Hosiery: Tights

On chilly winter days, wearing a long skirt isn't really going to beat the cold, especially if you use regular pantyhose or stockings underneath. Also, no matter how much a pair of control top pantyhose might help you look trim, nothing smooths you more than a pair of tights, which may look cute in bright colors or pastels on a little girl, but will work for you in other ways as you grow up.

Merona makes our point perfectly with both opaque tights in solid colors and the sexy, semi-sheer, long-lasting patterned tights you'll want peeking from beneath your skirts. Wolford also takes women seriously with their sultry fishnet tights that will last so much longer than stockings, and the patterns are easier to see. We also like Wolford's Soft Logic style for winter warmth that look like wool, and the playful Fringe tights that swirl about your legs as you move.

We really love Assets by Sara Blakely, both for their standard, petite and plus sizes in a nice variety of quality designs, and for their amazing maternity pantyhose and tights with a supportive panel which adjusts with you, comfortably and perfectly fit, throughout the entire nine months.

Our final favorites won't surprise anyone who has paid attention to tights over the last decade or two. Both offer terrific quality and their styles follow fashion as closely as another other brand while offering smart design choices for better shaping. For example, Spanx provides the Tight-End collection as a bodyshaper for the tummy, hips, thighs and bottom while opaque yarns in lovely designs flatter your legs. Danskin produces many different styles as well, including an incredibly soft microfiber with semi-opaque simplicity, and their clever convertible back seam tights for a more sultry look.