Wednesday 28 September 2011

Tights for men for autumn and winter: Part 3

Part 1 and Part 2 of my recommendations for tights for men for autumn and winter were recent posts on this blog. In the third part of the series we will features products available from UK Tights.


UK Tights is one of the Britain's leading hosiery retailers on the internet. They stock a huge selection of brands and have very friendly and helpful customer service. UK Tights welcome male customers buying tights for themselves and also has a dedicated Men's Tights page on their website.

I have already blogged about the excellent prices currently available on Gerbe tights for men at UK Tights.

So my first recommendation are the Gerbe Men's 70 Denier Opaque Tights. These tights are superb quality and are available at the bargain price of £26.95. You can still read my previously published thoughts on Gerbe tights for men on this blog.



The Aristoc 120 Denier Cotton Sheen Opaque Tights look the pick of the new range of Aristoc opaque tights. I haven't reviewed these yet, but they look top quality and are also available in Extra Large sizes.



The Charnos 60 Denier Opaque Tights are a bestseller at UK Tights and they are excellent value. I have bought several pairs of these over the years and the fit is always excellent. These tights are available in a range of colours, including shades that will be popular with men such as Black, Chocolate, Navy and Grey. They are great value at only £5.50.

I own several pairs of the Falke Seidenglatt 70 Denier Tights. These tights feel wonderful on the legs and their slight shine means they glide well under trousers. They are available in a range of sizes up to Extra Large.



My final recommendation are the Pierre Mantoux Veloutine 70 Tights. I haven't tried these yet but according to UK Tights: 'Unlike any other opaque tights you may have worn before, I promise, you'll not want to take these off at the end of the day.' I really like the colours available for these tights and again it's welcome that an Extra Large size is available and is suitable for heights up to 6'0"


Tuesday 27 September 2011

Monday 26 September 2011

Reviewed: Ufash 20 denier unisex tights

I recently started reviewing the new range of unisex tights from the new Austrian brand Ufash, beginning with the Lucy & Luca 40 denier matt semi-opaque tights.
Today we are reviewing the Frida & Fred 20 denier semi-matt tights.



Materials and features

According to the packaging, these are 'semi-matt, transparent unisex tights' made from 87% Polyamide and 13% Elastane. The tights come in a transparent, resealable storage bag.

The tights have conventional seams and there is demarcated brief/panty.

I found these tights to be very transparent; so much so that it was impossible to tell that I was wearing them.

Fit and sizing
The tights come in three sizes: Medium and Large (both with a gusset) and XL which has a rear comfort panel.

I tested the XL size and the fit was excellent. The brief had plenty of room. I am 5'10" and the tights would probably fit a slightly taller person also.

Colour range

These tights are available in Black and Sun/Beige colours.

Price and availability

These tights cost €8.95. At the moment they are available from Amazon Germany. However, Ufash have informed me that they will shortly be available in the UK from a major retailer of men's tights.

Conclusion

I found the fit of these tights to be excellent. They are very comfortable indeed and would be a a good choice if you want to wear tights discretely as the legs are very transparent with only minimum shine. However they are really quite delicate: I managed to ladder both legs while putting them on and I am usually very careful. Provided they are handled carefully they would be a good buy.

Saturday 24 September 2011

Aristoc 120 Denier Cotton Sheen Opaque Tights

I have just been looking at Aristoc's amazing new range of opaque tights. The range is called 'Ultimate Leg Luxury.'

The pick of the range for me are these 120 Denier Cotton Sheen Opaque Tights. The Black colour is available in Extra Large. These tights are definitely on my wish list.

Available from:

Tights Please

UK Tights

My Tights


Pricewatch: Gerbe Drain Up 40 men's tights

It seems that the Gerbe Drain Up 40 tights for men are being discontinued by Gerbe. This is a shame as they have received excellent reviews, including this very detailed and informative one by SheerGeek.


According to UK Tights, the Drain Up 40 tights "offer a real sense of well-being throughout the day and are recommended for prolonged upright positions or for people who do long journeys in a sitting position. The comfort band and front opening especially designed for the male anatomy makes them easy to wear and allows them to totally replace underpants and socks. The knitted waistband gives a firm support without tightening. They also have an invisible reinforced toe and heel. Very comfortable and easy to wear."

These tights are currently available in the UK from:

Legwear4Men: £41.99 (Only Small size remaining)

UK TIghts: £39.95 (Small, Medium, Large and X Large sizes available)

According to SheerGeek, these "are the Rolls Royce of men's semi-opaque tights and as such carry a hefty price tag."


If you want a pair, it's best to purchase now as they won't be around for much longer.


Friday 23 September 2011

Tights Please recommended sheer tights for men








Tights Please blogger Sophie has just posted her recommendations for sheer tights for men.

Do check out her blog and the recommendations.

I particularly like the choice of the Charnos 24/7 Sheer Tights, but then I am a fan of Charnos as their tights always fit me well.

Exclusive interview with Pretty Polly LEGS ELEVEN finalist Tom Marshman

I recently blogged about the final of the Pretty Polly LEGS ELEVEN competition. It was great news that Pretty Polly had shortlisted a guy, Tom Marshman, as one of the finalists.

Hosiery for Men has just completed an exclusive interview with Tom and we are now pleased to publish it.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself Tom?
I am a performance artist I am based in Bristol. You can see a little bit more about my work at my website, which is still being developed but it gives you a little flavour of my work. My work in essence is low camp; often theatre based shows, (often involving a lot of dressing up and down) but always has an element of autobiography within it. The pieces are playful and heartfelt.

Why did you decide to take part in the Pretty Polly 
LEGS ELEVEN competition?
This year, I had both my legs operated on, to remove my varicose veins, it’s a condition that is hereditary and whilst recovering I decided to make a performance about 'legs'. I see legs as metaphors for journey’s pathways and life choices, and there was something about the medical language used that fascinated me. I saw metaphor in blood flow and surgical knifes breaking skin. I decided to call my show Legs 11, quite catchy and familiar I thought. Then my housemate showed me a competition on Facebook, which was about the quest to find Pretty Polly’s LEGS ELEVEN ambassador. 


Pretty Polly is a brand that has a childhood nostalgia for me; it’s associated with whizzing around the supermarket as a little boy in the back of the supermarket trolley while mum shopped for tights. And foodstuffs of course! It’s a brand that I felt was quintessentially English, which I appealed to me.

The competition was also called LEGS ELEVEN; it was a hard decision, to enter this one! Basically I entered it partly as research for my new show of the same name, but also because I was genuinely curious to see what might happen if I, a man who’s getting near 40, intervened in a system that wasn’t intended for me.

Why did Pretty Polly choose a guy to take part in the final?
The users of Facebook voted for the best pair of legs and I was voted in because I had a lot of votes for me. I was very encouraging to all my friends to vote for me.



How was the experience of taking part?
I think there have been lots of raised eyebrows, about what I have been up to. I think a lot of people have found it a lot of fun. There are a few serious points I am making, not just with entering the competition but with the show itself, about beauty and embarrassment for your body (I am also due to appear on Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies, 26th September). The act of entering the competition and the fallout from it works on a few levels, but my intention was to be a playful agent provocateur (and I am not talking about the lingerie manufacturer!)

In the Pretty Polly video of the final you stated that 'tights are for everyone'. Can you expand on that?
I believe that we all have the right to express ourselves in the way that feels right to us (as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else). I like wearing tights, I also like wearing sailor’s uniforms, swimming trucks, roller blades, outrageous sunglasses, wigs, and cowboy hats... the list is endless. I have always loved dressing up and so I believe that I have the right to wear hosiery. It also feels nice against bare skin; I know this has been well documented.

There has been some interesting discussion on the thread that follows the YouTube film, which in part reinforces that there are some small minded people in the world, but I try not to let that stop me doing exactly what I want to.

Are there any kind of tights you particularly like?
I really like the tights I wore in the final; they are gold with stars on designed by Henry Holland. They are outrageous, but also quite chic. I guess I also would love the new limited edition bingo tights - they are a Henry Holland/Pretty Polly collaboration. They would be great for my show!

I also host a regular night in Bristol called Beacons, Icons and Dykons. It’s a night where we show a film that has a strong affinity with queer culture. You’ll usually find me wearing tights on that evening. I guess I want tights and stockings to be bright and bold. I like to just wear them on there own, or maybe with just a pair of roller blades.

Where do you usually purchase tights from?
Well I was given a goody bag from Pretty Polly so that will keep me amused for some time. The next Beacons, Icons and Dykons night I do is Marylyn Monroe themed so I guess I will wear Pretty Polly’s Super Suspender, which are made from really good quality fabric and are Marylyn-level sexy! 

Tom - thank you so much for speaking to Hosiery for Men. It has been a real pleasure talking to you and congratulations again for reaching the LEGS ELEVEN final. It's also great to see a major UK hosiery manufacturer showing an inclusive attitude towards men who wear tights.

Thursday 22 September 2011

Reviewed: ADRIAN 20 denier men's tights

This is the third in a series of reviews of the new range of Men Collection tights manufactured by the Polish hosiery manufacturers ADRIAN.

I have previously reviewed the Adrian 60 denier Grating tights and the 100 denier footless tights.

Today we are reviewing the 20 denier sheer to waist Street tights for men.



Materials and featuresThese are 20 denier sheer to waist tights.The fabric is 85% Polyamide and 15% Elastane.

The tights have flat seams, a comfortable 3cm waistband and reinforced toes.

The 15% Lycra/Elastane content provides have plenty of stretch.

The tights have what appears to be a male front panel, but it is really rather narrow - about 3cm. I found this to not provide a great deal of support and comfort for a male wearer. The front panel doesn't compare that favourably with other brands of tights for men that have a similar design feature.

Fit and sizing
The ADRIAN Street tights come in three sizes:
M: Height 170cm - 182cm
L: Height 176cm - 188cm
XL: Height 182cm - 194cm

I am 5'10" and tested a pair in L size. The tights just about fitted me, but I didn't find them that comfortable. I am 5'10" (about 178cm), so the L size should have been perfect. I feel that the XL size would have provided a much better fit.

I also found that the brief section was not particularly roomy and didn't sit high enough on my waist.

Colour rangeI tested a pair of these tights in Black but these are also available Beige, Tan, Dark Brown, Grey and Dark Grey.

Price and availabilityThese tights are available for 19.00 Polish Zloty from the ADRIAN website. The Street tights are now available from Legwear4Men at a price of £6.49.

Conclusion
After giving very positive reviews to the ADRIAN argyle-style 60 denier Grating tights and the 100 denier footless tights, I was somewhat disappointed with the Street tights. The sizing information was not appropriate for my height and I am not sure ADRIAN have got the design of these quite right.

Just arrived: Comfort4Men men's tights

I seem to be getting samples of tights to test and review in the post everyday at the moment. I hope that my coverage and reviewing provides publicity to manufacturers and retailers, as well as useful information to the readers of this blog.

By the way, I am getting pageviews from all over the world - USA, Germany, Japan, Canada, France, Denmark, Poland and many others. Greetings and best wishes to you all.

Today I received a pair of the Comfort4Men men's tights from Germany. I will review these shortly.



Wednesday 21 September 2011

Reviewed: Silky Diamond Pattern opaque tights

Eve's Legwear kindly sent me pair of the Silky Diamond Patterned Opaque Tights.

I have been looking for some diamond pattern opaque tights for a while, but it seems very few people sell them. If you scroll down you can see that I wore them for work this morning. For the price these tights are fantastic value.



Materials and features

These tights are made by Silky. The fabric is 95% Nylon and 5% Spandex. Once I took them out of the packet it was clear that they are really good quality.

The tights have conventional seams with no difference in appearance between the brief and the legs - the diamond pattern goes right up to the waist.

The tights have a very slight shine, but veer towards matt in appearance.

Fit and sizing

These tights are available from Eve's Legwear in three sizes: Medium and Large and X-Large.

Eve's Legwear suggested I try the X-Large size and the recommendation was spot on. The tights have plenty of stretch and the rear comfort panel meant the brief was also comfortable. I was actually amazed at how well these tights fitted me and how comfortable they were.

Colour range

These tights are available in Black and Claret.

Price and availability

These tights cost just £3.99.

Conclusion
These tights are a real bargain. I don't normally wear tights with a pattern, preferring opaques in neutral colours or sheer tights. However, I have always thought they looked really smart and decided to try something a bit different. The customer service from Eve's Legwear was also excellent. I would encourage any men wanting to buy tights for themselves to check their website. You can also contact them if you require any further advice and guidance as they welcome male customers.

ADRIAN men's tights from Poland: Available from Legwear4Men

The full range of the new Men Collection tights for men from the Polish hosiery manufacturers ADRIAN is now available from Legwear4Men.

I have recently reviewed the ADRIAN 100 denier 'Hunter' footless tights and 60 denier 'Grating' argyle pattern opaque tights

Visitors to Legwear4Men will also see that the ADRIAN tights are available in a very wide range of colours.

Tuesday 20 September 2011

Just arrived: Wolford OPAQUE 70 tights and Silky Diamond Pattern opaque tights

The postman brought me two nice parcels today.

A pair of the Silky Diamond Patterned Opaque Tights, sent to me by our friends at Eve's Legwear. I am looking forward to wearing these soon and reviewing them for this blog.



And the Wolford OPAQUE 70 Tights that I bought through the special promotion at the Wolford Partner Boutique in London. They are a great addition to my Wolford collection.

Gerbe OPAQUE 70 denier tights for men: Pricewatch

I recently blogged about the superb quality of Gerbe tights for men. See Gerbe tights for men: Part 1 and Gerbe tights for men: Part 2.

The Gerbe Men OPAQUE 70 tights are superb quality; perhaps the best opaque tights made specifically for men that you can buy. The male front opening is beautifully designed.

I have now checked out the price of these tights from UK-based resellers. The only retailer I could identify who had these tights in stock is:

UK Tights: £26.95

Gerbe sell these tights for €49 via their website, which is about £42.50 at today's exchange rate.

So once again, UK Tights comes out on top for offering Gerbe men's tights at a very competitive price.

Reviewed: Ufash 40 denier unisex tights

I have made start checking out the new range of unisex tights from the new Austrian brand Ufash. It was a cool morning yesterday, so I decided on the Lucy & Luca: 40 denier matt semi-opaque tights.



Materials and features
These are matt, semi-opaque microfibre tights made from 86% Polyamide and 14% Elastane. The tights come in a transparent, resealable storage bag.

The Elastane gives the tights plenty of stretch. The fabric used is extremely soft and I enjoyed the feel of these tights on the legs.

The tights have conventional seams and there is a slight difference in appearance between the body and the legs. I found the tights to be quite opaque for 40 denier and the coverage was consistent and had a nice matt appearance.

Fit and sizing
The tights come in three sizes: Medium and Large (both with a gusset) and XL which has a rear comfort panel.

I tested the XL size and the fit was really good. The brief had plenty of room. However, I am not sure if they would be as comfortable for anyone taller than my 5'10".

Colour range
These tights are available in Black and Tan/Light Brown shades.

Price and availability
These tights cost €8.95. At the moment they are available from Amazon Germany.

Conclusion
I found these tights to be comfortable all day and really liked the soft texture of the material.  

Monday 19 September 2011

Just arrived: Ufash unisex tights

I recently posted about the new range of unisex tights from Ufash in Austria.

I have just taken delivery of a parcel of samples of the full Ufash range of tights. I will try out and review these tights soon.


Sunday 18 September 2011

Reviewed: Autograph 60 Denier Velvet Touch Opaque Tights

Last week I purchased a pair of the Autograph 60 Denier Velvet Touch Opaque Tights in Marks and Spencer. I bought two pairs of these in Black last winter and was really impressed with the quality. They are now available in three new shades, Indigo, Carbon and Brown.

Today we are reviewing the tights in the Brown shade.

Materials and features
Marks and Spencer state that the Autograph 60 Denier velvet Touch Opaque Tights are: "The ultimate in luxury, these 60 denier opaque tights are part of our exclusive Autograph collection. Designer style and quality at high street prices."

The fabric is 88% Polyamide and 11% Elastane and 1% Cotton. The quality of these tights is apparent as soon as you take them out of the packaging. They have a heavier feel compared with cheaper opaques. There are flat seams and a wide and very comfortable waistband. The feet are reinforced with a run resist toe.

Although the tights look quite small, the amount of stretch is surprising.

Fit and sizing
The tights come in four sizes: Small, Medium, Large and X - Large. 




I am 5'10" and tested a pair in Large size. These tights fitted exceptionally well.

Colour range
These tights are available in Black, Brown, Carbon (grey) and Indigo.

Price and availability
These tights cost £8.00. Slightly more expensive than some opaques but definitely worth it for the quality. They are available from large branches of Marks and Spencer, and can also be bought online.

Conclusion
I have recently found the quality of Marks and Spencer tights to be less good than in past seasons. However, the Autograph range has been consistently excellent. I would recommend these tights if you want some really good quality opaque tights but your budget doesn't stretch to brands such as Falke and Wolford.



Saturday 17 September 2011

Special promotion on Wolford OPAQUE 70 tights

I have received an email from the UK Wolford Partner Boutique about a special offer on the Wolford OPAQUE 70 tights. They are not normally sold by Wolford and you can't find information on them on the Wolford website. They are also not available via online retailers that usually sell a wide range of Wolford products.



When I asked the shop about them last year, they told me that they were made especially from time to time for special offers.

The pair I bought last year is one of the best pairs of opaque tights I have ever bought. I like them so much that I wear them rarely so they don't wear out!

I am going to buy at least one more pair as I am not sure when or whether they will appear again. These tights are available in Extra Large. The Wolford Partner Boutique also offers free same day UK shipping.


Friday 16 September 2011

Reviewed: ADRIAN 100 denier footless tights

This is the second in a series of reviews of the new range of Men Collection tights produced by the Polish hosiery manufacturers ADRIAN.

The earlier review of the 60 denier Grating tights achieved a massive number of page views - the highest so far in the short life of this blog. Thanks for all the comments received.

Today we are reviewing the 100 denier footless tights.



Materials and features
These footless tights are black and very opaque.

The fabric is 92% Polyamide and 8% Elastane. As soon as you remove them from the packaging these tights feel quite heavy and robust. A lot of thought has also clearly been invested in their design and manufacture.

The tights have flat seams and a wide and very comfortable 4.5cm waistband. The legs are finished with a 4cm cuff.

The tights have plenty of stretch and the brief section is ample and includes a comfort rear panel. They have clearly been designed with the male customer in mind.

There is a very well-designed male front opening - one of the best I have seen in tights designed for men.


Fit and sizing
The ADRIAN footless tights come in two sizes:

S/M: Height 164cm - 176 cm
L/XL: Height 176cm - 188 cm

I am 5'10" and tested a pair in L/XL size. The fit was excellent in every respect.

Colour range
The Adrian 100 den footless tights appear at present to be available only in the Black.

Price and availability
These tights are available for 19.15 Polish Zloty from the ADRIAN website. However the website is in Polish. 

They are also available from the Adrian South Africa website.

Conclusion
These tights by ADRIAN are seriously good quality. I am sure they will wear really well and be an excellent purchase for men who want insulation and comfort in cold weather. They are absolutely superior in every way to traditional long johns.

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Special offer on Cette Dublin tights at Tights Please

I recently recommended the Cette Dublin opaque tights in an earlier post on tights for autumn and winter.

These tights are a best seller for male buyers at Tights Please and come in a wide range of colours. The the Large size is suitable for heights up to 5'1'1".

For a limited time only these tights can be purchased with a 20% discount from Tights Please. The offer is available while stocks last.

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Monday 12 September 2011

Reviewed: ADRIAN 60 denier 'Grating' tights

This is the first of several reviews of the new range of Men Collection tights produced by the Polish hosiery manufacturers ADRIAN.

Firstly, it's important to congratulate and thank ADRIAN for their initiative in marketing tights for men and catering to an expanding market.

Today, we are reviewing the 60 denier Grating tights.



Materials and features
The Grating tights are have an attractive Argyle type diamond pattern, in shades of light grey, dark grey and black.

The fabric is 85% polyamide and 15% Elastane. The tights look quite small when taken out of the packet but the Elastane content provides plenty of stretch.

The tights have flat seams and a wide and very comfortable 4cm waistband. The tights appear to be quite robust and I am sure will wear well.


Fit and sizing
The Grating tights come in three sizes:


M: Height 170cm - 182 cm
L: Height 176cm - 188 cm
XL: Height 182cm - 194cm

I am 5'10" and tested a pair in L size. The fit was very good although I think the XL size would have been slightly more comfortable for me. Anyone taller than me should certainly go for the XL size.

The brief was very roomy and clearly had been designed with male customers in mind. Overall the tights were very comfortable indeed. I wore them under jeans all day and they stayed up well.

The packaging indicates that the tights are made with a male centre panel. However, I tried wearing them both ways and found that the tights fitted better and were much more comfortable with the panel being worn as a rear comfort panel.




Colour range
The Grating tights appear at present to be available only in the Black/Grey combination. However the Legwear4Men blog suggests that a Navy/Denim combination may also be appearing.

Price and availability
These tights are available for 28 Polish Zloty from the ADRIAN website. However the website is in Polish. UK and other international buyers will shortly be able to order these from the Legwear4Men website.

Conclusion
The Grating tights by ADRIAN are a unique style of tights for men and the Argyle diamond pattern will suit men who want to try something different, or just wear Argyle style tights instead of socks. I will certainly be wearing them on cooler days this autumn.

Sunday 11 September 2011

Gerbe Men's Satin Tights: Pricewatch

I have already blogged about the superb quality of Gerbe tights for men. See Gerbe tights for men: Part 1 and Gerbe tights for men: Part 2.

I rate the Gerbe Men Satin 20 tights very highly. I am still wearing. the pair I bought a few years ago.



I have checked out the price of these the Men Satin 20 tights from UK-based resellers.

UK Tights: £20.95 (only Beige Doré colour available)

Legwear4Men: £32.99 (Beige Doré and Noire available)

Stockings HQ: £34.95 (Beige Doré and Noire available)

Gerbe sell these tights for €40 via their website, which is £34.38 at today's exchange rate. So if you are after these tights in the Beige Doré shade then the price at UK Tights is a bargain not to be missed.

Saturday 10 September 2011

ufash - New unisex tights from Austria


ufash are a new brand of unisex tights from Austria. I am hoping to receive samples of these shortly and will write reviews in due course.

Four styles of tights are available:

Frida & Fred: 20 denier semi-matt tights



Lucy & Luca: 40 denier matt semi-opaque tights



Anna & Andy: 60 denier semi-matt opaque tights



Zara & Zac: 100 denier semi-matt opaque tights


Just arrived: ADRIAN tights for men

I have just taken delivery of a parcel of samples of the new ADRIAN tights for men - the 20 denier sheer tights, the 60 denier argyle style opaque tights and the 100 denier footless opaque tights.
















I will be reviewing all these products shortly.

Friday 9 September 2011

Pretty Polly Legs Eleven: The Final

New video from Pretty Polly. What's nice is that they choose a guy as one of their finalists in the Legs Eleven competition. As finalist Tom states: "I think that tights and stockings should be for everyone."

Thursday 8 September 2011

Gerbe tights for men: Part 2

This is the second part of a feature on Gerbe tights for men. Future blog posts will cover some of the previous styles that are still available from some sellers, as well as information on the best prices for Gerbe products.

MEN OPAQUE 70 Tights

Opaque matt tights with a 70 denier appearance. They have a comfort panel and front opening especially designed for the male anatomy.

Available in one shade: Noir



MEN OPAQUE 70 Footless Tights

Opaque matt tights with a 70 denier appearance. They have a comfort panel and front opening especially designed for the male anatomy.

Available in one shade: Noir



In the UK Gerbe tights are available from:

UK Tights

Legwear4Men

Stockings HQ

They can also be purchased from the Gerbe website.Men


Gerbe tights for men: Part 1

The French hosiery manufacturer Gerbe has been making and marketing tights for men for some time. Despite the relatively high cost of these tights, the quality is superb and they last for ages.

Currently Gerbe sells four types of men's tights.

MEN SATIN 8 Tights

Ultra sheer matt tights with an 8 denier appearance. There is a front opening especially designed for the male anatomy.

Available in two shades: Noir and Beige Doré.

A detailed review of the MEN Satin 8 Tights is available on the Tights Fashion website.



MEN SATIN 20 Tights

Semi sheer matt tights with a 20 denier appearance. They have a comfort panel and front opening especially designed for the male anatomy.

Available in two shades: Noir and Beige Doré.

Detailed reviews of the MEN SATIN 20 Tights are available on the SheerGeek blog and Tights Fashion website.



Wednesday 7 September 2011

What I am wearing today

Once again, it's Charnos 60 denier opaque tights. Colour: Black. Size: Large

As mentioned before, they are great value at around £5.00 a pair and last for ages.

According to Charnos these tights are 'A classic matt look with a soft and warm feel. Using 3D Lycra to give comfort and a superb fit. Available in a fantastic range of colours to suit every occasion, a must for every wardrobe!'

Available from: Tights Please, UK Tights and other retailers.






Tuesday 6 September 2011

Just arrived: Luxury Velvet Touch Footless Tights

I bought these footless opaque tights yesterday in Marks and Spencer. They are 60 denier and are made from 88% Polyamide, 11% Elastane and 1% Cotton.

They are the same material as the Autograph 60 Denier Velvet Touch Opaque Tights that I blogged about recently. I will do a review of these tights soon.

Andy Murray: a fan of tights?

Andy Murray has revealed the secret to his tennis success, after his third-round match at the US Open.

At the end of his clash with Feliciano Lopez, the Scot appeared in
black tights, amuscle-defining vest and black shorts, much to the surprise of onlookers.

He admitted that that he has been using compression
tights for some time, after his tennis clothing sponsors told him that they can help athletes recover after competing.

"I normally cover them up. But I forgot to bring trousers with me, so I had to walk around like this," Andy Murray joked with fans at the event.

Source: SockShop


Monday 5 September 2011

Tights for autumn and winter

As cooler weather approaches, now is the time to stock up on tights that provide extra warmth and insulation.

Tights Please have asked me to put together my recommendations for tights that would be suitable for men to purchase. I have chosen opaque tights as these are generally thicker and will provide more warmth. I have also chosen brands that have large, tall and extra large sizes, as men will find these will generally provide a better fit.

I probably have more pairs of Charnos 60 Denier Opaque Tights than any other opaques. These are great value and come in a wide range of colours. I tend to go for Black, Chocolate, Navy and Steel. Note that the Large size fits taller people better than the Extra Large. With the last few pairs of these tights that I have bought, I have noticed that the brief has less room and the waist is slightly lower than the Charnos 60 Denier Tights that were on sale a few years ago. The fit is still good but the tights are perhaps not quite as roomy or comfortable as they used to be.

The Cette Dublin opaque tights are a best seller for male buyers at Tights Please and come in a range of colours. I note that the Large size only goes up to 5'1'1", so may not be suitable if you are taller than this.

I recently featured the Falke Pure Matt 100 Denier Tights and you can read my thoughts here. These were perhaps the best tights I bought last winter. They are extremely comfortable but also hard-wearing. I also really like the completely matt appearance. The price is perhaps higher than most other opaque tights, but with Falke you can be sure you are getting excellent quality and I think they are worth the extra expense.

I recently reviewed Levante Airskin 150 denier opaque tights. My review is here. Great quality from Levante. These tights fitted me superbly and I am sure they will be one of the first pairs I will reach for this autumn.

Lastly, one cannot recommend tights for autumn and winter without giving a shout to Wolford. Many years ago they actually made and marketed tights for men, although sadly no longer do so. I bought some black Wolford Velvet De Luxe 66 tights a few years ago and they are still wearing well. These are very soft, matt opaque tights and the XL size is a perfect fit for me. I hope Tights Please might consider expanding the range of colours they have available for these tights. The Coca, Taupe and Anthracite colours look good and are in the neutral shades that I prefer.



You can also now read Men’s Tights Perfect For The Autumn - recommendations from Tights Please on their own blog.

Sunday 4 September 2011

Autograph 60 Denier Velvet Touch Opaque Tights

The Autograph 60 Denier Velvet Touch Opaque Tights sold by Marks and Spencer in the UK were one of my best purchases last winter.

I bought two pairs of these tights in black.

The tights are excellent quality and are made up of 88% polyamide, 11% elastane and 1% cotton. I particularly liked the deep waistband. The tights have plenty of stretch and the Large size (5'10" - 6'0") was a good fit for me.

For £8.00, the quality is excellent and comparable to some of the more expensive brands. There are plenty of positive reviews of these tights on the M & S website - many of them from men, so I am not alone in liking them!

M & S have added a brown shade this autumn - my favourite colour for opaque tights after black.

Friday 2 September 2011

Reviewed: Levante Airskin 150 opaque tights

Tights Please sent Hosiery for Men a pair of the Levante Airskin 150 denier opaque tights for review.

Materials and features

These Italian-made tights are very opaque, as you would expect with 150 denier, although the opacity was not as dense as the Falke Pure Matt 100 denier tights.

The fabric is 87% Polyamide, 10% Lycra and 3% Cotton and feels very soft and smooth.

The tights have flat seams and a cotton gusset. The X-Tall size does not have a back panel which is quite common in larger sizes.

The tights have a slight shine.

Although the tights are very opaque, they are made with what Levante call a 'unique double layered knitting technique.' I found the tights to be very warm but not excessively so. The material seems to allow the legs to breathe.

Fit and sizing

I tested the X-Tall which according to the sizing information is appropriate for height of up to 185cm (6'1"). I am 5' 10". The tights are also available in Medium and Tall sizes.

The X-Tall size fitted me perfectly and were very comfortable. There was plenty of room in the leg and I also liked the brief which also had plenty of room (and that is crucial for male buyers). The tights have a high percentage of Lycra and I found that this made them fit really well - they didn't need to be pulled up at all.

Colour range

I tested the Londra colour - a dark, charcoal grey that looks good under trousers and would be a good alternative to socks.

The tights are also available in three other colours:

Bluemarin - blue
Nero - Black
Mocca - dark brown

Price and availability

The Levante Airskin 150 denier opaque tights cost £12.00 from Tights Please. Having looked at other resellers, this is actually the best price available.

Conclusion

These tights are very good quality and made to a high standard. They will be excellent as an additional layer in cold weather. I am looking forward to wearing them this autumn and winter.