How to Save On…

How to Save on Hosiery

Shop around. Every retailer has its own pricing scheme for hosiery―more so than for any other type of clothing, says Marshal Cohen, a retail analyst for the NPD Group, a market-research firm. Since the price for the leggings you’ve been coveting might vary greatly, browse several places with large selections. (Try stores and websites like bloomingdales.com, lordandtaylor.com, mytights.com, barenecessities.com, and onehanesplace.com.)

 Look for special markdowns. Department and chain stores often have deals (like buy two pairs, get one free) on midpriced and high-end stockings. Hue.com offers 25 percent off in March and November. And heavy wool tights are usually deeply discounted at the end of winter, so stock up then.

 Buy from secondhand stores. Jesse Garza and Joe Lup, founders of Visual Therapy, a New York City styling company, say thrift stores can be a gold mine for unopened hosiery from high-end designers. You can find unique stockings, like pure cashmere pairs, costing just a few dollars.

 Pay more for stockings in classic colors and styles. If you wear tights at least three to four days a week and can afford to splurge, invest in a few high-quality pairs from Wolford or Fogal (cost: $40 and up); they should last several years.