Opaque or sheer tights

[duggeehug85]

Are opaque tights out and sheer back in? It's to wear with a fitted black velvet dress of an a-Line black mini skirt. I'm 34 and in generally ok shape.. size 10 wobbly thighs!

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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

I think it’s weather driven. A lot of time outside - opaques. Inside -sheers!

By sheer do you mean black or a nude colour?

I need help with tights too! Lots of people seem to go bare legs but I don't think I can do that, so I don't know whether to go black or a nude colour?

Help!

I think colour depends on the outfit. Sometimes navy works well too. There is no one size fits all for this. But one things for sure, one size tights fit nobody properly.

Don’t wear opaque tights with evening wear. Wear nearly black sheers. Not black. I’m assuming you are not wearing either outfit to a football match or equivalent! Opaques are ok for day on a cold day but not with a velvet dress.

Bare legs just look cold! When I see women without tights in the middle of winter I tend to think it looks very cheap. Who wants to see all those goose pimples? I saw tightless women in sandals out horse racing last weekend. Why? Just bizarre! They were outside too.

@BubblesBuddy - I agree. Blue legs are neither pleasant or practical.

I'm 33 and sheer black tights still look dated to me. I bought these patterned black tights to wear with one of my Christmas party outfits.

With velvet I would wear sheer, maybe a 20 denier black or nude sheer. Opaques would be too heavy with velvet and sheers are dressier for a night out. And yy re blue legs.

Sorry I mean black sheer tights. I've always just give for the thickest denier they have, especially in winter! I got a pack of 15D the other day so I'll give them a bash!

I've discovered some nude sheers in my drawer, unworn, and have just bought some black 15D sheers so will see how they look. I've got a black sparkly dress, I dont know which will look best, I just wondered what whether anything was a particular no-no, but that sounds like bare legs which I wasn't keen on anyway.

Thanks for the help!

Tried the 15 denier... laddered immediately! Avoid them from ASOS!

Maybe 30 or 40D. Properly opaque look a bit wrong for a party, unless just in the pub.

I had a thinner pair.. 40D I think. It was just to a fancy restaurant. I wore them with my a-line leather mini and green velvet body. I think it worked 🤷‍♀️

I read something the other day that said black sheer with a pattern are the next new thing

Barely/nearly black are nicer sheers than black.

Disagree, Abraid. The barely black ones look awful on me - like I'm rotting or turning to ash.

@duggeehug85 where did you get them from? I was planning on wearing opaques to my Christmas party this week but thinking of trying the sheers now!

I prefer sheer black tights rather than opaque. I buy M&S 10 den in black or nearly black.

I have slim legs and I just feel like opaques make my legs look awkward, like twigs almost (in a bad way). Opaque tights also, to me, ruins most outfits as it sort of looks like I’m wearing leggings under a skirt/dress which doesn’t look nice imo. I think they certainly look more dated than sheer black tights.

@ZootSuit - I now have some from good old primark. Much better than ASOS!

@duggeehug85 thank you, I went to Primark yesterday to get some and will be wearing them tomorrow. Good old Primark, never lets you down!

I cannot stand sheer or nearly sheer black tights, I think they’re the ugliest, frumpiest thing you can possibly wear, sorry. I wonder if it’s a generational thing though, because I remember them from the 80s.

I’m early 20s and definitely prefer sheer black tights over Opaque black tights!