Stockings and tights are two lengths of the same garment. Tights come up to the waist and cover both legs in one piece. Stockings stop somewhere on the leg and are worn as a pair. Everything else, material, sheerness, durability, applies to both.
Here is how to choose between them, and how to choose within each category.
When to choose tights
Tights are the default from September to May. They stay up on their own, they do not slip, and they add a layer of warmth under a skirt or a dress.
Our four styles of tights:
- Deluxe Unbreakable: our most resistant style, semi-sheer, from S to 4XL. Italian textiles, cotton gusset, resistance to runs and tears.
- Classics with shorts effect: semi-sheer down the leg with an opaque shorts effect across the seat, for a smoothing hold.
- Prima Durables: sheer and lighter, with a shaping waistband. From XS to XL.
- Mama Durables: made for pregnancy, with a panel that follows the bump.
When to choose stockings
Stockings are the choice for warm days, for outfits where full tights would be too much, or simply for comfort.
- Mi-Cuisse Prima: self-holding, they stay up on their own at the top of the thigh.
- Midi Prima: sheer knee-high stockings, sold in a pack of 3 pairs.
- Mini Prima: sheer ankle socks, sold in a pack of 3 pairs.
The Midi and Mini are worn under trousers or with closed shoes, when you want the finish of a nylon without the warmth of full tights.
How to choose the right size
Two measurements, never weight: your height and your hip measurement. Always take the size matching whichever of the two is larger. If you are between sizes, take the larger one.
Our Deluxe run from S to 4XL, which is 5'1 to 6'3 and hips from 33 to 65 inches. The Prima run from XS to XL, which is 4'5 to 5'10 and hips from 30 to 50 inches.
Getting the size wrong is not only a comfort problem: a size too large makes the tights look more opaque than expected and loses the hold, while a size too small makes them look sheerer and wears them out faster.
How to make them last
- Hand wash, or machine wash cold in a mesh bag
- Air dry, never in the dryer
- Avoid velcro, stone-set rings and rough nails
- Put them on by rolling them up the leg rather than pulling
Stockings and tights for men
Our sizing is based on height and hip measurement, not gender. Plenty of men wear tights for warmth, comfort or support, under trousers in winter or for sport. The size chart works the same way for everyone.
Read more
- Our Tights, the three styles compared
- How to find your perfect size
- Where to buy
- Our stockings: ankle, knee and thigh-high
