Month: June 2017

Aristoc Cotton Sheen Tights are expensive but well worth it!

Aristoc has wholly reinvented their range of opaque tights for this season with many of the previous products moving over to the Pretty Polly range (yes Aristoc and Pretty Polly do share an owner).

The first thing to say about the new opaque tights from Aristoc is that they are made in Italy and much more expensive than we are used to, up in what was once exclusively Wolford territory.

Aristoc has been using just two sizes for a while now, in common with many other manufacturers, as this reduces the number of items in their inventory by 33% so reducing costs and supply chain issues. We thought when we saw our test pair arrive in Medium/Large that they were staying with this policy but then noticed that Small/Medium & Medium/Large are now joined by Extra Large to fit up to 6’0” and 54” hips. So back to three sizes with big tall girls catered for appropriately. Well done Aristoc!

The sheen on these tights reminds us of previous styles from Aristoc; it has an almost liquid quality, that they have done with cotton rich tights is very clever. Inside the texture is fleecy and promises to keep you warm, outside a sexy but subtle sheen.

Texture and finish are constant from behind the reinforced toe (with run stop) all the way to the simple waistband. There is no shaping to the legs. The panty feature flat seams and a light gusset, no sense lining it as the tights are cotton anyway.

Natural fibre tights can sometimes struggle to provide an even colour and finish, but Aristoc has overcome that particular issue. There is an excellent choice of colours too, black, brown and, our favourite, purple. Perfect for the season.

The fit is excellent, and sizing is spot on, with enough length if you are leggy for your height. Very comfortable to wear you feel wrapped up and cosy while looking very stylish.

Worth £20? Yes, every penny. You indeed should buy two pairs in each colour, as you will want to wear them on every cold day and will have to take them off to wash them!

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Aristoc Cotton Fresh Tights are an average call back to the 70s.

Our reviewer was taken back several decades to when she first saw these tights. Apparently, they look a lot like tights from the 1970s!

Of course, these are nothing like tights from that era, not least because back then there was no Lycra.

The knit of the legs does have a superficial resemblance to that used in “micromesh” tights from that era, and this does have the benefit of making them very soft to the touch. The legs are straight and feel far sheerer than 20 denier. The panty is of the boxer type and our test pair being extra large there is a rear comfort panel and a generous cotton lining in the gusset area. Smaller sizes just gave a cotton gusset. The toes are reinforced as are the soles of the feet, the feet also being cotton lined.

The look on the legs is matt and entirely unremarkable. The fit is OK, and the sizing is by the size charts, but these are not tight fitting tights.

While there will be some more mature ladies of a fuller figure, who would wear nothing else we could see nothing remarkable in these tights to justify paying £4.50 a pair.

For more great reviews, click here. For more superb Aristoc products, click here.

Aristoc Chain Backseam Tights is a good quality product, and worth the price

These tights, or instead their packaging caused quite a bit of comment when they arrived here, so much so that we ended up reviewing them straight away.

Firstly, there is what they did not say, which is that there is no mention anywhere of the denier.

Then there is what they did say; “Knitted using luxury yarns then hand finished and packed in our factory in Derbyshire, England”. This seems a very clumsy way to say “knitted and hand finished in England using luxury yarns”, but that is not actually what it says at all. We have a sneaking suspicion that the knitting may not be done in England at all, and the fact there is no “made in” anywhere only adds to our suspicions. We would rather like English brands to knit their tights in England, and if they are knitted in Italy (reasonably good quality) or China (not as good quality), we would like to know.

As for the tights, they are sized to fit heights of 4’10” to 5’10 (147-178cm) with the two available sizes defined by hip measurements, 34”-42” (86-107cm) for Small/Medium and 42”-48” (107-122cm) for Medium/Large.

Legs are straight and finished with a reinforced toe, the chain seam detail in Lurex thread runs from the back of the toe, under the foot and up to the top of the thigh. The panty is a classic low leg brief cut, some 40 denier in weight and finished with flat seams and a cotton lined gusset. Smooth and soft, there is an impression of quality throughout.

Our general preference for sheer hosiery is sheer to waist, but here the big panty is the right way to go. It provides more strength and structure to the top of the tights and that in turn helps to get the seams straight; it also makes more sense than running the Lurex chain detail to the waist and provided a natural break. Designed as party tights that might be worn with short dresses having the opaque top solves the underwear problem, you don’t need any! The top gives a very smooth silhouette and will preserve modesty should the need arise.

The sheer legs have a great, even colour and the chain seam is the best use of Lurex that we have seen to date, making it look classy and expensive.

Sizing is spot on, and the fit is perfect. It is well worth the £12.50 asking price; this is a must-have accessory for that little black dress and killer patent heels in the upcoming party season.

For more fantastic Aristoc products, click here. For more great reviews, click here.

Aristoc Cashmere Blend Tights are expensive but well worth it!

With last year’s range of Aristoc opaque tights passed over to sister brand Pretty Polly, Aristoc has launched a new premium range at prices we are more used to seeing from the likes of Wolford.

£25 is a lot of money, but with the thermometer dipping below zero, the thought of cosy cashmere is too much to resist, even though it is only 8% of the yarn.

In keeping with the premium price, Aristoc makes their current range of opaque tights in three sizes, and they supply the tights in a classy box packet.

First impressions are, it must be said, instead of socks, both in look and feel, but very soft good quality socks.

Detailing is very straightforward with average weight and finish from hip to toe and no shaping in the legs. The panty has good quality flat seams, and there is a cotton lined gusset that is far lighter than the tights.

Our test pair came in the medium size intended to fit up to 5’10” (178cm) tall and 48” (122cm) hips. They looked small but turned out to offer masses of a stretch, so that they comfortably fit a 35” leg (a lot for a girl of 5’10”). Our suggestion would be to use the hip sizing as a guide rather than the height sizing.

The fit is exceptional for heavy natural fibre tights, making these very comfortable tights indeed.

Colour density is surprisingly good even for a natural fibre. It can’t compete for sexiness with nylon, but the look is classy and will go with autumn and winter fashions perfectly.

Worth the money? Yes, absolutely. A couple of pairs of these tights will keep you feeling warm and cosy and looking stylish all through the winter months.

For more great Aristoc products, click here. For more amazing reviews, click here.

Aristoc Cable Opaque Tights are perfect for those cold winter nights!

If you see a pair of cable knit tights called “Aristoc Soft Tights” on the front of the packet, pick them up and turn them over and in small print on the back label, you will see they are called Cable Opaque Tights. We have no idea either; it is just the way they are labelled.

The paper wrapping does not quite qualify as a packet, but mainly serves to keep the tights on the little hanger with which they are supplied and to give somewhere for the size chart, fibre composition and washing instructions. There are just two sizes both intended for heights of 4’10 to 5’10” (147-178 cm) with Small/Medium catering for hips 34”-42” (86-107 cm) and Medium/Large covering hip 42”-48” (107-122 cm).

Construction is quite straightforward but of good quality. The straight legs are finished with a plain toe detail and the panty section, which has a ribbed texture, is finished with flat seams and a plain gusset.

Considering the fibre mix in the yarn, it is surprising that one does not get an impression of socks when handling the tights,  as they have the feel of soft regular opaque tights. The knit and the fibre combine to give it plenty of stretches as well.

We have been critical of Aristoc sizing in the past, but with this style, it is full marks. They will comfortably stretch to cope with a long leg (34”) but don’t take any liberties with hip measurements as the styling is quite slim. If you are at the lower end of the height range, you may find the Medium/Large size a bit long even if you do need that size for your hips.

The cable pattern is attractive and being vertical accentuates the curves of your legs and makes them look slimmer too. Take care to get the lines running perfectly vertical though, as when they are twisted, they can look just plain wrong.

Very warm and cosy, and comfortable we might add. As winter tights they keep you warm in style. These tights are an excellent choice.

For more great Aristoc products, click here. For more fantastic reviews, click here.

These Aristoc Bodyshorts are good, but not perfect.

Please note:  There are shorts, not tights.

A note on sizing…The Aristoc Bodytoners and Bodyshorts range are sized quite differently to regular tights. All sizes are designed for heights 4-10” to 5’10” with only your hip measurement/dress size determining the size you require. You may find that although you usually wear large tights, you can wear the Small/Medium in this range.

These shorts are slightly different in that there are three sizes rather than two, Small/Medium for hips up to 42”, Medium/Large for hips up to 48” and X-Large for hips up to 54.”

There is not a lot we can say. These are nicely made shorts that are both comfortable and smooth as they are described. The wide band at the end of each leg ensures a smooth transition without bulging. Nice and soft to the touch.

Better, by far, than the Aristoc Waist Toner, and an excellent alternative to the control top tights in the range if you prefer not to have to get a new control top every time your ladder a sheer leg. Shorter in the body than the Aristoc Hourglass Toner Tights which provide better shaping overall.

Our tester preferred to wear these shorts over her tights rather than under. Without other underwear to get a perfectly smooth silhouette under tight fashions.

For more Aristoc Bodyshorts and other great Aristoc products, click here. For more amazing reviews, click here.

Aristoc Ruch Backseam are an unlikely great product!

There is no clue when you open the packet that these are anything other than standard sheer tights. It is only when you unwrap them from the card do you notice that the unshaped legs have a stripe around 1cm wide, running from heel to waistband.

Construction is sheer to waist with sandal toes, straight legs, flat seams in the panty, and a cotton lined gusset with a plain waistband.

There are just two sizes Small/Medium and Medium/Large both designed for heights 4’10” to 5’10” with only the hip measurement differentiating.

Stretching these tights out to put them on you are struck by the fact that the material feels a little coarse. On the leg, the finish of these tights is more of a delicate tulle than a sheer. The sizing is accurate, and there are enough strength and stretch to go a little beyond the suggested sizing if you need to.

Take care if you have a sharp nail though, as while the material is durable, the individual fibres are not and it is easy to catch and get a pull, which will spoil the good, even colour or even cause a hole. On the upside, these tights seem resistant to runs. The fit is excellent, and the seam runs straight and right (on the leg it is between 1.5cm and 2cm wide depending on your leg shape). Unlike many “false” seam designs, it works.

A great alternative to traditional seams and everyday sheer that will get you noticed for all the right reasons.

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