Tights!

What are your legs wearing?  Are you in black, navy or neutral?  20, 30, or jet black at 100?  

I'm talking tights, here.

For years and years tights have covered the legs of women old and young, glamorous and ordinary, fat and thin.  It may seem insignificant to some, but tights matter.  And ladies, we all love a pair of really good tights.  So whether you're wanting a pair of tights just to wear to the office, or something a little sexier for an evening out or you're sick of stretched, holey, ladder-ridden tights, here is your official tights guide. 

Want to save?  Then head straight to Primark or any supermarket's own and basic brand.  These tights are cheap - great for quick fixes - but be warned, they are not good quality.  The last time I wore Primark tights, it rained and the black dye ran onto my legs.  Stay away from nails, park benches or the edge of the bed.  You've been warned - don't come crying to me when you're painting your legs with black nail varnish to hide the rips.

If you want good quality, inexpensive tights then department stores such as John Lewis, Debenhams and Marks and Spencer are your best bet.  I've clad my legs in M&S tights since primary school days and I don't plan on stopping.  Packs of three cost around £15, and will stay in good quality for about 15 washes before they start to fade and stretch.   Stick with 40 - 60 denier during winter for that not-too-thick-but-not-too-thin feeling.  Other brands like Pretty Polly and Aristoc make good quality tights and are found in most department stores, costing around £10 for a pair. 

And if you're really splurging with tights (you can do this), then Wolford Tights are the ones you want.  I can't give you a price for a 'standard' pair of tights from Wolford because there are SO many different styles, colours and fabrics (that's right - cashmere tights at over £100), but if you're looking for one pair of black 50 denier tights, then expect to pay around £25.  These tights will not rip unless you want them to and their 100 deniers will make your legs look as black as black can be.  Nip into the Wolford stores in London, or any high-end department store and you'll find them there. 

Spring/Summer 2013 may be a few months away yet, but we all know it'll come creeping up on us.  Whether you go with bare legs or neutral tights is your call.  If you're sticking with tights, the same rules apply: you get what you pay for.  

So I'll leave you thinking about how you dress your legs and where you buy your tights.  In closing, here are five basic rules that apply:

1. Wear patterned/coloured tights (that aren't navy or brown) at your own risk.  Just make sure there isn't a five year old around.
2. You should NEVER, EVER have leg hair poking through your tights. 
3. If you're going neutral, avoid gloss tights (no-one wants shiny legs), and make sure they don't wrinkle by your ankles.  Neutral tights are meant to give the illusion of bare skin, and if you've got wrinkly skin by your ankles then girl, you've got problems.
4. Wash tights in a delicates bag.  This will stop them from getting caught up and stretched in your clothes or being ripped by your washing machine.
5. Carry around a bottle of clear nail varnish and a black felt-tip for ripped-tights DIY jobs.