Best tights: we test the best womens tights for comfort, control, quality and style
AS MOST women know all too well, tights can be a blessing and a curse at the same time.
So many pairs out there have serious power (to slim your waist, elongate your pins, help you battle colder climes and even improve your circulation), the secret is finding which ones actually work.
Not just a necessity, tights have always been important as a trend.
In the 1960s, after the invention of Spandex made tights what they are today, 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 has seen a serious comeback of these sheer styles.
Still, thicker pairs work well for those who want to cover up and even control their figure – here’s our selection of the best tights on the market:
1. Best tights: Star buy
These are, without a doubt, our favourite pair of tights.
Constructed with a seam-free waistband and gusset, this pair sit perfectly on your waist (no bulges!) and feel comfortable even when you’re bloated.
We absolutely love the 40 denier for everyday wear but the 20 and 10 deniers are also great due to their ladder-resistant properties (they don’t have the smoothest finish, for that perfect sheer sheen you’ll need a more expensive pair from Falke or Wolford.)
- Autograph seamfree tights, £6 from Marks & Spencer – buy here
2. Best shaping and slimming tights
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.
- Spanx waist-shaping tights, £28 from Figleaves – buy here
3. Best tights for comfort
Dread the overhang when you put on a pair mid-rise of tights? Wolford’s got the answer.
The comfort cut style allows you to customise the size, so you can keep your leg length and tamper with the waist.
Put on a bit of weight in the winter? In simple a few snips of the scissors, your favourite tights will fit perfectly once again.
- Wolford Comfort Cut tighs, from £25.40 at Amazon Fashion – buy here
4. Best patterned and party tights
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 a leopard-print flock (Made in Chelsea’s Louise Thompson and Frankie Gaff have been spotted in this exact pair) or chic polka-dots just like Kendall Jenner.
- Leopard flock tights, £11 from Calzedonia – buy here
- Polka-dot tights, £11 from Calzedonia – buy here
5. Best value tights
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% 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 for less than a tenner. Winning.
- Body sensor tights, £8 for 3 pairs at Marks & Spencer – buy here
6. Best thermal tights
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.
- Fleece Lined Thermal Tights, £10.50 from John Lewis – buy here
7. Best tights for circulation
Granted these tights aren’t the prettiest, but they are functional and can help all manner of everyday issues.
Perfect long haul flights, poor circulation and even knee pain, these 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.
- Scholl Light Legs tights, £12.06 from Amazon Fashion – buy here
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