What are Pantyhose?
Pantyhose are an all-in-one hosiery piece that offer a skin-tight fit from the waist down to the toes, worn to easily elevate outfits and enhance natural skin complexions. Pantyhose is a popular term used in the United States and while it has historically referred to sheer tights only, the term now spans across most sheer and semi-opaque deniers. The term ‘tights’ is more frequently used in the UK and can relate to all deniers available from as little as 6 denier to 300 denier.
Just like tights, pantyhose provide a smooth silhouette under clothing thanks to their closely-fitted design and can act as a second-skin to provide a comfortable layer all year round. Pantyhose flatter all figures and are available in a huge variety of shapes and sizes to ensure a secure fit and no rolling down or digging in.
How to Choose the Right Pantyhose?
Pantyhose are an extremely versatile styling piece and can be worn for many different occasions. As an all year round must-have, pantyhose can be paired with many different outfits and can be a casual or glamorous addition to your wardrobe. With an abundance of styles to choose from, choosing pantyhose starts with where and when you plan to wear them.
A popular choice for everyday wear and elegant evening styling is sheer pantyhose, delivering light coverage and excellent layering piece for day to night wear. Available in deniers as low as 6 denier for a second-skin effect and up to 30 denier for enhanced coverage. Sheer pantyhose add a subtle enhancement to your legs and are available in a variety of finishes to suit your preferences. Choose a matt finish for a chic and blurred effect or opt for a shiny finish which adds a beautiful natural glow. Picking the right colour of sheer pantyhose to match your ensemble is also an important step to achieving your desired look.
Nude pantyhose with a sheer finish are a top pick due to their natural appearance and flawless finish. This style of pantyhose can mask imperfections such as discoloration, veins, scars and uneven skin tone, giving your complexion a gorgeous boost. The sheer coverage delivers a barely-there effect which can give the illusion of wearing no tights at all, allowing you to show off your legs in confidence. Alternatively, opt for black pantyhose which are an incredibly versatile and timeless style that create a polished appearance. Sheer black pantyhose offer a refined and smooth effect on the legs with lightweight breathable coverage suitable for all weather. Sheer pantyhose are perfect for adding a sophisticated and appropriate touch to your outfits, making them a good choice for professional settings, elegant evening wear and special occasions.
If you’re seeking more breathability, convenience and perhaps a flirty edge to your legwear then we recommend exploring crotchless pantyhose. This type of pantyhose is designed with a cut out gusset area, promising ventilation around intimate areas and other medical benefits. Many find crotchless tights more practical for all day wear and comfortable than traditional pantyhose, offering more flexibility and eliminating any discomfort caused by gusset seams. As well as being functional, crotchless pantyhose are a popular styling piece for intimate occasions and romantic endeavours.
Another great choice with comfort in mind is seamless pantyhose, providing a smooth silhouette from the waist to toe. Wearing tights with a seamless design can prevent irritation occasionally caused by seams and can provide enhanced flexibility without restriction. Perfect for wearing under tight clothing to ensure no shadows or lines are showing, you’ll enjoy ultimate comfort and uninterrupted style in seamless pantyhose.
How to Pick the Right Size of Pantyhose?
We are proud to offer a huge collection of pantyhose from many different brands, which cater for all shapes and sizes. Our sizes range from extra small all the up to 10XL, fitting from UK dress size 6 to 58 and US dress size 4 to 56. All of our brands are manufactured in their own factories and can follow different techniques, therefore we recommend checking out our handy size charts to check the size that suits you.
Plus size pantyhose are a great option for those with curvier figures or taller frames, who require additional flexibility to remain comfortable through all day wear. With our range of plus size tights, you can find pantyhose that match your proportions and choose based on specific features such as wider waistbands, durable back panels and extra stretch properties.
Our Top Pantyhose Brands
Leading brands such as Wolford, Cecilia de Rafael, Amour, Miss O and Charnos have an extensive selection of pantyhose. The highly esteemed Wolford brand is one of the market leaders in premium pantyhose, offering luxurious staples that are completely worth the price. Their collection comprises their best-selling Wolford Neon 40 and Wolford Satin Touch 20 Tights which both hold gold standard status through their unrivalled 5 star ratings. If you’re seeking superior quality, exceptional comfort and longevity then Wolford pantyhose are a top pick. Another premium brand that delivers on impeccable quality and luxurious finishes is Cecilia de Rafael. This spanish brand has maintained a long-standing reputation since their inception in 1976, delivering the epitome of affordable luxury with their sheer and shiny pantyhose ranges. Choose from low deniers for a barely-there effect like their Super Lucido 10 Shiny Tights or opt for a higher denier with their Chacal 50 Denier Tights, available in a huge range of shades to suit your preferences.
Brands like Amour and Miss O are well-known European brands that deliver excellent quality pieces at reasonable prices. While their styles are more risque, such as their alluring crotchless tights and daring patterned tights, these brands still add a touch of luxury to any outfit. Crafted with resilient and comfortable fabrics that withstand regular wear, these brands are perfect for a fun and flirty addition to your wardrobe.
Budget-friendly brands such as Charnos and Pretty Polly welcome everyday styling at affordable prices, providing cost-effective options to easily transform your outfits. Made with excellent quality fabric compositions and similar aesthetics to higher end hosiery brands, these collections offer in-expensive choices for daily wear.
Pantyhose FAQs
How often should I wash pantyhose and how?
Pantyhose should be washed after every wear, due to their close proximity to the skin and build up of skin oils or sweat. Keep them fresh by gently hand washing in lukewarm water or use a delicate machine wash cycle, ideally in a hosiery wash bag to reduce tangling up with the rest of your washing, using a very mild detergent to prevent damage to the fabrics. Using these gentle techniques will prolong the life of your pantyhose by maintaining the shape, quality and finish.
How to prevent snags in pantyhose?
When putting on pantyhose, we recommend slowly rolling them up from the toes and pulling gently up to the waist. Refrain from tugging or stretching the fabric and delicately fit them to your body where it feels comfortable. It is also important to make sure your nails and hands are smooth to eliminate the chance of tears. Remove any jewellery that could catch and make sure your clothing does not have any zips or sequins that could snag the fabric. For peace of mind, we also have handy hosiery gloves that you can wear - a quick, easy and safe way to put on your hosiery!
What denier should my pantyhose be?
Choose your preferred denier based on the occasion, time of year or simply to suit your personal style. We recommend opting for low denier pantyhose from 6 to 30 denier for the summer months. Sheer pantyhose is an elegant everyday staple that can offer a lightweight feel and breathable fit, perfect for evening events and professional workwear.
If you’re seeking a higher coverage during cooler weather or need a more pigmented appearance, we recommend choosing a thicker denier. Pantyhose that are 40 denier to 100 denier offer excellent coverage and can keep you warm over winter, while also providing a rich and high impact finish due to the more dense fabric composition.
Can I wear pantyhose with open toe shoes?
Yes, pantyhose are a great choice for pairing with open toe shoes and boots. If you’re seeking a barely-there effect we recommend opting for nude pantyhose that have a sandal toe or sheer toe. Ultra sheer tights can give the illusion of not wearing tights which are perfect for open toe shoes, while more opaque pantyhose will be more visible with open shoes.
How can I match pantyhose to my skin tone?
At The Tight Spot, we have a huge selection of skin colour pantyhose to match your complexion. From fair nude hues that are perfect for lighter skin and tan shades to suit slightly deeper, olive tone skin. We also have a range of dark nude pantyhose for deep tan complexions and brown tights which suit dark skin tones. If you’re seeking a sunkissed look and natural tan slightly darker than your natural tone, we recommend choosing one shade darker; enjoy a flawless bronzed look without the dangers of tanning or inconvenience of fake tan!