Deniers: What does it mean?
Technically denier relates to the weight (i.e. thickness) of the yarn from which hosiery is woven, (in case you are interested, 1 denier means that 9,000 meters of yarn weighs 1 gram). Generally the lower the denier, the sheerer the appearance and the more fragile the product. Certain products however have an appearance that is sheerer than would be expected for their denier - this is good news as it means that a product is stronger than it looks!The terms sheer tights, ultra sheer tights, opaque tights and thick tights are referred to frequently. We have outlined below what we mean by each of these terms.
Ultra Sheer: Less than 10 denier
Ultra sheer hosiery is ideal for achieving a bare leg look. Available in a wide variety of deniers and shades to suit your skin tone, ultra sheer hosiery smoothes out blemishes and keeps your legs cool during the hot summer months.Most ultra sheer products will also have sheer toes, making them ideal to wear with strappy sandals. Some may also have a sandal toe which means that the weave is ever so slightly thicker on the toe compared to the rest of the leg.
Sheer: 10 to 20 denier
Sheer hosiery is a must-have summer item for every woman’s hosiery draw. Much like ultra sheer, sheer hosiery is available in an array of colours, deniers and finishes but, being a slightly thicker denier, will be a little more durable for everyday wear. Opt for matt finishes for a natural look and go for shine for a more noticeable appearance.Sheer hosiery can have both sheer toes and sandal toes, which again is great for wearing with strappy sandals or open toe shoes.