Choosing the perfect tights seems easy, but reality kicks in when you put on the pair you just bought. Too thick, too think, or not sheer enough, all women recognise this problem. It may be difficult, and you may have been fussy about your tights. The fact is that wearing a dress is just too much fun to ban tights forever. With a little guidance and the right information, you will know what denier is best for you.
What is denier?
Denier is the amount of transparency a certain pair of tights will have. It’s directly related to the thickness of the yarns used to knit a pair of tights. One denier stands for 9000 metres of the yarn with a weight of 1 gram. For the mathematicians among us is this the equation for calculating denier: 1Td + 1/9 x tex + 1/9 x 10⁻⁶ kg/m + 0,111 x 10⁻⁶ kg/m. In short: the higher the denier, the thicker the yarn, and the thicker the tights.
How many deniers do I need?
Does the equation make you feel like you’re in the dark? The list below will make the ranges, the amount of denier in tights clear, even when you’re not a maths wizard.
- Ultra-sheer tights: 8 – 12 denier
- Sheer tights: 15 – 20 denier
- Semi-sheer tights: 30 – 40 denier
- Opaque (not sheer): 50 – 100 denier
If you buy ultra-sheer tights or opaque depends on your personal preferences and the weather conditions. You can imagine that no matter how much you prefer the ultra-sheer, they’re too cold to wear during the winter. You buy your tights for a specific season. But how do you know what denier you need at what the time of the year and for what occasion?
Ultra-sheer tights
A pair of 8 – 12 denier ultra-sheer tights are perfect for the summer and festive occasions like a gala. They’re very light and it almost feels like you’re not wearing tights at all. There’s a downside though: ultra-sheer tights are very sensitive to runs. Ultra sheer tights often come in black and dark brown, but tan is also a loved colour among the ultra sheers. When you plan on buying your tights in tan, just make sure you choose a colour that suits your natural skin tone.
Sheer tights
Sheer tights range from 15 – 20 deniers and are therefore suitable to wear during spring, summer and autumn. Sheer tights are also popular to wear under your festive dress. They are still nice and sheer, but give a little more warmth than the ultra-sheer ones. Tan 15 – 20 denier tights may look okay, but this colour can give your legs an unnatural look. It’s better to opt for black, anthracite or another colour that matches your dress.
Semi-sheer tights
Semi-sheer tights are 30 – 40 denier. You still show some leg, but they are warm enough, even on colder days in the winter. Semi-sheer tights are available in many sizes and colours, but please avoid tan. Match your outfit with another colour like black, anthracite or brown.
Opaque tights
A non-sheer 50 – 100 pair of tights is called opaque. The thickness is very strong (snag-proof!) and warm enough even on the coldest days of the year. The comfort doesn’t compromise the looks! Opaque tights are very trendy and easy to combine with winter dresses. Non-sheer tights are perfect to add some colour to your outfit.
Opaque tights look similar to sportswear tights, but the materials that are used to make them differ. Sportswear tights are footless and made of viscose with elastane, while opaque tights are made of silk, wool or nylon.
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