Hosiery Buying Guide
Buying hosiery, tights & stockings can be a very daunting experience at the best of times, with many confusing terms and features that you may not be familiar with. Here at Zodee we aim to change all that, helping you find the perfect hosiery for every occasion. Our simple to use guide helps you wade through the technical terms and our site helps you filter the large range of hosiery based on your specific requirements and desires. It's easy to buy the cheapest you can find, but in most cases spending a bit more will mean that you'll get much better value for money.
Whether you're looking for a stockings for a particular occasion or outfit, or just every everyday tights that can be worn with many outfits, you will need to asses the requirements for that particular need. In this guide we help you understand the different types of hosiery and what should be worn for each instance. Of course if you have any specific questions, please contact our knowledgeable Customer Service team.
Hosiery Thickness
Ultra Sheer
Less than 10 denier
- Perfect for achieving the bare leg look.
- Hides leg blemishes and is best worn in summer.
- as the low denier allows your skin to breathe.
Sheer
10 - 20 denier
- A must-have for every woman's hosiery drawer.
- Thicker denier means it is more durable and great for everyday wear.
Semi Opaque
21 - 40 denier
- Will give you a longer lasting wear.
- Allows skin to show through.
- A great stocking for Autumn and Spring.
Opaque
41 - 69 denier
- Will give your legs coverage like semi opaque, but is less likely to show your skin underneath.
- Great for Winter wear.
Thick Opaque
70 - 99 denier
- A good alternative to leggings and wooly tights.
- Great for keeping your legs warm in cold temperatures.
- The thicker denier means they are extremely durable and will last a long time.
Toes: What Does It Mean?
The type of toe on a stocking. This can determine the type of shoes you wear with an outfit.
Sheer Toe
- The thickness will be the same all throughout the leg, foot and toe.
- Great for wearing with sandals as there is no change in appearance.
Open Toe
- There is an opening for the toes.
- Best for wearing with peep toe shoes and other shoes that show the toes.
Reinforced Toe
- There is a visible added the toes for durability.
- The weave and denier are different from the foot and leg.
Footlets
- The thickness will be the same all throughout the leg, foot and toe.
- Great for wearing with sandals as there is no change in appearance.
Toelets
- There is an opening for the toes.
- Best for wearing with peep toe shoes and other shoes that show the toes.
Knee High
- There is a visible added the toes for durability.
- The weave and denier are different from the foot and leg.
Brief: What does it mean?
The shape and design of the brief on the stocking. Different briefs are categorised by the different shapes and support levels they come in.
Sheer to Waist
- No difference in the denier or weave between the leg and the brief area.
- Suitable for wearing under short clothing.
Boxer Brief
- The denier and weave is thicker on the brief.
- Gives the appearance of shorts.
- More durable, but are not suitable for wearing under short clothing due to the visibility of the brief.
V-Line
- Has a thicker denier and weave on the brief line, but is shaped like regular underwear.
- This brief is ideal if you want something that won't show under short clothing but is durable.
Shaping Brief
- Also known as control top.
- Has a thicker brief, with a waistband that sits over your belly button.
- Has shaping properties to reduce the size of your waist, stomach and thighs, and smooth out any bumps.
Maternity
- Waistband sits close to your bra line to completely cover your bump.
- Front of the briefs feature comfort panels that expand to accommodate your growing stomach.
Stay-Ups
- These stockings have no brief and instead sit on each thigh.
- The band on the thighs has special elastic to ensure they stay up.
How to choose the perfect tights
Thickness
- Think about the weather. Lower deniers are good for hot days, whilst higher deniers are best for cold days.
- Also think about whether you want your skin to show through.
Finish
- Shiny hosiery catches the light with an obvious shine, and feels smooth and silky against your legs.
- Gives the appearance of shorts.
- More durable, but are not suitable for wearing under short clothing due to the visibility of the brief.
Colour
- Do you want natural colours that are similar to skin tone?
- Do you want to stand out with coloured or patterend tights?
- Or do you want classic black?
- This can ultimately change the look of an outfit.
Brief
- What outfit will you be wearing?
- Will the briefs be visible under a dress or skirt?
- Do you need a control top or maternity tights?
Toes
- What shoes will you be wearing?
- Open toes are best for peep toe shoes and sandals, while a reinforced toe is best for enclosed shoes.
Hosiery Care
To ensure the longevity of your stockings, follow these tips.
- When putting on hosiery, remove all rings and bracelets so they don't catch on the stockings. Watch out for sharp fingernails as well.
- Roll your stockings up so that your toes are in the bottom of the stocking. Then pull the rest of the stocking up you leg. This ensures that you are not pulling the fabric too much that can cause ladders.
- Ideally wash your hosiery by hand or an easier alternative is to put them in a hosiery bag on cool wash. Dry away from direct heat and never iron.
- If your stocking has a ladder and you are unable to change into a new pair, dabbing some clear nail polish on the ladder will prevent it from unravelling further. We suggest throwing out any stockings that have ladders and holes as it can ruin an outfit.
Now that you know all about hosiery, it's time to buy hosiery!
