Tuesday 26 March 2013

A shopping trip to Wolford

I passed the Wolford shop in the Westfield Stratford City shopping centre in east London this afternoon, and decided to pop in and browse.



The salesperson was extremely helpful and friendly. I asked about the Opaque 70 tights and she told me that these were only available intermittently and also only online.

She recommended I try the Velvet De Luxe 66 Opaque Tights as an alternative, saying that the fabric was even softer than the Opaque 70s. She also told me that the Velvet De Luxe 66s were the tights that she was wearing today. She added that they were great tights to wear under trousers in cold weather.

So that's what I went for. Size XL in the Mocca (dark brown) shade. The price was £21.00. Expensive perhaps but these are a quality product. I have found that Wolford tights last for ages if looked after carefully.



I askled the salesperson if many men came into the shop. She replied that men bought a lot of things in the store, tights in particular. I asked if they were buying for themselves and she said that many of them were indeed doing so.

She was keen to show me more of the range. I was tempted to stay longer but knew I would have ended up being persuaded to buy more!

Thanks Wolford, for really helpful customer service to your male customers.

I will review these tights shortly.

Sunday 24 March 2013

Reviewed: Marilyn Microshine 100 Opaque Tights

US-based hosiery retailer The Stylish Fox recently sent me a sample of the Marilyn Microshine 100 Opaque Tights to test and review.



The Stylish Fox Hosiery Store provides a wide range of high-quality hosiery from Europe - classic and fashion pantyhose, tights, thigh-highs, stockings, leggings, knee-highs and socks.

They stock a wide range of the tights for men made by the Adrian brand.

Materials and features

The Marilyn Microshine 100 Opaque Tights are attractively packaged in a card envelope. The tights inside are folded around a card rectangle and then housed inside a clear plastic sleeve.

The Stylish Fox provides the following description:

'These beautiful 3D microfiber tights have a satin sheen to them that sparkles in certain lights. In addition to the gorgeous shine, these tights come in bright colors (several shades of purple, teal, mustard, and silver). Even though they are 100 Deniers, they feel lighter. These tights are made using a special method that providies exceptional durability and quality and are equipped with a very comfortable waistband that will prevent slipping down during the day.'

The Marilyn Microshine 100 Opaque Tights are made in Poland. The fabric is 80% Polyamide and 20% Elastane.



These tights feel quite amazing. The 3D microfibre fabric has a wonderful soft and velvety texture.

They are sheer to waist and with straight legs. Toes are conventional and without reinforcement.

Seams are flat and well-constructed. The 5-XL size has a rear comfort panel. Other sizes have a hygienic gusset.

The waistband is ingeniously constructed: the main part is just 2cm wide but is further supported by a 4cm 'comfort band' which provides additional support.

Opacity is almost total, with deep, even coverage throughout.

Although the packaging states that this style is 'very glossy', I found that the appearance was less shiny than I expected.

Fit and sizing

The Marilyn Microshine 100 Opaque Tights are available in three sizes: 1/2 (S/M), 3/4 (M/L) and 5 (XL).

I tested a pair in the 5 (XL) size.



These tights looked rather small when I removed them from the packaging, but they have an impressive amount of stretch.

The 5-XL size easily accommodated my 5'10" height.

The fit around the legs was superb; the 3D microfibre moulds itself to your shape.

The Marilyn 100 tights are really comfortable. Although 100 denier, they provide warmth without overheating. The gloss sheen meant they glided with ease under jeans and trousers.

The brief was also very comfortable and I liked the support provided by the comfort waistband. However, the brief could have had a bit more depth for me. The style is perhaps slightly 'low rise', but it still stretched over my waist.

Colour range
The Marilyn Microshine 100 Opaque Tights are available at The Stylish Fox in a wide range of shades:

  • Black
  • Chocolate
  • Granat
  • Mustard
  • Ocean
  • Plum
  • Red Wine
  • Silver
  • Vine Rose
I tested a pair in Black.

Price and availability
The Marilyn Microshine 100 Opaque Tights are priced at $8.99.

Conclusion
The Marilyn Microshine 100 Opaque Tights were highly recommended to me by the owner of The Stylish Fox and I can see why. 

The fabric is superb and compares well with much more expensive hosiery.

I was really impressed with the fit and level of comfort that these tights provided. 

I would have liked the brief to have been a little deeper, but if you are happy to have a low rise style of waist then they are definitely recommended.



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 to ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Monday 18 March 2013

Reviewed: TIM Legwear Action 90 Denier Men's Tights

Lumen Tights recently sent Hosiery For Men samples of the men's tights made by Tim Legwear, a hosiery manufacturer based in Bulgaria. Lumen Tights are an online hosiery retailer, based in the UK. They stock a range of men's tights from the TIM Legwear brand.

You can still read Part 1 and Part 2 of the interview with the founder of Lumen Tights, Jurgita Preiksaite.




Our second review is of the TIM Legwear Action 90 denier men's tights. You can also read the review of the TIM Legwear Force 40 denier men's tights.





Materials and features

The TIM Legwear Action 90 denier men's tights are made from 85% Polyamide and 15% Elastane.

They are packaged in the same way as the Force 40 denier tights. The tights are folded around a card rectangle then house in a full colour card sleeve. This is then covered by a clear plastic envelope.

The packaging provides an impressive level of information on the fabric, features and sizing.



At Lumen Tights the following description is provided:

'If you’re looking for biking, running, other sports or exercise legwear, ACTION 90 DEN offers of the line quality, comfort and style. Designed specifically for the masculine build, men’s tights provide leg support, aid circulation and keep your muscles at a comfortable temperature.

'You want your tights to last and ACTION 90 DEN was created with that in mind. The pattern and construction is designed for both long-term durability and superior masculine comfort. The reinforced brief no-fly opening panel provides additional male comfort and security when cycling, running or at the gym.'


As with the Force 40 denier tights, the Action 90s look long in the leg once removed from the packaging.

Legs are straight and toes have no additional reinforcement. The packaging states 'reinforced toe for strength and comfort', but this seems misleading to me. I looked carefully and I couldn't see any toe reinforcement

The fabric is soft but also quite durable in feel. When worn the tights have good, but not total, opacity and the coverage is even throughout. Appearance is mainly matt, with just a hint of shine.

The reinforced brief is constructed with denser material. There is a male comfort panel at both the front and rear of the brief. The seams that run around this are flat and well-engineered.

As with the Force 40s, the waistband has been designed for comfort is 5cm wide. This is 1cm wider than the Force 40 denier tights.

Fit and sizing

The TIM Legwear Action 90 denier men's tights are available from Lumen Tights in three sizes: 3 (L), 4 (XL) and 5 (XXL).



I tested a pair in Size 4.

The Action 90s fitted really well especially in the legs. There was no constriction at all and I didn't need to over-stretch them when putting them on.

They were a really comfortable wear and also nice and warm under jeans.

Like the Force 40s, the male front panel provided good support.

The brief was a little too shallow for me; some more depth there would definitely have been a further positive. However, the brief does have plenty of room which is an advantage if you are carrying a few more pounds in the lower belly area.

Colour range
The TIM Legwear Action 90 denier men's tights are available from Lumen Tights in just one shade: Black.

The website of TIM Legwear indicates that a wider range of shades might be available.

Price and availability
The 
TIM Legwear Action 90 denier men's tights cost £11.99 at Lumen Tights.

UK orders of over £20.00 are shipped free.


Conclusion
The TIM Legwear Action 90s are good quality men's opaque tights. They are soft and feel extremely comfortable against the skin. The fabric is pretty robust and I feel these would stand up well to a lot of wear.

A further positive is the flexibility and elasticity of the fabric, meaning they would be a good choice if bought for sports and outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing and cycling.

Sunday 17 March 2013

Reviewed: TIM Legwear Force 40 Denier Men's Tights

Lumen Tights recently sent Hosiery For Men samples of the men's tights made by Tim Legwear, a hosiery manufacturer based in Bulgaria. Lumen Tights are an online hosiery retailer, based in the UK. They stock a range of men's tights from the TIM Legwear brand.

You can still read Part 1 and Part 2 of the interview with the founder of Lumen Tights, Jurgita Preiksaite.



Our first review is of the TIM Legwear Force 40 denier men's tights.



Materials and features

The TIM Legwear Force 40 denier men's tights are made from 85% Polyamide and 15% Elastane.

The tights are attractively packaged in a card sleeve that is enclosed in a clear plastic envelope. The tights are folded around a plain card rectangle.





At Lumen Tights the following description is provided:


'You want your tights to last and FORCE SEMI-SHEER 40 DEN was created with that in mind. The pattern and construction is designed for both long-term durability and superior masculine comfort.' 

The Force 40 denier tights look really long once removed from their packaging. In the Size 4 that I tested, there was clearly not going to be any issue with the leg length. These tights have clearly been designed with men in mind.

Legs are straight and toes have additional reinforcement.

The fabric in the legs is semi-sheer. The brief is reinforced and constructed with denser material. The centre seam is conventional rather than flat. There is a male comfort panel at both the front and rear of the brief.



The waistband has clearly been designed with comfort in mind and is 4cm wide.

Fit and sizing
The TIM Legwear Force 40 denier men's tights are available from Lumen Tights in three sizes: 3 (L), 4 (XL) and 5 (XXL).



I tested a pair in Size 4.

The Force 40 denier tights were a good fit. There was plenty of room in the leg and the tights didn't need to be overstretched.

The fabric is really soft and smooth, with a very slight shine. The glide under trousers was really excellent.

However, the material is also quite delicate and if not handled carefully might ladder.

The brief had a reasonable amount of depth and the front comfort panel was excellent.

Colour range

The TIM Legwear Force 40 denier men's tights are currently available from Lumen Tights in just one shade: Black.

The website of TIM Legwear indicates that a wider range of shades might be available.

Price and availability

TIM Legwear Force 40 denier men's tights cost £8.59 at Lumen Tights.

UK orders of over £20.00 are shipped free.

Conclusion
The TIM Legwear Force 40 denier men's tights are good, basic men's semi-opaque tights. They would be a good choice in cool, but not very cold, weather for a light additional layer under trousers.

The positives for me were the leg length and the well-designed male front panel. These tights were also really comfortable to wear. In appearance they look like those sheer men's executive socks that are popular in countries such as Italy and Spain.



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 to ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Spotlight on Tights Tights Tights

Tights Tights Tights started as a shop in the Metrocentre Gateshead. They also have a well-established online retail presence and deliver to the UK and the rest of the world.



Tights Tights Tights stock an impressive range of hosiery, including leading brands such as Aristoc, Cette, Charnos and Falke.

Hosiery For Men recently interviewed Nigel from Tights Tights Tights and we are really pleased to now publish this.

Can you provide Hosiery For Men readers with some background information about Tights Tights Tights? 

Tights Tights Tights have been based in the Metrocentre, Gateshead for around 15 years now, and in 2011 we launched our website. The website came about because we had regular customers from all over the country who visited the shop whenever they could and made telephone orders when they weren’t due a visit! We realised that they were missing out on new styles so decided to do something about it.

Apart from ourselves, Carol and Nigel, we have four staff, Marie, Hazel, Courtney and Lisa, all very helpful and diligent workers!

Are male customers buying tights for themselves an important part of your customer base? Do you welcome their custom at Tights Tights Tights? 

I’d say that at least 10% of our shop customers are males buying for their own needs. It is more difficult to gauge from the online business as it seems 90% of ladies are using their partner's credit card! We always welcome all of our customers and males buying for themselves are an extremely important part of our customer base.

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

The styles vary widely according to the seasons, but the most popular brands are Trasparenze, Falke, Gio, and Leg Avenue. We find that a lot of male buyers are limited only by their size requirements, Trasparenze and Gio both tend to manufacture larger sizes, and Leg Avenue Q sizes seem to stretch to suit.



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

Men will always get great service from us, and we welcome enquiries, preferably by email as our contact telephone is shop-based and can often go to answerphone at busy times!

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? 

Why not? Women pinched the idea of trousers from men ages ago!

To men thinking about trying tights, what would you say are the main benefits of wearing them? 

They are warm and comfortable, and as someone who was connected to the building trade in a previous life, let me tell you that there are many, many builders out there who have worn tights for years to keep warm.

There are now quite a significant number of manufacturers of tights made specifically for men. Do you have any plans to stock a range of men's tights in the future? 

We are constantly increasing our range and will look to stock a specific tights for men when we have researched them more – all suggestions will be gratefully received.

Nigel, many thanks for speaking to Hosiery For Men. I hope readers will check out Tights Tights Tights and also get in touch if they have an enquiry. We look forward to publishing review of the samples you recently provided us with.

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 to ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Friday 15 March 2013

Knittex men's tights now on sale

Knittex men's tights are now on sale via the Knittex website.

Knittex tights are made in Poland and we have extensively previewed the new collection here at Hosiery For Men.

Currently available are:

The 60 Denier Active Tights



The 30 Denier Smart Tights



The 100 Denier Sporty Footless Tights



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 to ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Reviewed: Levante Matisse 150 Ultra Velvet Opaque Tights

Materials and features
The Levante Matisse 150 Ultra Velvet Opaque Tights are described as:

'With flat seams and a cotton gusset these tights are the perfect opaque tight for those cold Autumn/Winter days when going outside would be a no go. Brave the weather with these feeling cosy and stylish at all times.'




These tights are nicely packaged in a robust card package. The tights are folded around a card rectangle which is housed in a clear plastic sleeve.



The packaging also provides detailed information on materials and sizing.



The Levante Matisse 150 Ultra Velvet Opaque Tights are made from 87% Polyamide, 10% Elastane and 3% Cotton.

The fabric is extremely soft to the touch, slightly luxurious even. According to the packaging information they are made with a unique double layered knitting technique for warmth and freshness.

Seams are flat and extremely well-constructed. There is a slightly darker reinforced banding running each side of the central seam in the brief.

The tights have a straight leg and are sheer to waist. Toes are lightly reinforced. There is a cotton gusset. The waistband is 3.5cm wide.

Fit and sizing
The Levante Matisse 150 Ultra Velvet Opaque Tights are available in three sizes: Medium, Tall and X-Tall.

I tested them in the X-Tall size.



These tights looked a bit on the small side when they came out of the packaging, but they do have plenty of stretch.

I am 5'10" and I found that while still comfortable they were getting stretched almost to their limit.

The material is dense and provides a smooth even coverage throughout. Although quite thick and warm, I didn't find the tights too heavy. Nor did they overheat my legs.

Appearance is matt throughout with just a very slight shine when caught in the light.

The brief is quite deep.

Overall the fit was very snug and comfortable.

Colour range
The Levante Matisse 150 Ultra Velvet Opaque Tights are available in four colours: 


  • Blumarine 
  • Londra 
  • Mocca 
  • Nero 
I tested a pair in the Nero (Black) shade.

Price and availability
The Levante Matisse 150 Ultra Velvet Opaque Tights cost £15.00 from Tights Please. They are currently on offer with a 20% discount.

Tights Please also offer free delivery to UK addresses.

Conclusion
The Levante Matisse 150 Ultra Velvet Opaque Tights are a quality product, that is definitely pushing toward the level of Falke or Wolford.

Like most Italian-made tights, the manufacture is excellent with attention to detail and finish.

The material is really soft and luxurious and the tights provide a good warmth and insulation.

The packaging does indicate that the tights would fit up to 6'1", but this only applies up to a weight of 154lb. For guys who are slightly shorter than me, these tights would be ideal and recommended.

I would have liked to have a little more length in the X-Tall size. Perhaps Levante might consider making this style in an XX-Tall size.

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 to ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Friday 1 March 2013

Just arrived: Aristoc Ultimate Satin 20 Denier Tights and Falke Cotton Touch Tights

Tights Tights Tights started as a shop in the Metrocentre Gateshead over 12 years ago. As well as the shop, Tights Tights Tights also retails online. They stock a really impressive range of hosiery, including most leading brands.



Tights Tights Tights have kindly sent Hosiery For Men two styles to review:

Aristoc Ultimate Satin 20 Denier Tights



Falke Cotton Touch Tights



Stay tuned for reviews.

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 to ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.