Thick flesh tights that look natural and not Nora Batty like

[TeamEponine]

Is such a thing possible?!

I hate my legs. I have thick ankles, chunky calves and so many spider thread veins that my legs look like a road map of Europe

It isn't too often that I wear a knee length skirt without high boots, but if I do I always wear thick black tights. I can just about cope with this!

However, in the Spring I'm going to an event and I have found a gorgeous and perfectly fitting dress, but it would look hideous with black tights and/or knee high boots.

Is there such a thing as flesh tights that are thick enough to mask out the monstrosity of my legs without turning me into a granny?

Preferably not shiny!

I think this is the impossible search, but if anyone can manage it, it will be you lot! Thanks

[SpaceKablooie]

Team, I don't think these exist . But I think that leg makeup does exist, although I don't know anything about it.

On the other hand, are your legs really that bad? I'm sure I could look closely at my legs and be horrified by any imperfections, I just choose not to - no-one is perfect .

[herethereandeverywhere]

How thick do you mean? Surely thick tights make thick legs thicker? I think decent colour (not to orange, not too pale and grey-ish) is more important than thickness, so long as they're not so thin they ladder as soon as you breathe.

I wear the 15 denier 'natural tan' boots ones. They come in 5 pair packs, not too bad on the laddering front but I always stick a spare pair in the handbag just in case.

[WhiteHairReally]

Leg make up. Sally Hansen something or rather is often mentioned on here with 7denier 'smart tights' ( m and S Autograph?) over the top, and nude LK Bennett style courts, for the Duchess of Cambridge 'finished look'. However, with chunky legs, try for a blocky/ sturdy heel rather than a stiletto. The nude shoe with natural tights makes your legs look longer. The chunkier heel makes you safer on grass and makes your ankles look slimmer and helps the 'chunkier of calf' amongst us not to look as if we have tottering parsnips for legs.

This 'advice' however might be all wrong as far as your own frock/age/ style is concerned.

[hollyisalovelyname]

Would flesh colour fishnets work?

[MrsMarigold]

Aren't flesh coloured fishnets a bit 2003? Just buy some sheer ones in a natural tone, not shiny, sheer and thin. Afterall you want to look good. Leg make-up in cold weather a no as you still get the plucked chicken blue look.

[TeamEponine]

Thanks all for your suggestions!

Yes, it is that bad. Recently my sister caught sight of my legs for a distance of a good ten feet and exclaimed: oh crap, how did you get that huge bruise?! Apart from it wasn't a bruise, it is one of my large clusters of veins. It looks like my legs have taken a real beating

Leg make up and sheer nude tights in combination might work! I'd not thought of that. I might give it a trial run at home.

I should have probably said in my first post: mid-30's, fair, a good size 10 bottom half, size 8 top. My "style" is a bit non-existent. Probably quite simple and basic, with the occasional hint back to my old goth/rock chick days!

However, having been all enthusiastic at nude legs and heels this morning, I think I've wimped out already I'll probably just go for a darkish dress, thick black tights and black heels. Boring and predictable, but less stressful and anxiety provoking!

Anyone fancy trying to style me?! At times I feel that I need a day with a personal shopper and stylist.

[Nishky]

I have the same problem, with added bruises on the inner calf from my attempts as horse riding. I end up wearing either trousers or ankle length skirts in the summer. I may try the leg make up and nude stockings. (Can't wear tights in hot weather)

[Annarose2014]

2nd the suggestion of leg make up and sheer tights. At least then it doesn't look like you're trying to hide something whereas thick ones do. I know the Wolford ones that supposedly hide everything but when I checked out the sample in the shop it was pure Nora Batty.

So if Wolford can't make them look natural, I think it's pointless.

The Sally Hansen does go on well - spray it onto a tanning mitt is my advice. You get a nice think layer and it doesn't go everywhere. It'll cover say 85% of the blue veins. And then sheer tights blur it more so you get a totally acceptable level of coverage.

[PacificDogwod]

Gawn, invest some money in M+S tights - 'natural tan' is a good colour and comes in different thicknesses/qualities. Their leg 'support' tights (cannot remember what they are called exactly) hide a multitude of sins.

Wear the perfect dress!!

[IcaMorgan]

I second getting support tights, they are slightly thicker and look great (even hide my huge scars). I get them from BHS or M&S

[burnishedsilver]

Yes, they do exist. Unfortunately I'm not sure where you'd get them. I have seen them on skimpily clad waitresses in Las Vegas. I thought they all had great legs until I realised that tights were part of the uniform. I wonder if you might find them in a dance shop.

[willfuckformichilenstarfood]

What about a spray tan? It hides a multiple of sins x

[WhiteHairReally]

Wear the perfect dress Team! You were so enthusiastic about it.
I completely 'get' where you are coming from about having 'horror' legs, they really do restrict what you think you can wear further up. But, your 'perfect fitting dress' (and your beautiful smiley face ) will draw attention up and distract from the 'legs issue' down below, especially if you have 'blanked' them with SH Air Brush ( that's what it's called) tights /shoes combo.

I have very similar 'horror' legs, although my ankles are relatively slim, which just makes the intricately mapped mega calves look worse. For 'dressing up ' events, I haven't used the SH stuff as yet ( I'm also v pale so thought bronzed legs might look a bit suspect) Instead, I used Laura Mercier Secret Camoflage before putting tights over the top. I already had the LM stuff for a burn scar on my face, which has thankfully now gone. It has two shades of very heavy duty concealer which you mix to get the right shade. It masked the blue/purple grimness and the tights masked the fact I'd got concealer on the backs of my legs and it's pretty darn waterproof. It gave me enough confidence to think about other things anyway.
Good luck! Buy the lovely dress!

[GinandJag]

Support tights

[PacificDogwod]

These - I realise they are not matt, but they'd work. And the colour I prefer is actually 'Illusion', I realise now. I am on the blue end of white skin-colour wise though…

Wear the nice dress, please do - and tell us that that is what you are doing

[gonegrey56]

OP I have this problem with a mass of blue veins on my shins. I use a make up by Estée Lauder called Double Wear Maximum Cover camouflage make up for face and body . Just a little of it covers up the veins, and I wear Wolford tights in shade Cosmetic ( I am very fair , however, so this shade might not be right for you). The combination of this concealer and these tights works for me .

[herecomesthsun]

I have nice ankles but plump legs - I can do knee length but am delighted that longer skirts ending just above the ankle are now in fashion, and indeed extremely on trend! Saves tight wearing, tanning and means I can be relaxed about whether I have shaved my legs in the past 24 hours.

[TeamEponine]

Thanks all!

Pacific - it is DD's baptism, but it is going to be abroad and organised by MIL. I'll be meeting some of his family for the first time, but more scarily seeing some again who I know are very judgemental and open about it! So not only do I need to feel comfortable, I really do need to look good. Still carrying a stone of baby weight, which doesn't help not crash dieting at all!

I'm going shopping with my mum later this week, so I'll look into your helpful suggestions then! I saw a nice maxi dress in the window of Phase Eight yesterday. I'm tempted to just go for the safe option of not revealing the tree trunks at all

[TheChocolateDidIt]

Try dancing tights. I believe they hide a multitude of sins and might be what the Las Vegas waitresses were wearing.

[TheChocolateDidIt]

www.dancedirect.com/uk/women/dance-tights/plume-3pk-footed-tights

[nothingwittyhere]

Search Google for 30 denier skin tone tights. Charnos and Pretty Polly both do these I think.

[Madbengalmum]

Another vote for wolford, asos have some of the support skin tone ones on half price at the moment, they are the best.

[IoraRua]

Most definitely try leg make up. Also colour correcting on particularly blue bits could work - so covering blue with pink.
I would also try sheer tights, don't know much about support tights but sounds like it's worth a go.

[TeamEponine]

I ended up wearing thick black tights as they suited the dress I bought better.

Good thing to, as two days before DD's baptism I slipped in the shower and ended up with a fuck off huge bruise down the inside of my knee and lower leg!!!