Saturday 26 July 2014

New from Activskin: A138 Microfabric Light Support Knee Highs for men

Activskin® have a new product: the A138 sheer light support knee high sock for men.



These are men's sheer knee highs that provide a very lightweight, very thin, very-transparent semi-matte-finish alternative to traditional socks for men and are much more comfortable in warm weather.

Their mild support will provide all-day comfort and keep your legs energised.

The A138 is identical to the A139 style except that instead of a reinforced toe, it has a sheer toe.





Just arrived: Falke Pure Shine 80 Denier Tights

Tights Tights Tights, the shop and online retailer based in the Metrocentre, Gateshead, have kindly sent us a pair of the new Falke Pure Shine 80 Denier Tights.



Pure Shine are a new range from Falke and we are eager to check these out and compare them with the Falke Seidenglatt 70 Tights that we recently reviewed.



You can still read the Hosiery For Men feature on Tights Tights Tights.

Monday 21 July 2014

Reviewed: Kunert Leg Control 70 Support Tights

UK Tights are one of the leading online hosiery retailers in the UK. They have always catered for men buying tights for themselves and also have an expanding men's tights section on their website.



You can still read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of our feature on UK Tights and our 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.

UK Tights kindly sent us a pair of the Kunert Leg Control 70 Support Tights to review.



Materials and features
The Kunert Leg Control 70 Support Tights are nicely packaged. The tights are carefully folded around a central rectangular card, that provides some handy instructions on how to put tights on. Everything is then housed in the main card enclosure which then fits into a clear plastic envelope.



I was a bit surprised when I removed these tights from the packaging. Although they are called 'Leg Control 70' they are not 70 denier. In fact the denier is 38.

The quality of the tights is immediately apparent. These are clearly very well-made with attention to every detail.

In appearance they are semi-transparent with a slightly glossy appearance. They are sheer to waist, with flat seams. The central seam has a further 1.5cm wide reinforcement either side.


The waistband is 3.5cm wide and has a 2.5cm reinforcement strip/finger band running below it.

Legs are lightly shaped and toes are reinforced.

Sizes I to IV have a cotton gusset. The V size that I trialled has a rear comfort gusset.

The brief is extremely roomy and stretched comfortable above the hips and waist.

The fabric, which is 80% Polyamide and 20% Elastane,  is very smooth to the touch.

These feel like quite strong and robust tights, built for plenty of wear.





Fit and sizing

The Kunert Leg Control 70 Support Tights are available in five sizes: I, II, III, IV and V.

I tested a pair in size V.



These tights have what is described by Kunert as 'graduating support in light support-class 8-10 mmHg'.

As you put the tights on you can feel the graduated support. It is stronger at the ankle and much less noticeable as they reach the knees and thighs.

The fit is really superb everywhere, both on the legs as well as around the thighs, groin and above. There is simply masses of stretch and once in place the Leg Control 70s stay there. The light compression is very relaxing and provides a pleasant toning sensation to the legs.

The brief is extremely roomy. The waistband is simply one of the best I have ever seen, and provides support without any digging in or discomfort.

These a wonderful tights to wear if you are on your feet for long periods. The smooth, shiny appearance provides a fantastic glide under trousers.

Colour range
The Kunert Leg Control 70 Support Tights are available in four shades at UK Tights: Black, Graphite, Cashmere and Teint.

I tested a pair in the Cashmere shade.

Price and availability

At UK Tights the Kunert Leg Control 70 Support Tights are priced at: £14.99.

Conclusion

The Kunert Leg Control 70 Support Tights are the first Kunert style we have tested and reviewed at Hosiery For Men. We were aware of Kunert's reputation for superior quality and absolutely were not disappointed on any level.

These tights are an example of the very best design and technical expertise, combined with form and function. Everything seems to be thought through to provide the best wearing experience possible. I can imagine that the designers at Kunert tested this design again and again, and made endless adjustments, until they were satisfied that the product was the best it could be. When you wear them you can simply feel this expertise.

Incredibly comfortable tights that also provide great light compression and leg support.

I am very eager now to check out more Kunert products.

Thanks to UK Tights for kindly providing the Kunert sample.

Sunday 20 July 2014

NBA player Russell Westbrook launches range of men's tights

The NYMag reports, in a piece titled 'Tights Are Coming Soon to Men’s Legs Near You', that NBA player Russell Westbrook has released an exclusive collaboration with Barneys and Jordan that includes tights.

Here are some images from the collection. At $169 dollars a pair, I can't seem them flying off the shelves.

But some of the reactions are interesting and reveal almost a fear that tights for men will become more mainstream.

Erin Mayer at Bustle, for example, decries them as 'one trend the world doesn’t need', and suggests the rest of the range is okay apart from the tights.

Leah Rodriguez from the NYMag points out that: 'Although athletic tights are commonly styled under shorts, as seen on Westbrook in the look book, it's only a matter of time before they break into the wild as a fashion statement on their own.'

Where have these writers been? It's obvious that tights for men have indeed broken out and leading designers are already including them in their designs.












Saturday 19 July 2014

Reviewed: Oroblu Couture Soft Touch 60 Tights

UK Tights are one of the leading online hosiery retailers in the UK. They have always catered for men buying tights for themselves and also have an expanding men's tights section on their website.



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

UK Tights sent Hosiery For Men a pair of the Oroblu Couture Soft Touch 60 Tights to review.



Materials and features

UK Tights describe the Oroblu Couture Soft Touch 60 Tights as follows:

"Oroblu's very best offering. Couture is a range of astounding leg wear, which boasts some of the most incredible designs of the Italian brands. Soft Touch was one of our first Oroblu Couture products and it has been specially reintroduced due to the inexhaustible demand and devotion it commands.

"Soft Touch 60 is a beautiful design that gains its popularity simply from its high quality materials, superb fit and its unrivalled comfort. It is the epitome of beauty and it is back to stay. Try your own Oroblu Couture and you may very well not want to wear anything else."






The packaging of these tights is really exceptional. Unlike the usual envelope and cellophane packaging that is so common, these tights are housed in a very sturdy and attractive box. Inside the box the tights are folded around a rectangular card and then housed in a cellophane enclosure. All very classy.

The Oroblu Couture Soft Touch 60 Tights are made from 89% Polyamide and 11% Elastane.

Although they are 60 denier, the fabric is very dense and with a smooth, uniform knit. The fabric is very soft indeed, with a luxurious, velvet feel. Appearance is mainly matte with very little shine at all.

They are sheer to waist and with flat seams. The waistband is wide and comfortable. Interestingly for an Oroblu style in XL, there is no rear comfort panel, just a conventional flat seam running down the front and rear of the brief/panty.

Everything about these the Couture Soft Touch 60 tights speaks quality. For example, you can see that the seams have been carefully trimmed to avoid any 'tails' being left hanging.



Fit and sizing
The Oroblu Couture Soft Touch 60 Tights are available in four sizes: Small, Medium, Large and X Large.

I tested a pair in X Large.



These tights have an impressive amount of elasticity and stretch. Oroblu state that the fabric is 'Progress 3 Dimension', designed to provide a perfect fit.

A perfect fit is indeed what they provide. These tights seem to cling to and caress your legs as you put them on. The 3D elasticity ensure that there is no bunching or wrinkling at all. They really fit like a second skin and feel quite wonderful.

The brief is deep and comfortable.

The waistband provides excellent support. Oroblu seems to be ahead of everyone when it come to the construction of the waistband for tights. That aspect clearly gets as much attention during the design and manufacture stage as all the other elements.

Colour range
The Oroblu Couture Soft Touch 60 Tights are available in three shades: Black, Moka and Blue-Chic.

I tested a pair in Moka, a rich dark brown colour.

Price and availability
The Oroblu Couture Soft Touch 60 Tights are available from UK Tights for £11.99.

Conclusion
The more Oroblu tights I test, the more I feel that this brand is becoming one of my favourites. The Oroblu Different 80 Opaque Tights and the Oroblu Chantal 120 Opaque Tights have also been reviewed here and both earned deserved recommendations.

The Oroblu Couture Soft Touch 60 Tights are also recommended for the following reasons:

  • Top quality yarn and fabric
  • Superb fit
  • The wonderful feeling when worn
  • Generous sizing up to X Large
  • Perfect for wearing under trousers in cooler weather as they are not a very heavy duty opaque.
I am looking forward to reviewing some more Oroblu tights. I can see that a 50 Denier Different opaque is also now available. Hopefully I can get to try that style soon.

Thanks to UK Tights for kindly providing the sample and their continued commitment and support for men buying tights.

Spotlight on Gipsy Tights

Gipsy Tights are a very prominent brand on the UK hosiery scene. You can see their tights in many department stores as well as smaller independent shops.



We recently interviewed Gipsy Tights and are now pleased to publish it on Hosiery For Men.

Can you tell us about Gipsy Tights brand? When did the business start and how has it developed?
For three generations Gipsy has been bringing innovation, experience and quality to the marketplace.

The Gipsy brand started with one product in the mid 70’s - our silver boxed sheer tights. This product is still a best seller after all these decades. Gradually new products were manufactured, taking place in the early 80’s with the introduction of opaques and the latest fashion tights. By the mid 80’s, tights knitted with elastane (at the time mostly known as brand name Lycra) were introduced. Today, our extensive fashion ranges are carefully chosen to complement the trends of the current season, never letting go of our principal aims of delivering stylish, quality products at affordable prices.



Where are Gipsy tights made?
Mostly in Italy.



Are male customers buying tights for themselves a part of your customer base?
Yes, we have quite a few regular male customers. Interestingly, about 40% of the people that view our website are male.

Would you say that this segment of your customer base is growing?
This number is definitely growing, which is not surprising considering there has been an increase of hosiery within menswear fashion over the past few years. Tights and leggings were prominent on the catwalks this season and the rise of street style blogs has certainly been influential.

Are there any particular styles of tights or brands that are popular with your male customers?
It depends on personal preference, but our warm opaque tights seem to be popular for sport and recreation reasons.



What kind of service will male customers receive at Gipsy Tights? Do you welcome enquiries and requests for advice?
Yes, of course. All of our customers receive the same welcoming service.

There has been a huge amount of media coverage of 'mantyhose' (tights for men) in recent years. What are your thoughts about the greater visibility of men buying and wearing tights these days?
We think everyone should be able to enjoy the benefits of hosiery. We like the fact that designers and stylish male celebrities are bringing tights to contemporary fashion. The taboo surrounding men in tights is slowly starting to fade and rightly so.





To men thinking about trying tights, what would you say are the main benefits of wearing them?Warmth! Tights are absolutely ideal for layering under clothing when it is cold outside.

As we move towards the end of summer and we start getting cooler autumn weather again, are there any styles that you would particularly recommend for men?We would recommend our Thermal tights and best-selling 100 denier opaques for the colder weather. These are available in XL in a selection of colours.

Thanks Gipsy Tights for speaking to us. I'm sure Hosiery For Men readers will appreciate knowing more about the Gipsy brand. I hope readers will check out the Gipsy Tights website. I am sure they will be impressed with the impressive range of products available there.

Just arrived: Tights from Gipsy Tights

Gipsy Tights have kindly sent us a very generous selection of samples to trial and review.





They are the 60 Denier XL Opaque Tights and two pairs of the 100 Denier Opaque Tights.






We have just completed a great interview with Gipsy Tights. That will be published very soon.

Thursday 17 July 2014

Reviewed: SPANX Tight End Tights

My Tights are one of the leading online hosiery retailers in the UK. Their website provides a really impressive range of tights, including many leading brands.



We were delighted when My Tights recently sent Hosiery For Men a pair of the SPANX Tight End Tights for us to trial and review.

SPANX have a global reputation as one of the most innovative makers of shapewear. In March of 2012, Founder Sara Blakely was named the world’s youngest, self-made female billionaire by Forbes Magazine and one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA and opening retail shops across the United States, SPANX can now be found worldwide in more than 40 countries.


Amidst all the products aimed at women, there is also a SPANX for Men line with undershirts and underwear. Unfortunately, there isn’t a specific style of SPANX men's tights, but hopefully that will change.

Although there are several style of men's tights offering leg support and compression, I am not aware of any brands that offer control and shape support in the brief. So perhaps SPANX might be onto something here.



Materials and features

My Tights describe the SPANX Tight End Tights as follows:

"If you’re after tights that do more than keep you warm, look no further than the Tight End Tights from Spanx. Doing exactly what the name says on the tin, these tights will slim and trim along with nip & tuck. A little longer in the body than your everyday control top tights, these go that extra mile to make sure you feel as gorgeous as you look. 

Made from a 70 denier fabric and super smooth yarns, these are just the trick for when the weather turns unsavoury, keeping your legs cosy and warm. Matte in appearance, these create a bold leg silhouette, perfect for making sure that your pins get noticed." 








The packaging is very good quality. The tights are folded around a SPANX information card and then wrapped in clear cellophane. Everything is then housed in a well-designed and sturdy card envelop.

First impressions on handling the tights are very positive. They feel soft, but also dense and heavy. These seem to be quite a serious pair of opaques.

The fabric is made of 85% nylon and 15% Lycra, and feels extremely smooth. Opaque coverage is even and dense. The finish is matte with hardly any shine at all.

These tights have conventional seams, although they sit completely flat in the brief area. Toes are reinforced. The waistband is 3cm wide and well-made. There is a cotton gusset in a lighter charcoal colour.

They key feature of the Tight End Tights is the boxer style brief. There is a quite clear demarcation between the legs and the brief/panty, which extends into the thigh. This can be seen in the image below.



Fit and sizing

The SPANX Tight End Tights are available in seven sizes: A, B, C, D, E, F and G. However only sizes A to E are stocked at My Tights.

The sizing options on these tights are quite generous, with sizes C, D and E extending up to 6'0".

I tested a pair in size D.



As I put these tights on I was struck by the generous amount of stretch.

The overall fit was excellent, with the fabric moulding well to the leg with no wrinkling. There was no feeling that the tights needed to be over-stretched to fit a man: this style will work well for women and men.

The fabric feel extremely durable; another definite plus point for men. I feel that these tights could be worn and worn, and even take rougher treatment than normal and still be wearable.

The boxer brief fitted superbly. The control effect in this area is described as 'medium strength control'. While it provided a definitely tighter and compressed feel than ordinary opaque tights, the brief doesn't constrict or feel at all uncomfortable. In fact, I really enjoyed the snug feeling and how well the tights stayed in place. The brief has plenty of room and reaches comfortable over the waist. If you are carrying some extra weight in this area, the brief definitely smooths out your appearance.






Colour range
The SPANX Tight End Tights are available in Black only from My Tights.

Price and availability
The SPANX Tight End Tights are available from My Tights for £25.95.

Conclusion

Well I have to conclude that I am genuinely impressed with the SPANX Tight End Tights. This is the first time a SPANX product has been reviewed at Hosiery For Men and it scores very highly for quality and comfort.

Particular positive for men will be the matte fabric, meaning that these tights could be worn as long underwear in place of socks.

Also, the strong, durable material is welcome for men, given that we generally expect a lot more wear out of tights we buy.

Finally, the control brief would be great if one needed some support and shape control in that area. In any case, it fits great and is very snug and comfortable.

Of course, the pricing is on the higher side. But as we have written here again and again, you get what you pay for.

Tuesday 1 July 2014

SmooFit men's tights from Japan Part 3



Here are a final set of images of the SmooFit men's tights from Japan. You can see that one of the styles is a opaque men's tights with an integrated sock. This is a great idea and ideal for men who prefer to wear their tights without it being noticed.
We look forward to any further news about the SmooFit range and where they might be available.