The perfect colourful tight is one where the colour and the denier work together. At 35 denier a colour sits light and semi-sheer, closer to a tint than a block. At 60 or 80 denier the same colour reads dense and saturated. Choose the weight for the effect you want, then choose the colour.
This is a guide to choosing coloured tights by denier, and to wearing navy, burgundy, red and brown, plus this season's fresher shades like raspberry, dark teal and powder blue, without the result looking like fancy dress. Every pair made by Heist is knit in Italy on a single-piece machine with a hand-sewn adaptive waistband, so the colour arrives with a tight that also fits beautifully.
How denier decides the colour
Denier is the weight of the yarn. It also decides how a colour reads on the leg. At 35 denier the knit is semi-sheer, so a colour sits light and slightly translucent: a shade like raspberry or powder blue reads as a tint rather than a block. At 60 denier the knit is opaque and the same colour reads solid and even. At 80 denier it is opaque and deeper again, the most saturated version of a shade. The higher the denier, the more solid the colour, and the less skin will show through the tight. Pick the denier for the depth of colour you want, not only for warmth.
If you want the full logic on weight, our opaque tights guide covers denier in more detail. For colour, the short version: lighter weights for spring and layering, heavier weights for autumn and winter, and the colour follows the same rule.
Four coloured tights, three deniers
The Thirty-Five in Midnight Navy
35 denier semi-sheer, knit from Q-Nova® by Fulgar recycled polyamide with elastane. Seamless, gusset-free, with a hand-sewn adaptive waistband.
Good for: navy as a softer alternative to black, under lighter autumn looks, with a little skin.
The Sixty in Cardinal Red
60 denier opaque, knit from recycled Q-Nova® yarn. Seamless, gusset-free, with the adaptive waistband.
Good for: a true, classic red that reads as a solid colour.
The Eighty in Burgundy
80 denier opaque, the densest knit in the range. Seamless, gusset-free, with the adaptive waistband. Made in Italy.
Good for: the richest depth of colour and the most warmth, for deep winter.
The Sixty in Chocolate Brown
60 denier opaque, knit from recycled Q-Nova® yarn. Seamless, gusset-free, with the adaptive waistband.
Good for: the easiest first colour, an alternative to black that still works with most of a wardrobe.
Which colour, and what to wear it with
The questions people actually ask are about pairing. With a black dress, chocolate brown or a deep colour like burgundy can work as a more attention-grabbing pop than black on black. With a navy dress, you could keep the tights navy or go even darker. A nude also pairs beautifully with navy and autumn tones. With a red or burgundy dress, black or a matching burgundy grounds the look. For a lighter, more current pop, a semi-sheer powder blue or dark teal at 35 denier sits well with navy, grey and denim.
Our guide to black tights with a dress covers how we would style this look further, and how to style nude tights covers the other side of the spectrum. If you're thinking about where to start with colourful tights, The Sixty in Chocolate Brown is the colour we would recommend, and the one most people start with.
Colour is nothing without a tight that lasts
A coloured tight gets worn less often than black, so it has to survive being kept season after season. The hand-sewn adaptive waistband of our tights is the part that distinguishes us from other tights on the market. Hand-sewn, our waistbands adapt to the body, so it does not dig, roll or sag through the day. We tested the waistband across 196 samples with 67 women before it even went into production, so you know we're serious about the comfort and durability.
Anti-snag fusion technology used in the final stages of production sets the yarn under heat, so the sheers resist laddering, and double-covered yarns make the knit more durable. Think of this as the setting spray of the tights world - it ensures a stress-free wear for every pair we create. A colourful tight you wear for years costs less per wear than three cheap pairs you replace each season, whatever the shade.
Wearing colour without looking costume-y
When thinking about tights in a look, we recommend one colour moment per outfit. When the tights are the colour, keep the shoe and other materials relatively quiet, or match the shoe to the tight to lengthen the leg. Tonal beats contrast: burgundy tights with a burgundy or black shoe, navy with navy or black, red with black.
For a first step into colour, The Sixty in Dark Teal or chocolate brown are neutral enough to do most of the work of black while still reading as a classic choice. Once those tones feel easier to style, cardinal red and burgundy are the next move.
Coloured tights: your questions answered
What colour tights go with a black dress?
A deep colour reads more considered than more black. Chocolate brown, burgundy or a dark teal all sit well under black. Match the tight to the shoe to keep the line long. For the black-on-black version, see our guide to black tights with a dress.
What colour tights should I wear with a navy dress?
Stay navy or go darker. A matching navy, like The Thirty-Five in Midnight Navy, keeps the look clean. Black works too. Avoid a paler nude with navy, which tends to break the leg line.
Are coloured tights in fashion?
Colour has held for several seasons now, moving from bright statement shades toward deeper, wearable ones: burgundy, navy, chocolate and teal, alongside softer seasonal shades like raspberry and powder blue. The lasting version is tonal rather than loud, which is why the deeper colours outlast the trend.
What denier should coloured tights be?
It depends on the effect. 35 denier is semi-sheer, so colour sits light and translucent. 60 denier is opaque and reads as a solid colour. 80 denier is opaque and deepest of all. For a first coloured pair, 60 denier is the most versatile.
How do I wear coloured tights without looking dated?
Keep one colour moment per outfit and stay tonal. Match the shoe to the tight, or keep the shoe quiet. Deep, muted colours read as considered where brights can read as costume. Start with brown or navy before red.
What are the best coloured tights in the UK?
Judge them the way you would black tights: on the waistband, the knit and the yarn. Heist coloured tights are knit in Italy on a single-piece knit with a hand-sewn adaptive waistband that does not dig, roll or sag, and the opaque weights use recycled Q-Nova® yarn. Browse the full range of coloured tights.
Words by The Heist Team.
