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BeWicked
Women's Crotchless Sheer Pantyhose Tights – Everyday Wear 1927
$14.45Unit price /Unavailable-
BeWicked
Women's Sheer Back Seam Pantyhose Tights – Walk Right Out 1926
$16.95Unit price /Unavailable-
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BeWicked
Women's Fishnet Pantyhose Tights – Up All Night 2302
+2Starting at $15.70Unit price /Unavailable-
BeWicked
Women's Oversized Fishnet Pantyhose Tights – Can't Back Down 2303
+1Starting at $16.33Unit price /Unavailable-
BeWicked
Women's Wide Fishnet Pantyhose Tights – Can't Back Down 2304
+1Starting at $15.70Unit price /Unavailable-
BeWicked
Women's Crotchless Sheer Suspender Pantyhose Tights – Rare Sight 1924
$16.95Unit price /Unavailable-
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BeWicked
Women's Sheer Micro Fishnet Pantyhose Tights – Grab Me by the Waist 1917
$19.45Unit price /Unavailable-
BeWicked
Women's Strappy Fishnet Pantyhose Tights – Cross My Mind BW401
$23.20Unit price /Unavailable-
BeWicked
Women's Fishnet Pantyhose Tights – Caught in Your Net BW529
$13.20Unit price /Unavailable-
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Tights: Denier Is the Number That Decides Everything
Almost every tights question comes down to one number on the packet. Denier measures the thickness of the yarn, and it decides whether a pair reads sheer, semi-opaque or fully opaque.
Below: what denier actually means, the sheer-to-opaque scale in numbers, how tights differ from pantyhose and stockings, and how to stop them laddering.
What are tights?
Tights are a one-piece legwear garment covering the feet, legs and hips to the waist, knitted from nylon or a nylon and spandex blend. The defining measurement is denier, the weight of the yarn: the higher the number, the thicker and more opaque the fabric. Roughly, up to 15 denier is sheer, 20 to 40 is semi-opaque, and 50 and above is opaque. In American usage, sheer tights are usually called pantyhose; they are the same garment. Stockings are different: they stop at the thigh and need a garter belt or a silicone band. HauteFlair's edit covers sheer, opaque, fishnet and patterned. Shop tights at HauteFlair.
The denier scale
One number tells you how sheer a pair will be. This is the whole decision.
| Denier | Finish | Wear it for |
|---|---|---|
| 5 to 15 | Ultra sheer, barely visible | Warm weather, formal dress codes, a bare-leg look with coverage |
| 15 to 20 | Sheer, evens skin tone | The everyday office pair |
| 20 to 40 | Semi-opaque, skin faintly visible | Transitional weather, when you want some coverage but not full black |
| 40 to 70 | Opaque | Cold weather, short hems, the standard winter pair |
| 80 and above | Fully opaque, near-legging weight | Deep winter, or wearing tights as the main layer |
The takeaway: if a pair is not labelled with a denier, it is almost certainly sheer. Opaque tights are marketed on the number because that is what people shop for.
Tights, pantyhose, stockings or leggings
Four words, frequently confused, and only two of them mean the same thing.
| Garment | What it is | Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Tights | One piece, waist to toe, any denier | Nothing |
| Pantyhose | The American term, generally for sheer tights | Nothing. Same garment |
| Stockings | Separate legs, ending at the thigh | A garter belt or a silicone lace top. See Thigh Highs |
| Leggings | Opaque, footless, thicker knit, worn as trousers | Nothing, but not hosiery. See Leggings |
The line that matters: tights and pantyhose are the same thing. Stockings stop at the thigh and need something to hold them up.
Find your pair
Pick by finish.
Most tights do not wear out. They ladder, usually from a fingernail or a ring on the way on. Gather the leg to the toe and roll them up rather than pulling from the waist.
The HauteFlair StandardTights FAQ
The questions shoppers ask most.
What are tights?
Tights are a one-piece legwear garment covering the feet, legs and hips to the waist, knitted from nylon or a nylon and spandex blend. Denier, the weight of the yarn, decides how sheer or opaque they are.
What does denier mean in tights?
Denier is the weight of the yarn used to knit them. The higher the number, the thicker and more opaque the fabric. Up to 15 denier is sheer, 20 to 40 is semi-opaque, and 50 and above is opaque.
What is the difference between tights and pantyhose?
Nothing. They are the same garment. Pantyhose is the American term and usually refers to sheer versions, while tights is used for all deniers and is standard in British English.
What is the difference between tights and stockings?
Tights are one piece from waist to toe and stay up on their own. Stockings are separate legs ending at the thigh, and need a garter belt or a silicone lace top to hold them.
What denier should I wear in winter?
40 to 70 denier is the standard opaque winter pair. Above 80 the fabric approaches legging weight and works when tights are the main layer rather than worn under something.
Are tights the same as leggings?
No. Leggings are footless, thicker and knitted to be worn as trousers. Tights cover the foot and are hosiery, worn under a hem rather than instead of one.
How do I stop tights laddering?
Most ladders start from a fingernail or a ring while putting them on. Gather each leg down to the toe and roll them up rather than pulling from the waist, and take rings off first. Clear nail polish on a small run stops it spreading.
How should I wash tights?
Hand wash in cool water, or use a mesh bag on a gentle cycle, and air dry. Heat destroys the elastane that holds the shape, so never put them in a dryer.
Denier ranges here are general guidance; the same number can read slightly differently between makers depending on knit and fibre blend. Always check the packet for the specific pair you are buying. Style and size availability reflect current stock. Last reviewed September 2026.
Shop tights
Sheer, opaque, fishnet and patterned tights, plus the thigh highs and garter belts that go with them.
