Maternity Tights: The Yay to the Nay
As the weather turns colder, suddenly I am faced with a major pregnancy dilemma. All the maternity clothes I have bought thus far are for the summer. It seems silly to invest in a bunch of new maternity clothes when I only have seven weeks left (that’s if I go full term, I was two weeks early with my first) so I am left to figure out how to transition my summer clothes into fall.
My solution? Maternity tights.
Take all those summer dresses and throw them on with a pair of fall-colored tights and a pair of boots. Then take a cardigan— non-maternity cardigans work— throw it over the ensemble and VIOLA! Fall maternity wardrobe!
With that in mind, I bought three pairs of opaque tights in three different colors— gray, black, and brown— and figured that would have me covered. And since I am in the habit of telling you what’s worth the price and what isn’t, I bought them at three different stores at different price points.
A Pea in the Pod Sueded Opaque Tights
These tights, A Pea in the Pod Sueded Opaque Tights (exact ones no longer available, similar here) ($18.50), are ultra thick so they are definitely warm and won’t tear easily. The fit was fine but there was no contouring around the stomach so there was a little material gap from the top of my legs to the bottom of my belly. The fabric is tight enough so it doesn’t slip throughout the day, but because of the lack of contour, I didn’t feel fully supported and I wasn’t crazy about the bottom of my bare stomach touching my bare thighs when I sat.
On the plus side, they come in a variety of great colors including black, espresso, gray, deep plum and Moroccan blue.
VERDICT: OKAY
Motherhood Maternity Lyra Opaque
These tights, Motherhood Maternity Lyra Opaque ($8), were much thinner than the Pea in the Pod ones and although they did not tear the day I wore them, I can definitely see them having trouble surviving the next few weeks. The material didn’t seem like it offered a lot of stretch and I could see them losing their elasticity fast. The tights were particularly thin over my belly and I am not carrying that big so I think women carrying larger might have issues. FYI— I got a size medium even though I was at the very beginning of the medium size chart and they still felt a little small.
That all being said, they are less than half the price of the other options and if you are not going to wearing them every day, they should be just fine. Just be prepared to pull them up and readjust throughout the day.
They come in black and gray.
VERDICT: NAY
Spanx Marvelous Mama Assets
Spanx are the same price, $18, as the Pea in the Pod tights but with the added addition of a pregnancy panel that cradles your baby bump, it’s a much better deal. There was no gap between my upper thighs and my stomach, the panel allowed the tights to stay in place all day and they still felt like they had room for my baby to grow. The package claims they are the “first-ever supportive maternity tights that hold their shape (and yours)” and after one wear, I am a believer. They even have a little control top action on the upper thighs.
The fabric is just as thick as Pea in the Pod so it’s got the same warmth factor and  you can wear them over and over with little fear of tearing.
My only real negative is that they don’t have any color variation. It’s black and that’s it.
VERDICT: YAY
Favorite Maternity Tights
I know the Spanx are pricier but if you are forgoing a winter maternity wardrobe in exchange for a few transitional items, Spanx should definitely be on your list. They have that unique combination of being the most comfortable while also looking the best. Which rarely ever happens in women’s clothing. I just wish they came in more colors!
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