Sunday 22 September 2013

Spotlight on tights reviewers Legslavish

Legslavish is an innovative tights and pantyhose review resource. With its own YouTube channel, Legslavish now has masses of reviews and demonstrations to watch covering many well-known hosiery brands.



In their own words: 'We get hold of all the major brands of legwear, try them out and review them for you.'

Hosiery For Men recently interviewed the team behind Legslavish and we are pleased to publish this feature.

Can you tell Hosiery for Men readers about Legslavish? When did you get started and what are you aiming to do? 
Legslavish came about out of a conversation in a pub between some friends who remarked on the tights one of the girls was wearing. She mentioned it was very difficult for girls to buy tights as it’s difficult to know what they’re like until you actually buy them and try them on, and there was nowhere to go to get reviews of tights or other hosiery. 

We decided to fill the void and provide the world’s first visual hosiery review service. One of the main reasons was that the girls thought it would be a great way to get lots of free products! That was in late 2011. Our first video went up in early 2012 and now we have well over 200 reviews online with many more to come. 



How have hosiery retailers and manufacturers supported you so far? Have you developed any positive partnerships? 
Yes. We have great relationships especially with some of the smaller retailers in the UK, and recently some manufacturers have sent us products to review too. We haven’t partnered solely with any single retailer or manufacturer because our aim is to give unbiased, honest opinions of all products out there. And where we haven’t liked a product, or thought it was poor quality or poor value for money, we have said so. This maintains our honesty and credibility with consumers. 



When Legslavish reviewers trial tights, are they working to any review guidelines or are the opinions of reviewers personal and subjective? 
We have a general presentation format for the girls to follow, but their opinions and views are their own. How they style the products is entirely their choice so we could have the same product styled differently by two girls and they could each have their own different personal opinion about that product. That way the girls get their own unique following as people either agree or disagree with their personal views. 



Which brands of tights have proved particularly popular with Legslavish reviewers? Surprisingly some of the cheaper, unbranded products, mainly from China, have proved very popular. They are fun and great value for money. 

Other popular brands have been Falke, Wolford,and Bebaroque and Jonathan Aston, Gipsy and Fiore are more affordable brands.

Have you had any interest or feedback from men? 
Very much so. Men make up a sizeable part of our audience with a large percentage being fashion bloggers, designers, or in the fashion industry in some way. Many of our most intuitive comments come from men. 



There has been a huge amount of media coverage of 'mantyhose' (tights for men) in recent months. What are your thoughts about the greater visibility nowadays of men buying and wearing tights? 
Hosiery was obviously a male garment when it was first invented hundreds of years ago. But as it became more of a women’s garment, it changed in the way it was designed and manufactured. Women’s hosiery is shaped differently and is often more delicate. 

Men's tights as a product are great, and some good designers of hosiery produce separate products for men, so there is obviously a market. Although here at Legslavish we don’t know too much about men's tights – we have enough work keeping on top of trends within the women’s pantyhose markets! 

Tights for men are also becoming a more visible fashion trend as recorded by the 'Men Wearing Tights With Shorts' tumblr page: http://men-wearing-tights.tumblr.com. What do you think about this trend? 
We haven’t seen that blog, but we are aware of the fashion coming out of Italy of men wearing patterned tights with shorts. British men who decide to adopt this trend will have to be brave as we’re not sure Britain is quite ready for this yet!

The UK tends to follow the US in fashion rather than the rest of Europe. As with all fashion/style though, if it is done right it can look great, but if it is done badly it can look wrong! That’s true of style for either sex. If men do feel inexperienced in styling particularly patterns/colours they should watch our channel for tips even though we focus on women’s hosiery. 

For men thinking about trying tights, what do you think are the advantages of wearing them? 
If men want to wear hosiery then they should wear it confidently and with style. We come across many men who seem ashamed that they wear or want to wear hosiery – maybe that’s a society thing. 

At Legslavish we whole-heartedly applaud men who are open and honest about their fashion and style when it includes hosiery and when they wear it with confidence and pride as we do. 



Are there any particular brands or styles of tights that you would recommend to Hosiery For Men readers? 
Emilio Cavallini does great women’s hosiery, so we would be certain that their men's tights would be of a similar quality. 

What can we expect in the future at Legslavish? 
Much of the same although we do plan to change our format slightly in the near future, just to keep things fresh. We also have ideas about going out onto the street and getting direct feedback from the public about products and styles. We’re also working hard on our social media profile too to make use of things like Twitter, Google+, Facebook etc. 

Finally, we’re always on the look out for new reviewers to bring different viewpoints and styles to the channel, so expect some new faces (and legs!) – although at the moment we don’t plan to have any male reviewers as the range of male products is not quite big enough for us to review. 

Many thanks to Legslavish for speaking to Hosiery For Men. I hope the Legslavish team will see that there are indeed a very wide range of men's tights now available, and many have been reviewed here. We wish Legslavish all the best, and look forward to future reviews as they are published. Do subscribe to the Legslavish YouTube channel to keep up to date with reviews as they appear.

Bargain prices on Aristoc Ultimate Leg Luxury opaque tights

Aristoc have a terrific sale at the moment with a 50% discount on opaque tights in the Ultimate Leg Luxury Range.

The 40 Denier Luxury Opaque Tights are on sale at £6.00 (normal price £12.00).

The 80 Denier Luxury Opaque Tights are on sale at £9.00 (normal price £18.00).

The 100 Denier Luxury Cashmere Blend Opaque Tights are on sale at £12.50 (normal price £25.00).

These are all great offers as this Leg Luxury range from Aristoc is really excellent quality. All three styles are available in Extra Large (Black only) and are ideal for men. The leg length is long and they are made with a deep, comfortable brief.

We have previously reviewed 40 Denier Luxury opaque tights and 80 Denier Luxury Opaque Tights at Hosiery For Men.

A review of the 100 Denier Luxury Cashmere Blend Tights will be published soon.










Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to review. Readers can also support this blog by clicking on any of the advertisements displayed and checking out the products on offer. Each time you do this you are making a valuable contribution, and help ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Tuesday 17 September 2013

The first day of tights

'The first day of tights' - this was the headline for an interesting piece published in the London Evening Standard newspaper yesterday.



The writer, Phoebe Luckhurst, discusses options now the cooler autumn weather has arrived.




The writer asks: 'Pattern or plain black? Sheer 20 denier or the dark envelope of 70?'

I wonder what Hosiery for Men readers will be going for this autumn. Thick dark opaque tights or something a little more adventurous? Two of my choices are the amazing Nylonica Silk 70 Opaque Tights that I recently reviewed, and the Falke Cotton Rib Tights which will be reviewed very soon.

It would be great if Hosiery for Men readers shared some of their choices.

Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to review. Readers can also support this blog by clicking on any of the advertisements displayed and checking out the products on offer. Each time you do this you are making a valuable contribution, and help ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Reviewed: Levante 12 Denier Class Tights

Thighs the Limit is a hosiery store in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, which also has an online store. Many of their customers are men buying tights for themselves and they are keen to provide a good service to male customers.



Thighs the Limit recently sent Hosiery For Men a sample of the Levante 12 Denier Class Tights to trial and review for readers of this blog.



Materials and features
The 
Levante 12 Denier Class Tights are packaged to the usual high standard that one expects with Levante products. The tights are folded into a clear plastic bag, which is then housed in a sturdy cardboard envelope.

The rear of the packaging provides detailed information on sizing.



The Levante 12 Denier Class Tights are made with 82% Polyamide, 15% Lycra and 3% Cotton.

The legs X-Tall size that I tested looked quite long when I removed them from the packaging.

Legs are straight and are finished with a high-quality reinforced toe.



The tights are not sheer to waist, but have a brief/panty which is made of denser fabric. There is a conventional gusset, and no rear comfort panel. Seams are conventional. The waistband is almost 3cm wide.

The fabric on the leg is really quite shiny, especially when it catches the light.



Fit and sizing
The Levante 12 Denier Class Tights are available in Small, Medium, Tall and X Tall sizes.

I tested a pair in X Tall.



The good length in the leg of these tights was a definite plus point. Although the sizing information indicates that the X Tall size extends to 6'1", for larger and heavier people this won't in general be the case. I am 5'10" and although I got a good fit, I felt the tights were probably nearing maximum stretch.

Having said that, they were definitely a comfortable wear. The high Lycra content ensures a good fit on the legs. The material is smooth and glides wonderfully under trousers.

I felt the brief/panty could be have been slightly deeper. On me it definitely came up more as a low rise brief. But then again, I am a bloke and this style has really been designed more for a woman's figure.

Colour range
The Levante 12 Denier Class Tights are available in a wide range of shades.



Thighs the Limit stocks many of the shades including:

  • Mocca
  • Lyon
  • Blumarine
  • Visone
  • Anthracite
  • Londra
  • Mink
  • Hazelnut
I tested a pair in the Hazelnut shade.

Price and availability
The Levante 12 Denier Class Tights are priced at £6.50 at Thighs the Limit.

Conclusion
The Levante 12 Denier Class Tights are good quality Italian-made sheer tights. They are well made and I can see why, for the price they sell at, they are a best-selling product.

The sheer, glossy leg has excellent glide under trousers and these would be a good choice in weather which isn't very cold and where you might need light insulation as well as the comfort of tights.

Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to review. Readers can also support this blog by clicking on any of the advertisements displayed and checking out the products on offer. Each time you do this you are making a valuable contribution, and help ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Lida men's tights now in stock at The Stylish Fox

US-based hosiery retailer The Stylish Fox have expanded their range of men's tights. They now have tights from Lida on sale.



The range includes the Lida Man's World Microfibre 100 Denier Tights and the Lida Dynamic Man Microfibre 100 Denier Footless Tights.





You can still read The Hosiery For Men review of the Lida Man's World 100 Denier Tights.

Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to review. Readers can also support this blog by clicking on any of the advertisements displayed and checking out the products on offer. Each time you do this you are making a valuable contribution, and help ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Tuesday 10 September 2013

Reviewed: Nylonica Silk 70 Opaque Tights

Stockings HQ is an online hosiery retailer with one of the largest ranges of tights, including many top brands.



They recently sent me several pairs of tights to test and review from the Italian Nylonica brand, which is available only at Stockings HQ and Pantyhose HQ.

I have already published a review of the Nylonica Linea Lusso microfibre 20 tights.

We now focus on the Nylonica Linea Lusso Silk 70 opaque microfibre tights.




Materials and features
The Nylonica Linea Lusso Silk 70 opaque microfibre tights are described at Stockings HQ as 'absolutely outstanding opaques', and 'amazing quality and the smoothest opaque tights you can buy.'

These 70 denier tights are made in Italy, and that is nearly always a mark of quality.

The fabric is 78% Polyamide (nylon), 20% double covered Lycra and 2% Cotton.

As with other styles in the Nylonica Linea Lusso range, they are nicely packaged.





I knew these tights were going to be something special as soon as I took them out of the packaging. The fabric is very opaque, with just a slight shine. It feels incredibly soft, silk and sensual to the touch.

Legs are straight and toes are lightly reinforced.The tights are completely sheer to waist.

Seams are strong and flat throughout and with the same quality engineering we saw in the Nylonica Linea Lusso microfibre 20 tights.

The X Large size I tested has a rear comfort panel. The fabric is slightly less dense at the bottom of the panel, probably to aid breathability in this area.




The waistband is 3cm wide and very soft and comfortable.

Fit and sizing

The Nylonica Linea Lusso Silk 70 opaque microfibre tights are available in three sizes: 2-Medium, 3-Large and 4-X Large.



I tested the 4-X Large size, which according to the packaging fits up to 5'10". I feel that this size would stretch to slightly taller than this.

I can't praise the comfort and fit of these tights highly enough. They feel simply amazing when worn. The high Lycra content ensures a perfect fit at every point.

The fabric is incredibly soft and comfortable.

The brief has excellent depth and pulls comfortably over the waist.

Colour range

The Nylonica Linea Lusso Silk 70 opaque microfibre tights are available in Black only.

I tested a pair in the Black shade.

Price and availability

The Nylonica Linea Lusso Silk 70 opaque microfibre tights are available from Stockings HQ for £17.95.

There is currently an offer on Stockings HQ and Pantyhose HQ of 15% discount if any two pairs of Nylonica tights, stockings or knee highs/ankle highs are purchased.

The Nylonica Linea Lusso Silk 70 opaque microfibre tights are also available from Pantyhose HQ for $23.73.

Delivery from Stockings HQ is free in the UK if you spend more than £50.00.

Conclusion

The Nylonica Linea Lusso Silk 70 opaque microfibre tights are absolutely in a class of their own. I can see why Stockings HQ say that 'everyone who has tried them loves them.' I agree: as soon as I tried them I loved them!

These tights are just so comfortable and luxurious, they really take the whole experience of wearing opaque tights to another level.

That might seem to many to be a completely over-the-top assessment, but all I can say is try them and you won't be disappointed.

Yes, the price is probably significantly higher than everyday black opaque tights, but I would say that for the quality, fit and comfort they are definitely worth it.

Well done Stockings HQ for making this superb brand available in the Uk and USA.

Highly recommended.

Monday 9 September 2013

Just arrived: Couture and Silky tights from Legwear International

Legwear International have just sent me a bumper package of samples for trial and review.



You can read our previous reviews of tights from Legwear International:

Couture Future 10 Denier Tights

Silky Dance Shimmer Full Foot Tights

Cindy 30 Denier Semi-Sheer Tights

You can also read our feature on Legwear International and interview with Kirsten Taylor, their Product Development and Marketing Manager.

In the new batch for review are:

Couture Ultra Gloss Tights



Couture Ultra Sheer Tights



Silky Medium Support Tights



Silky Supershine Extra Size Tights



Silky Professional Fishnet Tights




Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to review. Readers can also support this blog by clicking on any of the advertisements displayed and checking out the products on offer. Each time you do this you are making a valuable contribution, and help ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Sunday 8 September 2013

Special offer from UK Tights on Pretty Polly 60 Denier Curves Plush Opaque Tights

UK Tights has a special offer at the moment on the Pretty Polly 60 Denier Curves Plush Opaque Tights.

Buy one pair and get another pair half price.

They are designed especially for larger people, and come in XL and XXL sizes that will fit heights up to 6' 0".




Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to review. Readers can also support this blog by clicking on any of the advertisements displayed and checking out the products on offer. Each time you do this you are making a valuable contribution, and help ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Friday 6 September 2013

Just arrived: Falke Cotton Rib Tights

These Falke Cotton Rib Tights, which I purchased from online retailer Luxury Legs, arrived today. The quality looks superb, as you would expect with Falke and these will be great as the weather gets cooler.



The customer service from Luxury Legs has been really first class.

I will publish a review of these in due course.

Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to review. Readers can also support this blog by clicking on any of the advertisements displayed and checking out the products on offer. Each time you do this you are making a valuable contribution, and help ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Thursday 5 September 2013

Spotlight on UK Tights: Part 3

We are now publishing the third and final part of our exclusive interview with Dawn Barber, the managing director of UK Tights.



You can still read Part 1 and Part 2 of this interview.

In Part 3, Dawn discusses the suitability of women's tights for men. She also provides her views on the greater visibility and acceptance of tights for men, and outlines some of the benefits of wearing them.

Many men buy tights made for women, if they are sure the sizing is right and they meet their requirements. Are there any brands or style of tights for women that would particularly recommend to men?
Again, it really depends on the man. However, the German brands such as Kunert, Hudson and Falke are always favourites with men. The sizing is normally true and perhaps a little generous here and there, so there is no tightening around the thighs and bottom. Men normally have more developed thighs than women so the women’s tights can sometimes be too small in these areas.







What kind of service will male customers receive at UK Tights? Do you welcome enquiries and requests for advice?
Absolutely. Male customers are always treated like female customers, with the greatest respect. Our customer service is second to none and we are well aware that without our customers we are nothing. We are happy to give advice on hosiery and in our customers service team we have two women and a man. They are always there to help with any advice needed.

There has been a huge amount of media coverage of 'mantyhose' (tights for men) in recent months. What are your thoughts about the greater visibility of men buying and wearing tights these days? 

Personally, I think it’s great that men can buy tights, wear them and not feel ostracised for doing so. I sometimes get a little annoyed about the whole thing. For goodness sake, it’s a guy in a pair of tights! Not a three-headed monster. If a person goes to see a Shakespearian play no one bats an eye at the fact that all the guys have tights on!

To men thinking about trying tights, what would you say are the main benefits of wearing them?
If you’ve not worn tights before then I’d say give them a try right away. In the wintertime a good heavy opaque will keep you snug and cosy.

If you’re on your feet a lot then try a good support tight. There is nothing worse that feeling the fatigue of a day on your feet. When you get home you're aching and tired instead of feeling refreshed and relaxed.



Tights can replace your underwear so there are no socks and baggy underpants to worry about. They last a long time too if cared for properly. I’d advise you go for opaques to begin with as tights can be a bit tricky to put on if you’re not used to them and you an easily ladder sheers if you’re not careful. Always wear hosiery gloves when putting sheers on.

Dawn, thank you very much for your time and for providing such interesting and helpful answers. It has been great to speak with you, and I trust readers have enjoyed this feature. I hope Hosiery For Men can maintain a productive partnership with UK Tights.

Wednesday 4 September 2013

Just arrived: Aristoc Leg Luxury 100 Denier Cashmere Blend Opaque Tights

I recently bought these Aristoc Leg Luxury 100 Denier Cashmere Blend Opaque Tights from Tights Please.

I will review these tights soon.



Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to review. Readers can also support this blog by clicking on any of the advertisements displayed and checking out the products on offer. Each time you do this you are making a valuable contribution, and help ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Spotlight on UK Tights: Part 2

We are now publishing Part 2 of our exclusive interview with Dawn Barber, the managing director of UK Tights.



You can still read Part 1 of the interview.

In Part 2, Dawn discusses men's tights and some of the styles that can be purchased at UK Tights.

UK Tights used to sell the highly regarded Gerbe tights for men and the WoMan unisex range from Levee. Why are these no longer available?
Much to our disgust, Gerbe stopped making them. We loved them but sadly they are no longer available.




UK Tights recently developed the new Maximus range of tights for men. Can you say a bit more about this brand? How did you go about developing a new style of men's tights?
We had our contacts in Italy help us to bring this brand to our customer base. We asked for tights that would give more in the crotch area and be slightly larger around the thighs. We wanted a good quality, opaque tight that men could rely on. We think we achieved this with Maximux.

What feedback have you had so far on the Maximus range? 

Guys seem to love them. We have not had any negative feedback at all and they sell on a regular basis.





UK Tights are also now selling men's tights from the Activskin range. Are they selling well? 

They do sell well yes. They are a certain kind of animal all by themselves and we don’t think they are there to compete with any other brand. They own their very own piece of the action and seem to fit in very well with our male customers requirements.



Are you planning to develop your range of men's tights further, perhaps adding further new brands?
Of course we are always happy to look towards other brands that help us fill our customers needs. If we have enough people request a brand that we don’t sell then we’ll go right ahead and stock it. It’s that simple.

Stay tuned for Part 3.

Tuesday 3 September 2013

Just arrived: New Comfort4Men men's leggings/footless tights

Comfort4Men have sent me a sample from their new range of leggings/footless tights for men.

This new range was launched recently and you can still read the Hosiery For Men preview.

The style I am going to trial is the Comfort4Men C421M Legging 100 den high waist.



Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to review. Readers can also support this blog by clicking on any of the advertisements displayed and checking out the products on offer. Each time you do this you are making a valuable contribution, and help ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Spotlight on UK Tights: Part 1

We are really excited to be able to publish an exclusive, full-length feature on UK Tights.



UK Tights are one of the leading online hosiery retailers in the UK and have always been extremely welcoming, friendly and supportive to men who are buying tights for themselves. There is a men's tights page at UK Tights, and the company is always looking for new products to add for male customers.

We recently spoke to the managing director of UK Tights, Dawn Barber.



In Part 1 of our interview, Dawn provides some background information on UK Tights and their growing number of male customers.

Can you provide Hosiery For Men readers with some background to UK Tights? When did you start the business and how has it developed? 

We started the business in Sept 2005 just six weeks after our baby daughter was born. We had amazing growth in our first 6 years with nearly 90% average year on year. Due to the recession the growth has tailed off a bit but we are still growing at around 15%.

It seems that UK Tights has always been very open that gender isn't an issue when purchasing hosiery. Was catering for men who buy tights for themselves always part of the vision for the business or did that evolve as it became clearer than men were also customers? 

It was always a part of our vision. Both Jonathan and I have always hated discrimination in any way shape or form. We are what we are and we should allow people to live how they choose to live. Who are we to say that men should not wear tights? They were wearing them before women I believe!





Are male customers buying tights for themselves now an important part of your customer base? 

40% of our business is to male customers. We don’t ask if they are for themselves or not; it’s nothing to do with us and it’s not an issue but they sometime volunteer the information and yes, there are a great many male wearers. There are people who wear them to look good, people who wear them to keep warm, people who wear them instead of underwear, so on and so forth.


Falke Pure Matt 100 Denier Opaque Tights are available from UK Tights

Would you say that that segment of your customer base is growing?

Yes, I think it is growing and this could be partly due to men realising that they are not the only men in the world to wear tights. Most fellas love the idea that they can do this with us openly and freely without fear of judgement or recriminations. Also, we are very discrete so if a man does not want any literature or emails then we offer this service.

Are there any particular styles of tights or brands that are popular with your male customers? 

Like our female customers, it’s very much down to personal preference. A lot of our male wearers like opaque tights as they are comfortable, warm, supportive and feel great against the skin. It really depends on what they are purchased for. Sheers are also a great favourite with many men.

Aristoc Opaque Cotton Sheen 120 Denier Tights are available from UK Tights

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this interview with Dawn Barber, managing director of UK Tights.

Monday 2 September 2013

Coming soon: Exclusive interview with Dawn Barber of UK Tights

Hosiery For Men will be publishing an exclusive interview with Dawn Barber, managing director of UK Tights.



UK Tights are one of the leading online hosiery retailers in the UK. We are really excited about this feature and I am sure it will be of interest to readers of this blog.

Part 1 will be published tomorrow.

Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for review. Readers can also support this blog by clicking on any of the advertisements displayed and checking out the products on offer. Each time you do this you are making a valuable contribution, and help ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.