Pantyhose-tights Advice

fashion tights skirt dress high heels

 Pantyhose-tights Advice

I do feel pantyhose can be aging but let’s be real, they are often necessary! The key to pulling them off is to wear an ultrasheer that is a nude shade that closely matches the color of your skin. Donna Karan makes some excellent sheer nude shades. If you are in between shades, choose the darker, but really nude should look “nude”.

A great alternative is a nude colored fishnet. These look terrific. Wolford makes a great one.

One final point, never wear pantyhose with a strappy sandal or mule!

As for when is a women too old to wear tights, I’d say never. Black or dark brown tights look great in the fall and winter, but come Spring/Summer I would suggest switching to no hose or nude hose.

My thoughts on knee highs with pants?  Don’t do it is my first reaction. However, I hate to say the word “never”…so here’s what I suggest. It all really depends on the shoe and pants and how dressy you are going.

If you are wearing:

• jeans and flats – no socks or hose
• jeans and heels or sandals – no socks or hose
• jeans and a loafer.  Thin dress socks are good but in a dark color. (no white ones)  Barefoot O.K. Do not wear knee highs.
• Khakis. (same rules as for jeans…however do not wear heels or dress shoes with khakis) Never hose with khakis.
• Dress Pants.- If wearing closed toed pumps or flats you can wear knee highs or hose or go barefoot. If wearing “peep toed” heels or flats no hose. If wearing any type of sandal or mule, no hose.

Sheer or Opaque, what type of pantyhose to wear with what?

There’s no doubt that all black hosiery is created equal. There are ton’s of weights and textures to legwear these days, and it certainly does not stop at basic black. However, at a certain age, your pantyhose wardrobe should stop at crazy colors and exaggerated textures… just sayin’.

What legwear you choose to wear really has more to do with the styling of your outfit and the weight of its fabric.  But, as an overall guide, the length of your skirt is the best gauge for how heavy or sheer your hose should be.

The shorter your skirt, the darker and more matte your tights look best, like the pair  pictured above.  Opt for a very opaque pair that you cannot see any skin through to create a long and solid leg line in balance with your barely-there skirt.

Opaque tights that have some visibility through them look best with dresses closer to your knee or below. Usually, the denier (weight) for these is semi-opaque.

Very sheer hose looks best at night or with a simple LBD and sexy pumps. You may even want to try some lights textured hose, like a pin dot for some drama.

The midi hemline that’s making a return appearance, honestly looks best when work with boots in the winter or platforms in the warmer months to create a more slid base to balance the longer hemline.

Thick to thin, there’s a legwear style for you…

Tips to wearing tights properly

Tips to wearing tights properly. Today, tights come in all wonderful shades, types and material. Getting the right pair for your look is important.

Known as tights or in the America as pantyhose, most forms cover the waist to the tips of your toes, hence their name tights.

Whether worn for work to great nights out, tights offer a great combination of keeping your legs warm while giving them a great look finish. Getting the right tight look for your social occasion can sometime cause a conundrum.

We have put together some tips to help you choose the tights that suit you. We also look at ways you can maintain their look for future wear.

Experiment with different colours

Tights that are brightly coloured can really enhance the finish to any outfit. If you decide on tights that are not black, always make sure the rest of your look is neutral.

Match your outfit with the same colour as your tights for a head-to-toe monochromatic look. Bear in mind that if you go bold with your tights colour, attention will be drawn to your legs.

Know when to wear opaque

Remember, the shorter your hemline, the more opaque your tights need to be. By choosing to wear thicker tights, you’ll not only visually elongate your tights but also minimise the risk of showing an inevitable run.

The fashion term for the opaqueness of tights is known as a “denier” number. The greater the number, the more opaque the tights are.

In general, opaque tights have a denier of 40 or more. A denier of less than 30 is going to be sheer. Sheer tights are ok when pairing with knee-high boots that show a sliver of leg

Always check for damages

You can’t afford any embarrassing moments. You want your chosen outfit to look sophisticated at all times. It’s always important to do a quick minute once over check on your tights before wear.

You need to know they are in good shape.Before wearing, scan them closely for any unsightly runs or holes. If you see even the smallest snag or rip then ditch them for a new pair. A damaged pair of tights can lead to unwanted attention. Play it safe.

Pair them well

Here’s a good rule of thumb to remember. Always match your tights to the colour of your shoes, or to the dominant colour of the outfit you’re wearing. This will ensure that you that great put-together look.

How to stop that dreaded run

The next time you get a run or hole in your tights, simply spray it with hairspray. This harden the edges and prevent it from widening. You can also coat the edges with clear nail polish, which will have the same effect.

Wash them wisely

Most of you know that the best way to clean your tights is by hand. Remember, the more wear and tear you put on the fibres, the more likely they are to run.

However, if time is against you, sling your tights in a mesh laundry bag and wash them on a delicate cycle. This will help stop snagging in the washing machine.

HOW TO PUT ON TIGHTS OR PANTYHOSE

fashion tights skirt dress high heels

Tights are a stylish addition to many of today's fashions. Not as sheer as pantyhose, tights can be worn beneath dresses, skirts and jumpsuits to cover legs for warmth, or to complete a look while being less bulky than pants. No matter how many times you put on tights, it can be tricky. However, with the below guideline, you too can learn how to slip into them without causing a tear.

1.  Choose the right size

Choosing the right size tight is a critical step in putting on tights correctly. If you choose the wrong size, then no matter what you do, you’re going to have difficulty putting them on properly.

Tights are often sized according to weight and height. Check the packaging that comes with the tights to determine what size matches your weight and height range. For the more curvy woman, there are specialty plus size hosiery brands. For instance, Sonsee’s range of plus size tights, pantyhose and stockings are purposely designed for the fuller figure of a plus size woman.

If you are uncomfortable because your tights are too tight, move to a bigger size. Your tights should fit well enough still to stay around your waist.

If you are taller than average or have longer-than-average legs, choose a size marked "tall."

If your measurements fall in between sizes, always choose the larger of the two.

2. Prepare your hands and feet

Once your tights get a tear, or developed a hole, they are useless. Jewelry can be a major culprit which can create a snap, so take any off before you attempt to pull on your stockings. You'll also want to buff any rough edges from your fingernails, toenails, hands and feet.

3. Remove packaging from your new tights

Remove your tights from the packaging, and unfold them. This may include removing any cardboard backing tucked inside them. You can do this by gently folding the cardboard in half so you can ease it out the top of your tights.

4. Stretch the tights gently lengthwise

Gently stretch your tights to create some give in the tights before you start putting them on. Be careful not to pull too hard as this may tear them.

Part 2: Putting Your Legs in the Stockings

1. Hold the tights in front of you

Sit down, so you’re in a steady position. When sitting, hold them with the front, or toe, facing forward. Tags inside the waist band will help you identify the front from the back.

2. Gather one leg of your tights to the toe

Starting on either the right or left side, hold the waist of the tights and gently bunch the leg, gathering the fabric until the inside of the toe is exposed.

3. Ease the foot of the tights over your foot, from toe to heel

Point your toe and slip your foot inside the tights. Put your whole foot inside and arrange the bottom of the tights' foot so that the seam at the toe runs across the tip of your toes. Make sure the foot of the tights fits nicely around your toe and heel.

Keep your thumbs inside, pointed downward and the nail-side against you to avoid senselessly snagging your tights. You might need to stretch the opening a bit to make sure your foot slides inside without catching on the fabric. Pointing your toe will help prevent your toenail from snagging the tights.

If either the toe or heel of the tights is crooked, you'll want to make sure it's straightened or you'll have trouble with later steps.

4. Pull the tights up your leg

Gently stretch the material, and unroll it up your leg to above your knee, near your mid-thigh. Be careful as you do this so the fabric doesn’t pull or rip. If the fabric is twisted or bunched at the knees, straighten it before continuing. Repeat these steps to pull the tights up your other leg.

Gather the waist and toe of the other leg to create an easy pathway for your foot. Point your toe and insert your foot, lining up the toe of the hose so that the seam runs across your toes. Gently pull the tights leg up over your calf and knee to your mid-thigh. Make sure the leg of your tights isn't bunched or twisted.

Part 3: Completing the Look

Pull up the tights. Once you've partially pulled the tights up each leg, stand up and continue gently unrolling the material. Continue to pull up the tights further, until the waist band is positioned around your natural waistline. You'll have the best luck if you pull the material up on one side, then the other, before finishing with the hips and waist. If there are areas left rumpled or baggy, or if the legs don’t seem to be long enough, roll the tights down to the knees again. Just sit down, gently stretch them out and roll them back up. Be careful not to yank them back up from the top or they will likely tear.

Make necessary adjustments. Check for areas where the tights are bunched or places where your skin feels pinched. Your tights should feel snug, but not uncomfortable.

If you see a place where your tights are twisted, your best bet is to take them off and repeat the process more carefully. Use the flats of your hands to adjust any wrinkles.

Perfect your pattern. If you're wearing patterned or seamed tights, you'll want to ensure that the design is placed appropriately on your legs. Try putting on a pair of rubber gloves to make small adjustments for a flawless finish instead of pinching the tights with your fingers and risking a tear.