Thursday 31 October 2013

Just arrived: HYD Millenium 70 Denier Matt Opaque Tights

Hosiery retailer Luxury Legs have very kindly sent us a sample of the HYD Millenium 70 Denier Matt Opaque Tights.



HYD is a brand that is new to Hosiery For Men and we are looking forward to testing and reviewing this style.




Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to 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 ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Tuesday 29 October 2013

Vintage men's tights adverts: Huber

Here is an image from 1970 of the men's tights made by the German brand Huber.




Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to 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 ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Monday 28 October 2013

Vintage men's tights adverts: Trumpf

Here is another image of the men's tights made by the German brand Trumpf.

This one also dates from 1972.




Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to 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 ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Vintage men's tights adverts: Trumpf

Here is another image in our occasional series of vintage adverts for men's tights.

Here is a 1972 advert for the German brand Trumpf.

Herren Strumpfhose is German for men's tights.





Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to 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 ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Saturday 26 October 2013

Reviewed: Falke Cotton Rib Tights

I bought these Falke Cotton Rib Tights from the online hosiery retailer Luxury Legs.



Luxury Legs stock an impressive range of premium legwear brands including our favourites at Hosiery For Men: Falke, as well as Oroblu, Gerbe and Pierre Mantoux.

Materials and features
The Falke Cotton Rib Tights are simply packaged in a card enclosure that is wrapped around the tights.

The packaging provides information on the fabric and sizing.



The Falke Cotton Rib Tights are made from 80% Cotton, 18% Polyamide and 2% Elastane.

There is no information provided on denier, but when worn they look like 60 - 70 denier tights.

As you remove them from the packaging you can tell immediately that these are quality tights with all the usual attention that Falke pays to styling and detail.

The ribbed pattern, which extends from the brief to the toes, is interesting. The ribs are fine but also have a delicate pattern woven between each rib.

Opaque coverage is even throughout, with a matt appearance. Shine is minimal. The fabric feels smooth and comfortable to the touch.

Feet are shaped and include very high quality reinforcement at the heel and toe.



The brief is superbly constructed; perhaps the best I have yet seen on Falke tights. The material is denser and without the ribbed pattern. The rear has a wide comfort gusset that extends all the way to deep 6cm wide waistband. Seams are flat throughout.

The brief has really good depth, with the waistband sitting comfortably high above the hips.





Fit and sizing
The Falke Cotton Rib tights are available in five sizes: Small, Small/Medium, Medium, Medium/Large and Large.

I tested a pair in Large, which fit up to 5'11".



One needs to take some care putting these tights on to ensure that the feet fit snugly and the rib pattern is smooth and even.

The Large size fitted my 5'10" perfectly and the tights didn't need to be overstretched. One of the welcome features of Falke hosiery is the generous and accurate sizing, which make them a favourite choice of many men.

However, note that the sizing is very accurate. The Large size would not provide such a good fit if you are over 5'11". The fabric does not have a lot of stretch.

The waistband is one of the most comfortable we have ever tested at Hosiery For Men. It is wide, strong and provides excellent support without any digging in.

Colour range

The Falke Cotton Rib Tights are available in five shades:
  • Barolo
  • Dark Navy 
  • Dark Brown
  • Anthracite Melange
  • Black
I tested them in the Dark Navy shade.





Price and availability
The Falke Cotton Rib Tights cost £28.00 from Luxury Legs.

Conclusion
I first spotted the Falke Cotton Rib Tights on Falke's own website in the 'New' section. They do not appear to be widely available yet in the UK, but when I contacted Luxury Legs they were able to order them speedily. I have to say that the customer service was really first class, both professional and very friendly. The staff are very familiar with Falke products, so would be able to suggest alternative Falke tights if the Cotton Rib Tights were not exactly what you wanted.

The Falke Cotton Rib Tights are another top product from Falke. There hasn't been a single product from them that we have trialled at Hosiery For Men that hasn't impressed us.

I would imagine that some of you would wince at the £28 price tag for these tights. Yes, that certainly does put them in the premium bracket, but it's the quality you pay for. If looked after, these tights will last a season or more. 
One wouldn't, for example, also get the high quality heel and toe reinforcement in cheaper tights. 

The ribbed pattern looks very smart under trousers, and with no real shine would pass for socks.

If you want to try something different from ordinary opaque tights I would definitely recommend this style. If more conventional cotton opaque tights are more your style, then the Falke Cotton Touch Tights, available from Luxury Legs, are also strongly recommended.

Wednesday 16 October 2013

Hosiery For Men interviewed by Mantyhose.ca

Hosiery For Men was recently interviewed by the Canadian-based blog Mantyhose.ca. Mantyhose.ca say they exist to 'help you get all the information you need about mantyhose/pantyhose for men'.



You can read the interview here on Manyhose.ca.


Do check out Manyhose.ca. You can also follow on Twitter: @manty_hose

I have also reproduced it below.

#1 – Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. I have plenty of questions to you! What is your goal when creating your blog?


When I started Hosiery For Men there didn’t seem to be a blog that covered men’s tights and legwear in the way I wanted. There had been a legendary blog called Gerarden, that is sadly now defunct.

It provided reviews of the kind of tights that probably most men wear – tights that can be bought from supermarkets and department stores.

There seemed to be articles here and there, but nothing that provided regular reviews and news of the kind I wanted to read. So I decided to start Hosiery For Men.

#2 – Have you achieved some of the goals since it started?

Well it has been going for well over two years now and I feel that is an achievement. The blog has a pretty decent amount of content now, including a very large number of reviews and features. It is interesting to see that many of the older reviews and articles still get high numbers of page views.

I wasn’t sure in the first few months whether I could sustain enough content to keep the blog interesting and vibrant,. But I have been really surprised at how much there is to right about. I am constantly being sent samples for review, and there always seem to be new developments in the hosiery world to wrote about.

The blog also has a smaller readership of women, which is interesting. Well, Hosiery For Men reviews tights in probably more detail and more thoroughly than many similar websites aimed at women, so I am not surprised that they find it useful, especially if they are looking for information on tights for taller women or in plus sizes.

I am pretty sure that Hosiery For Men will be around for a good bit longer.

#3 – You have been interviewing many retailers and manufacturers. What is the global opinion and trend in terms of Mantyhose / Tights for men?

Well men have always worn tights. We invented them. One thing that is clear is that most retailers now realise that we are buying tights from them for ourselves and they need to take our needs seriously and provide excellent customer service. Online hosiery retailing is a crowded and competitive market and I don’t see how companies that want to be grow their share of the market can ignore men buying tights.

I have also learnt that although there are more and more men’s tights/mantyhose styles available, the quality isn’t always as good as it could be. Apart from Comfort4Men I have yet reviewed a men’s tights style that reaches the quality of say, Falke.

Also, many of the retailers and manufacturers of men's tights really need to up their game in marketing I feel.

For example, Hosiery For Men has a huge number of page views everyday, always in the high hundreds. It has a global readership. But some manufacturers don’t make contact or are really poor at communicating.

#4 – You are based in the UK, do you feel that Europe is actually one step forward in terms of acceptance of tights for men?

In the UK and other parts of northern Europe where we have cold winters, tights are definitely becoming more acceptable. There is also a growing trends of designers creating new styles and outfits for men, with tights incorporated. Check http://men-wearing-tights.tumblr.com for more on this trend.

It is interesting that apart from the excellent US-based Comfilon/Activskin, nearly all the other manufacturers of men’s tights are based in Europe, and particularly in Germany and eastern Europe (Poland, the Czech Republic etc.)

That might say something about demand and developing trends. Both Wolford and Gerbe have also made men’s tights in the past, but have both sadly discontinued.

#5 – Do you believe that the day will soon come in the UK where you can find pantyhose for men at your local retail store such as Boots?


No, I doubt that to be honest. Retailing tights for specialised parts of the market is and will remain online I believe.

However, you can find good quality, inexpensive opaque tights in Boots, Marks and Spencer and other UK stores. Lots of men will continue to buy tights from these outlets, and if they feel the tights meet their needs then I am sure they will continue.

#6 – You have been reviewing hundreds of products for men and women. At the end of the day, what would be your top three brand recommendations for men to wear? (We are talking about comfort, and worn on a regular basis).


My top three brands would be:

1. Comfort4Men – expensive, but so well-made and comfortable. They have been designed especially for men. I would urge everyone to give them a try. They are an investment but if looked after they last for ages.

2. Comfilon/Acvtivskin – the best range of sheer and opaque tights for men available, excellent range of sizes and unbeatable customer service. Try their Thermofabric Ribbed Light Support Tights to see just how good men’s tights can be.

Falke. A brand made for women. But what’s not to like? Absolutely top quality products, great fit, wonderful range of styles and available in Extra Large sizes. In the 1970s Falke also made a range of men’s tights. They are fully aware that their women’s tights are very popular indeed with men and I think that’s why they ensure that the larger sizes provide a generous fit, because they know that men are buying them. To me Falke are genuinely a unisex product.

#6 – What would be your advice for large pantyhose manufacturers that don’t carry products for men?

My advice would be to either consider developing a product for men, or develop existing products so they are more explicitly unisex.

#7 – Why do you think brands such as Levee or Gerbe that made a line of products specific to men didn’t succeed?

I’m not sure as I haven’t discussed it with them. However, the bottom line will always be sales.

If a product doesn’t sell enough then it won’t be continued for ever.

#8 – Are you in a relationship? If yes, is your partner accepting the fact that you wear pantyhose?

Yes, I am and yes she is!

#9 – What are your plans for the future?

I am going to sustain the blog. There are plenty of new reviews that are nearly ready, including for a new range of men’s tights from Germany from a manufacturer called Glamory.

If any readers have further ideas for content I would welcome them.

There are also plans to start retailing a range of men’s tights. I don’t want to say too much about it at this stage but this is definitely something that is being actively considered.


Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to 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 ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Thursday 10 October 2013

Welcome to Fogalworld

Fogalworld is a new UK-based hosiery retailer specialising exclusively in high quality hosiery from the Swiss brand Fogal.



The Fogal range includes tights, stockings, socks and bodywear.

Fogalworld offers a free UK delivery service on all orders over £50 along with same day dispatch on orders placed before midday.

We particularly like these 'Noir Absolu' 100 Denier Tights.




Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to 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 ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

HYD hosiery video

Following the recent short feature on the HYD brand, now in stock at Luxury Legs, readers may be interested in watching this short video on how HYD hosiery is manufactured.






Hosiery For Men is sustained by hosiery retailers and manufacturers who generously provide us with samples for us to 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 ensure that Hosiery For Men continues. Thanks for your continued support.

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Luxury Legs introduces HYD

The online hosiery retailer Luxury Legs, specialists in luxury legwear, are now stocking the HYD brand.



Luxury Legs already stock an impressive range of premium legwear brands including our favourites Falke, as well as Oroblu, Gerbe and Pierre Mantoux.

HYD is a brand that is new to Hosiery For Men. According to Luxury Legs, they are new to the UK market:

'The Italian manufacturer has been specialising in producing exquisite Legwear for over 20 years. HYD products stand out amongst other hosiery brands due to their use of eco-friendly dyes for sustainability.'


We really like the look of these HYD 'Millenium' 70 Denier Matt Opaque Tights. They are available in a range of dark and neutral colours and have 35% Elastane (Lycra) for a '3D second skin effect'. I would imagine that this fabric would provide a superb fit.

The 4-XL size fits heights of up to 5'11 and weights of 95kg. Matt appearance also. These look like they might be a good choice for men.

Hopefully we can bring Hosiery For Men readers a review of this style at some point.