Wearing dresses and skirts in the winter can be tricky if you want to keep warm. A pair of black tights is a necessity, rather than just an accessory, to stay stylish and comfortable when temperatures drop.
Black tights range in opacity and sheen, not to mention multiple choices of denier. The higher the denier, the thicker and warmer your tights will be. For extra warmth, a wool blend will keep you cozy.
Material
Tights are made from stretchy blends of fabrics, including nylon, elastane, spandex, cotton, polyester and wool. The best tights are stretchy and flexible without losing their shape or support. Wool blends will keep you warm in the winter, but can also be itchy, expensive and don’t have the smooth, even appearance of other knits.
Denier
The denier of tights determines how opaque or sheer they appear. The lower the denier, the sheerer the tights. Typically black tights come in seven, 10, 15, 40, 60 and 100 deniers. A higher denier also means a thicker tight. You’ll want 40 and up for winter wear. A 100-denier pair will rival your favorite leggings for their solid, comfy coverage.
Durability
Tights can snag and rip on almost anything: a fingernail, the edge of a table, even a callus. Tights can also develop “ladders,” which can run up or down your leg and ruin a pair. The sheerer the material, and the cheaper, the more vulnerable it is to ladders.
Support
Tights need to be compressive enough to stay up. For extra support, many tights come with a control top to smooth the stomach, hips, upper thighs and rear. This also reduces sagging and shifting. The downside is that the compression can leave temporary marks on your skin or uncomfortably constrict your abdomen.
Sheen
Black tights can have a matte or shiny appearance, or somewhere in between. Like the sheerness of tights, this is a matter of stylistic preference. While many sheer tights are shiny, some opaque options are as well.
Price
Depending on their brand and quality of the material, black tights cost $6-$90.
Best black tights
Commando Women’s Matte Opaque Black Tights
These comfortable, ultra-soft tights feature an extra-wide waistband that stays up without causing tummy discomfort or leaving lines in your skin. The edge-free waistband is invisible, even under your clingiest clothes.
Hue Blackout Tights with Control Top
Thick and sturdy, these 90-denier tights keep your legs warm in a skirt. The material is opaque and black as a midnight sky. The brand is a reputable maker of tights.
Simiya Opaque Tights for Women
Smooth, silky and stretchy, these 70-denier tights won’t snag either. Wearers love their non-slip soles and comfortable control top.
No Nonsense Women’s Yoga Waistband Blackout Tights
This three-pack of 70-denier tights is a great value. The material is durable and resists snags from fingernails and pet nails. The yoga waistband is comfortable and holds the tights up.
Capezio Women’s Studio Basics Tights
Designed for ballet, these semi-sheer tights are popular with ballerinas and non-ballerinas alike. Their durability and stretchiness are outstanding.
From the brand synonymous with shapewear, these control-top tights firm up your rear. They also flatten your stomach under skirts and keep you warm when the weather gets chilly.
No Nonsense Womens Seamless Tights
This three-pack of opaque seamless tights is 85% nylon, 15% spandex. They are available in four sizes and are from a trusted brand. Layer them with many different outfits and be sure to hand-wash only and hang them to dry.
Hanes Ecosmart Blackout Tights
Made from recycled nylon and spandex, these eco-friendly black tights offer both support and comfort. The opaque, black fabric is 100 denier. Plus, they’re a great value.
Mivnue Fleece-Lined Tights for Women
With the appearance of sheer black pantyhose, these tights actually feature a warm fleece lining. They appear see-through without actually being sheer thanks to a thick, nude liner.
Frola Women’s 80-Denier Semi-Opaque Tights
These affordable black tights feature 3D spandex to stretch in every direction you move, without stretching out. They’re semi-opaque and durable. The 80-denier fabric is a good medium thickness.
If you’re looking for semi-sheer tights, these 40-denier ones don’t rip. They’re a great option for people who don’t like to wear control tops. They’re a true black, unlike other semi-sheer options that look grey instead of black.
G&Y 100 Denier Fleece-Lined Tights for Women
This two-pack of fleece-lined tights keeps your legs from turning into popsicles during the winter. The price and the fit are just right. There’s no tummy control, so sitting is comfortable.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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