The best opaque tights

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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The best opaque tights

— by Angie

on November 9, 2007

Semi-opaque tights are easy to find and most brands will do the trick. A fab pair of plain black opaque tights, on the other hand, are a little harder to find. Few brands seem to have the thickness and the perfectly matte look that I’m after. After much trial and error, I’ve narrowed it down to two options:

Nordstrom Opaque Control Tops ($10)
Spanx Tight-end Tights ($24)

I used to enjoy DKNY opaque tights, but this season they seem thinner than before. If you’re leg shy about wearing an above the knee skirt or dress, you’ll want opaque’s that are as substantial as a pair of skinny pants. And you’ll get even better coverage if you go up a size and wear a second pair.

Thick dark black opaque tights happen to be the trendy choice to pair with the new party dresses this season. It’s a theatrical look that’s not for everyone, but I fancy the idea of covering up and staying warm in a short party dress when it’s freezing outside.

Thick, silky, matte opaque’s paired perfectly with party dresses.

21 comments · Add a comment

Meg the Florida Bargain Queen

(website)

Thanks for the info! I’ve tried black tights but they’ve always been too sheer which looks ridiculous on me as my white knees show through.

November 9, 2007 at 8:25 am

amber

thanks for these recommendations. i agree that it is hard to find nice soft, matte, opaque tights. last year I had good luck with Wolford Velvet Deluxe Stay-Up Thigh Highs. They are thick, velvety soft, and very opaque, and I find them much more comfortable to wear than control tops, which only seem to create lines at lumps at my waist instead of actually smoothing or slimming anything.

November 9, 2007 at 8:25 am

Meredeth McMahon

(website)

I recently read a magazine article that also recommended both of those brands and went and tried the Nordstrom brand. I guess I forgot to look to make sure they were matte finish and ended up with nice opaque, but shiny tights. Bummer.

This is a little much for most, but Marks and Spencer carries my favorite black tights in the whole world. They are inexpensive, 60 Denier, and matte. I just wash them in the washing machine and hang dry. So if you make it to London, pick up a bunch (I always send my traveling clients there to buy some for themselves — and me).

http://www.marksandspencer.com.....Brand=core

November 9, 2007 at 9:12 am

Angie

(website)

Lovely tip. You’ll find M&S in most ex-British colonies and some of Europe, so if you’re in that neighbourhood soon, chances are high that they’ll have opaques too.

I quite like shiny opaques myself…….I suppose that appeals to my glitzy side. Hope you get the opaques that you love soon Meredith!

November 9, 2007 at 9:22 am

Lannie

Angie, I wonder what your thoughts are on black opaque tights versus a patterned or colourful tight for pear-shaped girls with heavier legs. Should we stick to solid black? I love the look of patterned and colourful tights (especially the blue ones that I’m seeing in stores this autumn), but I’m not sure I can pull it off. Are they best left to the girls with skinny legs?

November 9, 2007 at 11:32 am

Angie

(website)

No at all Lannie. You’ll be able to wear hose of your choice tastefully despite your body type. It’s not about the hose when you are pear-shaped….its’ about the right clothing and shoes. Hose are a mere complement to the ensemble. The same thinking applies to leggings (blogged about this a while ago). Black hose is going to look awful on any pear-shape if they’re in the wrong clothing silhouettes to begin with. It’s a little hard for me to generalize about this topic, but I want to encourage you to try those stockings that you fancy…and wear them with the correct clothing. Make sure that your eyes are drawn to “going up and down” and not across and you’ll start getting a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn’t.

November 9, 2007 at 11:49 am

Wendy

(website)

My favorite opaque tights are Spanx Two Timin’ Tights. I’ve had the black/brown for a couple of years and they are now near the end of their lifespan, so I’d really like a pair of the black/grey. I’ve worn them a lot, and find them both comfy and stylish.

November 9, 2007 at 1:42 pm

Karen

These are fully opaque, soft, and offer wonderful support, too. Also, they’re WARM and winter is coming on [writing from the Upper Midwest].

They look expensive, but are bullet-proof. I have 5 pair that have survived a year being worn in rotation 5-6 days a week. That’s LT $0.75/wearing!

http://www.footsmart.com/P-SS-.....60405.aspx

November 10, 2007 at 11:51 am

erin

i have a huge collection of tights, and my favorite black opaque tights are hue brand cotton/microfiber control top. the waistband never rolls or digs in, and the tights are very opaque.

November 13, 2007 at 9:52 am

angie

(website)

Good to know Erin. I tried this brand again this year and they weren’t quite thick enough for the look that I wanted, but I never leave a stone unturned and look forward to trying Hue opaques again.

November 13, 2007 at 10:13 am

any suggestions for tights in interesting colors/textures? eg

http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/.....=520613002

old navy does’t sell the tights, unfortunately.

November 14, 2007 at 7:29 am

alldoneup

(website)

Very nice site you have here, I will def be back for updates! I haven’t tried that look yet and probably still won’t but it looks great on others. =P

November 26, 2007 at 12:22 am

youlookfab » Blog Archive » Sequined and sparkly holiday dresses

(website)

[…] fully sequined dresses can be matched with opaque tights, sheer hose or no hose at all. You’ll find that most of the necklines of these dresses are quite […]

November 26, 2007 at 8:36 am

youlookfab » 2007 » November » 26

(website)

[…] fully sequined dresses can be matched with opaque tights, sheer hose or no hose at all. You’ll find that most of the necklines of these dresses are quite […]

November 26, 2007 at 8:40 am

c;hristi

Whar shoes should I wear with opaque tights and a cocktail dress? Can I wear a peep toe or does it have to be a closed toe pump? Love your site!!

December 7, 2007 at 6:32 am

youlookfab » Blog Archive » Sheer hose, sheer pleasure

(website)

[…] opaques are all the rage this season, but sheer black hose can often look more flattering. There is […]

December 7, 2007 at 8:20 am

noelia

Ive been dying to buy some opaque tights for over 6 months already, I checked in Wolford.com, but since I live in Puerto Rico, its pretty hard to get them to ship them to me. I was wondering if any of you girls know if I can get them at a Macys store or ANY store please!

September 14, 2008 at 4:12 pm

livingdoll

For a really opaque look, especially in black, I put on two pairs of tights.

December 7, 2009 at 1:08 pm

Sandy

Donna Karan used to make terrific opaque tights in a wide range of styles, both under the “Donna Karan” and “DKNY” brand names. Unfortunately they have cut back on their hosiery range and opaque seems more thin than it used to be.

Hue claims to be “super opaque” in some styles, but only if you’re bone thin do they look truly opaque.

A brand not often seen in the USA, but is really nicely opaque, is Voodoo. They make a “totally opaque tight” version that is very much on par with the better Donna Karan vintage opaque tights. They’re made in Australia, but a few retailers are reaching out to making them available to women in the USA, like Trixan Body.

November 12, 2011 at 8:59 am

charlotte

i wear 3 pairs of 120 denier Tights [Black] makes them really dense opaque !! you have to get used to them clinching your waist though.

November 2, 2012 at 12:25 pm

Paige Turner

I have found that Phantom Silks, Black Matte, available in Canada, are a very dense black opaque look that totally goes with what Angie recommends for short and stylish sheath dresses. Love that look and how it feels to wear it while making a sort of out there fashion statement. I like to showcase the silhouette of my legs, but want a fair degree of coverage for comfort in moving around and warmth during these frosty winter nights…..

February 5, 2013 at 4:57 pm

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