Sunday 23 January 2022

Revisiting The FALKE Pure Matt 100 Denier Tights

I recently bought myself a new pair of the FALKE Pure Matt 100 Denier Tights.





These are some of my favourite, most long-lasting and warm winter tights. In the colder months I am more likely to be wearing this classic FALKE style than anything else. If you look after them they will go on and an as they have quite impressive durability.

FALKE have upgraded this style with some new features. Here's a short summary.

There are two key upgrades:

1. A new Anatomic Toe Fit. The ergonomically shaped right and left toe progression is a real improvement aimed at creating a perfect fit on the foot.



2. An upgraded pressure-free comfort waistband.




This is 5cm wide and has been completely redesigned. It has noticeably more elasticity than the older model and is a full 2cm wider.

As before FALKE have sustained the overall superb quality. These tights are matte and completely opaque on the leg with even coverage.

Yarn: 91% Polyamide and 9% Elastane.



Seams are flat and high quality.

Taller and larger guys will also appreciate the rise in the brief: there is fully 30cm from the top of the waistband to the crotch.

Leg length is also impressive - the leg measures 87cm from the crotch to the toe.

These measurements refer to the XL (V) size, which also has a rear comfort panel.

Price: £30.00 €30,00. This is a great price given their quality and durability.

Tuesday 11 January 2022

Just arrived: Les Belles Opaque | Noir 80 Denier Seamless Tights.

Les Belles have sent us a pair of their new Opaque | Noir 80 Denier Seamless Tights to trial and review






Les Belles describe this new style:

"More coverage, more warmth, more fun. When dressed in Opaque Noir, less-than-perfect weather can’t get in your way. Take on the world (or your couch) in soft, seamless, genderless sensuality."

Key features:
  • Seamless 
  • No Gusset
  • Run-Resistant 
  • Unisex
  • Vegan
  • 80 Denier
  • Perfect-Fit 3D-Knit Technology
  • No-Roll/Pinch/Sag Waistband (3.5 inches / 9 cm)
  • Double-Covered Yarn 
  • Reinforced Toe
  • Made in Italy, sustainably and responsibly from 100% recycled yarns
In previous posts we highlighted how Les Belles are using guys to model their tights, including the Opaque | Noir 80 Denier Seamless.



Review coming soon.

Do check out also our review of the Les Belles The Semi | Noir 50 Denier Seamless Tights.

Sunday 26 December 2021

New +S Ultra Stretch Dry Tights From UNIQLO

We have been checking some of the new legwear for men at UNIQLO.



The tights under shorts look is so mainstream now it's not even a surprise.

These are the new +S Ultra Stretch Dry Tights.



Key features:
  • Quick-drying fabric with a smooth, fresh feel.
  • Made with 90% recycled polyester. 
  • Warm brushed lining. 
  • Ultra Stretch fabric with quick-drying DRY technology. 
  • Versatile utility wear for sports or everyday styling.
  • Body: 90% Polyester - Recycled Fiber, 10% Elastane/ Elastic.











The +S Ultra Stretch Dry Tights From UNIQLO are available in Black and Blue.



Sizes run from S to XL.

The +S Ultra Stretch Dry Tight retail for £24.90.

Wednesday 8 December 2021

Reviewed: Brown Skin Essentials Dark Chocolate Brown Nude Tights

Brown Skin Essentials sent us a pair of their Dark Chocolate Brown Nude Tights to trial and review.



Earlier this year we published a feature on Brown Skin Essentials and an interview with founder Kumutha Ramanathan.



Brown Skin Essentials are temporarily closed as they are currently in the process of moving from London to North America. They hope to be fully operational again in February 2022.

Packaging

The Brown Skin Essentials Dark Chocolate Brown Nude Tights are conventionally packaged.

The tights are folded around a plain white rectangular card, before being wrapped in cellophane.





Everything is then enclosed in a card envelope, designed for retail display.3



Materials and features

This is how Brown Skin Essentials describe the Dark Chocolate Brown Nude Tights:

"Indulge yourself with these unisex sheer tights that offer an invisible look while covering pesky unevenness on legs that every man and woman experience. These 15 denier beauties offer a polished look that keeps tongues wagging from day to night. They are made from highly durable materials that are also known for extraordinary elasticity. This particular product has a neutral undertone.

"This style is perfectly suited to men, women and everyone in between!"


The tights are 15 denier and made from 84% Polyamide, 14% Elastane and 2% Cotton.

They are not sheer to waist but have a traditional 'box pant' made from a higher denier yarn



This brief, in the 3XL size I trialled, has both a front and rear comfort panel.

The waistband is relatively narrow at 3cm. The brief is quite deep and measures 24cm from the waistband to the crotch area.

Seams are conventional, not flat.

Toes are reinforced.



Sizing, fit and wearing experience

The Brown Skin Essentials the Dark Chocolate Brown Nude Tights are available in seven sizes:
  • Small
  • Medium
  • Large 
  • Extra Large
  • 2XL
  • 3XL
  • 4XL


I wore the 3XL size which was correct for my height. I am note sure that they would have stretched much further in the leg.



The tights felt smooth and silky on the leg.

The yarn however is quite delicate and I found that it snagged quite easily. You need to be really carefully putting these on and preferably use hosiery gloves. There's a question mark about how durable they will after a few wears.



The brief was very comfortable and stretched easily above the waist. The front comfort panel provided some additional support for the male anatomy.

Colour range

As well as Dark Chocolate Brown these tights are also available in a wider range of skin tones:
  • Light Brown Sand
  • Light Brown Almond
  • Honey Brown
  • Brown Sugar
  • Cafe Brown
Price and availability

The Brown Skin Essentials Dark Chocolate Brown Nude Tights are priced at £13.00, €15.95 or $22.00.

Conclusion

The Brown Skin Essentials Dark Chocolate Brown Nudes are a comfortable wear. Positives are the wide range of skin tones and the excellent sizing options.

It's also admirable how Brown Skin Essentials have been using male models to showcase their products.

For the price I would expect a product that is more durable and features such as flat seams and a comfort waistband. Brown Skin Essentials are still evolving so it's possible they will continue to improve their hosiery.

Tuesday 30 November 2021

New From Les Belles: Opaque | Noir 80 Denier Seamless Tights

This week we published our review of the Les Belles Semi | Noir 50 Denier Seamless Tights.



Les Belles have recently launched a new style: the Opaque | Noir 80 Denier Seamless Tights.



Les Belles introduces this new style:

"More coverage, more warmth, more fun. When dressed in Opaque Noir, less-than-perfect weather can’t get in your way. Take on the world (or your couch) in soft, seamless, genderless sensuality."

Key features:
  • Seamless 
  • No Gusset
  • Run-Resistant 
  • Unisex
  • Vegan
  • 80 Denier
  • Perfect-Fit 3D-Knit Technology
  • No-Roll/Pinch/Sag Waistband (3.5 inches / 9 cm)
  • Double-Covered Yarn 
  • Reinforced Toe
  • Made in Italy, sustainably and responsibly from 100% recycled yarns

Once again, Les Belles have guys modelling the product.





Les Belles are sending us a pair of the Opaque | Noir 80 Denier Seamless Tights, so stay tuned for a full review.

Read Part 1 and Part 2 of our recent feature on Les Belles, including an interview with founder Cecile Antier.

Monday 29 November 2021

Reviewed: Les Belles The Semi | Noir 50 Denier Seamless Tights

Les Belles, the US-based hosiery brand that offers sustainable, run-resistant tights, recently sent us a pair of their Semi | Noir 50 Denier Seamless Tights.




You can read Part 1 and Part 2 of our recent feature on Les Belles, including an interview with founder Cecile Antier.

"Les Belles is an ultraluxe yet pocket-friendly tights brand on a mission to make tights for every body and all genders in a sustainable and responsible way. We’re forever inclusive, never conventional, a bit mischievous and a lot independent."



Packaging

The packaging for the Les Belles The Semi | Noir 50 Denier Seamless Tights has been designed to be plastic-free and 100% recyclable. Les Belles communicate a very clear environmental commitment:

Cecile explains:

"In every Les Belles package, you’ll receive a label addressed to an organization in NYC, a creative reuse center that provides free materials to NYC’s arts nonprofits, public schools and city agencies. All you have to do is throw your old pairs (of any brand, not just Les Belles) in the mailer, attach the label and voila!"

The tights are folded inside a square card enclosure, designed to open out like a four-pointed star.





Everything is finally enclosed in a sturdy pink custom-designed card box.



Materials and features

The Les Belles The Semi | Noir 50 Denier Seamless Tights are made in an emissionless, zero-waste factory in Italy reflecting the brand's "100% eco" commitment. The yarn used is 100% Recycled: 85% Recycled Polyamide (Q-Nova by Fulgar) and 15% Recycled Elastane (Roica Eco-Smart).



The key features of this Les Belles style are:
  • Seamless 
  • No Gusset
  • Run-Resistant 
  • Unisex
  • Vegan
  • 50 Denier
  • Perfect-Fit 3D-Knit Technology 
  • No-Roll/Pinch/Sag Waistband 
  • Double-Covered Yarn 
  • Reinforced Toe
The tights looked really small as I took them out of the packaging, but they have quite amazing stretch.

The waistband measures 10cm wide at the centre and 12cm at the sides. The brief measures 20cm from the top of the waistband to the crotch.



The seam connecting the waistband to the tights is flat and very well-constructed.

Toes are rounded and without reinforcement.

The tights have a velvety soft feeling.

Sizing, fit and wearing experience

The Les Belles The Semi | Noir 50 Denier Seamless Tights are available in 7 sizes:
  • XS
  • S
  • M
  • L
  • XL
  • 2XL
  • 3XL


I wore them in the 2XL size.

As mentioned above, the Semi | Noir 50 tights looked really small at first and I wondered if they really were a 2XL size. The stretch however was impressive and they went on quite comfortably. The fit was actually perfect.

On the leg opaque coverage is quite dense for 50 denier. I found that I needed to smooth out the tights a bit to ensure the coverage was even. Appearance is matt with a hint of sheen when caught in sunlight.

There was no wrinkling or bunching on the leg, helped by the 15% Elastane in the yarn.

The waistband sat comfortably above the navel and waist. I would have liked some more elasticity in the waistband so it gripped more tightly. I did find that the waistband needed some pulling up and repositioning over a day of wear, although the tights themselves stayed in place on the leg.

Having tried many seamless tights with a high waistband, such as Heist, I think this might be a additional improvement. A choice of low (10cm) or high (15-16cm) waistband would be welcome.

The Semi | Noir 50 tights provide a nice layer of insulation under trousers and did not feel too bulky.



Colour range

The Les Belles The Semi | Noir 50 Denier Seamless Tights are available in the Noir (Black) shade.



A 50 Denier Semi | Bleu (Blue) version is also available.



Price and availability

The Les Belles The Semi | Noir 50 Denier Seamless Tights are priced at $20.00 for a one time purchase.

For Les Belles subscribers the price is $16.00.

Cecile explains the Les Belles subscription scheme:

"It’s pretty simple: All you have to do is pick 1 to 4 pairs, select your style(s) and size, and voila! Comfy, chic collants will be delivered to your door (in a cute recyclable packaging) at a discounted price every month. You can pause, change or cancel at any time. No stress. No commitments. Prices start at $14.40/month for 1 pair (which is 20% off the regular "eshop" prices) and includes free US shipping and taxes. For now, international shipping is an extra $10.00."

Conclusion

This is our first Les Belles review for the blog. This brand has such a friendly, welcoming and inclusive ethos that they really do deserve support for what they are doing. Their marketing uses inclusive imagery and they really do love customers of both sexes and all gender identities.

These tights are a comfortable fit at a reasonable price. The extended sizing options will appeal to guys, along with the seamless design.

The recycled yarn used and plastic-free packaging also deserve credit.

Check out the new Les Belles Opaque | Noir 80 Denier Tights.

Monday 22 November 2021

New Images Of Threads For Men Tights

On Hosiery For Men we gave extensive coverage to the new Threads For Men tights when they launched in August.



You can still read our interview with Threads founder Xenia Chen.

Threads have been sharing reviews from customers of the Threads for Men tights.



The Threads webpage for Threads For Men also now includes new photos of the product on a male model.







"Our Threads For Men 20 denier tights. Designed based on feedback from over 150 men, our TFM Sheer tights incorporate everything you love about our original Sheer tights, plus more features that cater to the comfort of men. Handsewn in our Italian factory, TFM Sheer tights are made with your comfort in mind. Wear them on their own or under shorts or trousers or whatever other clothing you choose!"





Key features of the Threads For men tights:
  • Brief With Fly: Brief contains a supportive pouch and fly, for added convenience and comfort.
  • Handsewn and Crafted: Brief area is carefully hand-sewn with flat seams and a cotton gusset at the front for maximal breathability.
  • Microfiber Double-covered Yarn: Super comfortable. Less likely to static and stick to your clothes.
  • Contoured Waistband: Hugs all the right areas. Bum-lifting.
  • Reinforced Toe: Barely there, invisible strength.
  • Enhanced Leg Length: A more realistic (longer) leg length. No more double crotch.
  • Built to Last: Designed to hold up. 3D construction.

Don't miss our recent post on the launch of the new Threads Sheer-To-Waist Tights that are designed for both men and women.