Monday 29 June 2015

#FlyWolford competition

On July 6th, 2015 Wolford will be presenting their new SS16 collection.



If you follow @wolfordfashion on Instagram, tell Wolford what you love about Wolford and use the tag #FlyWolford.

You can see all the posts tagged already at: https://instagram.com/explore/tags/flywolford/

You could find yourself in Austria to watch Wolford's new SS16 collection presentation on the 6th of July!





Thursday 25 June 2015

More images of the new Doyeah 5-denier ultra sheer men's tights/pantyhose

We recently shared some images of the new 5-denier ultra sheer men's tights/pantyhose from Chinese legwear manufacturer Doyeah.



Here are some additional images of this new product.












Spotlight on Simply Hosiery Online

We recently interviewed Jamie Shiers of Simply Hosiery Online, a small and growing family hosiery retailing business.

We hope that Hosiery For Men readers find the feature interesting and informative.



Can you tell Hosiery For Men readers about Simply Hosiery Online? Why did you start the business and how has it developed?

Simply Hosiery Online is a small but growing family run business. We started in our own dining room selling on eBay since 2003 under our two main user ID’s being Fiore-UK and of course, Simply Hosiery Online. This has turned to now running a warehouse. We have built up a great reputation with our customers and clients and have sold to nearly every country in the world.

What are the main brands of tights that you stock?
Fiore dominates one of our shops, but we are also proud to present many unusual and new brands within the UK such as Giulia, Charmante, and Miss O. We of course also deal with many popular brands as Le Bourget, Oroblu, Pretty Polly and Silky, only to mention but a few. We constantly strive to bring new and exciting products to our clientele.



Do you have male customers who buy tights for themselves? Is this an important part of your customer base?
Yes of course. Male customers are a very important part of our business and we value them as much as any other client. A large proportion of our business is from male buyers whether it is for themselves or their partners.

What kind of service will male customers receive at Simply Hosiery Online? Do you welcome enquiries and requests for advice?
Service is the same for all our clients. We appreciate that for some of our male clients it may be uncomfortable for them to approach us, but please don’t be afraid - we are a friendly lot! We will always do our best to help you find the product that is right for you.

Are there any brands and styles that are particularly popular with your male customers? Or which brands and styles do you recommend for men?
Platino has been very popular, but its such a shame that its not easy to negotiate. We have seen a lot of our male clients purchasing the Miss O products recently , and of course Aristoc Ultra Shine range is eternally popular. Stockings always do well.



There is always quite a lot of media interest in the subject of tights for men. What are your thoughts about the greater visibility of men buying and wearing tights?
This is in the same realm as women wearing trousers. No body cares about that anymore, so we see a day when men will once again wear tights without fear of ridicule or an eyelid being batted, and why not?

To men thinking about trying tights, what would you say are the main benefits of wearing them?
Depends on what they want from the garment. Extra warmth, softness, support, sensuality, and expressions of individuality are all reasons for wearing hosiery. Just let us know what you require from the garment and we will find something that fits the bill.

What are your plans for the future at Simply Hosiery Online? Are you planning to stock any tights specifically made for men?
Future plans for Simply Hosiery is to keep hunting for those hidden gems and bring them to our clientele. We love what we do and want to continue sharing this.





We are currently arranging to carry some of the products specifically for men from the brand Adrian. We would welcome any suggestions and requests as to what others have found to be good styles as our order goes in soon! Please phone or email Katrina. So far we have had requests for the entire range, but we need a hand to pick only the best.


Thanks for speaking to Hosiery For Men Jamie, and telling us all about the business. I hope readers will take a look at the store.

Hopefully readers will also provide further suggestions on the Adrian range of men's tights also.




Wednesday 24 June 2015

Wednesday 3 June 2015

Reviewed: Gerbe Futura 40 Tights

UK Tights is one of the longest and most supportive hosiery retailers of the Hosiery For Men blog. As readers will know already, they have dedicated men's tights section of their website and provide a first class global service to men who buy tights for themselves.



They gave us a very strong recommendation for the tights we are now reviewing: the Gerbe Futura 40 Tights.

Gerbe are one of the most prestigious manufacturers of tights and hosiery in France, and have been in business since 1904. Their products are superbly made with attention given to every detail.



Many readers will also know that Gerbe used to make a range of men's tights tights that has sadly now been discontinued.



Material and features
The Gerbe Futura 40 Tights are described as follows:

Opaque satiny tights, 40 denier appearance. Run-resistent, they feature a harmoniously shaped silhouette and tone the legs thanks to their optimum progressive tightening. Their rich palette of deep colours makes them the must-have accessory of any wardrobe.

The Futura 40 Tights are smartly packaged. The tights are folded around a long rectangular card, which is then enclosed in an open-sided card sleeve. Everything is then housed in a cellophane sleeve.





The tights are made in France and are 84% Polyamide, 15% Elastane and 1% Silk.

They look really impressive when removed from the packaging. The fabric is smooth and robust, and the tights are boarded so that the legs and feet are anatomically shaped.

The tights have a series of features that indicates pure quality:

  • The yarn has a wonderful, silky feel. But it also seems extremely strong and hard-wearing. Opaque coverage is absolutely even and uniform. In appearance these look more like 50-60 denier tights.
  • Heels and toes are reinforced.
  • The waistband is 5cm wide, flat and seamless. The waistband also has the size and brand printed on the inside
  • Seams throughout are flat and expertly engineered
  • There is a silk gusset, and in sizes 4-6 a back panel.


A further key feature of the tights is the graduated compression on the legs: tighter on the foot and calf and lighter on the thighs. This provides an perfect fit as well as giving additional comfort and a toning sensation to the legs.






Sizing and fit
The Gerbe Futura 40 Tights are available in five sizes at UK Tights:

  • 2 Medium
  • 3 Large
  • 4 X Large
  • 5 XX Large
  • 6 XXX Large


I tested the 6 XXXL size.

These tights need to be put on carefully because of the graduated compression in the foot and lower leg. They need to be rolled up on the thighs slowly to ensure even coverage.

Once on they feel quite amazing, almost like therapy for the legs.

The high level of Elastane ensures that they cling and hug every part of your legs with no wrinkling at all.

The brief/panty is superb - deep and comfortable, with no discomfort at all in the male crotch area. Indeed everything is comfortably supported.

The waist can be stretched comfortably to whatever position needed. For me, they are pretty much a high waist style. The waistband is wide and also amazingly comfortable.

Everything stays in place and the tights needed no adjustment during the day.

Colour range
The Gerbe Futura 40 Tights are available from UK Tights in a range of colours:
  • Noir
  • Chocolat 
  • Purple
  • Blue Nuit
  • Bruyere
  • Topaze
  • Cedre
  • Rubis
  • Paprika
  • Rose Indien
  • Absinthe


I tested the Bleu Nuit shade, a rich, dark blue.

Price and availability
The Gerbe Futura 40 Tights are priced at £25.99 at UK Tights.

Conclusion
The Gerbe Futura 40 Tights are first Gerbe style I have trialed since the range of men's tights was discontinued. Fortunately I have still have (very carefully looked after) pairs of the Gerbe men's Satin 20 and Opaque 70 tights.

The Futura 40 are a revelation. The fit and feeling when worn give the impression that a pair of tights has been crafted specifically for you. I know that may not be everyone's experience, as we are all different shapes and sizes. But for me the size 6 was a completely perfect fit in every respect.

They feel so good once you have them on that I guarantee that you won't want to take them off.

The price may be high for some but listen: once you see the effort that has gone into designing and making these tights and the range of excellent features they have, you may not see them as expensive, but rather a wise investment.

Check the reviews on UK Tights for further confirmation. Every single review, apart from two, has awarded 5* (and the two that didn't are 4*). Here are some of the comments:

Fantastic! At 40 denier they feel much more durable than the Wolford 50 denier I had been wearing previously. I also prefer the slightly more matte finish and both the foot and waistband are better made, plus a wider range of colours. As long as you have these in stock I'll keep buying them!


Best tights ever for me, comfort, huge size range true to measurements, smooth n silky, durable indeed, - even more colours please


Great fit true to size of a very high quality product. Certainly enhances the legs and ideal for cooler weather. Recommended for evening and special occasions and looked after have the potential to be long lasting making excellent value.


These tights are very highly recommended.