In France and Italy they understand the importance of tights. It behoves us to remember this at a time of mass hosiery abuse. The continentals know that the right pair (ie, right colour, right texture, right fit) is as important as the right shoes or bra and that a good pair can be the simplest fix for a Christmas outfit. We either get over-excited about a £385 pair from Yves Saint Laurent or start bartering over a 99p pair from Primark, and then chuck them in the machine where they become impregnated with shredded tissues from our children’s pockets.

Our continental cousins invest in quality, rather than hype. Then they hand wash them in the soap equivalent of Krug and fold them correctly thereafter (three folds up the leg, tucking the resulting flat rectangle into the waistband so the tights are neatly encased inside out to prevent snagging in the drawer). Don’t knock it. Until you’ve re-folded all the tights in your drawer, you don’t know the meaning of therapeutic. They even understand tights in Austria, the birthplace of Wolford, purveyor of exceedingly good tights. So how hard can it be?

To my mind, the best tights are by Falke. Inevitably, the basic starter kit (without cashmere or silk) costs around £20, which at some point in history could probably have bought a house in Mayfair. But for this you get an easy-on-the-skin combination of merino wool and cotton that is warm but breathable, looks the business with both dressy outfits and more casual ones and fits beautifully, neither twisting round your leg like some creepy pervert, nor hovering halfway down your crotch like some, well, creepy pervert. Plus, they come in the loveliest shades of ribbed grey (one of this season’s most popular colours again, it looks less heavy than black and is the perfect combination with navy). Alternatively, Marks & Spencer’s cashmere-blend opaques, £9.50, aren’t bad. Don’t waste them on boots, however, which will rip them to shreds. This is when you wear cheaper opaques.

If I were more partial to showing off my legs and less concerned about feeling cosy, I’d be very excited by all the Technicolor tights around this winter. The yellower, orangier and purplier they are, the better. Try Jonathan Aston’s 40 denier, £4.99, Pamela Mann’s fluorescent ones, also £4.99 (both from www.tightsplease.com), or for a bit more coverage, Tabio’s 60 and 80 denier, from £6.99 (www.tabio.com). I love the way colours add a new lease of life to tea-dresses and spice up sweater dresses, which can otherwise be a bit frumpy. For this reason I’m partial to Lurex tights in cappuccino or black as well, and Le Bourget Asty, £14.95 (www.tightsandmore.com), could be all you need to take a well-cut dress from daytime on to a party.

Pretty Polly now sells moisturising tights, presumably for those in too much of a rush to slap on some cream. But if you’re really looking for short cuts, Marks & Spencer’s Smooth Body Shapers in black sheer or navy are good-value medium-control tights, £6 for two pairs. And Spanx’s All The Way Super Control, Tummy to Toes full-length tights, £20 (01580 241111), save months in the gym. Entirely effective, they should never, repeat never, be shown to any partner you intend to remain in your thrall.

Times recommends

• It is possible to look stylish while pregnant
• Britain’s tot models
• Who and what benefits from the heat wave?