Another thing to investigate are hose with a very subtle pattern in which the background is just the slightest bit paler--you may even find you can use black, in sheer patterns, but this can work for bronze and brown tones very well. I'm thinking herringbone or micromesh and that sort of thing, as I am not really drawn to the bold patterns, but also because the effect is achieved more with these small patterns. That gives a variation that looks intentional but is more forgiving-- allows for the background to be paler but is influenced by your own skin tone, does not seem to have to "match" precisely, and not risk a dull off-color look. Or try microfishnets over sheer hose, but then of course that's 2 pair of hose. And the other option is a real color, though there are not many offerings in "sheer" hose as compared to typical tights.
I think whether to go darker or lighter just depends so much on the color itself and the sheerness or pattern and the sheen. In general I expect going only a little lighter but can usually go much darker (as per the style of the day, not showing white or pastel hose at present). You may just know it when you see it. I like taupe-y skirts and shoes when I can find them, but if I try to wear "taupe" tights or hose my legs can look like something from the morgue or worse. So different brands might yield different options. And also take into account whether you want the leg look to be extension of skirt color or shoe color or both or what.
