White Tights

White tights, also known as pantyhose, are sheer, close fitting leg coverings worn by women of all ages and are one of the most popular colours or shades. White hosiery is also particularly associated with wedding or bridal hosiery.

Just like stockings, white tights are usually made of nylon often with added Lycra, first coming to the market in the 1960s and providing women with a convenient alternative to stockings and suspenders. The main benefit of wearing white tights is the convenience of not having to adjust them as much, combined with the fact that they leave a much smoother line under tight fitting clothing. Most women wear white tights as a cool summer hosiery shade.

Generally, anything up to and including 40 denier is referred to as pantyhose and anything over can be classified as tights in the US. In the UK the word “tights” is generically used when referring to all grades of hosiery. Opaque white tights made by manufacturers such as Pretty Polly, Aristoc and Charnos Hosiery are particularly fashionable.

There are many other types and forms of white tights such as white suspender tights, sheer and shiny, white patterned tights and of course white fishnet tights for the more glamorous touch.

Opaque Tights

Opaque tights, also known as pantyhose, are close-fitting leg coverings worn by women and girls and are one of the most popular styles in the UK today, particularly black opaque tights which are particularly associated with winter time warmth and comfort.

Generally 70 denier and above defines non see through or opaque ladies hosiery. Opaque tights made by manufacturers such as Charnos, Aristoc and Pretty Polly are usually plain smooth knit garments often with a sheer finish.

There are many other types and forms of opaques such as fashion or suspender tights (giving the freedom of stockings with the comfort of pantie hose), dance tights, footless tights and of course most schools require girls to wear opaque tights in the colour of their uniform.

All of the above types and styles can be bought in any high street retailer or department store as well as through and increasing number of online specialist sites such as tights please or my tights.

Here’s our current selection of opaque tights to choose from.

Black Tights

Black tights, also known as pantyhose, are usually sheer, close fitting leg coverings worn by ladies and are probably the most popular colour or shade. Worn every day in the office of for outings womens black tights are the perfect compliment to almost any outfit.

Just like stockings, black tights are usually made of nylon often with added Lycra. The one-piece black tights garment appeared in the 1960s and provided ladies with a convenient alternative to stockings & suspenders. The main benefit of wearing tights is the convenience of not having to adjust them as much, combined with the fact that they leave a much smoother line under close fitting clothing. Most women find black tights far more convenient and comfortable than other types of hosiery.

Generally, anything up to 40 denier is referred to as pantyhose and anything over can be classified as tights. In the United Kingdom the word “tights” is generically used when referring to all grades of hosiery. Opaque black tights made by manufacturers such as Pretty Polly, Aristoc and Charnos Hosiery are particularly fashionable with European women this season.

There are many other types and forms of black fashion tights such as black suspender tights (giving the freedom of stockings with the comfort of pantyhose), sheer and shiny, black patterned tights and of course black fishnet tights for the glamour of special occasions. The current range of black tights on this website is extensive.

If you live in Ireland here’s where to go to buy black tights online.

Denier of Tights

The sheerness of tights is expressed as a numerical index or “denier” ranging from 3 (very thin, barely visible) to 15 (standard sheer) up to 30 (semi-opaque) and up to 70 (opaque). Denier is a unit of measure for the linear mass density of fibres.

History and Sales of Tights

History of Tights

Back in the 1920’s the fashionable height of a woman’s hemline began to rise sufficiently to show more and more leg and the sheer hosiery that covered those legs, typically stockings, made of silk or artificial silk (known today as rayon ) and after 1939 with nylon . Hence womens hosiery in general often being referred to as nylons.

In 1959, Allen Gant Sr. of Glen Raven Mills, USA introduced tights and in 1965 the same company introduced a seam-free version of tights, neatly coinciding with the introduction of the miniskirt. Timing was perfect for a booming market. The popularity of the miniskirt had made it unfashionable to show the tops of ladies stockings and the new seamless tights offered the perfect solution to dress the legs. By the end of the decade tights had almost completely replaced stockings as the hosiery of choice. During the same period hosiery manufacturers started adding spandex or elastane to give tights a superior stretch capability compared to crimping nylon alone. Later Lycra would be come widely used for the same purpose.
During the 1990’s tights seemed to go almost completely out of fashion as women no longer wore tights unless it was required by dress code or office standards. A notable exception to this trend was the wearing of fashion tights such as fishnet or pattern tights usually for social occasions.
However by 2005 the wearing of tights for both business and in particular fashion purposes has begun to increase significantly, once again bringing hosiery back into vogue, especially in the form of heavy denier opaque tights and multiple shades of black tights replacing flesh coloured tan tights.

Sales of Tights

After the Second World War tights were not on the market so stockings were the only fashionable leg covering for women. When tights arrived on he market in the 1960’s sales took off as women discovered the benefits and fit of pantyhose. However towards the end of the 20th century sales of tights had started to fall by as much as 10% per annum, mainly attributed to the increased prominence of trousers in ladies fashion. Casual wear, “dress down” days and the rise and rise of the trouser “power suit” were also significant contributory factors to the decline in sales. The UK market for women’s tights decreased from £400m in 2000 to below £300m in 2004.
Since 2005 sales in tights and other hosiery has been recovering, mainly due to the increase in popularity of skirts, dresses and shorts in fashion. More and more younger women are wearing brightly coloured, fishnet or patterned tights as a fashion statement. In addition the rise of internet retail has helped the hosiery industry immensely as tights do not need to be tried on and can be delivered to consumers easily and cheaply through the post.