The Ultimate Hosiery Glossary

Reinforced Toe

Tights designed with a reinforced toe are the most common type of toe finish we offer. The benefit of tights with a reinforced toe is that they have been designed to protect your toes and increase the durability of the product so it should be more comfortable and last longer. The reinforced toe is very common on the lighter sheer finished items of hosiery as this will strengthen the hosiery from laddering at the toe. 

Shadow Toe

A popular pick for wearing with open toe shoes or peep toe shoes, tights with a shadow toe allow for a more discreet look on the toes than a fully reinforced toe. A shadow toe design provides a lightweight coverage on the toe area, allowing the natural outline of your toes to show to give the illusion of wearing no tights, yet benefiting from the comfort of having a closed toe. 

Open Toe

Open toe hosiery leaves your toes free, which has the benefit of allowing your legs to be covered with the tights but your toes free to show in sandals or peep toe shoes. The leg perfecting finish of the sheer tights and the bare open toes will create the illusion that you are wearing no tights at all, when really you are wearing tights with open toe shoes - so those even-toned, glowing legs seem completely natural. Perfect for breathability and wearing with any shoe of your choice.

Some toeless tights styles have an elastic toe loop, which helps to keep tights in place whilst others are simply finished with an elasticated trim. Tights with an open toe are a necessary item for summer wardrobe and ideal for weddings or other summer occasions where you want to show of your best summer shoes and also enhance your leg look with tights.

Sandal Toe

When Tights have a sandal toe, the toe area is designed to be sheer without an reinforced seam. This means that it isn't always obvious that the wearer has closed toe tights on, even if their shoes are open toe, as no shadow or finishing is visible. There is however usually still a seam at the toe, which can be tucked under to disguise the fact you are wearing tights at all.

Find Your Favoured Brief

The brief is the part of a hosiery item that wraps itself around the hip area and lower pelvis. The tights brief changes from product to product and is available in numerous styles. Look out for the brief type within the product descriptions. Below are the three types of common briefs:

Sheer to Waist

The denier (thickness) of the tights is consistent and runs right the way through from the toes to the waist, hence the name sheer to waist. In effect, there is no styling to the brief area. This is beneficial if wearing light coloured clothing as no shadow is visible. Also, if wearing a high cut skirt or shorts sheer to waist tights will mean that no shadow would be seen at the top of the legs. Recreate your tights as pants look with this sheer to waist style.

Boxer Brief

A boxer brief means there is a different denier at the top of the tights, shaped similar to a boxer short. The idea of a boxer brief is to create a reinforced finish and to provide greater comfort to the wearer. Often shapewear will feature a boxer brief which gives extra strength to the shaping element and helps give your figure a smooth, streamlined finish. This is common for tummy control pantyhose that cinch you in at the waist for a figure-hugging fit.

V Line Brief

The V line brief is not too dissimilar to the boxer brief, consisting of an even thickness up the leg and increasing in denier in “V” shape – similar to underwear around the hips and bottom. This brief mimics the look of knickers under the tights so beneficial for those who prefer to go commando or, as above, are wearing tights with high cut skirts or dresses. Lots of romantic hosiery or fashion tights may incorporate some detail to the brief area for a fun twist - such as lace, flowers or criss-cross lace up motifs. 

Seamless Brief

Seamless tights are designed with a completely seam free brief, guaranteeing a smooth and flush fit against the skin without any digging in or rolling down. Tights without seams also allow you to wear tight clothing in confidence as no hemlines or shadows will show through.

What is a Tights Gusset?

So what is a gusset? A tights gusset is often applied to the crotch area to give the wearer added durability and comfort. In a similar way to the brief, gussets come in a variety of styles. Below each type of gusset is explained:

Plain Gusset

A plain gusset means a panel is placed in the crotch of the tights that is made of the same fabric as the rest of the hosiery item. The purpose of a plain gusset is to give a fully flushed hosiery item that offers flexibility and comfort.

Cotton / Silk Gusset

Commonly, hosiery is crafted featuring a cotton gusset or silk gusset. This type of hosiery is very favourable due to the hygienic benefits of having a gusset made from cotton. This type of gusset is sophisticated and offers the wearer a better-fit and extra comfort as it's soft on the skin and the natural fibres allow fresh air to flow. 

No Gusset Tights

Hosiery that consists of no gusset is simply finished with a seam at the join where the two legs meet. If you have large hips, you may struggle with rips in this type of hosiery as the width stretch puts pressure on the central seam. 

Open Gusset Tights

The open gusset or crotchless tights style has hygienic and comfort benefits, especially in warmer weather. With this style, no gusset is placed in the tights and the join is not seamed, leaving the gusset open. This is a very popular style of crotchless tights for the health benefits. Wearing hosiery can cause yeast infections for women as the synthetic fibres tramp in heath and moisture - the perfect breading ground for bacteria. Crotchless tights with their open gusset have the benefit of allowing this area of the body to breath and so avoid such health concerns. Wear with cotton underwear for a natural, comfortable feel. 

Suspender Tights and Suspender Stockings

Suspender Tights

Suspender Tights are created to give the illusion of stockings and a suspender belt, providing that sexy edge without the fuss! Also known as Garter Tights, these pantyhose are designed in one piece but is open around the gusset and waist area, as it would be when wearing stockings and suspenders. The waistband of the garment acts as a suspender belt. However the straps that reach down to the ‘stockings’ are attached permanently, which means no straps or clasps are required to hold the stockings in place. Sometimes called 'Strip Panty', these tights could be described as cut out tights due to the waist, hip and gusset area being cut out. This style, similar to crotchless pantyhose, offers health benefits due to the open area around the gusset for a more breathable wear. It's also a striking yet easy to wear style for a sensual date night. 

Mock Suspender Tights

Mock Suspender Tights are a very similar style to suspender tights yet are designed to replicate the look of stocking and suspenders without the cut out areas around the waist. They also tend to have a smaller gusset cut out similar to the likes of standard crotchless tights. Mock suspender tights usually follow beautiful detailing and a super flirty edge to encompass the sensual look of stockings and suspenders, in a handy one piece.

Stockings

Stockings have been around for centuries and it's no wonder. This timeless, classic hosiery style is very similar in design to hold ups, except stockings have to be applied in a different way, using straps and suspender belts. Stockings are extremely popular because of their unlimited sex appeal and versatility.
Below are the different finishes of stockings on offer:

Sheer Stockings • Seamed Stockings • Lace stockings • Fishnet Stockings • Opaque Stockings

Hold Ups

Hold Up Stockings are extremely popular in the UK as they're much easier to wear than stockings and suspenders. Many people refer to hold ups as ‘stay ups’ or ‘thigh highs’. They're usually decorated with a sophisticated welt / cuff, which can be plain, patterned or lace. Hold Ups are also great for those that suffer from thrush or other bacterial health issues as they give your legs coverage but do not cover or constrict the upper thighs and brief area allowing your body to breath. (View fourth image above)

Plus Size Tights

At The Tight Spot we've made a strong commitment from the word go to ensure that our hosiery collections are available and accessible to women of all sizes. Our plus size collection delivers high fashion tights, stockings and hold ups to ladies of sizes: Large (L), Extra Large (XL), Extra Extra Large (XXL), Extra Extra Extra Large (XXXL), 4XL, 5XL and more. Plus size hosiery is constructed slightly differently to comfortably fit extra thigh width and hip width. It's important to pick the correct plus size product so that the item is comfortable and durable - poor fitting products will rip or ladder more easily. Carefully check size charts and features of the hosiery item and consider what issues you usually face with fit to make sure you choose an item that works for your shape. Picking plus size hosiery from a specialist like Glamory will always be beneficial as these items are fitted and tested on real bodies and have been created to combat specific plus size concerns such as chaffing, leg support and waistband aggirvation. We have a large collection of Plus Size patterned tights, plus size crotchless tights and plus size fishnet tights.

The Benefits of Shapewear Tights

Shapewear hosiery can help you create a streamlined and smoothed hourglass figure. It works by compressing your body in the upper thigh, bottom, belly and pelvic region. From bum lifting to thigh trimming, browse our range of Control & Slimming hosiery. Slimming tights can be beneficial in giving a sleek foundation under dresses or skirts for special occasions. 

Tummy Control Tights

Control top hosiery can effortlessly help flatten the lumps and bumps that you're not comfortable with around your tummy area, creating a smoother silhouette. This shapewear is also popular for women to wear post-pregnancy as it gives support to the stomach area. 

Thigh and Bum Control Tights

Thigh and bum control hosiery is brilliant for creating smooth lines around your lower pelvic region, upper thigh and bottom. Often referred to as ‘Body toners’ this collection of hosiery can really boost your confidence in close fitting clothing as not only do you benefit from leg perfecting coverage, the shaping panels trim and lift your body so you look and feel your best.

Our range of control tights offer a number of different shaping techniques to achieve an elegant silhouette.

Socks and Accessories

Within our legwear accessories category we have a number of popular hosiery options that are perfect for adding a little fashion and flare to your outfit. Our sexy legwear collections include a variety of knee high socks, over the knee socks, leggings and suspender belts. Below each type of legwear accessory has been explored in greater depth for further understanding.

Footless Tights

Footless hosiery, commonly recognized as leggings or footless tights, is styled in the exact same way as normal tights, however they end at the ankle rather than running straight to the toe. Take a look at some well-fashioned footless hosiery, available in a number of finishes and styles.

Ankle High Socks and Anklets

Ankle highs (also known as anklets) are similar to traditional socks. Unlike socks, anklets are styled and finished in yarns that vary in denier or thickness, as tights do. They often feature patterns or lace detail. They are very popular to wear with trainers, heeled pumps or with work shoes. Thinner than socks, ankle highs have the benefit of protecting your feet without making your shoes tight - as well as being super stylish. Take a look at our range of ankle highs to add comfort and a fashion edge to your wardrobe.

Knee High Socks

Knee highs are very similar to socks in the manner in which they're worn and applied but they're also available in a number of sheer and opaque finishes, as well as being elegantly poised in a variety of colours, patterns and fabrics. They're fabulous for adding a little individuality to an outfit, and they go hand in hand with work wear or casual day wear. Take a look at our knee highs and get your latest fashion fix.