Just arrived from Wolford: Buenos Aires Pullover

For the next few days we will be showcasing all the great things that Wolford have recently sent us.



Today we feature the Wolford Buenos Aires Pullover.



This is something really special. It's a close-fitting roll-neck jumper made from high-stretch, semi-sheer, silky material. 

A proper review will appear in due course, but we were hugely impressed with an initial wear. Think having the stretchiest, silky, smooth opaque tights, and then imagine them fitting like a second skin on your body rather than your legs. 

New Boots Flawless Fit Tights

Could it be that Boots, the UK pharmacy, health and beauty chain might be upping their game when it comes to tights?




In my experience their tights have often been of relatively poor quality. They have tended to be impulse or emergency purchases at train stations.

A really informative piece in The Independent on 10 best winter tights, by writer Nicola Rayner alerted us to the new Flawless Fit range.

The range comprises 15 denier and 60 denier seamless tights, with the option of a low or high waistband that aims to hug your waist.

This is Nicola Rayner's verdict:

What’s noticeable about this pair of 15-denier tights is how enormous the high waistband looks when you take it out of the packet. Once it’s on, though, it sits comfortably and firmly on your waist and, as with Heist tights, it looks very much like this central piece was made separately from the legs.

That’s not where the resemblance to Heist ends – there is no gusset and no seams in the Flawless Fits tights, which boast “no digging”, “no sagging” and “no bunching” on the packet. We found this to be largely true, though they didn’t sit quite as firmly as the Heist Fifty.

That said, the Boots pair is significantly cheaper and also boasted a lovely silky quality, courtesy of the microfibres with which they are made. A touch of luxury, then, without breaking the bank.

They are priced higher than tights normally cost at Boots - between £13 and £14.







Our choice would be the Flawless Fit 60 Denier Opaque with the High Waistband.

Shame Boots do not provide a size chart on their website. Let's hope they rectify this.

Just arrived from Wolford: Perfect Fit Leggings

Yesterday we posted about the great parcel of products that Wolford sent us.



Today we will start to feature and showcase what was in the box.

Let's start with the Wolford Perfect Fit Leggings.




Their key features include:

• Innovative NATEO yarn used provides unique comfort thanks to its elasticity. The silky texture makes them feel unbelievably natural and soft.
• Breathable
• Great drying properties
• Highly durable
• No gusset
• Seamless panty section prevents them from showing under close-fitting clothing
• Seam up the inside leg
• Extra-wide and soft comfort waistband
• Circular knit

A full review will be published in due course.

Win a £30 UK Tights Gift Voucher by Completing The Men Buying Tights Survey

At Hosiery For Men we are aware of the increasing interest that many hosiery brands have in their male customers.

Well that's logical: we are part of their customer base and a significant (and increasing) number of sales are made to men.

Men have always worn tights, and with the coming of online shopping it is never been easier to find what we want.

We have been discussing these trends with a number of hosiery brands. To find out more about what tights men are buying, which brands they prefer and how they feel men's hosiery requirements can be better met, we have created a short survey.

You can access the survey here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6W7R5HW



It will take just five minutes to complete.

At the end of the survey you can choose to enter your email address and have a chance to win a £30 gift voucher to spend at the UK's leading online hosiery retailer, UK Tights. This great prize can be won by one lucky winner.



The survey will remain open until midnight GMT on Wednesday 12 December 2018. Multiple entries to the competition will be disqualified.

Good luck!

New arrivals from Wolford

Wolford have just sent us a wonderful parcel of products!





Some of the contents are iconic and well known. Others are new and innovative.

There are tights, leggings, skin wear and body wear.

We also have samples of new Cradle to Cradle® Collection: biodegradable products that have a safe biological lifecycle. We featured this collection in a post earlier this week.

Over the next few days we will showcase the items in the parcel.

Thank you Wolford for supporting the Hosiery For Men blog.

Introducing the Wolford Cradle to Cradle® Collection

Wolford have announced a new collection that aims to tackle pollution and promote sustainability in fashion.



In their new Cradle to Cradle® Collection, Wolford are creating biodegradable skin-wear Aurora products that have required extensive research on colorants and textile chemicals, to ensure that they have a safe biological lifecycle.





The new styles created as part of the collection use premium stretch yarn belonging to the Roica Eco-Smart family by Asahi Kasei, which is awarded Cradle2Cradle Material Health Gold Level Certificate and Hohenstein Environment compatibility certification.

In addition to premium stretch yarn from Roica Eco-Smart family, the Aurora pieces are made using two other responsible fibres, Lenzing Modal a cellulosic fibre derived from sustainable forestry, and infinito by Lauffenmühle, a specially modified oil based biodegradable polymer.

After the life cycle of the product from the collection has naturally come to an end, it can be returned to a Wolford store. In return you will receive a 10% discount on the next Cradle to Cradle® product.

Wolford will take the item to an industrial composting station and the Aurora products will begin a new life as nutrients for our planet, such as humus and bio gas.

Two Aurora products are now available.

The Wolford Aurora Leggings



and the Wolford Aurora Pullover.



We are really excited about these products as Wolford are sending them to us to feature and review on Hosiery For Men. They should be arriving soon!

Reviewed: 50 Denier 201 Core Essential Control Top Tights By Socktights

Socktights is the hosiery brand with a difference: tights with a sock attached.

You can read our profile on Socktights and founder Shelby Mason here. Socktights is the new brand name for Bootights.

We previously reviewed the Darbys Knee-Hi Boot Socks and the Draper 50 Denier Herringbone Tights by Socktights.

We now switch our focus to the Socktights 50 Denier 201 Core Essential Control Top Tights.



Shelby Mason, the founder of Bootights, explains the unique concept behind this brand:

"I created Bootights because regular thin tights never felt quite right in my boots. Attaching a cushioned comfy sock is the best of both worlds. Problem solved!"


Packaging

The Socktights 50 Denier 201 Core Essential Control Top Tights are packaged in the same way as the Draper 50 Denier Herringbone Tights that we previously reviewed.

The tights are folded into a simple card clasp. The packaging provides a range of product information, including:

• Advice on removal from the packaging 
• Sizing information 
• Wearing tips 
• Detailed product information 
• The tights have a rectangular cardboard insert inside, which needs to be carefully removed.

Materials and features

The Socktights 50 Denier 201 Core Essential Control Top Tights are premium tights with a control top, attached to a performance sock.

Socktights creator Shelby Mason provides more information on this style in a very informative video.



This review will describe the three different elements of the tights: The control top (brief), the leg and the performance ankle sock.

Control top

The control top is jet black. It is denser and more opaque than the leg, and you can see a clear demarcation.

Seams are conventional rather than flat. There is a cotton gusset.

The brief aims to provide tummy control.

The waistband is 4cm wide and is described as "non-roll"

Leg

The leg is described as a "premium smoothing tight".

This section is made from 87% Nylon and 13% Spandex. The yarn has a velvety softness, giving the tights and lovely feeling on the skin.





Performance ankle sock

The socks are attached to the tights leg. The stitching is very well executed and you can be sure that they won't come detached.

The sock is they key feature of Bootights. It is all designed with comfort and cushioning in mind. The main features of the sock are:

• Sculpted cushioning in the toe and heel where it is needed most 
• Moisture wicking fibres to keep feet cool and dry 
• Compression arch support to hug the feet for a contoured fit 
• A strategically placed mesh ventilation zone where the sock sits on the instep to provide additional breathability
• Flat toe seam

Sizing, fit and wearing experience

The Socktights 50 Denier 201 Core Essential Control Top Tights are available in four sizes: A, B, C, D, E and F.

We trialled these tights in size D.

As with the Draper 50 Denier Herringbone Tights you need to take some care putting these tights on, but they do go on easily once you have the sock in place..

You tell which way round they need to be from the position of the heel. It takes a little time to get the sock into position and rolled over the foot, and then you must carefully pull and shape the tights onto the leg.

Although my shoe size is UK 10 1/2, the sock stretched out perfectly without straining the yarn. They are meant to fit up to UK size 8, but in my experience they will easily fit a larger foot.

The sock is extremely comfortable. I found it kept my feet warm and cosy, but without sweatiness.

The best feature for me was that there was no sliding inside my boots. One of the other advantages is of course that the tights are much less likely to run or ladder.

The fit of the tight on the leg was really wonderful. Soft to the touch, with the Spandex smoothing over any bumps. Although just 50 denier, opacity was very dense with even coverage.

The control top/brief is very stretchy and you can fit it well above the navel if required. In appearance the brief looks like a conventional 50 denier black opaque tight. The brief, although designed to "control" is actually quite light in compression. There is certainly no constriction or tightness on the lower belly.

Overall it was a great wearing experience. These tights feel great.

Colour range

The Socktights 50 Denier 201 Core Essential Control Top Tights are available in two colours: Jet and Heather.



Price and availability

The Socktights 50 Denier 201 Core Essential Control Top Tights are priced at $28.00.

They can be purchased directly from the Socktights website.

The website also allows you to search for local retailers and stockists.

Conclusion

This is our third Socktights product review. Both styles of tights and the Darbys Knee-Hi Boot Socks have impressed us for the high quality design, performance and overall wearing experience.

Most of us guys will be wearing boots at this time of year. I wear them almost every day in autumn and winter, and the Socktights 50 Denier 201 Core Essential Control Top Tights are simple the perfect product for pairing with them.

Recommended.

Black Friday Sale at UK Tights

UK Tights, one of our recommended hosiery retailers, has just announced their Black Friday sale offer.



On Friday 23 November, there will be 15% of everything.



We asked UK Tights which pair off tights they recommend for me this Black Friday, and they suggested the Wolford Comfort Cut 40 Tights.

These are one of Wolford's most innovative products. The waist size of these tights is decided by the wearer. By simply making up to four cuts on the inside of the waistband, you can expand the size of the waistband. This means that, if you usually have a choice between tights that fit in the waist but are too long in the leg or vice versa, now you don't have too.





The Hosiery For Men choice from UK Tights are the Falke Pure Matt 100 Denier Tights.

They are thick, warm, totally opaque and so wearable as insulation under pants, or even with shorts in cold weather. And they last for years if you look after them.

Black Friday/Cyber Weekend Offers at Luxury Legs

Luxury Legs, one of our recommended retailers, have just announced their offers for Cyber Weekend 2018.





You will find some great discounts, with up to 20% discount on Wolford, Falke, Gerbe and Fogal.



We asked Luxury Legs a recommendation for guys and they go for the Gerbe Futura 40 Denier Tights. They are on sale with with 20% of the usual price.



Our top choice from the bargains on offer are the Wolford Cotton Velvet Tights.

You can read our review here.

New arrival: Pretty Polly Legs On the Go 60 Denier Opaque Tights

Here is the final new product that Pretty Polly have sent us.



The Pretty Polly Legs On The Go 60 Denier Opaque Tights.



These are one of the products in Pretty Polly's new Legs On The Go Range.

This is what Pretty Polly say about them:

"With over half of British working women feeling like their legs are put under pressure as a result of their job, Pretty Polly have created a fantastic new hosiery collection to help support and look after the working legs of Britain, making your legs feel less tired and achy when you are on the go.

"Light compression hosiery helps reduce swelling in the ankles, making these tights ideal for long periods of standing or sitting.

"They help stimulate blood flow, which help prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Varicose veins.

"Enjoy 60 denier opaque tights, with ladder resist yarn and light support, making your legs feel less tired and achy when you are on the go."

I don't know what a survey might say about men, but I imagine it could easily be:

"With over half of British working men feeling like their legs are put under pressure as a result of their job."

Stay tuned for our review.

Just arrived: Pretty Polly 250 Denier Soft Chevron Opaque Tights

As part of a new batch of samples to try, Pretty Polly also sent us these 250 Denier Soft Chevron Opaque Tights.

Pretty Polly describe them as a "chevron 250 denier tight, knitted in a way that gives you a classic design with additional warmth - perfect for everyday wear then the temperatures start to drop."
These are a new addition to Pretty Polly's Premium Opaques collection.



You can still read our overview of the Premium Opaques collection, as well as our reviews of the:

80 Denier 3D Opaque Tights

150 Denier Matt 3D Tights

120 Denier 3D Shine Tights

Just arrived: Pretty Polly Opaque Bodyshaper Tights

Iconic British hosiery brand Pretty Polly have just sent us some more newly-released tights to trial and review.




We have just taken delivery of three different pairs of tights.

The first are these Pretty Polly Opaque Bodyshaper Tights.

Pretty Polly describe them as "40 denier opaque look on leg with medium control."


They are part of the Pretty Polly Shapewear range.

Other new arrivals from Pretty Polly will be featured this week.