The best stocking fillers are small, useful and a little bit special. Hosiery fits the brief: it slips into a stocking, many pairs arrive in gift packaging, and a good pair gets worn over Christmas itself. Here are the ideas that work, and how to get the size right without asking.
Gift-boxed stockings and hold-ups
Black Secret's stockings arrive in the brand's own gift packaging, so there is nothing to wrap. The BS171 is a sheer 20 denier pair with a delicate lace top, easy to wear to dinner or a Christmas party. Ballerina's plain black 102 hold-ups come in embossed packaging with a sleeve, and they stay up on their own.
Opaque tights for the party season
A good pair of black opaques is the gift nobody buys for themselves until the old pair ladders. Gabriella's 60 denier microfibre tights are fully opaque and soft, and the Axel 80 denier adds a pattern for Christmas outfits.
Something playful
Gabriella's Kabaretta fishnet socks in 20 denier, in black or beige, look good with ankle boots or heels. For more sparkle, Ballerina's 441 lurex hold-ups are made for the party season.
A suspender belt
For a partner, a suspender belt is a small gift with a big effect. The Roza Mehendi is embroidered with henna-inspired flowers, and the Roza Amorre has satin-finish elastic and a little sparkle at the back. Pair either with stockings; our guide to wearing a suspender belt explains the rest.
Getting the size right without asking
Hosiery is sized by height and hips, or by leg length and thigh for stockings, rather than by dress size. Check the size on a pair she already wears, or the brand's measurements on each product page: Black Secret sizes stockings by leg length and thigh, Ballerina groups sizes as S/M and L/XL, and Gabriella sizes from 2 (S) to 5 (XL) by hips. Because hosiery can only be returned unopened, keep the packaging sealed until she is sure of the size.
More gift ideas
For something bigger than a stocking filler, see our Christmas Eve box ideas and our lingerie gift guide, or browse gifts for her.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good stocking filler for a woman?
Something small she will use: a pair of gift-boxed stockings or hold-ups, good opaque tights, fishnet socks or a suspender belt.
Are tights a good gift?
Yes, when they are a step up from an everyday multipack: a soft microfibre opaque, a patterned pair for parties or a gift-boxed stocking.
What if I get the size wrong?
Keep the packaging sealed. Hosiery can only be returned unopened, for hygiene reasons, so confirm the size before it is opened.