5XL

Nylon, spandex

At one stage in this test-drive process, I despaired at the thought I would never find nude tights I could confidently recommend. When they’re bad, nude tights are really, really bad. Too thick, wrong colour match, a strange shininess that just doesn’t jibe with their goal to look like your own skin. (I felt a new sympathy for Kate Middleton and every other woman forced by protocol to wear nude tights, followed by a strong suspicion that they must have them custom made or something.) That is until I found Nude Barre, and its wonderfully inclusive line of tights across a broad range of skin tones. Not only are their nudes dialled in with the same nuance as a Fenty foundation, they have a “colour matcher” that uses AI technology to help you find your closest possible nude. (If you’re browsing via the model photos, the colours shown there are pretty accurate too.) And they go up to 5XL!

$10 for pack of two

XS to XL

Polyamide, elastane

When it comes to “sheer” tights, I can’t recommend going under 20 denier (the measurement scale by which pantyhose opacity is measured) unless you’re willing to buy a new pair of tights at every wear. I’ve actually never successfully even put on a 10 denier pair without laddering them. What am I doing wrong?! Even at a slightly higher denier, sheer tights’ lifespan can be shorter than you’d want, which is why I love these ultra-affordable tights from H&M, which, I must add, held up ladder-free for the times I wore them. They’re also a great level of sheer, a semi-transparent kiss of colour over your legs, perfect for evening occasions or those outfits where a heavy black pair of tights would look too harsh or heavy. The “semi-sheen” finish of the yarn is elegant, particularly in the black.

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