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

Hard no

Nude tights do wonders for pale legged people (like myself) who don't want to faff around with fake tan. I also find that bare legs don't look as professional in a more formal work setting. There's a reason corporate uniforms usually require tights - cabin crew, luxury retail, banks.

Agree. It really isn't a great look. And neither is fake tan.

Could you go for nude tights in a patterned style?

Like these?

https://www.calzedonia.com/uk/product/geometric-patterned_fishnet_tights-MODC1956.html

I wear nude tights from about April until October, unless it's really warm. I have legs so white they glow, and usually some bruises from whacking myself on ill-placed kids' toys, so anything that masks that is welcome. Plus, they stop shoes from rubbing.

Thanks - there's some good stuff there.

Nude sheer tights are elegant and make pale veiny legs look so much better. Bare legs in business suits/dresses do not look great and yes even sheer black tights are too wintery. And coloured (shudder) make one look like a clown.

I'm a bit torn on them too (no pun intended), only ones I think look ok are Wolford Naked 8 in Cosmetic: genuinely sheer, matte-ish and pale enough for me. But they are exhorbitant, so ears open to any alternatives.

I like the Primark luxury oiled ones! Look just like your legs but better!

I love a bit of Calzedonia!

In a colour that doesn’t match your skin tone exactly, are too flat matt, baggy, holey, or worn with open toes shoes, no.

Matched to your leg tone tone and virtually invisible, and on smart occasions, they can work wonders and are classy and elegant and timeless. I think there’s more in it for paler people as there are still more shades for pale Caucasian skin than other skin tones.

I prefer hold ups but same idea.

I think they look ok (as long as no open toed shoes) and I agree bare legs aren’t appropriate with formal wear unless it’s really hot. But I find them so uncomfortable that last time I had a formal dress code at work I stuck with trousers all summer.

Yay