Month: March 2020

“Ultimate” can mean many things. Hopefully, Levante doesn’t mean that they are the last tights they will ever make. Maybe the thickest, or perhaps they think they are their best, never to be surpassed.

These tights are supplied in an open packet. Extracting them from the pack reveals an opaque tight that feels quite light for 80 denier. If these were 30 denier or lighter we would call them sheer to waist, they are of average weight and finish from waistband to toe. The legs are unshaped, and the brief is finished with flat seams and a cotton-lined gusset.

I small curiosity in our test pair was a label sewn into the back seam. It was put in before the dyeing process so was a uniform grey with no words on it. I wonder what it would have said?

Colour is even without, and banding and the finish are beautifully soft to the touch. Immediately warm to wear. If they can wick moisture away from the skin, they will be ideal for an active day in cold weather. Maybe not “ultimate” but some of the best 80 denier tights we have tried.

Levante told UKTights that the Ultimate 80 are the Airskin Opaque under a new name. Of course, being told that an 80 denier tight is a 70 denier does raise a few questions. More questions were raised when we found that the Levante Ultimate 80 tights in size X-Tall (black) fit our tester perfectly. That same tester remembered that the Levante Airskin Opaque in size X-Tall (charcoal) had been about the biggest tights they had ever tested in terms of the size of the brief.

We decided therefore to re-examine the Levante Airskin Opaque in size X-Tall and to compare this with Levante Airskin Opaque in size Tall and another pair of Levante Ultimate 80 in size X-Tall to see if we had another case of Levante “mispackaging.”

4 Pairs examined:

• Levante Airskin Opaque in size X-Tall (charcoal) – 11cm wide rear panel (measured at the waist), waistband 53cm un-stretched. Weight 60g 
• Tall (Mocha) – Identical to Levante Ultimate 80 in size X-Tall (black) in every detail, waistband 44cm un-stretched Weight 55g
• X-Tall (Black) – Identical to Levante Airskin Opaque in size Tall (Mocha) in every respect, waistband 45cm un-stretched, Weight 55g
• X-Tall (Mocha) Big in the brief but less so than Levante Airskin Opaque in size X-Tall (charcoal). 9cm wide rear panel (measured at the waist), waistband 49cm un-stretched. Weight 65g

There is no mention on any of the packets about a rear comfort panel in the brief. Airskin Opaque is described as 70 denier and credit Meryl with the microfibre manufacture. No mention is made of Meryl on the packets for the Levante Ultimate 80.

The main visual difference between the Levante Airskin Opaque and Levante Ultimate 80 is that the Airskin Opaque appears to have been shaped a little at the heel during finishing. On the leg, you cannot tell them apart.

What we did find, and it is a slight worry, is that Levante Ultimate 80 in size X-Tall (black) had a cotton gusset, but the same tights in mocha had a comfort rear panel and were much bigger in the brief, although a little smaller than the Levante Airskin Opaque in size X-Tall (charcoal). That detailing should vary according to the colour in a given design is not good.

The change in denier from 70 to 80 is a mystery as the tights look and feel the same, the scales did tell us though that the 80 denier with the comfort rear panel was slightly heavier than similarly detailed 70 denier.

If you can get your size correct both styles look and feel great, and will last and last. 

We have no idea if the sizing anomalies go through the range, but if you are looking for long tights but don’t have large hips, you may want to ask your supplier to check that you are getting cotton gusset tights. Luckily thin can be done quickly without taking the tights from the packet.

For more Levante Tights, click here. For more reviews, click here.

Solare is a style that is a constant in the Levante range, but that gets regular changes in design. The significant changes this time are a change from sheer to waist to a hi-line brief and an increase in denier from 6 to 8.

Not the first time with Levante, we found that the tights in the packet did not match the description on the outside. What we saw in the eight denier 2007 outer packet was a pair of the earlier six denier style tights described below. Incredibly sheer, Solare gives the legs a hint of sun-kissed colour while allowing your skin to remain cool. Light, transparent and ultra-cool. Sheer to waist, sheer toe.

This style was one of the very first we ever tested that was explicitly designed for summer wear. The 2006 version sees a reduction in the Lycra content and a significant increase in price. These tights feel incredibly light and slide off the card into your hand as soon as you open the packet.

Silky smooth and soft in hand, and beautifully made. Sheer to waist, flat seams, cotton-lined gusset and sandal toes. The legs and heels are nicely shaped.

Our test pair were X-Tall size, but even so, they were not overly generous in leg length, the brief section is quite long, so take care not to show your waistband over your skirt. With care, the legs were long enough for up to a 34” inside leg. But these are fragile tights so wear hosiery gloves and take care.

Once on these tights disappear, they are almost entirely invisible. They are not even betrayed by any wrinkling at the knee and ankle the fit is so good. When you touch though you are in no doubt. They feel lovely from both sides. Fantastic for summer.

For more Levante products, click here. For more reviews, click here.

Levante has a reputation for making some great fashion tights. But they also produce some great sheer tights, sometimes with a twist. In this case, the twist is to combine sheer sandal toe legs with a heavy bikini style brief designed not as a control top but as a holding top. It’s intended to allow you more flexibility when placing the waistband with a reasonable expectation of your tights staying in place.

The panty is finished with flat seams and a lined gusset and has unique stretch panels on each hip. The waistband is plain except for sets of 4 vertical stripes on each hip. These in case you did not know are an indication of size. Size 4 is designed to fit up to 6’1″ or 185 cm.

The sheer matt legs look and feel lovely, all twists aside these are sheer quality tights, ideal for cooler summer weather when you want the bare look without the chill. The panty is snug and works exactly as intended so you can wear as hipsters with low waisted fashions. Not a control top per se but tighter than your typical sheer.

Sizing is accurate. Frequently in the past, we have recommended Levante to taller ladies because they offered extra leg length, but these are like the size chart dictates. A question we were asked recently was whether you could machine wash and tumble dry tights? Well, we chucked these in the washer with some towels then tumble dried the lot together too. The result? Well, they came out perfect.

Before you try this yourself and blame us for your ruined tights, we have to tell you that these are quality tights and we used a Miele washer and tumble drier, a brand renowned for the smoothness of its drums.

For more Levante tights, click here. For more reviews, click here.