Please help me find the right pair of tights.

[Waterlow]

I want to look bare-legged for a special outfit, but cannot go bare-legged. I need to wear tights.

What colour would be best? My arms are lightly tanned, but my legs have not seen the light of day since last summer, so the contrast is really not nice strong. Yet I think that trying to match the colour of my arms make look old-ladyish (lisle stockings!).

What brand would be best? I'm a size 18, with a floppy overhang tummy, plus a high waist, so I need a make of tights which come up quite high to contain it all. Most tights, I find, come up too low, or roll down and dig in, giving me a multiple muffin-top effect.

I don't mind spending more than supermarket prices on the right pair (plus a spare pair) but don't not want to spend loads trying many useless pairs.

Please, tights-wearers, advise me!

7 denier will look like your legs but better. These ones are toe-less so you can even wear them with sandals. Colour-wise, sunkissed, natural or nude will all do the trick.

www.amazon.co.uk/Ladies-Charnos-Denier-Simply-Colours/dp/B005CN4S26/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1500706737&sr=8-2&keywords=7+denier&tag=mumsnetforum-21

Sorry these are the no toe ones:
www.amazon.co.uk/d/Womens-Socks-Tights/Ladies-Charnos-Denier-Simply-Colours-Large-Natural/B005CN4NXK/ref=sr_1_2?s=clothing&ie=UTF8&qid=1500706904&sr=1-2&nodeID=1731474031&psd=1&tag=mumsnetforum-21

M&S, because their XL are generous enough for size 18 without getting that roll down effect. Something nude bodyshaper maybe, though there are other thicker ones.

I have not tried the nude type tights but was gping to suggest M&S too. I love their black tights as they are quite high waisted and don't roll down. Plus they are comfortable!

I wish they did the Autograph tights toe-less

How do Bodyshaper tights compare to Spanx? I use the knees-to-ribs ones.

(I love what Spanx do for my bod, but tights and Spanx in August, add a hefty dose of peri-menopause, oh dear, not so good.)

Primark do control top very fine "nude" tights. I had to wear tights to work year round and they were the best I ever found, as well as cheap enough to have a new pair most days when I inevitably laddered them.

I find bodyshaper to give a little bit of holding in and smoothing, but not the full on 'sucky in' thing that proper control underwear does. You can wear both together, but I agree with leaving the spanx at home for an august event.

Thanks Next week: a trip to Primark, M&S and John Lewis.

I've just bought the M&S Autograph 7 denier ladder resist in natural tan and they are lovely. I accidentally bought the size up but they were super comfy!

Oh and I meant to say as I no gut the bigger size I pulled them up to tuck under my bra to give my tummy a smooth line!