Sheer tights - yay or nay?

[Morvena]

I usually wear tailored smart dresses to work with black tights but in the summer I feel like black tights are just a bit too heavy and wintery. I would consider the sheer nude type of tights but are they even stylish or a bit old lady, my granny used to wear them and I just think of her, bless her. Bare legs are a no go as I have some thread veins and always seem to be covered in bruises too?

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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 wear them as long as they aren’ttoo shiny or tanned (I’m pale), I don’t care if there a no or not, they stop chub rub and my shoes rubbing and make my legs look better.

@HippeePrincess I’m pale too and that’s what I was thinking, if they’re too tan they’ll not be a good look. Any recommendations of good ones?

Very much a no from me - sorry! Maybe go for a longer midi/maxi skirt if you don’t want bare legs

And definitely no open toe shoes with them!

Just no.

A definite no from me

@AuntieDolly ohhh definitely no open toed shoes with any sort of sock/tights.

The consensus is mostly no then 🫢

No.
Can you really not go bare leg? Tights whatever the colour aren't comfortable in summer. My legs are white (blue) with veins and also inexplicably covered in bruises. I whack on a bit of fake tan and sally hansen if I can be arsed and wear midi length.
If you looked at other peoples legs you would see they all have similar flaws but you probably don't look that closely. No one will look closely at yours either.
Enjoy the air flow girl.

No, but I live in a warm climate and don't wear them in the winter either.

I love them. Nothing worse than bare legs with a “work” outfit!

It’s a no from me - they are incredibly dated these days (IMO).

I wear mostly midi dresses so barely any leg on show and I’d not care a fig if my legs weren’t in the best shape anyway. Tights in this weather make me feel itchy at the thought!

The M&S 7 denier ones are fabulous. They just make it look like a better version of your legs- no shine or "plastic" look

My PA many years ago used to call them serial killer tights I've never been able to wear them since!

Can you go with sheer dark tights? Somehow they are less old fashioned, even though they are more winter than summer.

Get some 5 or 7 denier tights, not hot and enough coverage to be professional. Agree with @WimpoleHat bare legs and work outfits are not a thing - don't care how hot it is!

I'm not understanding all the hate for sheer tights.

Ok, when it's 30 degrees, it's too hot for them. But otherwise, I always wear them to the office when I'm wearing anything shorter than a midi skirt/dress.

They make my legs look nice and even toned, they stop my thighs sticking/rubbing together and they stop shoes rubbing (I hate the feel of formal leather shoes against bare feet).

A good pair of sheer tights don't even look as though you are wearing any.

So just find a decent pair and crack on. Falke shelina in golden get my vote ( I have v pale legs).

Princess Kate doesn’t ever go bare legged. Naice gels never do.

When I need to, very sheer and matt. I try and get round it by wearing longer skirts or dresses or ankle grazer trousers though.

They stop your shoes and feet stinking

Work in city and when I started we were told it wasn’t proper to have bare legs (this sort of advice would surely be totally wrong now!!) so I still wear them - they aren’t overly noticeable though and improve my natural leg!

People saying they are dated dd is almost 20 and her and her friends all wear them
Not actually because they don't like bare legs but so they aren't barefoot with going out shoes on.
It's funny I would have thought they were dated too and rarely if ever wear them but all the late teens early 20's I know do.

I like them and following for the recommendations (I used to wear the Florence and Fred sheer tights which were excellent. They has a very slight sheen but were matt. I miss them and can only find the gloss/shine now).

Wear them. Get the right ones and you shouldn't be able to tell. My dd is a teacher and wears them everyday in summer.

I’m pale as anything and I’d wear tanned tights. I wear them every day for work anyway as part of my uniform. Nothing worse then milk bottle legs makes people look ill.

Sheer tights are chic. I like barely black. A smoky leg!