The tights test - in pictures

Falke Isabelle ribbed, cotton-blend A nice woolly, subtly patterned rib: not outlandish, but a change from plain black. I didn’t think about them all day: a good sign. A less good sign: they snagged on the zip of my boots, making a hole. Slightly stiff after a wash and, disappointingly, for all Falke’s reputation, emerged from the drum a bit bobbly. £26, falke.com Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian American Apparel jersey tights Thick and slightly ribbed, and very schoolgirlish in texture – though not in colour. An element of fancy dress about them. Coloured tights are a nice idea, but these did not flatter. Made from bamboo, they were soft. Maybe a bit too soft though: they felt a bit slippery. Quite strong, but they bobbled a little after a wash. £19, store.americanapparel.co.uk , 0800 630 0074 Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian M&S, cotton-rich cutout diamond These wore like a dream. Looked expensive but half the price of Falke. Charmingly old-school with holey pattern. Soft to touch and generously sized, which added to the comfort. They are textured, so won’t be spoiled by bobbling. They washed well. £9.50, marksandspencer.com Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian Burlington matt 50 denier, semi-opaque Very smooth: no grainy bits, no show-through. An excellent pair of tights. Wanted to stock up immediately. Soft to touch, they felt like a proper accessory to an outfit rather than a punishment, as some tights do. Generously sized, which added to the comfort. A whole day, and no holes, just a few tiny snags. Washed well, without fading or shrinkage. £15, burlington.de/gb Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian Mary Portas/Charnos opaque 40 Very green. These drew quite a few glances. Perfect opacity, though: you could leave your legs unshaven for months and no one would know. The closest feeling to support tights. So tight, taking them off felt like a liberation. Frighteningly good. No snags. £9.98, tightsplease.co.uk Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian Wolford Velvet Deluxe 66 Revered among tights: classic matt black, as smart as tights can be. So special you feel you should wear gloves to put them on. In confidence terms, the closest hosiery gets to carrying a Chanel bag. Exceedingly comfortable. These were barely on when something sharp hidden in the stair carpet tugged at the underside of my foot and, horror, even before 8am, they were flawed. The ladder didn’t travel far, though, and they held their own for the rest of the day. Forgiven. £19, mytights.com Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian