One of my fashion role models is my friend and fashion designer, Amber Clisura. She did not wear pants in 2011 as evidenced by her blog No Pants. We will be hearing from her soon, she just started a clothing line, Salt Clothing, and is showing her first Spring Line in a couple of weeks. She loves tights and wears them often, and she taught me how fun and useful tights are.
I am a pretty standard size 26 -28 or size 4X, I weigh 275 lbs. and I am 5’5″. In addition, my ankles are 9 1/2″, my calves 18 1/2″, my thighs are 27″, my hips 59″ and my waist is 54 1/2″.
So here is a little round-up of what has worked, what has not, and what I am excited to try next:
The Best So Far:
10/9/2016:
Sock Dreams Tights: This just in, I am hearing great things about these Sock Dreams tights in an Extra Plus Size, and come in both 180 denier and 20 denier (thickness of the fabric),
We Love Colors Plus Sized Tights: They carry a variety of plus size tights and leggings, use the charts carefully.I find them pretty true to size with maybe a 25 lb. margin.
We Love Colors striped tights in both the black striped tights and the white striped tight are “one size fits all” plus size tights, and the chart is below. These tights just fit me, and I love them.
May 2014 Update: We Love Color is no longer carrying striped tights. I am heartbroken.
Update: April 2013: I just tried the plus size fishnets and the “one size” 1x – 3x fit perfectly, but I think I am at the top of their range, the size chart says hips to 48 inches, but they are also not very long. Update: May 2013: I just wore the fishnets for the second time today and they looked great when I put them on, and pulled easily above my waist, but within an hour they were falling down and since I was wearing a fairly short dress over them it was concerning. I will probably not buy them again but will stick to striped and solid color tights.
On the other hand We Love Colors has a solid color tight that runs up to 375 lbs., (and maybe even a little higher). I think they are the go-to tight if you are looking for an amazing range of colors, and I love that they last a long time.
Sealed With A Kiss: They have a “One Size” legging that fits me perfectly. I have a 54-55′ waist and I love how good they feel. Just a plain black, stretchy, footless, ankle length, legging that feels good and is wearing well. This is my everyday, throw them on and go sort of legging.
Size
|
Length
|
Waist
|
Hips
|
Inseam
|
One Size 1X-4X | 35 | 28-52 | 32-60 | 22.5 |
Torrid:
I love Torrid but their have been hit and miss for me. I cannot wear Torrid Size 3/4, too small. BUT their footless tights are great on me. I wear a 2 but often the 1 might be better, but might wear out sooner. But I hate baggy tights.
Lane Bryant:
Lane Bryant tights tend to run large. I purchased these Size 26-28 because I loved the studs, but they were way too large, and I have a similar pair that is equally baggy, I am tugging on them in the photo so they will not look too baggy. I am going to wear them at an event in a couple of weeks and I will have to take them in.
Roaman’s: .
I ordered a size 4X leggings from Roaman’s. I did not review their size chart, I did not look at any notes I might have had about sizing for Roaman’s. But guess what, Roaman’s runs VERY large. According to their size chart a 4X is equal to a 34-36, not a 26-28, which is what I usually wear. Good to know! I have this in this capri tight as well as a lace banded capri tight and they both run very large, I look best in a size 1X.
Roaman’s also carries a range of metallic leggings, up to a size 5X. I cannot really recommend metallic leggings in any brand. No matter what size you get they bunch at the knee and the ankle immediately, and I think the bunching looks worse than in other colors.
Cult of California: These are my favorite tights, I wore them recently to a Mad Max sort of party and I wear them with black boots or flats, often. The back is not mesh so they are comfortable and the Size 4X fits me perfectly, and they come to a size 5X. The are pricey, but I love them so, they were my splurge last year.
My Dissappointments:
Berkshire Queen: Silky Sheer Size 5X – 6x, I can just get them on but it is very difficult
Sealed With a Kiss Jeggings: 4X, I cannot get them on, and I am heartbroken.
Excited to Try Soon:
Curvissa: Curvissa, a plus size brand in the UK, has a great range of clothing including a selection of cool and casual leggings. They invited me to have a look at their tights and jeggings and I see several pair I want to try.
These Fair Isle Print Leggings are my favorite and they come to a UK Size 32 which would be a US Size 30 or a Size 28 at the smallest. I love them, they are right on trend with the tribal stripes and would look great with a sundress, and there is also an Aztec version. I also like the lace trim on these. If I get a chance to try them I will let you know how they fit.
I have always wanted to try her leggings. I love the lace and these polka dots are precious and of course I love that her leggings come to a US size 32. I will let you know if I try a pair.
I would love to hear from you if you find other plus size leggings that fit a Size 4X or higher. The more we share information, the more options we will have and the more the retailers will know what we want and need. Sounds like a win-win for all of us.
Peace…affinity
UPDATE 3/23/2013:
A couple of Affatshionista’s readers, first Tristy, made some useful comments on Facebook that I have added to make this a more complete discussion. I REALLY appreciate it, I love learning from all of you. She begins by outing my legs as smallish so in my description above I have included my measurements.
Per Tristy “I have BIG legs and it makes a huge difference in finding tights and leggings. So I’m looking for any blog reviews of Size 4X+ leggings/tights for the big-legged ladies, in case any of you know of some. And what works for my big legs you (didn’t) ask? We Love Colors tights (only the spandex ones), Re/Dress Online‘s Teggings, and Domino Dollhouse‘s leggings fit my big legs great. Torrid, Lane Bryant, Avenue, Roman’s – not at all. I am LIVING for the CULT of California’s Rapture Leggings, so I might just have to give those a try. Did you find that they had a lot of stretch?” (My response, “The Cult of California legging are pretty true to size, not a lot of stretch)”
(Tristy responds) “It sounds like you and I have somewhat opposite bottom halves I find with this kind of stuff, it’s REALLY helpful to know actual measurements of the person reviewing – my thighs are 33″ around and my calves are 21″ – Hips & tummy are 58″ – so that gives everyone an idea of where I’m coming from – the reason the brands I listed that don’t work for me, don’t work, is because of my legs. Roman’s goes up to really nice, big sizes, but they only give you more in the waist and not in the legs, so I can barely squeeze my legs in them, but am swimming in the waist area.”
Per Amber, “I’m with Tristy. I’m big all over, and I’ve got tree trunk legs. My calves are 27 inches at the widest point. (I love them, don’t get me wrong, but dressing them is difficult!) But, I left a comment on your post about tights that worked great for me!” (That comment is incorporated here) “When it comes to tights, I recommend these from One Stop Shop. They tend to run on the smaller side, I’d size up a size or two, and they seem to have gotten rid of the 8x, which is what fits my 5’7/430lb body. But that means they will fit anyone smaller than I am.”
THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR INFORMATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM MORE OF YOU…affinity
Thank you for this informative and useful post. I have such trouble finding tights to fit me. It’s a little hard to get good tights of a large size in the UK, but leggings are slightly easier to come by.
It looks like the UK has more and more plus sizes. Thanks for reading my blog and I will keep you up to date on my finds.
When it comes to tights, I recommend these: http://www.onestopplus.com/clothing/2pack-Opaque-Footed-Tights-by-Comfort-Choice.aspx?PfId=114641&DeptId=11782&ProductTypeId=1
They tend to run on the smaller side, I’d size up a size or two, and they seem to have gotten rid of the 8x, which is what fits my 5’7/430lb body. But that means anyone smaller than me (which is most people!) can definitely fit into them. They’re super sturdy and come in a ton of colors!
Thanks so much. That kind of information is a huge help.
I think you are my lower-half twin – my measurements are really, really close to yours (my calves are just a little smaller). I hate the LB tights now that they all have a control top. I usually buy my basic color (black, gray, brown) tights from Catherine’s – their sizes are kind of wacky, but the 3x/4x fits (not as opaque as I would like though); the 5x/6x is fine except a little short (has plenty of stretch around, though), and the 7x is nice and long and non-see-through. I only like the non-control-top ones. I’ve had good luck with leggings from Danskin – their plus selection is crap, but what they do have is generously sized (I have both 3x and 4x and both fit) and stands up to years of abuse (as in, wash & dry in commercial machines, not really paying attention to whether they get dried on low or medium, etc.) We Love Colors, I have both an E and an EE, and I think the EE wins, just because (again) of opacity. However, the E’s fit perfectly fine.
Also, LB’s Jeggings didn’t work for me at all….they’re so baggy at the bottom. They would probably be great for someone who had wider lower legs. Old Navy’s dark wash skinny jeans (not the Rockstar ones) are pretty decently actually skinny. They stretch out during the day, so size down.
Thanks so much for your comments. I really appreciate them. I have had my Danskin tights so long, some for over 10 years, that I did not even think to include them. Thanks for reading and posting.
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Torrid has changed their sizing! Things are fitting bigger now, and they go up to a size Torrid 6 which is a 30/32! 😀 I’m between 2/3 in their sizing. I have always been a jeans kind of girl..and have started wearing leggings and all I’ve worn are black microfiber (winter) ones….so this was super helpful! I’m so glad I found this!
I am glad you found this too. Thanks so much for commenting.
Thanks for the info! I struggle to find tights that will fit my ample belly and little bird legs haha. I’ve found that Woman Within’s tights run very similarly to We Love Colors, and both work well for me. The one thing I am still searching for though is a pair of footed tights that don’t have a different color/material/opaqueness on the upper thigh and gusset. I like to sport a mini dress, but I think the outfit can quickly turn tacky when tights have seems and change fabric on the upper thigh like with the We Love Colors pairs.
I will be on the lookout for you…
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