Return of the american tan

Fashion editors have been telling us for some time that nude is the colour of the season - or beige or taupe or flesh or whatever you will. 

But who knew that this style edict also applied to hosiery? Yes ladies, tan tights are back. 

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy recently cemented the trend by wearing a pair to the Bastille Day celebrations and if further proof of the look's rehabilitation were needed, there have been sightings on Beyonce, Sarah Jessica Parker and Claudia Schiffer. 

Celebrities apparently favour Wolford's Luxe 9 (denier), but retailers report that sales of natural shades in general have soared. 

So how in the world did this unloved underpinning ever find its way back from fashion purgatory where it has languished since the 1980s under the unloved moniker of 'granny tights'? 

The answer appears to be that this summer, we simply ran out of other options. 

The maxi dress only ever worked on the very tall and rake-thin, leggings are well and truly over and fake tan, unless applied under laboratory conditions, is too often reminiscent of the WAG - or the tiger. 

Personally, I am absolutely delighted by the tan tights revival. As a natural blonde with skin so pale it appears blue in certain lights, I am depressingly familiar with the how-best-to-hide-my-pasty-legs-in-summer dilemma. 

While beauty editors assure us that it is now perfectly acceptable to be pale, everyone knows this only applies if you're the model Lara Stone (aka Mrs David Walliams). And I am not Lara Stone. 

This summer alone I've undergone an ill-advised 'contouring' spray tan, which left me with white shins and calves somewhere around 'Dale Winton' on the colour chart. 

I have worn skinny jeans under floaty dresses while the thermometer nudged 90 degrees and was even experimenting with a naked leg until my four-year-old opined that my broken veins looked 'really cool - like Spider-Man's web'. 

That is not to say, however, that any tan tights will do. Rather like a wedding, flesh-coloured hosiery should be entered into reverently, responsibly and with an eye on the shine factor. 

I would, as a rule of thumb (or, rather, leg), avoid anything billed as 'tan' or 'natural tan'. Unless you're of a naturally Katie-Price hue, then you're in danger of looking like an American cheerleader. 

Finally, do be careful with your toe seams. The shade may be perfect, the denier like fairy wings, but a length of nylon hanging from your sandals will give you away every time. 

Happy hosiery hunting!

SO WHICH TAN BRANDS ARE SHEER MAGIC?

WOLFORD LUXE 9 IN GOBI

• COST: £13
• DENIER: 9
• SIZING: Spot on
• COLOUR/SHINE: Matt with a hint of sheen. 
• FEEL/DURABILITY: Soft and barely there but no ladders. I can see why Carla et al love these. The toe seam is also extremely discreet. 

BOOTS BODY SHAPING TIGHTS IN NUDE

• COST: £6 for 2 pairs.
• DENIER: 15. 
• SIZING: Quite long in the leg but high 'ping' factor means they don't bag. 
• COLOUR/SHINE: These will only look nude if you have reasonably olive skin. More a tan than a nude I'd say. 
• FEEL/DURABILITY: Surprisingly soft as these have 'dream skin' to prevent drying. No ladders.

JOHN LEWIS WOMEN BARELY THERE TIGHTS IN NATURAL TAN

• COST: £5. 
• DENIER: 7. 
• SIZING: Came up quite long. 
• COLOUR/SHINE: Despite being advertised as 'beautiful sheer tights to create a bare leg look', you would have to be a natural shade of orange for these to look anything like bare.
• FEEL/DURABILITY: Not natural enough for a really hot day but OK for evening. No ladders.

J BY JASPAR CONRAN TIGHTS IN NATURAL TAN

• COST: £5
• DENIER: 7
• SIZING: Fine, but a bit of a battle to get on as their 'cooling finish' makes them quite slippery.
• COLOUR/SHINE: As with the John Lewis tights, these were tan but nothing like natural.
• FEEL/DURABILITY: Too shiny to be comfortable on a really hot day but advertised as 'superior ladder resist' and stood up to the diamond ring test. 

DEBENHAMS BEST BUY TIGHTS IN NUDE

• COST: £3.75 for five pairs.
• DENIER: 10. 
• SIZING: These come up very short in the leg  -  and I'm only 5ft 3in.
• COLOUR/SHINE: Absolutely amazing  -  easily as good as the Wolford tights and at a fraction of the price. 
• FEEL/DURABILITY: Very soft but ladder-resistant (and you've got four more pairs to play with if one does get snagged). Unless you're very tall, these are an excellent budget option. 

MARKS & SPENCER SECRET SUPPORT TIGHTS BODYSHAPER (MATT) IN ILLUSION

• COST: £5 for two pairs. 
• DENIER: 10. 
• SIZING: Perfect. 
• COLOUR/SHINE: Just a hint of colour but no orange overtones. Very matt, hence very natural-looking. 
• FEEL/DURABILITY: Comfortable, light and ladder-resistant.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1298571/The-return-American-Tan-Granny-tights-vogue.html#ixzz0vj2vqEcb