Semi Opaque vs Opaque Hosiery

Semi Opaque vs Opaque Hosiery
The team at Fashionlegs could be considered experts when it comes to finding the perfect tights to wear with an outfit, but we know that this is not the case for everyone. There is a vast array of coverage options, textures, and styles out there, and choosing the wrong pair of tights or hold-ups could ruin the look of your outfit. So what is the difference between semi opaque and opaque, and what type of tights should you wear with what? Let’s start off with a common thing that is misunderstood about tights – denier.

What Does Denier Mean?

Denier is the commonly used term which relates to the thickness (or weight) of the yarn from which the tight or hold-up is woven. For those amongst you who like details, 1 denier means that 9,000 metres of yarn weights 1 gram. It may be useful for you to remember this – the lower the denier the sheerer the appearance of the tight usually, and also the more fragile the item as well. However, technological advances in recent years have meant that some products appear sheerer than would be expected if you look at their denier – meaning they are stronger than they look! In general, we find that rather than referring to denier nowadays, people tend to refer to tights in terms of sheer tights, ultra sheer tights, opaque tights and thick tights. So let us now have a look at what these terms mean.

Ultra Sheer

Ultra sheer hosiery is the thing you need to look for if you are wanting to achieve a bare leg look as it is usually 10 denier or less.  Ultra sheer hosiery is perfect for the summer months as it will not only smooth out any blemishes but also help to keep your legs cool as well. Most ultra sheer products are available in a wide variety of deniers and shades to suit your skin tone and most will come with sheer toes – which makes them perfect for wearing with strappy sandals in the warm weather. Some may also have what we call a ‘sandal toe’ meaning which means that the weave is slightly thicker on the toe compared to the rest of the leg.

Sheer

Sheer hosiery is similar to ultra sheer and so is considered to be a must-have item for summer. Sheer hosiery is slightly thicker in denier than sheer, usually around 10 to 20 denier, and so will be a little more durable for everyday wear. It is widely available in a variety of colours and finishes and so you should opt for a shiny finish if you want people to notice your tights, or go for a matt pair for a more natural look. Sheer hosiery is manufactured with both sheer and sandal toes, giving you the choice as to whether you want to wear a pair with strappy sandals or open toe shoes.

Semi-Opaque:

Now let’s move onto to talk about Semi Opaque hosiery which tends to be longer lasting and stronger than semi-sheer and sheer tights as it ranges from 21 to 40 denier in weight. Not only will semi opaque tights, such as our Modena 40 Denier Hold Ups, give your legs more coverage but they also allow a little bit of your skin to show through and so are perfect for autumnal days.  Our range of hold ups is perfect to wear with skirts and dresses and offer you the perfect combination of style and comfort.

Opaque:

The next level of Denier is Opaque which refers to tights with a denier of between 41 and 69. These will obviously give you great coverage on your legs meaning that your skin will not be visible at all. Opaque tights are generally thought of as winter wear, but they can actually work well all year round with shorts, skirts, dresses and cropped trousers.

Thick Opaque:

Hosiery does not stop at Opaque though, as some people think, you can actually buy thick opaque hosiery as well – which is perfect for keeping your legs warm in winter! If you want to wear a little black number to your Christmas party or you are just not a skirt or dress person at work, then thick opaque tights are the thing you need to protect your legs from the cold weather. Another plus point of thick opaque tights as well is that they are extra durable!

Mega Thick Opaque:

Mega Thick Opaque’s do exist, and they are a great alternative to leggings or woolly tights. Made from over 100 Denier they will give your legs complete coverage whenever you wear them. For more information about our full range of semi opaque and opaque tights, including our footless tights, please contact us via email at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can call our friendly customer service team on 01928 508 888 or use the contact us form on our website.