Tuesday 31 January 2012

Reviewed: Penti 250 Denier Premier Naturel Sensation tights

Readers of this blog may have already seen the recent profile of Penti, a tights manufacturer based in Turkey.

I recently gave a favourable review to the Penti 80 Denier Micro Opaque Tights.

With the onset of freezing weather in the UK, it was time to check out another Penti opaque style, this time the 250 Denier Premier Naturel Sensation Tights.

I was a little apprehensive about how well these tights were going to fit before I tried them, as unlike the 
80 Denier Micro Opaque Tights, the sizing only goes up to large.



Materials and features

The 250 Denier Premier Naturel Sensation Tights are part of Penti's Classic range.

The fabric used is 28% polyamide (nylon), 69% viscose and 3% elastane.

Despite the packaging stating that these tights are 250 denier, they are not made of a very heavy material and are not quite as opaque as you would expect. The appearance is similar to 70 - 100 denier tights. The weave is not that dense at all and any slight stretching of the fabric leads to a much less opaque effect.

However the material used is very soft indeed and these tights are really comfortable to wear.

They are sheer to waist, apart from a barely visible line of reinforced stitching just below the brief. There is no reinforced brief and this demarcation is only visible on close inspection.

Seams are flat and well constructed. The waistband is 4cm wide and very comfortable. There is a cotton gusset. The brief is generously proportioned and stretched comfortably above my waist.

The tights are almost completely matt in appearance. Like the
80 Denier Micro Opaque Tights, they are robustly constructed and look as if they will wear well.

Fit and sizing

The 250 Denier Premier Naturel Sensation Tights come in just three sizes: 1 (small), 2 (medium) and 3 (large).




I tested the size 3 (large) and as soon as I put them on I knew they were going to be a good fit. In fact the fit was superb in every respect. These tights have plenty of stretch.

I am 5'10", but as the sizing indicates, the large size would fit up to 6'/6'1". The sizing information is accurate and I feel that these tights would also comfortably fit a taller person.

The warmth and insulation provided was good with no overheating under trousers. The less dense weave compared to the 80 Denier Micro Opaque Tights meant that air circulates better and legs are able to 'breathe'.

Colour range

The 250 Denier Premier Naturel Sensation Tights are available in just four shades:

  • Vanilla
  • Chestnut
  • Black
  • Anthracite
I tested a pair in black.

Price and availability
The 250 Denier Premier Naturel Sensation Tights cost 13.90TL (Turkish Lira). Converted at today's exchange rate this is:

£5.00
$7.80
€6.00

Penti tights are available from their Turkish stores and their network of international outlets.

There is also a Penti store in the USA, at 9 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. They can be contacted via the Penti USA website.

If are a Turkish resident, Penti hosiery can be purchased via the Penti online shop.

For other enquiries about purchasing and shipping it is best to contact Penti directly.

Conclusion
Another winner from Penti. I really like these tights; they are really soft and comfortable. The amount of stretch, a generous brief and flat seams are also plus points.

Thanks to all the readers who left comments on the previous Penti review. Feedback is always welcome and appreciated.

Thursday 26 January 2012

Just arrived: Gatta tights from Itsocks

I recently wrote an article for Hosiery For Men about Itsocks, a hosiery retailer that provides a good service for men buying tights for themselves.

In the article, Anna, the owner of Itsocks, mentioned that some of the most popular styles with male customers have been tights made by Gatta, that are available in Large and X-Large sizes.

Itsocks have now kindly sent me some Gatta samples to review. These include:

The Rosalia Polar 600 Den Winter Tights, the Rosalia 120 Den Opaque Tights and the Laura 40 Den Sheer Tights. I will test and review these tights shortly.





Friday 20 January 2012

Reviewed: Penti 80 Denier Micro Opaque Tights

I recently wrote a feature on Hosiery For Men about Penti, one of the most prominent hosiery manufacturers in Turkey.

Penti are aware that their tights are popular with men and kindly sent me a very generous selection of samples for testing and review.

For first review of Penti hosiery, I tested the 80 Denier Micro Opaque Tights.




Materials and features

The 80 Denier Micro Opaque Tights are part of Penti's Classic range.

The 3D fabric used is 91% Polyamide and 9% Elastane.

These are quite thick opaque tights, much thicker and heavier than other 80 denier tights. The opacity is almost total and there is even coverage. The material is very soft and feels comfortable when worn.

The tights are not totally sheer to waist, having a reinforced band just below the brief. Other than that the brief is the same as the leg.

Seams are conventional. The waistband is 3cm wide and comfortable.

The packaging indicates, in words and graphics, that the tights have a cotton gusset, however there wasn't one sewn into the pair I tested.

These tights are almost completely matt in appearance and only have a very slight shine if they catch the sun or artificial lighting.

The tights are robustly made and I feel they would withstand plenty of wear.

Fit and sizing

The 80 Denier Micro Opaque Tights come in four sizes: 1(Small), 2(Medium), 3(Large) and 4 (Extra Large).

The size chart shows that the 4/XL size fits up to 185cm, so would comfortably accommodate a height up to 6'.



I tested the size 4/XL and can confirm that the sizing information is accurate. This size had plenty of length in the leg and would have stretched to fit someone even taller than my 5'10". The brief also had plenty of depth and meant that the waist band was able to sit comfortably above the waist.

I wore these tights to work under trousers and the glide was good. However, they are very warm tights and I found that indoors I was overheating slightly. I feel they would be better for wear outside on cold days.

I also found that the 80 Denier Micro Opaque Tights are quite a tight fit. That was fine for me - they stayed in place and didn't need pulling up. The close fit also provided some mild leg compression which I like.

Colour range

The 80 Denier Micro Opaque Tights are available in a wide range of shades:
  • Mustard
  • Sand
  • Grey 
  • Stone
  • Chestnut
  • Antique Blue
  • Black
  • Graphite
  • Dark Blue
  • Anthracite
  • Red
  • Mustard
Not all of the shades are available in 4/XL, however all the darker colours are.

I tested a pair in Black and the tights were a very dark, even colour.

Price and availability

The 80 Denier Micro Opaque Tights cost 9.50TL (Turkish Lira). Converted at today's exchange rate this is:

£3.35
$5.19
€4.00

Penti tights are available from their Turkish stores and their growing network of international outlets.

There is also a Penti store in the USA, at 9 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. They can be contacted via the Penti USA website.

If are a Turkish resident, Penti hosiery can be purchased via the Penti online shop.

For other enquiries about purchasing and shipping it is best to contact Penti directly.

Conclusion

These are solid, well-made opaque tights. They are comfortable and very warm. The larger sizing is a positive feature for men, especially taller ones.

I would agree with Ph Turk, a Hosiery for Men reader from Turkey, who provided a positive assessment of the 80 Denier Micro Tights.

The addition of a gusset and flat seams would be a further improvement.

Wednesday 18 January 2012

40% off Falke Pure Matt 100 Denier Tights at Tights Please

Soon after starting the Hoisery for Men blog last year, I wrote about the Falke Pure Matt 100 Denier Tights. Why? They are superb quality in every respect and their generous sizing makes them an excellent choice for men who want some warm opaque tights that will fit really well.



It's not just my opinion. Check out this recent very detailed and informative review on the US-based Tights for Men blog.

I completely endorse the conclusion of the Tights for Men blogger that the Falke Pure Matt 100 Denier Tights are "uniformly superb in quality, fit, comfort, and appearance. Quite frankly, they are the best darned tights that have ever shrouded my body."


The Falke Pure Matt 100 Denier Tights are now on sale at Tights Please with a very generous 40% discount plus free UK delivery.

Monday 16 January 2012

Reviewed: Trasparenze Sophie 70 Tights

I recently reviewed the Trasparenze Cortina 100 denier opaque tights which I acquired from Legs and Stockings.



I was keen to try more Trasparenze tights. I wanted to to see if they were of similar excellent quality to the Cortina tights, as well as check the larger 5-Maxi size.

The Trasparenze Sophie opaque tights have been given great reviews on many hosiery retail sites. They are described by Legs and Stockings as "the softest opaque tights you can buy."




Materials and features

Like the Cortina 100 tights, the Sophie 70 tights are part of the Trasparenze 'Classic' range.

The fabric used is 86% Polyamide, 10% Elastane and 4% Cotton.

These tights are beautifully made and constructed, as one usually finds with Italian-made hosiery.

They are sheer to waist, have flat seams and the legs are shaped at the heel.

The waistband is 3.5cm wide and is soft and comfortable. There is a narrow reinforced strip either side of the seams in the brief and this extends on both sides of the rear comfort panel, which is a feature of the 5-Maxi size.

The Sophie tights are fairly opaque, but despite trying to 5-Maxi size I found them quite a tight fit and this meant that where the tights were more stretched, such as in the thigh area, the opacity was less. When worn, they had more of a 40-50 denier appearance on me.
The tights have a very even matt appearance, with just a slight shine.

Fit and sizing
These tights come in five sizes: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5-MAXI.



I tested 5-Maxi size which according to the packaging information extends up to a height of 5'11"or 6'1" depending on weight.

I am 5'10" and the fit was excellent, although it was it was less generous than I expected. The Sophie 70 tights do not have a great deal of stretch; quite a bit less than the Cortina 100 tights. I am not sure of the fit would be good for anyone taller than me.

Interestingly, I also bought some Trasparenze Debbie lustre sheer 40 denier tights in the 5-Maxi size (review to follow soon) and these were much more generously sized. So there is perhaps some inconsistency in Trasparenze sizing and it's worth being aware of this.

However the Sophie 70 tights did fit me very well - extremely snug and quite tight. I needed to put them on carefully, but once on they clung to me like a second skin. There is no wrinkling or bunching and these tights stay in place all day.

As mentioned above, they are also incredibly soft to the touch and feel quite lovely on the legs. The glide under jeans and trousers is excellent.

Colour range

These tights are available in a range of shades from Legs and Stockings:
  • Nero (Black) 
  • Marrone (Brown) 
  • Prugna (Plum) 
  • Oliva (Green) 
  • Metal (Grey) 
  • Bacca (Red Berry) 
A wider range of shades might be available from other retailers.

I tested the Marrone (Brown) shade which is a medium brown colour, less dark than a richer chocolate brown.

Price and availability
These tights normally cost between £8.00 and £10.00 but Legs and Stockings sell them for just £4.95, reduced from their usual retail price of £9.45.

For the quality, I would say this is a real bargain.

Conclusion
Despite some concerns about sizing, these are excellent quality tights that provide a close fit and a very soft and smooth feel.

As I mentioned in a previous review, Legs and Stockings also provide an excellent, quick delivery and UK postage is just £0.99.

Spotlight on thelegstore.co.uk

On the Hosiery For Men blog I have written about some of the smaller UK hosiery retailers who have established a web-based retail presence, including Itsocks and Eve's Legwear. These retailers provide a friendly and supportive service for men buying tights for themselves.

Our latest feature is on thelegstore.co.uka family-run UK retail business which opened in December 2009.



The owners states that they have: "have extensively researched the hosiery market to establish a product range which we truly hope you will enjoy as much as we do. We are stocking major brands which are not necessarily ones you will have heard of."

Hosiery for Men is pleased to publish this interview with thelegstore.co.uk.

Are male customers buying for themselves an important part of your customer base? Do you welcome their custom at The Leg Store?
Of course, we welcome male customers, both those who are hosiery wearers and those who are looking for presents for their partners. We offer a discreet service and through email or phone can offer advice to all our customers.

Male customers make up around 15-20% of our customer base although we can never really be sure if they are buying for themselves or for gifts! I think that buying online has made it easier for men to buy clothes that they may not feel as comfortable buying on the High Street.

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

Gatta and Luisa Maria Lugli seem to be popular. Gatta’s range are a good 'basic'; they are hard wearing and generously sized. Luisa Maria Lugli are an Italian designer brand and, I have to say quite luxurious, very well made and pretty darn sexy! Cette stockings and hold ups are also very popular.

Which tights have been bestsellers with your male customers?
Sofia by Luisa Maria Lugli has been a very good seller. These are in fact beautiful ribboned hold ups rather than tights though! Cent by Luisa Maria Lugli are fantastic value 20 denier tights too.



What kind of service will male customers receive at The Leg Store? Do you welcome enquiries and requests for advice?

As I said, we offer a discreet and non-judgemental service. We can be contacted via our website or at sales@thelegstore.co.uk and will do whatever we can to help or advise as honestly as possible.

Typically, enquiries will be about sizes or colours and we would always rather give an honest description or opinion than disappoint a customer by selling them something inappropriate. We pride ourselves on giving good customer service with swift delivery. As a small online retailer and family business, we appreciate that a good reputation is hard earned and very easily lost!

What are your thoughts on men wearing tights?
Tights and stockings can be comfortable, practical or sexy and be enjoyed by all, whatever your gender or size!

We would like to offer the readers of Hosiery For Men a 10% discount on any orders placed at thelegstore.co.uk . Simply enter the code HFM109112 when prompted at our online checkout. This code will be valid for the whole of 2012.

Many thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by Hosiery For Men. I hope the readers of this blog will pay your site a visit and check out what's on offer.

Sunday 15 January 2012

Upcoming reviews on Hosiery For Men

Readers of this blog can look forward to a varied series of reviews in the next few weeks.

These include:



Solidea men's compression footless tights. I have been checking these out since late last year and a feature on Solidea compression hosiery is in preparation.





Penti tights. I have wonderful selection of samples and will publish my first Penti review of their 80 denier opaque tights shortly.




Cette Dublin 60 denier opaque tights. I am looking forward to trying these out.



Trasparenze Sophie and Debbie tights. 

Reviewed: Comfort4Men 60 Denier Luxury Men's Tights

I first wrote about Comfort4Men tights for men last year when I tested and reviewed their 70 denier opaque tights.

I was extremely impressed with the quality and fit of that Comfort4Men style and in my review you can see that I gave them a very strong recommendation.


I was asked by Comfort4Men to choose another style to test and review and the description of the 60 denier luxury tights certainly caught my interest:

"You will be thrilled by the unique ultra-smoothness and velvety-softness. Just touch and feel it - the silky lustre speaks for itself."



It is a rather enjoyable experience choosing what style of tights you want on the Comfort4Men website, as one of the welcome features is that you can 'individually design' your tights using features from several variants.

For example, when choosing the 60 denier luxury tights, one has to choose between the low waist or high waist style. Then there is a choice of colours: either Black, Anthracite or Light Grey.

You can then choose to have the tights with or without a fly opening. Lastly, there is a choice of sizes: 4, 5, 6, 7 or 7+.

That makes a total of 60 possible combinations just for the 60 denier luxury tights! Is there any other manufacturer of men's tights that provides such a choice in just one of their styles?

As I have written previously, a tremendous amount of care goes into the design and manufacture of Comfort4Men men's tights. These are not women's tights rebranded as 'unisex' or 'men's tights' - they are tights specifically designed for the male anatomy and therefore one can expect a superior wearing experience in every respect.

The 60 denier luxury tights I chose, were the C406M model, and had the following features:

  • 60 denier
  • High waist
  • Anthracite
  • Black gusset
  • Fly opening
  • Size: 6



Materials and features
The 60 denier luxury tights I tested are made from 92% Polyamide and 8% Elastane. They are not completely opaque in appearance, and I noticed I could see my skin and leg hair in the areas where the fabric is slightly more stretched, such as the thigh.

As described on the Comfort4Men site, the materials is indeed luxurious and very soft and smooth to the touch. The material has a gloss appearance, but is not over shiny.

The tights have plenty of stretch. They have a comfortable waistband. The toe is reinforced and there are flat seams throughout.



The gusset and crotch area also has a flat seam and is made from very soft, comfortable and stretchy material (see picture below). The fly opening is extremely well-designed and also easy to use. There is no need to fiddle about with the opening when going to the bathroom.



The high waist model provides plenty of room, supported further by a rear comfort panel. It is a relief when putting these tights on not to experience the low waist/shallow brief experience of many brands of tights made for women (Falke and Wolford excepted). Choose your size carefully and these tights will fit well, even if you are carrying a few extra pounds in the waist area.

Fit and sizing

As mentioned above, the 60 denier luxury tights come in five different sizes: 4, 5, 6, 7 or 7+. This is a wider size range than the 70 denier opaque tights I tested last year.



With the size 6 pair I tested the fit was really excellent. I have worn this pair several times over the winter, on both very cold days and milder ones. The insulation is excellent, but the tights also seem to breathe so there is no sensation of over heating once one comes back into a warmer environment. The level of comfort is superior to any brand of men's tights I have worn before. On cold nights, I didn't want to take the tights off and they were wonderful to sleep in.

The tights cling extremely well to the legs and don't need frequent pulling up during the day. I did notice, however, that there was a very slight wrinkling at the ankles, when worn for a long period. But that is soon sorted with a bit of a pull-up and reshaping.

These tights have excellent glide under jeans and trousers.

Colour range

The 60 denier luxury tights are available three colours: Black, Anthracite or Light Grey.

The Anthracite shade that I tested was more of a steel blue grey, than the darker, charcoal grey appearance you can see in the pictures.

Price and availability

The 60 denier luxury tights cost €41.95 plus shipping. Shipping rates vary depending on the destination.

For countries outside of the European Union, German value added tax is not payable. This is removed automatically during the order process.

Conclusion

If I had a rating system on Hosiery For Men, these tights would get five stars.

Both pairs of Comfort4Men tights I have tested have been wonderfully comfortable. They are already 'favourite' tights for me and I actually look forward to wearing them.

Yes, they are pricier than other brands (only Gerbe men's tights are in a similar price bracket) but as the saying goes: "You get what you pay for." These tights are superbly made, are hard wearing and will last a decent length of time.

Monday 9 January 2012

New arrivals: Tights from Penti

I have just taken delivery of a very generous selection of samples from Penti.



You can read my recent article about Penti tights from Turkey.

I am looking forward to trying these tights and will review them for Hosiery for Men readers.

Sunday 8 January 2012

New arrivals: Trasparenze Sophie and Debbie tights

I have just received a new shipment from Legs and Stockings. After my positive review of the Trasparenze Cortina 100 denier opaque tights, I wanted to test some more Trasparenze hosiery.

I have chosen two items in the largest size - Size 5 / Maxi.

The Sophie 70 denier opaque tights:



The Debbie lustre sheer 40 denier tights.



I will test and review these tights soon.

Saturday 7 January 2012

Penti: Tights from Turkey



Penti are one of the oldest and most well-established hosiery manufacturers in Turkey. The company behind the Penti brand was founded in 1950 in Istanbul. Originally, there were two separate corporate entities behind the business: Naylon Hosiery and Bilka. Following a merger in 1970, the Ogretmen Hosiery company was born.



In 1984 the Penti brand was introduced to replace the old Ogretmen one. In 1986 Penti began to export hosiery beyond the Turkish market and is now a hosiery brand that is increasingly well-known internationally.

I first became aware of Penti tights when reading a comment on another forum made by a Turkish man called PH Turk:

"I live at Turkey and I wear their tights always. Penti is a big company from Turkey and they are supplier of the a lot of brands. 80 den tights are beautiful choice for men, I wear their 80 den tights always with shorts and under the trousers. I hope you will like their tights."


PH Turk's describes himself as:

"...a male from Turkey. Who waits with hope when we will wear our pantyhose at outside. I think about pantyhose, this is a good clothes for men. I am not a gay or crossdresser. Only lover of pantyhose."


PH Turk's Flicker Photostream is an impressive piece of work. You can see him in all kinds of work and social situations wearing tights.

A look at Penti's size chart suggests that the L and XL sizes might be a good fit for men.




Penti also make a range of Maxi Tights in larger sizes, and the size chart for these shows that the sizing is even more generous.



There are some nice opaque styles produced by Penti such as these Mikro 200 Tights:



And these Mikro 40 Maxi Tights:



Penti has a large chain of stores in Turkey and also many international outlets.



I know that this blog has a very wide international readership, including many readers in Turkey and Russia. It would be good to get feedback and comments from those of you that have tried Penti tights.

Penti has a Penti USA website, that is still under construction.There is also a Penti store in the USA, at 9 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. They can be contacted via the Penti USA website.


Penti are aware that there is increasing interest from men in their tights and have agreed to provide me with a generous amount of samples that I hope will be arriving soon. In due course I will test and review all of these and provide feedback for Hosiery For Men readers.

Friday 6 January 2012

Reviewed: Charnos Cotton Modal Tights

Cotton tights are always popular during cold weather, and these days one can see an impressive selection of styles on the legs of women in London.

I was sent a pair of the Charnos Cotton Model Tights by Tights Please, one of the retailers that has always provided support to this blog.

I have tested these tights several times over the winter and here is my review.

Materials and features

The fabric used in manufacturing these tights is 35% Modal, 35% Cotton, 25% Nylon and 5% Elastane

They are sheer to waist, have extremely well-constructed flat seams and a cotton gusset.

There is a 1.5cm wide comfortable waistband.

The fabric is very soft and the tights have plenty of stretch. When worn they have a matt appearance, with just a slight shine when catching the light.



Fit and sizing

These tights come in three sizes: Small, Medium and Large.

Sizing information provided by Tights Please indicates that the Large size, which I tested, fits 5'10"-6'0"/178-182cm.

The fit was very good for my 5'10" height and there was sufficient length in the leg. The panty/brief also fitted me well, but I could have done with a bit more depth. This is often, although not always, an issue for men wearing some brands of tights designed for women. A few years ago, Charnos 60 denier opaque tights had much more generous depth in the brief compared to the current version of this style. Perhaps they redesigned the tights or changed manufacturer.

These tights are very comfortable to wear and the Elastane content provides a good close fit. As an extra layer in cold weather they provide excellent insulation.

The matt appearance means that the tights look similar to woolen socks, if worn under jeans or trousers.


Colour range
These tights are available in Aubergine, Chocolate, Black and Navy. I tested a pair in Chocolate (Brown).

Price and availability
These tights are available from Tights Please for £7.18, a 10% discount on the normal price of £7.98.

Looking around at other retailers, it looks like this is the best price available for these tights.

It is also worth remembering that Tights Please currently offers free delivery on ALL orders and a pair of free tights for all orders over £15.00

Conclusion
These are very comfortable and warm tights. They are great for cold weather and are an excellent alternative to traditional men's long johns.

Tuesday 3 January 2012

Spotlight on Itsocks

There are growing number of start-up internet hosiery retailers, in the UK and internationally. Many offer a much more personal service than established larger retailers. Some specialise in offering different brands that provide good value.

One such retailer that this blog has recently discovered is Itsocks. Based in London, they offer a number of different brands of tights and other hosiery, including the highly regarded Polish brand Gatta. Importantly, they welcome male customers buying tights for themselves.

Hosiery for Men has just conducted an exclusive interview with Anna Oldbury, the owner of Itsocks which we are pleased to publish.

Are male customers buying tights for themselves an important part of your customer base? Do you welcome their custom at Itsocks?
We have some regular male customers who like the tights we offer and give us feedback on which tights they would like us to stock. We also receive enquiries from male customers who would like to buy tights for themselves but are not sure which tights would be most suitable.

We welcome male customers and hope to grow the selection we can offer to them.

Are there any particular styles of tights or brands that are popular with your male customers?
Men tend to be taller than women and therefore require larger size tights with high Lycra content for better flexibility.

Overall Gatta and Fiore in sizes Large and X –Large offer a generous fit that is popular with our male customers.

Which tights have been a bestseller with your male customers?
With the cold weather and in the last few weeks our Polar Tights Rosalia 600Den has been selling very well. In fact we sold out in size X Large and we have already received some pre-orders. We are expecting Rosalia 600Den back in stock around middle of January.



What kind of service will male customers receive at Itsocks? Do you welcome enquiries and requests for advice?
Most definitely. We often receive phone calls and emails from our male customers. We also have a Google talk system on the website where the customers can chat to me online for free almost 24 hours a day- by clicking “chat to Anna”

What are your thoughts on men wearing tights?
I am surprised that it took so long for male tights to become more acceptable. In the cold weather tights offer comfort and warmth and as a woman I can’t imagine not being able to wear tights. Also some men just like to wear tights and living in the civilised, equal society we should all be able to wear things that we like.

Many thanks Anna. Your support for men who buy tights for themselves is really appreciated. I am sure readers of this blog will be pleased that there are retailers like Itsocks that will provide them with a good service.

I am also looking forward to testing some Gatta tights soon and sharing feedback with readers of this blog.

Monday 2 January 2012

Reviewed: Trasparenze Cortina 100 denier opaque tights

Since I bought these Trasparenze Cortina 100 denier opaque tights from Legs and Stockings, I have worn and tested them twice.



This is the first time I have tested Trasparenze tights. They are a major Italian hosiery manufacturer and from what I have read, have a reputation for products of very high quality.

I was interested to read this review from a male wearer on the UK Tights website:


"As a 'new to tights' male user I have tried a few brands and the Trasparenze Cortina 100 denier tights have, so far, come out the best, even against tights manufactured for men. They seem to to stay up better than some other brands. I am still experimenting but so far these are the best. Thoroughly recommend them."

Materials and features

These tights are part of the Trasparenze 'Classic' range.

On removal from the packaging, one notices how smooth and soft the material is.

The fabric used is 81% Polyamide, 15% Elastane and 4% Cotton.

The tights are sheer to waist, have flat seams and a cotton gusset. The feet are shaped and have a sheer toe.

There is a generous, wide and comfortable waistband.

The tights are very opaque and the colour density does not weaken much even when one bends at the knee.

The tights have a slight shine.

Fit and sizing
These tights come in four sizes: 1, 2, 3 and 4. Unfortunately the 5-MAXI size does not appear to be available for the Cortina tights.



I tested Size 4 (XL) which, as can been seen on the size chart, goes up to 5'10", which is my height.

I found that the fit was good but the tights would definitely have not have suited anyone taller than 5'10". What I did like was the high Elastane content. This provided plenty of stretch and also made sure the tights fitted every snugly on the leg.

Before wearing for the second time, I gave the tights and good stretch and I found the fit to be better, indeed very comfortable. I spent most of the day walking around a museum with my wife, and the tights also seemed to provide a good level of leg support as well as warmth when we went back out into the cold. As the male wearer quoted above stated, they also do stay up extremely well.

The slight shine made the tights glide well under jeans.

Colour range

These tights are only available in Nero (Black) from Legs and Stockings. However, they are also available in Marrone (Brown) from UK Tights.

Price and availability

These tights normally cost between £10.00 and £12.00 but Legs and Stockings are selling them for a bargain £4.95 reduced from their usual retail price of £11.25.

UK Tights sells them for £8.96.

Conclusion

These tights are excellent quality and are made so well that they would certainly last and wear well.

In terms of sizing, the Size 4 (XL) would be limited to wearers up to 5'10", and in that respect the sizing information provided is very accurate.

I found them to be a very comfortable wear indeed, and I really liked the slight compression feel they provided. The glide under jeans and the lovely dense black colour were also plus points.

I have also since ordered the Trasparenze Sophie Opaque Tights and Trasparenze Debbie Lustre Sheer Tights from Legs and Stockings. Both of these come in the 5-MAXI size, so I will be able to check if those provide a more generous fit.

By the way, I found Legs and Stockings to provide an excellent, quick delivery and UK postage is just £0.99.