Let’s start by dividing tights into separate categories:
1. By material – tights made of lycra, spandex, polyamide, wool, cotton, and silk.
2. By thickness – ultra-sheer, lace-patterned, and opaque.
3. By color – golden, nude, with prints, or in various other colors.
And now let’s answer one of the most difficult questions for most women: How to wear tights and which tights to choose?
If you’re wondering which tights to go for, keep in mind that there is one main criterion you should follow — the thickness and elasticity of the fabric, measured in DEN. The higher the DEN value, the thicker the tights.
Tights can have a thickness ranging from 5 to 200 DEN.
The rest — color, fabric, etc. — is a matter of preference and personal taste. And let’s not forget that we live in times where everyone experiments with fashion and can wear absolutely anything.
Let’s now take a look at each type of tights!
Super sheer tights are those with a thickness of 5–10 DEN.
These tights definitely look stylish and almost invisible, but in my opinion, they are extremely impractical from a financial standpoint. Even the most expensive brands can’t guarantee you’ll wear them more than once!
Unfortunately, if you want to achieve the bare-leg effect, you’ll need to purchase this type of tights.
These matte, sheer styles are a must for women working in offices with a strict dress code. I should add that the shade of the tights should match your skin tone.
Sheer tights are unnecessary in everyday wear, as they are neither practical nor warm.
🏢 For the office. You should look elegant and professional in the office. Avoid tights with prints or sparkle (it's unprofessional to draw attention to your legs). Opt for matte tights in black, dark gray, brown, or nude. A suitable thickness here is between 20–40 DEN. These styles are light, elegant, and perfectly acceptable in an office setting. Pair them with a pencil skirt, a classic dress, and closed shoes. Reinforced toes will give you all-day comfort.
🎉 For a party or evening event. Here, you can go for everything that’s off-limits at work. You’ll look great in polka-dot or leopard print tights. For an extra festive touch, choose something with lurex or back seams. Gold or silver tights with 10–20 DEN can add flair. You can experiment with burgundy or navy too, but be sure to plan your entire outfit accordingly. Pair them with mini dresses, satin skirts, heels, or ankle boots. When wearing bold prints — keep the rest of the outfit minimal.
👡 Weekend / Everyday. In daily life, you can wear tights with almost any thickness. During fall and winter, consider the outdoor temperature and choose a cotton or wool blend with higher DEN. Combine them with denim shorts, knit dresses, short skirts, and cozy hoodies. Fishnet tights also look great under ripped jeans.
💍 Weddings or other formal occasions. Go for elegance and choose almost invisible tights with 5–10 DEN. You may opt for a style with a slight satin sheen, but the “safest” option is a matte finish. Avoid styles that might show through your dress! Pair them with an evening dress, cocktail attire, and high heels.
A few years ago, black tights were considered quite inappropriate. Today, however, it’s unthinkable to be fashionable without them.
These tights look amazing in grunge and dramatic styles. They pair perfectly with boots or a mini skirt.
If you choose matte, opaque black tights, you can confidently pair them with almost anything.
As for footwear, there are practically no limitations here.
Each season, designers compete to create more eccentric and colorful tights, so we can boldly say that wearing colorful tights is both trendy and elegant.
However, there is a risk of making a styling mistake when pairing colorful tights. So how should you combine them?
1. Combine with colors from the same palette or tones that are close to the color of the tights.
2. Shoes and tights in similar or matching colors look great together.
Personally, I think printed tights are and will always remain fashionable. Animal prints or various patterns look fantastic on tights!
Today, designers are getting more creative and releasing models with floral patterns or all kinds of embroidery.
But again, you should be careful when deciding how to complete your outfit.
1. We recommend choosing simpler clothing to go with such tights.
2. If you have clothes with similar prints as the tights, it could be a great match.
3. Try not to stray too far from the color of the tights when selecting the rest of your outfit.
These are tights that achieve the well-known Lurex effect thanks to the inclusion of silver threads. Lurex is actually a type of textured yarn.
These tights can be paired with a leather skirt or even a wool skirt.
You should be careful when styling white tights so you don’t end up looking like a fourth-grade student or a nurse.
It’s very easy to go wrong with these tights. If you're wondering how to wear fishnet tights, just know they go well only with ripped denim shorts or distressed skirts.
I recommend you turn your attention to thicker and softer models.
Check the label, as each manufacturer provides their own size chart.
| Brand | Description | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Sheertex | This manufacturer promotes their tights as "indestructible", made from bulletproof vest material. Durable, with a no-rip guarantee. Recommended by Glamour and People. |
sheertex.com reddit.com glamour.com people.com wikipedia |
| Commando | With raw-cut waistband, doesn’t roll, practical and stylish design. Recommended by PureWow and Vanity Fair. |
thequalityedit.com purewow.com vanityfair.com |
| Calzedonia | Italian brand offering 20–50 DEN styles, lightweight and cotton-based. Very popular across Europe. |
purewow.com glamour.com |
| Silky Toes | Microfiber styles ideal for daily wear and plus-size, with reinforced tummy area for added durability. |
whowhatwear.com stylecraze.com sheertex.com |
| Hanes, Danskin, No Nonsense | Budget-friendly and comfortable everyday tights with an ultra-natural look. | whowhatwear.com |
| Wolford | If you're looking for longevity, this luxury Austrian brand offers premium quality. A favorite among stylists and celebrities. | wikipedia |
| Other Popular Brands | Nubian Skin (nude tones), VienneMilano (thigh-highs), Pretty Polly, Aristoc (UK classics). |
purewow.com whowhatwear.com |
Select based on material (e.g. polyamide, cotton, Lycra), denier (DEN), and preferred style (color, print, lurex).
DEN (denier) measures thickness and elasticity — the higher the value, the denser and more opaque the tights (ranges from 5 to 200 DEN).
Ideal for a “bare leg” look and strict office dress codes, but less durable — often suitable for one-time wear only.
Match them with clothes and shoes in the same color palette. Fishnets go perfectly with ripped denim shorts or distressed skirts.
Check the size chart on the label, and if you’re between two sizes, opt for the larger one for comfort.