Your complete guide to choosing stockings and tights - Lookiero Blog (2024)

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Your complete guide to choosing stockings and tights - Lookiero Blog (1)

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9 October, 2020

“I’m incapable of choosing the right colour for my tights. Especially during autumn, when the cold starts. I never look good. In the shops, they always tell you the same thing: they try them on your hand and based on that, they give you a certain colour. But I just can’t get it right. I hope you can help me…Thanks”

A lot of you have been asking for guidance on the differences between stockings and tights. And how to wear them. You’re in luck. Mid-season is the perfect time to get out your stockings and your tights and mix them for a perfect blend of style and warmth.

What do stockings bring to your look?

  • Functionality
  • Take the chance to glamourise and remodel your legs and their contour. Or choose to Impress in a dress, mini-skirt or shorts even when you prefer to conceal any part of your legs.

  • Fun
  • Bring out the fantasy of your outfit with colour and daring style.

  • Feminine Accessory
  • Stockings were a luxury item during war times. But the discovery of nylon popularised them, empowering women to take advantage of the first tights to show off their legs.

Your complete guide to choosing stockings and tights - Lookiero Blog (2)
Your complete guide to choosing stockings and tights - Lookiero Blog (3)

Understand the difference between tights, stockings and short stockings

Stockings

  • The classics. Stockings were first to appear.
  • Cover your leg up until about mid-thigh height.
  • Reserve them for special occasions.

Short stockings

  • Thin sock with a touch of sophistication.
  • Pair them with specific footwear because they don’t heat as much.
  • Add some fun to your trousers look.

Tights

  • Sheer, skin-tight garment.
  • Dress up your legs from feet to waist and ditch the girdle.
  • Show off your legs and embrace the new sexy.

How to choose stockings

Consider the thickness

  • If they’re thicker, they’re stronger, but they show less leg.
  • Choose thicker stockings to reduce the volume of your legs or disguise imperfections
  • Understand deniers to talk about the stockings’ opacity.

Consider the colour

Natural:

  • There are almost as many tones as there are skin colours.
  • Enhance the skin’s natural colour.
  • Reach for them in spring and autumn or when you have a wedding or an event.
  • Choose a tone that’s slightly darker than your skin.

Colour:

  • Black is most common. But colours like marine blue, burgundy or green also look great.
  • Feel liberated to combine skirts and dresses thanks to the different colours.
  • Choose dark colours to sharpen, light colours to visually enlarge the legs.

Prints:

  • There are a variety of prints (moles, stripes, flowers).
  • Choose a bigger the print to bring more volume, an adventure, to the legs.

Finish

Reduce volume with a matte finish and bring out volume with a shine finish.

Events

The big question: Do you wear stockings or not?
If you have beautiful, tanned legs, the outfit doesn’t need an extra touch (fine dresses, satin, very tight) and it’s not cold you can leave the stockings at home.
If it’s cold or you feel overexposed, choose a stocking (even reductive ones) as similar as possible to your skin tone to avoid contrast, as matte as possible and if you wear sandals, choose a seamless finish on the toe.

Your complete guide to choosing stockings and tights - Lookiero Blog (4)
Your complete guide to choosing stockings and tights - Lookiero Blog (5)

7 Tips to help you choose the perfect stockings

  1. Fuse your shoe colour with the colour of your stockings to lengthen your legs.
  2. For very high, or over the knee, boots choose the most worn or economical tights as they tear easily.
  3. Be careful not to show the top of the tight if you wear shorts or skirts.
  4. Take advantage of wearing tighter garments with reducing tights.
  5. Explore the many options for compression stockings if you have problems with varicose veins or blood circulation.
  6. Be careful where you sit to not tear your stockings. Choose a medium thickness and be sure they’re resistant.
  7. Choose the right size of tights, by looking at the table in the packaging.

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Your complete guide to choosing stockings and tights - Lookiero Blog (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between tights and leggings and stockings? ›

Usually transparent garments without feet are called "footless tights," though some manufacturers refer to them as leggings. Neither leggings nor tights, however, should be confused with stockings, which are more like socks that go all the way up to the thigh, and unlike tights or leggings are not joint at the seam.

Is there a right way to wear tights? ›

While sitting, hold your tights at the waist and gently gather each leg with your thumbs until you're at the toe of your tights. Next, gently slide your foot into the tights one foot at a time. Pull your tights up, while still keeping your thumbs inside to avoid snagging.

How do you wear leggings with stockings? ›

Point your toe and insert your foot, lining up the toe of the hose so that the seam runs across your toes. Gently pull the tights leg up over your calf and knee to your mid-thigh. Make sure the leg of your tights isn't bunched or twisted.

What color pantyhose should I wear with a black dress? ›

For example, if you have a black dress, then choose a pair of black tights or stockings. There is an exception to this rule, however; if your outfit is darker than the shoes you are wearing, choose nude-colored tights or stockings instead.

Should stockings match shoes or dress? ›

1. What are you supposed to match your socks with? As a general rule, socks should be worn the following way: You should coordinate your socks with your pants, not your shoes.

How do you know if your tights are too small? ›

When you try on leggings, there are 3 immediate signs that will tell you the fit is too small for you and you need to size up:
  1. They're hard to get on. You can't slide them on without a lot of painstaking wriggling and shimmying. ...
  2. They fit so tight, they dig in around the waist. ...
  3. They become transparent.

Why do girls wear tights instead of pants? ›

Unlike most pants, they are stretchy and skin-tight and leave not a bump or contour to the imagination. Unlike pants, they used to be worn with a dress on top. Today they are often worn the way they are in the gym, with tops that don't even pretend to cover the butt.

Should I wear stockings or pantyhose? ›

Pantyhose are the more “evolved” version of stockings and preferred more these days. Though stockings are lauded for the sensual appeal, pantyhose are deemed as the more utilitarian and functional counterpart as the stay-ups make it convenient to keep them in place.

What not to wear with tights? ›

A shimmering top, a fancy blouse, or a baby doll dress simply don't go well with a stretchy, tight pair of leggings. Resist the temptation to be too adventurous with your style, as leggings are not sophisticated enough for dinner dates or other more formal events.

Should you size up or down in tights? ›

Bigger is better

After consulting the size chart, if you find yourself to be in-between sizes or at the upper end of a size range, you should always opt for the bigger size. Tights are typically made small and considering their close fit, it's better for them to be bigger rather than too small.

Are black tights still in style 2023? ›

Hosiery trends come and go, but black tights are forever. They tend to go with everything, and you don't have to shuffle between several stores to find a decent pair.

Should you wear nylons with a co*cktail dress? ›

#1. Go without. If you don't care for pantyhose and you're comfortable going without, that's perfectly fine for all but the most conservative of semi-formal events. (If it's a business event, you may want to ask around and see what the other women are going to wear to be sure you look appropriate.)

Is it OK to wear pantyhose with open toe shoes? ›

According to Stacy London of What Not To Wear, she too agrees that hosiery can be paired with open-toe shoes so long as the shoe is more of a peep-toe. Interestingly enough, fashion designers have intentionally dressed models in pantyhose with open-toe shoes on the runway as well.

How high should stockings be worn? ›

So, How do you Wear the Band Properly? Ideally, your stocking band should be tucked away underneath your pencil skirt or dress. Wherever your hemline ends, your thigh highs should start (or above that!)

Are black nylons in style 2023? ›

The resurgence of black pantyhose is in line with Pinterest's 2023 trend predictions, announced on December 7, which included “Airy Styles” as one of next year's top fashion trends.

Is it OK to wear black nylons with a dress? ›

Solid black pantyhose works well for a formal gathering on a warm day, as it elongates the black look while keeping you cooler than wearing dress slacks. Pair the hose with a matte-finish black pump or flat. If you must add some color to your look, do so with metallic jewelry or a delicate dark-hued scarf.

Should I wear pantyhose with an evening gown? ›

I have advised readers that while bare legs are fine even at the most formal events, hosiery also is perfectly acceptable as long as it's skin tone and sheer.

Is it OK to wear stockings with sneakers? ›

Sneakers and stockings is a fantastic way to juggle work-life balance without compromise.

Do stockings go with heels? ›

Heels. If you're stuck on what heels to wear with tights, you're in luck. Any style will complement your outfit, coupled with a cosy addition or two. Paired with leggings and tights, heels can make your bottom half appear long and lean, adding elegance to your look.

Do you wear stockings with boots and a dress? ›

Wear Your Stockings and Boots With a Dress

A midi or maxi dress with stockings and boots is a chic winter look that will keep you warm all day. It's a simple look that can be worn both during the day and at night.

How do I know what size pantyhose to buy? ›

ONE. Always refer to the size chart on the back of your hosiery packaging. Your height and brief size will help determine the best size to suit you. Keep in mind, that size charts are a guide only and may differ from product to product.

How many pairs of tights should you own? ›

Gym Bottoms

On average, most people do well with three to five pairs of workout leggings, shorts, or a combination of the two. More than how many sets of workout clothes you have, it's important to have comfortable, high-quality gym clothes in your closet that are suited to your workout routine.

Should tights be very tight? ›

Your running tights should fit close and feel almost like a second skin. You do not want them to be loose otherwise you will not get any of the benefits from muscle compression. However, they should not be so tight that they restrict movement.

Why do guys like it when girls wear leggings? ›

Yoga pants accentuate this low waist to hip ratio incredibly well. Being skintight, they hug a woman's figure, showing off the shape of her body including her hips, butt and legs. An attractive woman wearing a tight pair of yoga pants signals to men (as well as other women) that they are fit, healthy and fertile.

Why are tights so attractive? ›

Tights show your curves much better than anything else apart from perhaps a waist cincher or corset under your dress. They're often figure-forming if you go for compression tights, but even if they are not then the way they draw your gaze means that your curves are easier to show off.

Why do girls pull socks over leggings? ›

Well as splitting an opinion as it might be, pulling your socks over your leggings, or joggers is a popular way of bringing that fashiony-feel to your conditioning 'fits. Yes... we know not everyone wants to make a fashion statement with their workout 'fit, but if you do, then look no further!

Why do people not wear pantyhose anymore? ›

It turns out pantyhose sales have been sagging for the last two decades, because of self-tanner, open-toed shoes, women wearing pants more often, and, generally, more casual dress in the workplace. Millennials don't own pantyhose. One article says, "Many people associate sheer with grandma."

Do people still wear pantyhose with dresses? ›

Classic sheer, nude pantyhose are worn with dresses to keep from baring legs, and all their imperfections, in formal and professional environments. They're not exactly a style statement, but more of a practicality.

Is it professional to not wear pantyhose? ›

While pantyhose used to be necessary in professional woman's work wardrobe, this is no longer the case in most places. You can dress in a formal way without wearing pantyhose, and you should not worry about being docked on your interview performance because of it.

Is it OK to wear tights with a dress? ›

While we're all used to putting on tights when we wear our short party dresses out all through the winter, opting for a longer midi dress is another fresh option. For a cool layered look, add a chic overcoat, and for some texture, opt for subtly patterned tights.

Is it OK to wear tights on a plane? ›

They're the obvious comfy choice of clothing for a long flight - but next time you're heading on a break, you should think twice about wearing leggings for your flight. According to one aviation expert, they are one of the most dangerous things a passenger could wear if an emergency occurs onboard.

Can tights be too big? ›

If there is excess material at the ankle, this is a surefire sign your tights may be too large. If the waistband is succumbing to gravity, you may need to size down. There's nothing worse than having to adjust your tights all day long – trust us.

What are the different levels of tights? ›

Denier ranges from 5 to 100. Transparent sheer tights can be found at the lower end of the spectrum, 5 - 50, while anything over 50 are considered opaque tights. For example, the Satin Touch 20 Tights, which have a 20 denier, will be more transparent than the Mat Opaque 80 Tights, which have a higher denier number.

How do you measure yourself for tights? ›

Take a tape measure and loop it around the smallest part of your waist, just above or along your belly button. Next, measure your hips. To do this, stand with your feet together and wrap the tape measure around the fullest part of your hips, just below your hip bones and around your buttocks.

What is my tights size? ›

WOMENS TIGHTS SIZE GUIDE
WOMENS TIGHTS – SIZE GUIDE
WaistCentimetresInches
Small (SM)70-7528-30
Medium (MD)75-8030-32
Large (LG)80-8532-34
10 more rows

What is out of style for 2023? ›

Are high waisted pants out of style 2023? High waist pants are out of fashion for spring 2023 – especially the carrot pants, paper bag pants and palazzo pants. And high waisted pants will be out of style for fall winter 2023/24, too. In fact, the high waist pants were not seen on the fall winter 2023/24 runways.

What dress colors are trending in 2023? ›

Digital Lavender, Luscious Red, Sundial, Tranquil Blue and Verdigris are the color names for 2023. Who chooses the names of the new colors? Names are selected by the WGSN and Coloro color team, before being verified by our in-house Equality Vision Team to ensure a proper translation on a global scale.

Is it OK to wear black nylons to a wedding? ›

Black hosiery are a classic accessory for every occasion – you can match it with your little black dress or just about any patterns. The best type of hosiery for fall and winter weddings is black stockings. Patterned tights are also a good idea to wear to a wedding as well.

Should I wear pantyhose with my wedding dress? ›

There are many reasons why the bride needs to wear pantyhose, but these are the most important: They stylize your legs and figure in general so that you look flawless in your wedding dress. You can avoid rubbing your foot with the shoe; they will protect your skin during your big day.

Do you wear pantyhose under a wedding dress? ›

You don't have to wear anything on your legs but nylons can make your shoes more comfortable. There are pros and cons as tights can be hot (and arguably unsexy at the end of the night) while sexier stockings can be fiddly with suspenders and hold-ups can feel tight and don't always hold up all day.

Can you wear pantyhose with ankle boots? ›

The Do's and Don'ts of wearing ankle boots with stockings:

Do wear pattern stockings with ankle boots - Kick your outfit up a notch by mixing pattern tights with boots. Do wear boots and hosiery during cold weather - stay warm by wearing thick tights underneath your dress or skirt.

Can you wear pantyhose with sandal heels? ›

Here's the general rule: Yes, you can wear pantyhose, so long as the shoe that you are wearing has a closed or peep toe. If it is a true sandal with an open toe, I will stay clear of pantyhose.

Can I wear pantyhose with slingbacks? ›

DON'T wear hose with slingbacks or mules—not attractive. DO get toeless hose (try Hanes Silk Reflections Transparent Sheer collection, $10.50 each) to wear with open-toe shoes.

Why are thigh high stockings a turn on? ›

First of all, with thigh highs, no uncomfortable waistbands cut into your waistline, like with pantyhose or tights. Secondly, when you feel so free and at ease – that's naturally sexy. Finally, you exude sensuality and confidence while wearing thigh highs, which plays a significant role in why they're such a turn on!

Do you do stockings first or last? ›

The most popular time for opening stockings, with 32% of respondents, is before the gifts on Christmas morning. My family always does stockings post-gifts, but I'll allow it. That's the runner-up, actually, with 23% of respondents.

Which compression stockings is right for me? ›

Step 1: Choose The Compression Level

A good rule of thumb to follow is: 15-20 mmHg: Great for daily wear, travel, and sports. They help improve circulation without being too tight. 20-30 mmHg: Great for sports recovery, daily wear, medical recovery, and to manage mild symptoms of varicose and spider veins.

What is the difference between normal stockings and compression stockings? ›

The Difference between Compression Socks and Stockings

Compression / compressive socks are shorter and cover up to your ankle, while stockings can go as high as your thigh. You can get yourself thigh-high compression stockings, reach up to your knees, or wear of hosiery style.

What are the different levels of stockings? ›

Support compression stockings are made available in multiple compression support levels. Most commonly compression support stockings come in mild (8-15 mmHg), Medium (15-20 mmHg), Firm (20-30 mmHg), X-Firm (30-40 mmHg) gradient compression levels.

When should you not wear compression stockings? ›

A compression garment should not be worn in the case of circulation disorders in leg arteries or for those with serious heart conditions. Caution is also recommended in the case of sensory impairments due to diabetes and neuropathy (nerve damage).

Are there sizes for stockings? ›

RHT Stockings Size Guide
RHT StockingsShoe Size (UK)Shoe Size (US)
Small4-56-8
Medium6-78-10
Tall8-910-11
X Tall10-1112
1 more row

How many hours a day should you wear compression stockings? ›

You should wear your compression stockings during the day and take them off before going to bed. Put them on again first thing in the morning. You should be given at least 2 stockings, or 2 pairs if you're wearing them on both legs. This means you can wear 1 stocking (or pair) while the other is being washed and dried.

What does 20-30 mmHg compression socks mean? ›

Compression levels are indicated with a range of numbers like “20-30 mmHg”, which means that the amount of compression will not fall below 20 mmHg and not exceed 30 mmHg. The unit of measurement is called “millimeters of mercury” which is a measurement of pressure, also used in blood pressure.

How do I know if my compression socks are tight enough? ›

Most people generally find that compression socks should feel snug but not too tight. You should be able to slip a finger under the fabric at the widest part of your calf without much resistance. If you can't do this, the socks are probably too tight and could cut off your circulation.

Is there an alternative to wearing compression stockings? ›

Compression bandaging is another option, as it can be applied with very light pressure/support. However, bandaging does need to be applied, and replaced regularly, by a trained healthcare professional.

What are the side effects of compression stockings? ›

Compression socks can cause:
  • Discomfort: At higher pressures, compression socks can feel really tight and uncomfortable.
  • Skin irritation or damage: Signs of irritation may include tingling, itching, redness, or bruising.
  • Poor circulation: Ill-fitting compression socks can cause decreased blood flow.
Feb 28, 2022

What is the best size for compression stockings? ›

Use Our Compression Sock Size Chart to Find Your Size.
SIZEWOMENMEN
Wide Calf S/M5 - 83.5 - 6.5
M/L8.5 - 11.57 - 10
Wide Calf M/L8.5 - 11.57 - 10
L/XL12 - 1510.5 - 13.5
2 more rows
Apr 26, 2022

Are compression tights better than stockings? ›

Should I wear compression socks or tights? If you have a medical condition or if you do physical activities that cause swelling or pain above the knee, then compression tights may benefit you. Some people do experience varicose veins of the thigh, and compression tights may provide extra comfort.

What is the difference between Class 1 and Class 2 compression stockings? ›

Class 1 stockings exert pressures below 20 mmHg and are used to prevent oedema. Class 2 stockings exert pressures between 20 and 30 mmHg and are used in the prevention of venous insufficiency and varicose veins.

What does 15 20 mmHg compression socks mean? ›

The higher the mmHg, the more pressure the socks will provide to you. The levels go from mild compression to more intense styles with a chart that works like this: Mild or Everyday: 8-15 mmHg. Medium or Sport: 15-20 mmHg. Medical Class 1: 20-30 mmHg.

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