Is it just me, or does the desire to put on a dress go completely out the window once the temperature drops below 60 degrees? While a sweater dress or midi skirt would look super cute with my fave sweater, the second I step outside I want to be covered in as many layers as possible. That was until TikTok presented me with the ideal solution: fleece-lined tights. After racking up millions of views on my perfectly curated For You Page, they’ve become an essential part of my winter wardrobe after just one wear.
In case you haven’t seen this cold-weather essential on your FYP yet, let me break it down for you. At first glance, they look like any other pair of tights—with a sheer to opaque finish, depending on the style. What makes them extra special, however, is that the inside is lined with super soft fleece that actually keeps you warm (!!) while still appearing like semi-sheer tights to the naked eye.
Ahead, find the best fleece-lined tights if you wanna rock your mini skirts and LBDs regardless of the weather.<3
Our fave fleece-lined tights on Amazon
CHRLEISURE Warm Fleece Lined Leggings
VERO MONTE Opaque Fleece Lined Tights
Berkshire Berkshire Cozy Hose Tights
Yummy Tone Warm Tights
Now 60% Off
Mitid Sheer Thermal Tights
Now 33% Off
Reviewers on both Amazon and TikTok say the innovative stockings are incredibly warm and not too bulky, thanks to the super compressive fit (FYI, I’d recommend sizing up if you’re between sizes). You could even sneakily layer them under a pair of baggy jeans or pants for some extra insulation—and don’t sleep on fleece-lined workout leggings and fleece-lined sweatpants for some added warmth, either.
And don’t get me wrong, while I will always have a special place in my closet for basic black tights, having some color options like navy, green, and red is always a plus.
Other fleece-lined tights we love
spanx Plush Tummy Shaping Tights
Calzedonia Sheer Effect Thermal Tights
Plush Fleece Lined Stirrup Tights
Stems Fleece Lined Thermal Tights
Lemon Faux Translucent Fleece Lined Tights
Of course, there’s a lot more to these tights than their plush lining. The thick elastic waistband offers a supportive, second-skin-like fit, that will keep them from sliding down. Plenty of fleece-lined tights are offered in a variety of silhouettes like footed, stirrup, and even leggings to accommodate your fit preferences. You can snag any of our faves at retailers like Amazon, Revolve, or Nordstrom for around $20-$60 a pair. I’d say they’re a wise investment, considering how easily they marry function and fashion.
Historically, these viral tights have been a far cry from shade-inclusive—the fleece layer inside most skin-illusion fleece-lined tights was offered in a single beige shade. Thankfully, there are now brands like Melanin Fleece Tights, that make tights with sheer skin tone illusions in a range of deeper shades and a wider variety of sizes.
While our FYP is constantly inundated with viral recommendations and contradicting opinions, I can confidently attest that fleece-lined tights are a wardrobe must-have—and the above pairs are the best in the game.
Why Trust Cosmo
Cosmo’s shopping team spends all day, every day scouring the internet, testing products, and reading reviews so we can bring you the type of high-quality content we’d want for ourselves (and our standards are pretty darn high, TBH). For this story, Cosmo editors spent hours researching and reviewing dozens of fleece-lined tights to find the best pairs out there.
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant shopping editor at Cosmopolitan where she covers all the best things you can add to your cart. She loves writing about everything from fashion to politics, and you can definitely find her listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on loop while doing so. She’s also probably in bed either reading or endlessly scrolling through TikTok (most likely the latter). Feel free to follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
Hannah is the assistant shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things from cute apartment decor to trendy fashion finds, TikTok products that are actually worth your $$$, and the perfect gift to buy for your boyfriend’s mom. She previously wrote for Seventeen and CR Fashion Book. Follow her on Instagram for hot takes on red carpet fashion and unhinged updates on the books she’s reading on the train.
Tarah-Lynn Saint-Elien is the fashion editor at Cosmopolitan, writing weighty and witty stories that run the gamut of gushing over Zendaya to convincing you of everything you need in your closet! She began her journey in the industry with a fashion and faith blog and an internship at Elle.com almost 10 years ago. Since then, she’s also served as the style editor at The Haitian Times. The Haitian-American pageant queen is a Syracuse Masters graduate and the author of two books, including: Claim Your Crown. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @iamtarahlynn.
