Tights and stockings

What does DEN mean?

DEN is the thickness of the yarn. The higher the number, the thicker and more opaque the tights:

• 8–20 DEN – fine and sheer, for dresses and skirts on warmer days and for the office.
• 30–40 DEN – semi-opaque, versatile for spring and autumn.
• 50–100 DEN and above – opaque and warm, often in microfibre, for the colder months.

Tights are described by their DEN density - the weight of the yarn in grams per 9,000 metres. The higher the number, the thicker and less sheer the fabric: 8-20 DEN is a summer layer, 20-40 DEN is versatile for the in-between months, 40-70 DEN is opaque, and anything above 100 DEN is winter weight, often with cotton or wool in the mix.

The collection also includes stockings and some knee-highs, and the brands are led by Anmar, Legs and Conte. We have grouped the individual densities separately - for example 20 DEN and 40 DEN.

Types

Alongside plain tights in nude shades and black, we stock patterned styles, fishnets, shaping tights with a slimming brief and larger sizes. Every product lists the denier, the composition and the manufacturer's size chart based on height and weight – the surest way to keep tights from sliding down or coming up short.

Beyond the denier, the construction counts. Styles with a reinforced brief and a flat seam are more comfortable for all-day wear, a reinforced toe extends their life in heels, and a wide waistband does not roll into a cord. Tights with Lycra recover their shape better and do not go "baggy" at the knees.

If you go through tights quickly, check two things: the state of your nails as you put them on, and the inside of your shoe. A lifting insole or a rough seam in the upper wears the fabric through in the same spot every time you wear them, whatever the quality of the tights themselves.

How to make them last

Wash tights by hand or in a laundry bag at a low temperature, and put them on slowly, starting with the leg rolled down. Many styles come in multipacks. Orders over PLN 199 ship free.

How to choose your size

Take your size from the manufacturer's height and weight chart, not from your clothing size. Tights that are too small wear through at the gusset sooner, and ones that are too large wrinkle at the ankle. Wash them in a laundry bag at 30°C, and take the jewellery off your hands before you put them on.