Tuesday 25 February 2014

Just arrived: Marks and Spencer Autograph 40 Denier Luxury Fine Cotton Tights

I have decided to trial some more styles in the Marks and Spencer premium Autograph range.

I recently reviewed the Marks and Spencer Autograph 100 Luxury Satin Touch Tights. That style received a 'recommended' award.

I checked out the Autograph range at a local Marks and Spencer branch today and decided to buy these Autograph 40 Denier Luxury Fine Cotton Tights.



A review of this style will appear soon.

Reviewed: Activskin A579 Light Support Sheer Men's Pantyhose (Tights)

Activskin® sent us a pair of their A579 Light Support Sheer Men's Pantyhose to trial and review.



You can still read Part 1 and Part 2 of our interview with Steven Katz, the Managing Partner at G. Lieberman and Sons, Ltd. 

The A579 style is a new product from Activskin®. It is also available as the A540 Light Support Sheer Open Crotch Pantyhose, a style that we will review separately.





Materials and features
Activskin® provide the following product description:

'This is a Hi-Glide™ mantyhose with a fabric that is identical to A679 but is unlike any of our other styles. Instead of a fly panel and the extra cost associated with it, it has a simple sheer male-comfort panel without a fly or gusset. The fabric glides exceptionally well, not only under trousers but also against itself. The brief provides light support, too, making it perfect for guys who want to be cool and comfortable and just a little bit of control at the abdomen. This style features a reinforced toe for added strength and durability.

The M and L sizes have a panel that tapers to a point a few inches below the front waistband, and goes back under the crotch, providing all-nylon fabric that stretches to support your "male equipment," and it ends at the tailbone. The XL size has a panel that continues up all the way to the front of the waistband to provide for extra stretch for bigger guys, and the XXL size has that, plus the panel extends up the back to the back of the waistband, providing even more stretch.'

The fabric in the A579 Light Support Sheer Men's Pantyhose is identical to the A679 Microfabric Light Support Sheer Pantyhose with Fly: 84% Nylon and 16% Spandex.

The fabric is sheer - perhaps similar to 15-20 denier. Leg and leg hair would be visible through it.

As the product description states, there is no gusset but a specially-designed male comfort panel.

Toes are reinforced. The waistband is 2.5cm wide.

The brief is made of much denser fabric, with the appearance of a 60 denier opaque tight. The demarcation with the leg is clearly noticeable.

The fabric has just a hint of a sheen when caught in the light.





Fit and sizing
The A579s are available in four sizes: M, L, XL, and XXL. See the size chart for further sizing information. I tested the L size.



These tights seemed quite delicate to the touch, but were actually surprisingly robust.

The L size had a good amount of stretch and with careful positioning they fitted really well. If I was taller than my 5'10" I would have gone a size higher than the L, however.

The high Spandex content provided an excellent close fit to all parts of the leg. Leg support and compression is light as described.

The brief also provides some support, although I found the compression to be slightly firmer than 'light'. However, this was never uncomfortable. The brief has good depth and fits well. The compression in the brief does ensure that these tights stay up and stay in place,

The male comfort panel really does improve the wearing experience, with the 'male equipment' held in place and aligned comfortably without any pinching or tightness.

Glide under trousers is also excellent and another positive feature of this style.

I wore the A579s to work on a warmer February day than normal. It would have been a bit too warm for an opaque or semi-opaque style under trousers, and the A579s were a good choice for the weather. They kept my legs comfortable all day.

Colour range
The Activskin® A579 Light Support Sheer Men's Pantyhose are available in three colours: Beige, Black and Tan.

I tested a pair in Black.







Price and availability
The A579s can be purchased directly from Activskin® at a price of $11.99.

Further information on shipping costs is available on the Activskin® website.

Conclusion

We have reviewed a very wide selection of men's pantyhose/tights at Hosiery For Men, and it is always good to review a new style that has clearly been designed with the male anatomy in mind.

The male comfort panel in these pantyhose/tights is a great feature and very comfortable.

Where the A579s really score for me is Hi-Glide™ fabric which glides
 superbly under trousers. 

In summary, good quality men's sheer tights from Activskin®, and another welcome addition to their extensive range. The price is also very reasonable.

Sunday 23 February 2014

New products from Oroblu at UK Tights

UK Tights have just announced the arrival of some great new products from Oroblu, one of our favourite brands at Hosiery For Men.



The new arrivals include:

Oroblu Bonnie Cotton Tights



Oroblu Diane Leggings



Oroblu Unique 100 Seamless Leggings

Special promotion on HYD tights at Luxury Legs.

Luxury Legs have a special promotion on tights from the Italian manufacturer HYD.



You can buy three pairs of HYD tights for the price of two. 


Luxury Legs say that HYD are 'new to the UK but with over 20 years experience. Hyd offer a great range of Tights whether you are looking for Sheer, Opaque with or without Leg Support or Control Tops in which HYD excel. Softly scented thanks to Aloe Vera and Eco friendly dyes all Hyd products offer a quality that belies their price.'

You can still read our review of the HYD Millenium 70 Denier Matt Opaque Tights, a style we recommended.

Hurry as stocks are limited and the offer ends on Monday Feb 24h.

Friday 21 February 2014

Reviewed: Primark 80 Denier Microfibre Opaque Tights

Primark is a change of fashion stores in the UK. They are well-known for their budget prices and fast-changing stock.





Primark stock a wide range of tights and we are pleased to publish another guest review on Hosiery For Men.

Our guest reviewer Mark, has sent us a review of the Primark 80 Denier Microfibre Opaque Tights.

Materials and features
I have found that for range and value Primark are easily one of the best department stores in Britain for tights. I can always get what I’m looking for and they are very sturdy and long-lasting which is surprising when you see the price.

I have had a problem with not having a Primark store near me and only could buy my tights from my trips to London to the larger Primark stores. However my local shopping centre now has a Primark store which is great for me and many others.

The pair of opaque tights I am reviewing have microfibre and lycra material built into them. The fabric is 95% Nylon and 5% Elastane.

They do have a little shine to them even at 80 denier which looks good.



Fit and sizing 

These tights come in four sizes S ,M, L & XL. They are made to fit to heights of up to 5’10” and hips up to 42" - 52".



I am 5 feet 11 tall and get the XL size so I know they will stay up.

Length of the leg is perfect. The large size fits me snuggly but as a guy I prefer the XL for extra comfort. After putting on the XL you completely forget you are wearing tights at all.

The Primark 80 denier opaques are very strong and I have never had a pair ladder or tear as yet, unlike Primark 40 denier tights.

Colour range

The range of colours that these tights come in, as with the Primark range of 40 denier tights, is very large.

I tested the Chocolate shade for this review, although I also own pairs in Black and Navy Blue in the 80 Denier.

Price and availability

The Primark 80 Denier Microfibre Opaque Tights are easily available from most Primark stores. They are priced at just £3.00

Conclusion

I think that is my only complaint with these tights is that a wider waistband could of been part of the design to prevent the roll up at the top.

I am someone who owns many styles in the range of Primark opaques, and I very much recommend them.

At the low price you can afford to try a pair. They are great value.


Thanks for the guest review Mark. This is the first time we have reviewed any tights from Primark. I hope that we might be able to trial and review some styles from the rest of the range in future.

Tuesday 4 February 2014

Reviewed: Marks and Spencer Autograph 100 Luxury Satin Touch Tights

Marks and Spencer is probably the most famous and well-known department store on the British high street. They always stock an impressive range of tights, and the range is usually refreshed annually.

If you visit one of their flagship branches, such as the Marble Arch one in London, the tights and hosiery section is enormous.

I am sure every woman in the UK has purchased tights from Marks and Spencer, and certainly many men do also.




I recently purchased the Autograph 100 Denier Luxury Satin Touch Tights. They are described as:

"Super soft satin touch fabric with 3 way stretch for a perfect fit."



Materials and features
These tights are made in Italy and are part of Mark and Spencer's premium Autograph range. Tights in the Autograph brand range tend to be more expensive, but have a reputation for much higher quality.

The tights are packaged in a very simple card enclosure. It's a bit basic compared with other more upmarket brands, but it does mean you can touch the fabric if shopping in a Marks and Spencer store.



The fabric is 92% Polyamide, 7% Elastane and 1% Cotton. The fabric has a definite sheen, and even looks quite shiny but only when caught in the light.

They feel extremely smooth, even slightly luxurious to the touch. Opacity is excellent with an even coverage throughout.

Seams are flat. The Large size, that I tested, has a cotton gusset, with no rear comfort panel.

The brief is deep and comfortable, with the waistband easily stretching above the waist and hips.

The waistband is described as 'ultra comfort' and this is definitely accurate. At 4cm wide is provides excellent support without any digging in.

Another nice quality touch is the label inside the waistband. Very handy for identifying the style and brand if you have a large collection of black opaque tights.

Fit and sizing
The Autograph 100 Denier Luxury Satin Touch Tights are available in four sizes: Small, Medium, Large and X Large.

I tested the Large size. I always choose the Large size in Marks and Spencer tights as they are designed to fit taller people. In this case you can see that the height range is 5'10" to 6'0".



These tights have provided the best fit and wearing experience that I have had in recent years from a Marks and Spencer style.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s they sold some superb Italian-made opaques and semi-opaques, but I felt that quality had dipped since then. I got the impression that the store was aiming to sell cheaper tights, of poorer quality. But with this style, Marks and Spencer are certainly back on form.

I found these tights to be so comfortable and cosy in the cold weather, that I haven't worn much else since I bought them.

Leg length is excellent, and the fit overall was really superb. The Elastane content in the knit provides for a lovely close fit on the leg, with no wrinkling at all.

The waistband is really comfortable. I found that I could wear these tights for long periods without any adjusting or pulling up being needed.

The sheen provides a great level of glide under trousers.

Colour range
The Autograph 100 Denier Luxury Satin Touch Tights are available in three shades: Black, Dark Oak and Light Ebony.

I tested a pair in Black.

Price and availability
The Autograph 100 Denier Luxury Satin Touch Tights are priced at £9.50.

Conclusion
The Autograph 100 Denier Luxury Satin Touch Tights are a great purchase. Yes, they are more expensive than other more basic opaque tights from Marks and Spencer, but the improved quality is what you get. Flat seams, top quality fabric and a design that provides a great wearing experience. Under trousers they glide amazingly well.

Marks and Spencer state that their Autograph tights provide 'designer style and quality at high street prices.' The Autograpgh 100 Luxury Satin Touch Tights certainly fir that description. If these were tights from a more upmarket European brand, you would be looking to pay £12.00 to £15.00 for this quality.


I am so impressed with these, that I think I will be tempted to try more of the Autograph range. The Autograph Luxury Velvet Touch 100 Denier Tights might be next on my shopping list.

Reviewed: Silky 140 Denier Thermal Fleece Tights

Legwear International has provided Hosiery For Men a large selection of samples to trial and review for our readers.

We have already published reviews of the following styles from Legwear International:

Couture Future 10 Denier Tights

Cindy 30 Denier Semi-Sheer Tights

Silky Dance Shimmer Full Foot Tights

Silky Medium Support Tights

Couture Ultra Gloss Tights

Couture Ultra Sheer Tights

We also published a feature on Legwear International and an interview with Kirsten Taylor, their Product Development and Marketing Manager.



We now turn our attention to the Silky 140 Denier Thermal Fleece Tights.



Materials and features
The Silky 140 Denier Thermal Fleece Tights are described as:

"A Wardbrobe MUST HAVE for colder days. These gorgeous tights are ultra comfy and give the leg full coverage."


The tights are packaged in a simple card enclosure.



These tights feel really thick and soft but, surprisingly, are not overly heavy in weight. They are made from 93% Polyester and 7% Elastane. The inside of the tights is lined with a very soft fleece, that is very warm and comfortable on the skin.

The tights are very opaque; the fabric having a dense weave.

Seams are flat throughout. Toes are reinforced and rounded.

The brief/panty has a rear comfort panel. The waistband is a 4cm wide. There is a reinforcement band running around the top of each thigh, so the tights are not completely sheer to waist. However, when worn this band is really invisible and can only be seen on close inspection.





Fit and sizing

The Silky 140 Denier Thermal Fleece Tights are available in four sizes: Small, Medium, Large and X Large.



I tested a pair in X Large.

In terms of comfort, these were very nice, comfortable tights to wear. Soft against the skin and warm without causing overheating. Worn on a very cold day, they provided very good insulation.


The brief/panty could have been deeper for me.

Although the tights have plenty of stretch, I did find that they were pretty much at full stretch to accommodate the length of my legs. I am 5'10", yet the X Large size only just fitted me, and that was with a fair bit of stretching.

Colour range
The Silky 140 Denier Thermal Fleece Tights are available from Legwear International Black only.

Price and availability
These tights are priced at a very reasonable £5.49.

Conclusion
This is a really good product from Silky. Fleece tights are becoming more and more popular, and there is evidence that men are buying them in place of traditional long underwear.

I liked the dense opaque fabric and the soft, warm fleece lining. These are great tights to wear as an additional thermal layer. They would definitely keep you much warmer than traditional long johns, with the added advantage of no bulk and a sleeker fit. For men working outdoors in very cold weather, or engaged in outdoor sports and other activities, these tights would be ideal.

However, the X large size did not provide quite enough length for me. The brief also needed to be deeper.

If Silky created a version of these tights that catered for heights of up to 6'1" that would definitely be an improvement. With further modification the central front flat seam could also be shorter, so that the a male front pouch could be created. With a deeper brief as well, these tights would be perfect. I can't see any reason why Silky could not then market them as 'men's thermal fleece tights.'

Monday 3 February 2014

Reviewed: Marks and Spencer Bodysensor 60 Denier Opaque Tights

We recently published a feature on a very positive experience of shopping for tights at the famous British department store Marks and Spencer



The Autograph 100 Denier Luxury Satin Touch Tights have been a great purchase and a review will be published soon.

Hosiery For Men is very pleased to publish a guest review from 'astringman' of the Marks and Spencer Bodysensor 60 Denier Opaque Tights.



Materials and features
Wanting to explore more of what is available from Marks and Spencer, I decided to try the Bodysensor 60 range.

Marks and Spencer provide the this description of this style:

"These 60 denier opaque tights are a winter must-have. Our Body Sensor™ technology is designed to keep you warm when it's cool, and cool when it's warm."


These are available in packs of three for £8 and, despite the low price, are a high quality, Italian-made product.


The Bodysensor tights are made from 88% Polyamide, 11% Elastane Lycra and 1% Cotton.



The product description is accurate and the material is very soft. Despite being 11% Lycra, there is surprisingly little sheen. Experience with earlier (British-made) versions available a year or so ago made me choose the X Large size again. This time the leg length is far more generous and practical.

These tights have a reinforced toe and smooth, flat seams.

There is a comfort waistband and a cotton gusset.



Fit and sizing
The Marks and Spencer Bodysensor 60 Denier Opaque Tights are available in four sizes: Small, medium, Large and X Large.


I tested the X Large size.



These tights fit heights up to 5'10" in the X Large size. Sizing information is accurate as I had no difficulty getting a good fit. They would even fit someone slightly taller than 5'10" I feel.

There is a good amount of stretch and the brief was really deep and comfortable.

There is very little leg compression, despite the Lycra/Elastane in the knit, and these tights may wrinkle slightly in places like the knee and ankle.

The leg length and, thence, slightly more relaxed fit is probably responsible for the better performance of this design on me. I'm 1.75m tall and weigh 65kg.

Dealing with larger sizes is probably where the specialist suppliers for men have a role, notably Glamory. High street suppliers focussed on the female market cannot satisfy that sector. Thus, I'm aware that this style will be a solution for only part of the male population.



Colour range

These tights are available in a range of colours other than Black.

I chose the 'Navy Mix' selection pack of three pairs, which include a pair each of black, navy and dark brown.

The black-only pack features the same product and quality.

Price and availability

The Marks and Spencer Bodysensor 60 Denier Opaque Tights are available in a pack of three pairs, priced at £8.00.

Conclusion

This product is very well made and incredibly good value for money.

These are simply the best tights I have ever worn. They are light and warm and there is none of the cool clamminess you sometimes get under trousers. The opacity on the leg is excellent but is '60 denier' on the calf.

My only objection is the label, which had to be carefully removed as this was *not* smooth and soft! Clearly, there is no tailoring for men but the 'astring' can provide the equivalent support.

So do what I've done, stock up - you can afford to at this price!

(I have no affiliation with M&S and all the samples were bought by the reviewer)