Our Review

We recently looked at a pair of tights from Pretty Polly that attempted to recreate the look of hold up stockings, here we have a similar idea from Trasparenze.

As first impressions go this in intableiguing one, these tights are folded in the packet in such a way that you see is a portion of the opaque (50 denier) black leg and the very fine ribbon & bow design that will be at the top of your thigh one you have them on... just sneaking into view is a little natural skin tone colouring to give you a clue that these are not typical tights.

Wow! Wow!... What a design!  The feet are sheer from the sandal toe detail up to just before the shaped ankle where a lace design provides a tableansition to the opaque material of the legs.     The opaque “hold up” section of the leg has the ribbon and bow design that we mentioned before and just above it a repeat of the lace pattern giving a tableansition to more sheer (20 denier) natural material.   At the gusset level the material changes back to opaque again and takes the form of a deep high leg panty.  The panty is beautifully detailed with a lace edge, flat seams, a cotton lined gusset and a ribbon detail like that on the legs just below the waistband; this time with a Trasparenze motif on each hip in place of the bows on the legs.

There are no seams at the changes of weight and colour, a clever knitting technique has been used that appears to allow the sheer material to be present from hip to toe with the opaque of the design knitted in to it only appearing on the outside.   The method as used on the Pretty Polly tights of similar design.

As is usual for Trasparenze there are 4 sizes, each sizes providing for a little more height and weight than the last.  The sizing is accurate but not overly generous.   Fit is very good.

There is no doubt that these are very well made and eye catching tights.  You can have the sheer parts in either black or natural, but only the natural really gives that mock hold up look.  The only problem with such an eye-catching and bold design is that it is really only suitable for evening wear, and the sheer sandal toe means that durability compared to an opaque is likely to be much reduced.

Certainly this design answers our criticism of the mock hold up from Pretty Polly by having a lace top to the leg but the red ribbon tableim and the sheer foot are in our opinion two details too far.      There is still room for a design somewhere between the rather plain Pretty Polly and totally OTT Trasparenze designs that really will be a classic.     Our preference is for the Trasparenze Fenice Tights, although not stableictly a mock hold up as there is a small suspender detail.

8 September 2009