Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Are black tights a no no?

84 replies

SecretRed · 07/12/2014 20:25

I'm going to my works Christmas party next weekend and have bought a black lacy sparkly dress which sits just above the knee. I'm a size 20 with a fine pair of rugby players legs which for obvious reasons would prefer to keep covered. Would I look frumpy in black tights?


If you've found this page in search of tights that have been tried and tested by fellow Mumsnet users, you might find our guide to the best tights useful. Hope this helps! MNHQ

OP posts:
heartisaspade · 08/12/2014 08:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

december12 · 08/12/2014 09:01

Holly, what brand micronets do you wear? I tried some (cheap ones) once but they were like rough, patchy opaques.

NoelleHawthorne · 08/12/2014 09:10

i havent seen sheer black tights in ages.

They were very handy though. OPaques are ok but a bit studenty

Petal02 · 08/12/2014 09:26

Kate Middleton pioneered the nude tights look - they look far more up-to-date than barely black.

KreechasKeepa · 08/12/2014 09:27

Argh! Can I defend the North please? I've lived here pretty much all my life and the only person I've EVER known who wore them was a frumpy 50 year old secretary where I used to work. It's NOT a Northern thing! Grin

KreechasKeepa · 08/12/2014 09:29

^ that's sheer ones, by the way. Opaques are ubiquitous.

december12 · 08/12/2014 09:29

"Kate Middleton pioneered the nude tights look" No she didn't Grin My gran thought bare legs "common" and wore nude tights everyday I knew her.

NoelleHawthorne · 08/12/2014 09:30

the sheer ones are bloody hard though. i cant find an inbetween, I am either ghost legs or american tan

Petal02 · 08/12/2014 09:30

I'm in the Midlands (that doesn't really help, does it?) and we don't do barely black !!!

Tiredemma · 08/12/2014 09:34

I wear 80 Denier Opaque tights with almost every outfit as my legs are HIDEOUS.

Rivercam · 08/12/2014 09:34

I went to the works Christmas do this weekend. Probably a third had opaques, a third sheers, and a third nude/no tights. I think some opaque are much too heavy for party dresses ( and too warm for dancing etc?!). Must admit, didn't realise sheers where a no no. Plenty of them on the dance floor!

( once upon a time, tick opaque tights would have been considered very Nora Batty!)

crazypenguin · 08/12/2014 09:40

I wore sheer black stocking for a Christmas do on Saturday. They looked great! And I have parsnip legs...

andsmileitschristmas · 08/12/2014 09:43

I a bit smaller sized than you with kankles and i wore 40 denier opagues on Sat.

I got plenty compliments with how I looked/dressed - I got mine as L/XL from Sainsburys - there was plenty stretch.

hollyisalovelyname · 08/12/2014 09:47

December I can't remember which ones I got. Try Jonathon Aston brand. Or Falke.
Department stores like John Lewis should have a range... or MyTightsPlease website.
I got nude micronets but was disappointed as they appeared quite frumpy looking. Again I can't remember the brand name. Sorry

NoelleHawthorne · 08/12/2014 09:49

i have never seen anyone in these nude micronets. they just sound hORRIFIC

BigBoobiedBertha · 08/12/2014 09:52

Surely the choice of sheer or opaque depends on what you are wearing? There are some business outfits or perhaps party shoes that look ridiculous with opaques but opaques look better with other things. A blanket ban on either sort seems daft too me. The ones that make your legs look bad are the shiny ones. If you have matt sheers they would look fine. People round here wear both (south).

OP I would go for opaques with your party dress (I am a similar size) but not very heavy ones. You'll look you're like you are going out for a walk in the country than a party. Very thick ones look casual imo.

AmberNectarine · 08/12/2014 09:52

Yes, sheer black tights are back in vogue. I wore them on Friday to my Xmas party. I find them very flattering as it happens!

MrsMarigold · 08/12/2014 09:52

I think sheer black tights look best on city lawyer types, ie with a skirt suit, my GP who wears head to toe Prada and a woman my DH works with who routinely wears Chanel look great in them but personally I'm more of an opaques gal.

Roussette · 08/12/2014 09:53

TK Maxx have a big stock of sheer black tights, opaques, the lot. Really worth looking.

hollyisalovelyname · 08/12/2014 10:50

I see Kate Middleton is wearing shiny tan tights with her LBD in New York Smile

squoosh · 08/12/2014 11:14

Kate Middleton is more wedded to her tan tights than she is to her husband.

noddyholder · 08/12/2014 11:17

I wear sheer black tights sometimes Whats wrong with them? The thicker opaque ones are more daywear for me anyway.

noddyholder · 08/12/2014 11:19

www.legwearinternational.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/or_9791708e125250473921241.jpg this type I wear with dresses etc but I am not young!

december12 · 08/12/2014 11:19

One alternative is a pair of really smart, heeled knee high boots. With most skirt suits I can get away without tights, which saves me a fortune as I don't seem to get more than one wear out of a sheer pair before they're ruined.

More comfortable then high heeled shoes too.

Lweji · 08/12/2014 11:22

Sheer black tights are v trendy at the mo with the youngsters I think. For those of us between the ages of 25 and 65 they're not good. Wear opaques.
Speak for yourself. I'm 43 and my legs still look teenagery. :)

With your outfit, I'd wear either nude or sheer black, because it's for an evening party. Opaques feel day time to me. But if your dress is very sparkly, then opaques will probably be ok.

Swipe left for the next trending thread