Axis two of two

Denier decides how sheer. Size decides whether it fits.

Tights have to fit a height and a body at once. A single S, M or L can only describe one of those, which is why it is the largest cause of returns in this category. Everything here is a matrix.

Two numbers in, one honest answer out.

You will get a single size, or two sizes with the trade-off between them spelled out, or a dedicated block if the regular one does not reach you. If none of those apply, you will be told that instead of being sold the nearest thing.

The four blocks

Regular

Four cells with deliberately overlapping ranges, so a body near a boundary reads as a choice rather than as a rounding error.

Regular block — height against weight and hip, with leg length, waist and maximum calf circumference
Size	Height	Weight	Hip	Waist	Leg length	Calf to
Size A	150–166 cm	45–61 kg	82–94 cm	58–70 cm	70 cm	36 cm
Size B	160–176 cm	55–72 kg	88–100 cm	64–78 cm	75 cm	38 cm
Size C	170–184 cm	66–84 kg	96–110 cm	72–88 cm	80 cm	41 cm
Size D	174–188 cm	78–96 kg	106–120 cm	82–98 cm	84 cm	44 cm

Tall

A separate longer block. Eight to ten centimetres more leg with the gusset repositioned, not simply raised.

Tall block — height against weight and hip, with leg length, waist and maximum calf circumference
Size	Height	Weight	Hip	Waist	Leg length	Calf to
Tall 1	176–186 cm	58–78 kg	90–104 cm	66–82 cm	88 cm	40 cm
Tall 2	183–196 cm	70–92 kg	98–114 cm	74–92 cm	94 cm	43 cm

Curve

A wider body panel and a deeper gusset, knitted that way rather than stretched into shape.

Curve block — height against weight and hip, with leg length, waist and maximum calf circumference
Size	Height	Weight	Hip	Waist	Leg length	Calf to
Curve 1	156–174 cm	80–104 kg	108–124 cm	86–104 cm	78 cm	47 cm
Curve 2	160–182 cm	98–126 kg	120–142 cm	100–122 cm	82 cm	52 cm

Wide-calf

Knee-highs only. The number that matters here is the calf circumference, not the height.

Wide-calf block — height against weight and hip, with leg length, waist and maximum calf circumference
Size	Height	Weight	Hip	Waist	Leg length	Calf to
Wide-calf 1	155–175 cm	58–92 kg	88–116 cm	—	42 cm	47 cm
Wide-calf 2	163–186 cm	72–110 kg	96–128 cm	—	45 cm	53 cm

How to measure

Height: Without shoes, against a wall, heels together. Round to the nearest centimetre.
Hip: Around the fullest part, tape level all the way round, not pulled tight.
Calf: Around the widest part of the calf, standing, weight on both feet. Sitting gives a smaller number than the one that matters.
Leg length: From the crease at the top of the thigh straight down to the floor. Compare it against the leg length in the table, which is measured flat and unstretched.

A regular leg form beside a longer one, both in identical hosiery under the same light — Tall against regular

A regular leg form beside a fuller one, both in identical hosiery under the same light — Curve against regular

Two knee-high stockings side by side, the right on a visibly wider calf with a deeper welt — Wide-calf welt against the regular welt

When you land between two cells

You get both, and what each one costs you. The lower size will be more sheer at the thigh because the same yarn is stretched further; the upper size may bag at the ankle. Height costs more leg length than weight does, so if you are near the top of the height range, take the larger one.

When nothing fits

If your measurements fall outside every cell in every block, the matrix says so. We would rather tell you that than sell you something that will ladder on the first wear.

Tell us what you have been struggling with — that form goes to a person.

What we do with these numbers

Height, weight and hip are used to work out a size and nothing else. If you send them to us they are kept for no longer than 6 months and are never used for profiling or targeted marketing. See the privacy page.