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All Reviews Max Mara

Max Mara Freddo Tights

We always see it as a good sign when a maker puts their tights in a beautiful box rather than a flimsy packet, especially so when we are paying a few pence short of £20. In this case, the box is just a heavier packet with real sides.

The simple plastic bag containing the tights on a plain white card is a bit on an anticlimax. But the tights themselves are not. Before you see anything, you feel the smooth softness of the tights. Dual weight tights are very much in vogue at present, and it is clear that Max Mara has not decided to follow the trend but to do so at the pinnacle of quality. The panty is finished with flat seams and a cotton-lined gusset (comfort gusset in size 4), the toe is detailed so that from above it is a sandal toe.

The opaque parts of the tights are ribbed. Not like school tights but an excellent ribbing that feels smooth when you stroke with the grain. The fronts of the legs are 30 denier weight given to us in the product description.

Sizing is accurate, but you need to pay close attention to the size chart. A size four is quite a lot bigger tha njbh66n many other large sizes. Don’t just assume that you need size four because that is the size you wear in different brands and styles. There strength and stretch in abundance anyway.

The look on the leg is pure class. The dashed detail just at the edge of the sheer part catches the eye and both slims and adds an air of sophistication. You need to take a little care to get the lines straight.

Combining the warmth of an opaque with the sophistication of a sheer is not easy, but Max Mara has done it. Perfect for a classy night out in your little black dress on a chilly evening. But also quite suitable for wear during the day too. Not cheap tights but the right price for what they deliver.

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Max Mara Calypso Tights

For those of you not familiar with the word tulle is used to described excellent lightweight netting and is made by a particular way of knitting very similar to that used for many fishnet tights but much finer.

At first sight, these look like any other semi-opaque tights. But as soon as you take them off the card to can feel the texture of the material.

These are sheer to waist tights that feature a cotton gusset in sizes 1-3 and a comfort gusset (rear panel) in size 4. There are flat seams in all sizes. The legs are shaped at the heel and entirely sheer from the toe seam to the waistband. The plain waistband is very soft and some 5cm deep.

Sizing is accurate, and the feel on the leg is very soft, making these extremely comfortable tights to wear. Fit on the legs is excellent, thanks to the high Lyrca content in the fibre. Fit in the panty is right too. But as is often the case we found that the comfort gusset made for a less involved fit. Our advice would be to go for size three unless you are towards the upper end of the size 4 size range if you are tall rather than full in the hips.

Tights are about to look of course. These give a perfectly even colour with a glimpse of a 30 denier semi-opaque you need to get very close indeed to see the tulle effect. If we have any criticism, it is that the “baby-soft” waistband does not hold the tights in place as well as something a little more robust. Particularly if you have a less well-defined waist.

All in all, a unique, classy and sophisticated design very well executed. It incorporating the best features of the semi-opaque and fishnet. £14.30 is not cheap. This is something of a concern as we found that these tights were very prone to snagging. Anything even a little rough will cause a pull that entirely ruins the sophisticated look you are paying for. Great for a special night out! But don’t be surprised if their second outing has to be with a long shirt and boots.

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Max Mara Cadine Tights

When these tights arrived, we were sure we had seen them before. But a lot of time has passed, and the design has changed so we will treat this as a new style. The first difference between the style we reviewed several years ago and this one is the price, a bargain at £5.00 back then and a far more “designer” £13.27 now.

First impressions are excellent, light and soft in hand with that feeling of “flow” that only quality sheer hosiery provides. The detailing is a masterpiece of simplicity. Totally sheer other than the toe seam, a flat seam in the body and around the gusset and a waistband. No reinforcement, no finger band, nothing but sheer.

There is some shaping at the heel, and the gusset is cotton lined. Simple details flawlessly executed, the toe seam is among the nicest we have seen; flat and almost impossible to feel under your toes.

Sizing is accurate but not generous, don’t stray beyond the limits set out on the size chart particularly in terms on the weight limits; as we have seen before from Max Mara styling is for the slim figure.

Our test pair was in black. As soon as our tester put them on all they could think of was evening, strappy shoes and a gorgeous black dress. The look on the leg is expensive, and every curve of your leg is accentuated by the way the light catches the material. Fit is as perfect as the finish.

It is sophisticated, smart, sexy and comfortable. Well worth the money for that special night out.

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Max Mara Donna Tights

We have got used to high-quality hosiery from Max Mara and quality is very much in evidence here. A sandal toe detail, legs shaped at the heel, sheer to waist, cotton-lined gusset and flat seams in the panty. Precisely what we want in a high-quality sheer. But of course, these are not basic sheers. They have been elevated to high fashion by the addition of a floral pattern on the lower leg that is topped by a garter detail mid-thigh. Is this enough to justify doubling the price of an equivalent sheer?

We had expected something like a Max Mara logo on the waistband. But all we found were the four parallel ridges that let us know that our test pair was size 4. The other give away was that rather than a cotton gusset there was a comfort gusset (rear panel). The cotton gusset being reserved for sizes 1-3. Real care has been taken in the design of the back panel, rather than take the easy route and use heavier fabric the panel is the same weight as the legs with just a narrow strengthened strip at the seam and best of all Max Mara added a repeat of the floral pattern from the leg.

Sizing is accurate, and the fit and finish of the legs are good. As you can see from our picture of Stacey, this is a style that begs to be worn with something very short to show off both your legs and the design. Top-quality fashion hosiery, perhaps a little overpriced. But if you want a real style that stands out from the crowd, then it never comes cheaply.

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Max Mara Bombay Tights

These tights raise an interesting question, well interesting to the tights “anorak” anyway. How fine can a fishnet become before it becomes opaque or semi-opaque? The line is somewhere very close to these 40 denier tulle tights. Feel is smooth and sheer, almost like a glossy semi-opaque, but look closely, and these are lovely net tights.

Detailing is as you would expect from a quality brand such as Max Mara. Sheer from toe seam to waistband, lightly shaped at the heel, flat seams in the panty. Sizes 1-3 have a gusset, size 4 has the v-shaped rear “comfort gusset.”

Sizing is accurate, and there is plenty of stretch. The stretch is handy if like us you are not a fan of the comfort gusset unless you are full in the hips size three will probably be the better option for bigger/taller ladies.

Fishnet uses an optical trick to give very even colour from a distance, where tighter-knit hosiery can look to have banding in the shading. With such a fine net as this, you have to take great care to get the colour even.
Fit and comfort are perfect as well. The look on the leg is semi-opaque as advertised, and the durability is excellent too. All in all, a very classy pair of tights that will work at any time and on any occasion. Fishnet or semi-opaque? We don’t care; they are great tights either way.

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Max Mara Berna Tights

Sometimes Max Mara naming can be confusing. The packet is printed with “Velato 13” on the front but the small label with size and colour also has the word “Berna” on it. UK Tights list these as Berna. These tights are lovely. Smooth, light and soft in hand. They flow from the packet and beg to be put on.

Entirely sheer from toe seam to waistband except for the flat seams in the panty and the gusset. The gusset is lined in size 1-3 and a sheer comfort gusset in size 4.

A delight to put on these tights blend with your skin like a summer sheer. The great fit aided by the shaping of the leg ensures not a crease or wrinkle. All that can be seen is perfect skin. Your admirers will be looking at your gorgeous legs, not your hosiery.

Sizing is spot on and fit is excellent. The comfort gusset is for once comfortable but a less snug fit than the true gusset. If you are between sizes 3 and 4, buy size 3. It won’t let you down.

A detail for those interested: the XL size has little reinforced areas adjacent to the seams on the outside of the seams, but nothing corresponding on the rear panel/gusset side. These make no sense until you realise that on size L and smaller they would be either side of the gusset. Proof, if it were needed, that L and XL are knitted the same size with just the gusset style varying.

Max Mara call these practical everyday tights, they are of such quality that they really should be for special occasions. But at £6.95 every day can be extraordinary with these Tights.

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Love Hate Opaque Patterned Tights

While some brands trumpet style, quality, exclusivity or a designer name, the focus with LoveHate is on unconventional and environmentally sound materials. They are not alone among Australian brands that are looking to be “green”. But by manufacturing locally rather than importing tights complete from Italy, they take the concept further than most. We have to start by being critical.

What we need to see laid out is the price, denier, fibre mix, the colours available and a size chart. On the plus side, this lack of information gives us more to say. You can’t tell from the look and feel of these tights where the fibre was sourced. So it is up to you to trust that it is an ecologically sound source if that is important to you.

Detailing is pretty standard for opaque fashion tights. The legs are unshaped and finished with a plain toe detail. The pattern on the leg is knitted in and runs up to just below gusset level where there is a change of knitting. The panty section is plain and features both flat seams and a cotton-lined gusset which we are delighted to see.

The test of any tights, of course, is how they look and how they feel to wear. We have no guidance on sizing. But assuming they are the typical one-size then they are quite generously sized if you use all the stretch, 32” leg and 40” hips being the realistic upper limit. Fit is good and thanks to the gusset and flat seams they are comfortable too.

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Luisa Maria Lugli Love Line Tights

Hearts down the back of the legs of a pair of tights in place of the classic seam is not a new idea; it is a tried and tested one that we have seen done several times with varying degrees of success.

Unlike some of the less successful attempts at heart seams, these Luisa Maria Lugli tights come in 4 sizes so whether you are a petite 4’9″ or a statuesque 6’1” there should be a size to fit you. Sizes 1-3 have a standard cotton-lined gusset. Size 4 (L) has a comfort gusset to give more room in the hip and bottom area.

First impressions on opening the packet are excellent, smooth & soft material with a slight shine. More detailed examination reveals that these are sheer to waist tights. The legs are also shaped at the heel and finished with a sheer sandal toe detail. The seams in the panty are flat and well finished with just a very narrow reinforced strip either side for strength. In the Large size, the V-shaped rear panel between the seams is considerably heavier than the rest of the garment. As 20 denier sheer tights, these score well.

Sizing is accurate, and there is plenty of stretch. This stretch could come in handy if the size chart suggests you need size 4 for height. But not for weight as we would recommend size three over a size 4 for the fit in the seat as the comfort gusset does spoil the fit.

The heart design runs from toe seam to waistband. The hearts are big enough to be made out but small enough and close enough to give the impression of a seam.

The heart seam is excellent fun and stylish contrasting nicely with the perfect even background provided by the sheerlegs. If you like the design, you can’t go wrong with this style. £7.50 is scarcely more than you would have to pay for a similar quality sheer.

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Lores No. 563 Tights

Picking up these tights ready for review, we were struck by a thought. It is evident to anyone in manufacturing or retail that you need style numbers and stock numbers to track designs and inventory. Yet only a couple of companies carry the number through onto the packaging as the retail name of the tights. Most companies give their styles a name. Usually, something to provide a clue as to the fibre content or the finish. Sometimes, a seemingly random girl’s name. Seasonal themes based on places crop up a lot too.

Our first impressions are the soft microfibre tights look incredibly small even in the larger of the two sizes. The larger size is not intended to be huge by the way, just coping with a maximum height of 176cm and hips up to 120cm (5’9” and 47”), even so, that 12% Lycra will be working hard.
Detailing is very basic in the legs, which are straight and finished with quite a square toe. In the panty, the detailing is by contrast top class with both a cotton-lined gusset and flat seams.

Did we say that these tights looked small? At an absolute maximum stretch, our test pair would reach the top of a 30” (76cm) leg, measured floor to gusset. So take that size chart seriously and measure your legs if in doubt.

If they are big enough for you, these tights are a treat. Warm, soft and even weight and finish from hip to toe they look fantastic. The black on the black pattern is subtle and sophisticated and runs to the waistband so you can go as short as you like with your skirts or shorts. Close-fitting with even colour and a general feel of quality. No 563 is well worth its asking price, just so long as you are small enough to get into them.

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Lores No. 416 Tights

The packet rear, as is generally the case with Polish branded hosiery, gives a good idea of what to expect in terms of the construction.

There are three sizes to choose from XS/S, M/L and XL. The range of heights and weights for each size is quite reasonable, so the doubling up should work. First impressions. Smooth and soft and at the lighter end of 40 denier hosiery.

The straight legs are finished with a sandal toe and sheer all the way to to the waistband except for the motif above the ankle. The panty has flat seams with just the narrowest of reinforced transitions either side. There is a small lines gusset in our size 3/4 sample. The packet graphics suggest the XL size has a comfort gusset/rear panel. The plain waistband is quite deep at 4cm.

Durable and stretchy are the two words that spring to mind as you put these tights on. The earlier sensations of smoothness and softness are dispelled entirely. The effort required to get them on is on a par with light support tights. But you never feel there is any danger of them ripping and you are rewarded with a skin-tight fit from hip to toe.

The waistband sits high on the hip rather than on the waist, although it will sit higher if you are towards the bottom or middle of a size. Sizing is more generous than the size chart suggests.

The floral motif is repeated three times on each leg. In the picture above, you can see the ones on the front of each leg. The other two are to each side at the rear. The motif looks like a small herb or young flower plant and does an excellent job of drawing the eye to your ankles.

One small issue, our test pair had a couple of knitting imperfections that result in fine dark lines. All in all, perfect, stylish tights that promise to be highly durable too.

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