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.

Opaque or sheer black tights?

35 replies

Kate010377 · 19/12/2017 20:38

I wear both but have read there is alot of hatred for black sheer tights. I wear nude tights in the summer, but in winter and autumn I tend to switch between black sheer tights and black opaque tights for work depending on what I am wearing.

Am I in the minority?


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:
Trills · 19/12/2017 20:43

Sheer black tights feel like it is the 90s are you are working in an office in a skirt suit from Next.

Trills · 19/12/2017 20:43

*and you are

Trills · 19/12/2017 20:44

Sheer black tights make shadows that highlight the shape of your legs (not just the outer shape but the shape of muscles etc) and I don't like it.

SugarPlumFerry · 19/12/2017 20:54

Sheer black tights emphasise the knobbliness and scrawniness of my legs and makes them look like they belong to an 80 year old pony 😢

thegoodnameshadgone · 19/12/2017 21:59

Have you got good legs? If so wear what you want you will get away with it

CrossFreelancer · 19/12/2017 22:00

I always thought sheer tights are more sexy. I don't think they suit me though. Opaque tend to look better imo

Kate010377 · 21/12/2017 19:51

Reading the above comments i am obviously in the minority and stuck in the 1990s.

OP posts:
Mulberrysilk · 21/12/2017 19:54

Sheer black tights are back.

Wilburissomepig · 21/12/2017 19:59

Sheer black tights are definitely back. Not for me though, as I have chunky monkey legs that need to be encased in the most opaque of tights.

VivaLeBeaver · 21/12/2017 20:05

I normally wear thick opaque tights at work with my uniform but am changing to a non uniform job. Have to say I don’t think 100 denier go with normal clothes as well as with my old uniform. Don’t like sheer tights though, so planning to get some maybe 30 or 40 denier tights as an inbetween?

Trills · 21/12/2017 20:23

The 90s in general are back, it would seem

Gah81 · 21/12/2017 20:27

If I want to be cosy, I wear opaques.

Otherwise, I wear black sheer tights. I like the look - they stop my legs from being one big block of black and, as my calves are slim, they give me much-needed definition.

Also think sheers are sexier than opaques - as most of my pencil skirts are below the knee to full-on midi length, I think sheer works well here.

rightknockered · 21/12/2017 22:01

I quite like the look of sheer tights. But what about laddering? Any recommendations for robust sheer tights?

BusterGonad · 21/12/2017 22:04

Sheer black tights are trendy, obviously depending on where you are fashion wise.

Abra1d · 21/12/2017 22:06

Barely black or dark grey are nice than black sheers.

HildaZelda · 21/12/2017 22:28

I don't like sheer black myself. Either nude or opaque depending on what I'm wearing.

Kate010377 · 27/12/2017 16:52

Thanks for the replies. Will give barely black tights a try.

OP posts:
Kate010377 · 29/12/2017 21:43

Does anybody have experience of Superdrug tights. Are they any good?

OP posts:
Ididnthearanything · 29/12/2017 22:38

Opaques are handy and mean I can wear my flippy skirts with confidence but I am truly sick to the teeth of them and I am ready for a change. I am delighted to read here that sheer black are back! The highest denier I bought this winter is 50, and I think even that’s too dark. I will probably gradually go sheer.
So it’s a yay! For sheers from me. Definitely give them a go OP. Be ahead of the curveWink

BubblesBuddy · 30/12/2017 01:28

Just had this discussion with DD. She insists on black sheer tights for Work (strict Work dress code) but I think Nearly Black is better. She’s 25 and it’s sheer black for that age group apparently!

RavingRoo · 30/12/2017 01:33

I wear opaques to work all year round.

SparklyLights · 30/12/2017 02:07

I think they probably look great/sexy on younger women as part of a chic look but it's harder to pull off as you get older without feeling really frumpy. My nan would wear sheer black for a special occasion. In the 90s they were more 40denier (which on some brands came out more like a 30denier) but not sheer. You would wear these with something like a pinafore dress, thin leather choker, boots and two buns. Or maybe an A-line skirt, white shirt with a jumper over the top and a choker. Or a short floral button through tea dress. Can you tell I was there? Smile

Sheer black (as in 10 or 15denier) were never trendy but 30-40 denier ones were.

Also they ladder like hell on my sandpaper hands. I use gloves to put sheer tights on, on the very rare occasion I wear nude tights, but can't be bothered every time I want a wee.

treaclesoda · 30/12/2017 04:07

I'm a bit prejudiced against sheer black tights because they remind me of Cilla Black on Blind Date. Teamed with a spangly jumper and shoulder pads.

Loonoonow · 30/12/2017 08:48

Unless you are wearing a cocktail dress and very high black heels sheer black tights look frumpy to me, like a very butch prisoner officer or a traffic warden (both noble callings). I prefer nearly black or a nude.

Wilburissomepig · 30/12/2017 09:00

I used to wear barely black tights in 1985 so I think they would make me feel very dated. I'm not sure I could pull off black sheers anymore though I think they look great on young women as they seem to be very 'in' at the mo.