Tuesday 5 August 2014

Reviewed: Gipsy 60 Denier XL Opaque Tights

Gipsy Tights recently sent us a selection of opaque tights to trial and review.



You can still read our recently published interview with Gipsy Tights.

Our first review is of the Gipsy 60 Denier XL Opaque Tights.



Materials and features
The Gipsy 60 Denier XL Opaque Tights are quite simply packaged. The tights are folded into a card enclosure that is designed for shop display. The advantage of this is that you can see and feel the fabric before purchasing.

Gipsy describe this style as:

"Velvet soft opaque tights with microfibre and high Lycra content for a lovely feel and perfect fit."
The fabric is 88% Nylon and 12% Elastane. The Gipsy website says 22% Elastane, but that logically must be a mistake.

These tights feel really soft to the touch and are, despite the price, extremely good quality. Well, the information that they are 'Made in Italy' is a very good pointer in that respect.

They are sheer to waist, and have quality flat seams. Toes are not reinforced.

The brief may not look that large but it has an impressive amount of stretch. There is a wide 4cm comfort waistband. Instead of a gusset there is rear panel.

Opaque coverage is even, but this style is not totally opaque, like the Gipsy 100 Denier Opaque Tights and 300 Denier Tights. They also have a slight shine.



Fit and sizing

The Gipsy 60 Denier XL Opaque Tights are available in just one XL size. The non-XL version of the Gipsy 60 Denier Opaque Tights are available in Small, Medium and Large.



As you put these tights on, you really become aware of just how much stretch they have. The high Lycra (Elastane) really does a good job in making sure that they fit every part of your legs well.

The brief, as mentioned, looks low waist but in fact it stretched comfortably above my waist and hips.

These tights were a very comfortable wear indeed. They also feel wonderful: The fabric is so soft you will want to keep touching and stroking it!

Colour range
The Gipsy 60 Denier XL Opaque Tights are available in two shades: Chocolate and Black.

I tested a pair in the Chocolate shade - a rich, dark brown colour.

Price and availability

The Gipsy 60 Denier XL Opaque Tights are priced at: £6.25.

They can be purchased directly from Gipsy and also from many other retailers.

Conclusion
The Gipsy 60 Denier XL Opaque Tights are really a bargain at the price. You get tights made with quality yarn and a high Lycra content, flat seams and a great design for taller and larger people. For the features you get and the quite excellent fit I can't see what else Gipsy could have done to improve this style.

I really liked the impressive stretchy quality. Above all they feel quite wonderful on the leg. The shiny, silky appearance will also provide an excellent glide under trousers.

These are perfect, lighter opaque tights for additional warmth, but also with a great feel and wearing experience.

Saturday 2 August 2014

Reviewed: Kunert Satin Look 20 Tights

UK Tights are one of the leading online hosiery retailers in the UK and always provide a very good service to their male customers. You can check the men's tights selection on their website.



You can also read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of our feature on UK Tights and interview with managing director, Dawn Barber.

UK Tights has previously highly recommended The German-made Kunert brand tights to Hosiery For Men and have indicated that they have been a popular choice with male customers. On their website UK Tights have this to say about the brand:


"Kunert is what you might call a designers' designer. In the leg wear world, Kunert is incredibly well respected, more so than nearly any other brand we know of. Their work is heralded amongst leg wear lovers as some of the best around. Their products feel like a second skin and you can tell they are some of the best quality items around. This is really what makes a designer truly great. Their work seems natural and effortless, but in fact, there's heaps of effort and consideration behind each and every pair of tights that Kunert make. One of our favourite and most loved hosiery brands."



Kunert is an international company with its headquarters in Immenstadt Germany.

Kunert was found 1907 and stands for an established history of success and tradition. You can read an interesting history of the Kunert company on their website.

We recently reviewed a pair of the Kunert Leg Control 70 Support Tights, provided by UK Tights.

UK Tights also kindly sent us a pair of the Kunert Satin Look 20 Tights to trial and review.



Materials and features

The Kunert Satin Look 20 Tights are packaged in the same way at the Leg Control 70 Tights.

The tights are carefully folded around a central rectangular card. Everything is then housed in the card enclosure and wrapped in clear plastic envelope.





These tights feel very soft and silky.

They are actually 23 denier despite the '20' in the name. The fabric is 84% Polyamide and 16% Elastane (Lycra).



The Kunert Satin Look 20 Tights are sheer to waist and boarded, with a shaped heel and leg. Toes are reinforced.

Seams are flat throughout and beautifully finished.

The size V that I tested has a rear comfort gusset (size VI also has this feature). Sizes I to IV has a conventional cotton gusset.

The waistband is 3.5cm wide and has a 2cm finger band running below it.

Although this Kunert style feels extremely light in the hand, the tights also seem quite robust.

Fit and sizing
The Kunert Satin Look 20 Tights are available in five sizes: I, II, III, IV, V and VI.

I tested a pair in size V.



I am learning that Kunert are pretty expert in their sizing, and they should arguably be one of the first choices in hosiery for tall people.

If you are taller, I think you van really buy Kunert products with the confidence that a good fit will be obtained.

The size V was a perfect fit for my 5'10".

The legs are shaped to be slightly wider at the thigh and this really helps with the fit. There is plenty of stretch and the high Elastane content keeps everything in place without any wrinkling at any point.

Like the Leg Control 70 style, brief has plenty of room. The waistband is extremely comfortable and provides just the right amount of support.

I found this style especially comfortable under trousers, with the slight shine providing a good glide.

Colour range

The Kunert Satin Look 20 Tights are available in an impressive range of nine shades:
  • Black
  • Marine
  • Graphite
  • Grey
  • Espresso
  • Hasel
  • Bahama
  • Cashmere
  • Teint
I tested a pair in the Bahama shade.



Price and availability
At UK Tights the Kunert Satin Look 20 Tights are priced at: £8.99.

Conclusion
The Kunert Satin Look 20 Tights are superbly made and one can again see Kunert's attention to every detail.

Wonderfully comfortable to wear, and with a smooth luxurious feel.

For the quality here, I think the £8.99 is an absolute bargain.

I have just read the reviews of this style on UK Tights and people who have purchased them have left very positive opinions.

For taller men, this could be what you might be looking for. The V and VI sizes (XL and XXL respectively) both fit up to 6'1".

Thanks again to UK Tights for kindly providing the Kunert sample.