Best hosiery and sockwear for women over 50 in 2024 | members only

Buying socks and tights does not usually bring on the heart-stopping thrill of fabulous shoes or a great new bag. Even bra and swimsuit shopping (two experiences that are anything but fun)

get precedence over leg wear. They rank last on women’s to-buy list. How do I know? As a fashion editor and personal shopper for women over 50 I’ve seen it all — sheer pantyhose with runs,

pilled black opaque tights and socks that bunch up, slip down and drive women’s feet crazy. But let’s be honest, like every other category in fashion, hosiery has evolved, and the updates

are anything but dull. Here’s all you need to know on what to buy now: Hanes Premium Women’s Perfect Blackout Tights in Black (Left and Right) AARP (Target, 2) 1. KNOW WHEN TO SPLURGE, WHEN

TO SCRIMP. Before you ask: Yes, there’s a difference between low-cost brands and pricier ones. Your choice depends a lot on budget but also fit, performance and style. Most women over 50 are

not snobs when it comes to hosiery. Who hasn’t dashed to the drugstore for a $6 pair of “emergency” tights before a party or added a three-pack of socks on sale to the grocery cart? Still,

many do wonder whether luxury pantyhose is better, in the same way they wonder if regular Neutrogena moisturizer works the same as the super-pricey La Mer. Here’s the truth: Inexpensive

brands are absolutely great for true basics especially in black. You won’t go wrong with a pair of black opaque tights, sheer black pantyhose or black crew socks like the HANES PREMIUM

WOMEN’S PERFECT BLACKOUT TIGHTS IN BLACK ($12, target.com), L’EGGS SHEER ENERGY CONTROL TOP PANTYHOSE IN BLACK ($8, cvs.com) and the NO NONSENSE SILKY TROUSER SOCKS 3 PAIR PACK IN BLACK ($8,

nononsense.com). In fact, even when it comes to trends like sheer black dotted hose and fleece-lined tights, affordable brands are on it! But if you want more truly elevated design details

like extra-wide stretchy waistbands, ultra-sheer or fancy textures, advanced hi-tech snag and run-resistant sheers, an expanded range of “nude” skin tone shades in pantyhose or fashion

colors in tights and socks get ready to spend a little more, shop new sites or try some new-for-you brands. Nubian Skin 40 Denier Semi-Matt Shaping Tights in Caramel (Left), Lane Bryant Day

Sheer Tights in French Coffee (Center), and MeMoi Petit Point Sheer Tights in Black Dots (Right). AARP (Nubian Skin, Lane Bryant, MeMoi) 2. SHEER PANTYHOSE CAN SOLVE BARE LEG ISSUES. Funny

how things go totally out of fashion and then come roaring back in. That’s what’s happening with sheer pantyhose now. If you’re one of the women who said goodbye to dresses and skirts in

favor of camouflaging leggings, pants and jeans, say hello to your legs’ new best friend. Everything you hated about sheer pantyhose — the runs, the pinching waistbands, the unrealistic and

limited skin tone shades, the uncomfortable taut feel of the control panty part and even the swishy friction sound when you walk — has been resolved. Brands like the HANES PERFECT NUDES GIRL

SHORT TUMMY CONTROL PANTYHOSE IN NUDE SHADES 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 AND TRUE BLACK ($14 each, herroom.com) and NUBIAN SKIN 40 DENIER SEMI-MATT SHAPING TIGHTS IN CINNAMON, CAFE AU LAIT, BERRY AND

CARAMEL ($9, nubianskin.com) feature a range of “nude” skin tone shades that give mature legs a better-than-bare air-brushed finish much the way tinted moisturizer does for the face. For

camouflage of leg discolorations, sheer black pantyhose is surprisingly effective and hot again. Opt for classic basic sheers like the LANE BRYANT DAY SHEER TIGHTS IN OFF BLACK AND BLACK

($6, lanebryant.com) or the SHEERTEX CLASSIC SHEER RIP-RESIST TIGHTS ($26, sheertex.com) a pricey social media hit, rumored to be run-proof. For extra blurring and an even trendier look, try

dotted black sheers (also known as _point d’esprit_) like the BERKSHIRE HOSIERY SHEER DOT PANTYHOSE 8012 IN FANTASY BLACK ($14, jcpenney.com) and the J.CREW FACTORY WOMEN’S DEMI-SHEER BLACK

POLKA DOT TIGHTS ($9, factory.jcrew.com). These, like plain black sheers, work best for dressier occasions and evening when paired with black low heels or slingbacks for a tonal leggy

effect. If you’re wondering, the term “denier” on the package refers to the scale of thickness and density of the hose. A 10 or 20 denier is very sheer; an 80 to 100 very opaque. Everything

in between is either semi-sheer or semi-opaque.