The Hug Journal · Leggings & tights ·
How to choose your tights size (and when to size up)
How to choose your tights size: how height and weight charts work, what to do between sizes, when to size up, and the fit signs that tell you a pair is wrong.
Tights are one of the few things we still buy by a little chart on the back of a package. Get it right and you forget you are wearing them. Get it wrong and you spend the day tugging the crotch back up. Here is how tights sizing works and how to choose with confidence.
How do tights size charts work?
There is no single standard. Brands use a few different systems, so the size letter on one pair means nothing on another:
- Height and weight. HUE, for example, lists its fleece-lined tights as S/M for about 5 ft 0 in to 5 ft 6 in and 110 to 140 lb, and M/L for about 5 ft 6 in to 6 ft 0 in and 140 to 170 lb.
- Clothing size and height. Snag asks for your usual clothing size, then your height, and also splits the chart by body shape, with one fit for a fuller bum or tummy and another for a flatter shape.
- Weight only. Some tights, including ours, are chosen by weight.
The takeaway: always use the chart for the exact pair you are buying, not the size you wore from another brand.
How do I measure for tights?
You need two numbers at most: your current height and weight, measured the same day. If the chart uses clothing size, use what you usually buy in pants or dresses. If the brand mentions hips or body shape, be honest with yourself about where you carry your curves. Snag splits its chart this way because a fuller hip or tummy uses up more of the fabric.
Should I size up in tights?
If you are between sizes, most brands say yes. HUE writes, 'Between sizes? Size up for a more comfortable fit.' Snag's size guide also says to size up if you are between sizes. A slightly roomy tight is usually more comfortable than one that pulls down at the crotch all day.
Size up too when:
- Your height and weight land in different sizes. Choose the size that covers the larger number.
- You are tall. HUE shares a review from a shopper around 6 ft who found the crotch sat low, a classic sign the leg length was not enough.
- You carry more weight at the hip, tummy or thigh. That area uses more stretch, which pulls fabric away from the legs.
- You want a softer, less compressive feel.
How do I choose a size for fleece-lined tights?
Fleece-lined tights have a brushed layer inside, so there is a little less give than in a thin sheer pair. That makes a correct size matter more. Our Fleece Lined Sheer Look Tights come in two sizes chosen by weight: Regular fits about 88 to 154 lb, and Plus fits about 132 to 220 lb. If you are in the overlap, 132 to 154 lb, choose Plus for a softer fit. If you weigh more than about 220 lb, these will not fit you comfortably, and we would rather tell you that up front.
What are the signs my tights are the wrong size?
Put them on carefully, all the way up, then walk around for a few minutes before you decide.
- Too small: the crotch drops several inches, the waistband rolls, the fabric looks thin or shiny, the knees feel tight.
- Too big: wrinkles at the ankles and knees, fabric that slides as you walk.
- Right: the waistband sits flat, the crotch sits close to your body, and the legs are smooth without strain.
A lot of sagging is really a dressing problem, not a size problem. Gather each leg down to the toe, slide your foot in, and ease the fabric up in small sections so the length is spread evenly before you pull up the waist.
Does tights size change with the season?
Your size does not, but your outfit might. If you plan to wear tights under pants, like the Scrunch Back Flare Pant in The Winter Layers Set, a smooth fit matters even more, because any extra fabric bunches at the knee. Pick the size the chart gives you and only size up if you land in an overlap.
Quick sizing recap
- Read the chart for the exact pair. Brands differ.
- Use today's height and weight.
- Between sizes, or numbers in two sizes: size up.
- Test fit by walking, not by standing still in front of the mirror.
Keep going: What to wear to a winter wedding as a guest (and stay warm) and How to wear a dress in winter and stay warm.
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Questions
Should I size up in tights?
Several hosiery brands say to size up when you fall between sizes. HUE writes 'Between sizes? Size up for a more comfortable fit,' and Snag gives the same advice on its size guide.
Do tights go by height or weight?
Most charts use both. HUE, for example, lists a height range and a weight range for each size. Some brands, like Snag, use your usual clothing size plus your height. Always read the chart for the exact pair you are buying.
What if I am tall and light, or short and heavy?
Your two numbers may land in different sizes. In that case, pick the size that covers the larger measurement, since a pair that is too short or too tight will sag or dig in.
How do I know my tights are too small?
The crotch sits low between your thighs, the waistband rolls down, the fabric looks shiny and stretched thin, or the legs feel tight at the knee. Those are all signs to go up a size.
How do I know my tights are too big?
You will see wrinkles at the ankles and knees, and the fabric may slide or bag as you walk.
Keep reading
Sources: Snag Tights: size guide · HUE: fleece lined tights size chart and care