‘I tried so hard to ladder these’: the best black tights in the UK that don’t snag or slide down – tested

2026-03-11 - 15:13

Warmer days are coming, but it’s not bare-leg weather yet. Our fashion writer put 25 pairs through their paces so you can wear your spring dresses now – and stop wasting money on bad tights • 50 women’s spring wardrobe updates for under £100 Tights are a staple in most women’s wardrobes, yet they’re also one of the most frequently discarded. It’s not unusual to leave the house wearing a new pair, only to realise by lunchtime that they’re laddered and ready for the bin. Tights’ tendency to rip so easily comes down to the delicate nature of the fabric. Once damaged, it usually can’t be repaired, meaning most tights end up in landfill, where the nylon and elastane can take up to 200 years to decompose. An estimated 8bn pairs of tights are bought and discarded each year, according to the brand Swedish Stockings. To make matters worse, producing traditional nylon tights releases nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. Best black tights overall: Snag 50 denier Best shapewear tights: Calzedonia Strong Sculpt tights Continue reading...