Category: Fogal

Fogal Una Seamless Opaque Tights are good but could be improved…

We had long understood that the Fogal Una style had gone the same way as some other seamless styles and been discontinued. We were delighted to discover that our friends at UK Tights had two variations new in stock.

Interestingly unlike other Fogal tights, these are made in Italy rather than Switzerland.

Made in the usual range of sizes from Fogal, S, M & L being progressively longer with M/L, XL and XXL adding width to the M & L sizes

Fogal declares these tights only as “opaque” they do not give a denier.

The initial visual impression is no different from any other 40-50 denier opaque tights. However, the 3.5 cm deep Fogal signature waistband and the shaped heel quickly differentiate them from cheaper rivals.

Described as seamless tights, these are not made in the same way as Wolford fatal. There is a definite gusset which is thicker and reinforced to which the more sheer material is attached, not seamed but knitted in.

Leg and body length do not appear very generous, but there is plenty of stretch in the leg so the L size will fit even the tallest wearer. The brief is quite short so that the waistband sits more on the hips.

A lovely matt opaque tight that will give a smooth silhouette under the strictest of clothes. The fit around the bottom is typical of other seamless tights, following the contours of the bottom cheeks rather than bridging between them.

The reinforced gusset will suit those who are less comfortable wearing entirely sheer tights without underwear. You really can’t wear anything other than nothing or next to nothing under this style of hosiery.

Unless you really must have seamless tights you could get as good a look on your legs from tights at half the price. These are good tights but not as outstanding as most of Fogal’s products.

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

Fogal Touch Tights are super cute!

Fogal Touch Tights are part of the same AW 2012 Collection as Fogal Soul Tights and Fogal Nepal Tights; the collection focuses very much on natural fibres for their organic look and their exceptional properties in keeping you warm without making you hot and sweaty. Where Soul tights were a cotton/nylon/lycra mix here, Fogal has added extra warmth and softness by the addition of cashmere.

The are other additions too, an extra size XL for taller ladies of a fuller figure and four colours: grey, black, beige and anthracite.

Fogal put the same care and detail into their opaque tights as they do into their premium sheer pantyhose, entirely uniform in knit, weight and finish from the toe seam to the Fogal signature waistband with flat seams in the panty and a gusset (unlined as the material is mostly cotton anyway).

Perhaps the thing you will notice most about these tights is how soft they are, particularly on the inside. Sizing and fit are excellent for making these tights a pleasure to wear.

What others will notice are your perfectly presented legs. Although knitted like a sock the look is a long way from sock-like it is ever so classy and will work with all types of an outfit and practically any footwear. Whether you go for a short skirt and heels or a longer skirt and boots, you will look as good as you feel.

Comfortable, stylish and durable these tights deserve a place in your wardrobe, expensive they may be, but they should last and last and prove great value.

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

Fogal Summercool Tights are as ‘Cool’ as ever!

We all like a treat from time to time, and we can think of no more great gift than ultra-premium sheer tights. To get Fogal tights in 10 denier and to only pay what in today’s market seems a bargain price of just £17.50 is a double bonus.

For those of you not familiar with Fogal one of their unique features, aside from quality and price, is their sizing system. There are no less than six sizes, the standard small, medium and large you would expect plus broader versions of Medium and Large for ladies who are fuller in the hips. There is an Extra Large too which not only provides for extra width but a little more length compared to the Large standard size also. With six sizes and 13 colours, there has to be a pair of Fogal Summercool Tights for everyone.

For summer wear, you would expect to go for a bare leg look in a natural shade, but we love the fact that Fogal has included shades of back and a red too.

Most Fogal tights are made in Switzerland, but this style along with some of the other less expensive methods is made in Italy. It has to be said that although very well prepared this style does not feel as unique as some others from Fogal.

Sheer to waist with a sandal toe, flat seams in the panty and a cotton lined gusset there is every critical detail that we look for from quality sheers. The reinforced strip either side of the panty seam joins with the finger band to provide not just strength but the slight impression of tiny lace edge panties. The waistband is wide, soft and scallop edged.

25% Lycra in the yarn provides lots of stretches, Fogal hosiery can be a little short sometimes, but this style is far more generously sized and would be our recommendation for any taller ladies looking to try Fogal for the first time. The Lycra also helps to provide a real “second skin” fit.

The look is not quite “barely there”, but the perfect even will enhance your tan and the look of your legs.

Fogal only uses the best fibres for their tights, and that is evident in the classy look of their Summercool tights and in the way that ten denier manages to seem strong and lasting.

Pure class as ever from Fogal.

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

Fogal Soul Tights are absolutely lovely!

This style along with Nepal and Touch is from the AW 2012 collection but the colours are just as suitable for this season, and such is the quality of Fogal hosiery we suspect that most pairs bought last year will still be being worn this year; if you buy now yours will look newer.

The collection is based heavily on natural fibres with just a small amount of Nylon to provide durability and strength and Lycra to give stretch and improve fit. Cotton is perfect for keeping you warm without getting you hot, just the thing for the winter.

There are three colours to choose from: taupe, brown and black, all utterly timeless.

You can’t quote a denier for natural fibre, but these are opaque winter tights of around 80 denier appearance. So how do they differ from everyday opaque tights at a fraction on the price?

Well, firstly they are beautifully knitted with just a simple fine seam over the top of the toe and an entirely knitted in a shaped heel. Altogether uniform in knit and finish from hip to toe and featuring flat seams and a  gusset (unlined as the tights are 80% cotton anyway) these tights offer the ultimate in fit and are perfect under more clingy fashions. The only texture in these tights in that of the beautiful knitting.

As ever Fogal top these tights off with their simple but ever so effective signature waistband.

There are three sizes to choose from, including Small, Medium and Large; XL is not available for these season lines. The sizing is spot on with plenty of length for the taller lady.

As you can see not only are these beautifully made and practical tights they look great too, maybe not cheap but excellent value.

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

Fogal Opaque Tights are fantastic for their price!

Fogal provides not just a size chart on their tights packets but also a sheerness chart, with tights rated as opaque, semi-opaque, sheer and ultra-sheer. We applaud this as a much better idea than a small number with a denier rating. It is curious that a style rated as semi-opaque, and we concur with this 30 denier is indeed semi-opaque, should be given the style name “Opaque”.

Fogal makes these tights in six sizes; the usual Small (S), Medium (M) and Large (L) that are pretty much common across all brands. There are three extra sizes, M/L, XL and XXL for ladies who are the right height for M or L but require a little more generous fit in the hips.

Two things strike you when you open the packet, firstly these tights look and feel much more opaque than gloss finish 30 denier tights we have seen from the likes of Charnos and Wolford, and secondly, they look very short indeed.

Construction is sheer to waist with a little shaping at the heels of what are otherwise straight legs. The waistband is the usual signature waistband from Fogal that looks classy and works perfectly. We were surprised to see that the seams in the brief and around the gusset were raised seams, far more common on cheaper hosiery and unseen on Fogal up to now. The sandal toes are finished with a much higher quality seam.

They say “The proof is in the pudding” and here we have to say that you only appreciate these tights once you put them on. There is plenty of stretch, and even though Fogal can tend to be shorter in the leg than some brands even taller ladies will find these a good fit. Once stretched on your leg the look is sheerer than expected, more semi-opaque in fact, and there is a subtle sheen to the finish.

Soft and smooth to the touch you will want to cross and uncross your legs all day to enjoy the feel.

We would have liked to see flat seams in £21.50 tights, but of course, this is almost a budget price for Fogal, and the tights look and feel great. Sturdy and well made too of course.

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

Fogal Madison Tights are extravagant!

If you didn’t know how good Fogal hosiery is the price and the very plain packaging would probably mean you are walking right past them on the shelf. Of course, to see them on a shelf you would have to be in a very upmarket store.

When you open the packet, the price makes a little more sense. These Fogal tights, in common with most others, flow of the card into your hand. They feel deliciously smooth and soft and seem much lighter than you would expect for 15 denier.

These are genuinely sheer to waist tights with no reinforcement either side of the flat body seams, and no reinforcement around the cotton lined gusset. (Although cotton is not listed in the fibre mix the gusset is cotton lined).

The waistband is delightfully simple, a 2cm deep elasticised band with the “Fogal” motif repeated around it. Very similar to the Gerbe waistband that we like too much.

The sheer legs are shaped at the heel and finished with reinforced toes.

The smooth, soft sensation you feel when you open the packet is experienced again tenfold when you slide these tights up your legs; they feel gorgeous!

The look is as good as the feel, perfect fit from hip to toe with no bagging or sagging and no variation in colour. The satin finish is perfect for any time of the day, but we would suggest Fogal tights are more suitable for a date than a day at work.

Sizing is not overly generous, but the size charts are accurate.

Good value for money? Well not for everyday wear perhaps but Fogal, like Wolford, is a luxury and £18.50 is a small price for luxury.

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

Fogal Limoges Tights are perfect for formal occasions!

When Fogal first sent us these tights, one question came to mind: just what occasion merits wearing ten denier sheer tights that cost £40 a pair? There is, after all, some very good ultra sheer tights for one-third of the price.

Many months on from asking the question the sample pair is still awaiting review because we had no clear answer to our problem. So for no better reason that it is Monday and they are here we are testing them.

Aside from being made in Switzerland by Fogal, what makes this style of tights stand out? Well, first there is the inclusion of silk, used we suspect to line the gusset in place of the usual cotton. Silk is an excellent choice as it is fast drying and naturally hygienic as well as light. Secondly, as with most Fogal styles, there are no fewer than six sizes to choose from.

Sizing is a great place to start. There is some rough equivalence between Fogal sizing and the system used by other companies, but you do need to read the chart because Fogal has a unique and very sensible approach to sizing. There are three base sizes: Small, Medium & Large which cater to increasing heights with maxima of 163 cm, 172.5 cm and 185 cm with each size also catering for a little more weight. There are then options to add more width without adding more height giving three more sizes L, XL and XXL. The fits up to an Amazonian 185cm tall and 95kg. If you prefer imperial measures then in addition to the metric size chart is a table giving details of height and hip measurement alongside the sizes.

The look and feel of Fogal Limoges Tights put us in mind of premium hosiery such as Wolford fatal, only at ten denier lighter and sheerer. In common with other tights of the same look and feel they look tiny for their predetermined size too. The feel in hand is light and soft but with an impression of strength.

Detailing surprises us a little, not the sheer to waist construction, not the perfect flat seams, not the silk-lined gusset, not the shaping at the heel, not even the finger band providing the tough transition to the excellent Fogal waistband ten denier sheer to waist tights with a reinforced toe! One can only assume that ten denier was considered too sheer for a toe detail on £40 tights.

As ever with our assessment of sizing we deliberately chose a model at the top end of the suggested size range for the sample, in this case, size L.

At first, we thought they would come up short but with the care, they would stretch to fit a leggy 5’11” exactly as the size chart suggests. The hip sizing was perhaps less generous, and here the size chart rather than the measurements are more helpful, if you are using all the length you may want to go up a size to get the hip sizing if you are on the border between sizes.

If you do plan to use all the available size, you will need to take care of putting these tights on. In addition to our standard advice we would add the following:

• Slip your foot into the tights and smooth the material gently up your legs as far as they will go
• If they come up short sit quietly for a while and allow your body temperature to warm the yarn.
• Roll the tights all the way back down again all the way.
• Start again stretching the material over your foot and smooth up your leg.
• Repeat as required until you can smooth over your hips and settle the waistband correctly
• Don’t pull!

Do this and not only will you fully appreciate the great feel of Fogal, but you will be rewarded with a perfect second skin fit and the ultimate in comfort.

The look on the leg is incredibly classy, more makeup powder than hosiery. The reinforced toe now makes sense; you are wearing tights, very expensive tights, so why wear open shoes and try to pretend you are not?

Worth £40 a pair? Well, not for daily wear (unless you won the lottery!), but for special occasions, they are well worth the money to look an feel a class apart.

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

Fogal Light and Cool Tights live up to their name!

Ultra sheer summer pantyhose are the tights to be seen in this summer, even if the tights themselves should not be seen, just their effect. ‘L.C’ or Light and Cool is one of several ultra sheer styles on offer from Fogal of Switzerland, regarded by many as the leading brand for quality and exclusivity. So just what do you get for £23.50?

For a start, you get a choice of seven colours so you can choose a shade that most closely matched your skin tone for a perfect bare leg look. The chart here gives you an idea of the relative darkness of the shades, but the actual colour of the tights will not be quite the same as what you see on your screen (Not Fogal’s fault just variation in how computers display colour).

You also get a choice of five sizes. If you are looking at the back of the packet as we are here, then please note that in some packets there is a misprint such that the Fogal sizes are all one row out. The correct chart is as follows:

The only other point to note is that the “Europe” sizes and the “Conf” column are not exactly in step with the standard sizing as used by the likes of Falke, so a look at the UK/USA hip and height sizing never hurt.

Part of the issue with direct size comparison is that Fogal offers an M/L size, this provides the same length as the M size but with a larger panty for the fuller figure. Most companies increase both length and width with each size only offering an Extra Large (wider) or Extra Tall (longer) option as a variation on the Large size.

On removing these ever so light tights from the packet, you could be forgiven for thinking you bought children’s tights by mistake. Straight from the packet, the length from the tip of the reinforced toe to the top of the signature Fogal waistband is just 60cm or 24″.

The material is the same soft matt finish stretch type seen on other top-end tights, most notably the top seamless styles. Very stretchy, sheer but giving an impression of great strength the result should be a makeup type finish on your legs.

Detailing is excellent with well finished flat seams in the panty and an unlined double thickness gusset. Entirely sheer to waist aside from the reinforced toes and the narrow finger band giving strength to the transition to the narrow waistband. On our test pair, there was a slight bump at the back where the panty seam, waistband seam and panty to waistband seam came together; all very strong and safe but not quite so tidy as we might have expected from Fogal.

We have remarked in the past that Fogal tights are not always the most generously sized regarding length but here we have no issues at all. Our test pair in size 3/L easily coped with a 35” leg and 43” hips. The sizing is spot on.

The fit is perfect, and these are such comfortable tights and the cosmetic finish although not a bare leg look is classy and sophisticated.

Worth £23.50? Well, perhaps not for everyday wear unless you have very deep pockets, but for when you want to look your absolute best, then yes. We never felt such strength in such sheer tights.

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

Fogal Exotic Tights aren’t worth the price.

We have commented in the past about how little information you get on a Fogal packet, not even a picture! The staff at the London Fogal boutique explain that this is because they are designed to be sold by one of their consultants, and it is for this reason they are not available online. On our last visit to the boutique, the service even extended to one of the ladies showing us these tights on her leg. A level of service that is loaded into the hefty price tag that these tights carry.

The staff even advise on sizing. Fogal sizing is pretty consistent, and we love the fact that for each length they do some widths; so, for instance, L and XL are the same lengths, but the XL copes with bigger hips. What the boutique staff add to this is knowledge of which style are a little bigger or smaller than they should be.

Fogal quality is apparent as soon as you open the packet, these 15 denier tights have a fluid quality. Sheer to waist with flat seams and a cotton lined gusset and a simple but effective Fogal waistband; very similar to that used so effectively by Gerbe but with a plain top.  The legs are shaped at the heel and finished with near invisible reinforced toes.

So just what is a “Ton-Ton”? Well, in this case, it is a flight of small butterflies knitted into the side of each leg, flying from the outside ankle around the leg to the back of the thigh in a helix. Very subtle in the case of the Poudre shade we tested, a slightly more refined version of the pattern on sheer ideas we have seen at one-tenth the price from Fiore.

Fogal tights are known for being quite short, they are Swiss made, and Switzerland is not known for tall ladies, but the Lycra and quality of materials and manufacture mean that you can stretch them a little beyond the predetermined sizes without fear.

The look on the leg is essentially matt, but with some sheen in the right light. They look like they should be soft to the touch but in fact they a little harsh.

Without a doubt very well made and classy tights but in our view grossly overpriced. Sheers are timeless, and worth the extra, but a patterned design like this is very much of the season. You could buy something similar from Gerbe for 40% of the price at the same quality.

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

Fogal Elegance Tights are unbelievably great!

Fantastically smooth, soft and light in hand. Sheer to waist, flat seams and sandal toes.

It is almost a surprise that Fogal makes a style called Elegance as we are sure that if there were such a thing as a Swiss-English dictionary, then the direct translation of the Swiss word Fogal would be Elegance.

Fogal is not without fault though; the packet says that these tights have a reinforced toe and they don’t! There is no change in weight or texture from the tip of the toe to the waistband other than the very narrowest of reinforced areas below the waistband, either side of the flat seams in the panty and around the cotton lined gusset.

Six sizes are available in this style from Small to XXL; we tested the L which equates roughly to the size 3 or 44-46 in European sizes. This should have been a little small for our model but the sizing was more generous than is typical for Fogal and the fit was perfect.

The finish on the leg is fine satin, with an ever so delicate sheen. The tights themselves are not delicate though, despite being very sheer at 11 denier they feel incredibly strong.

Worth £31? Well, that is a tricky question. You would struggle to find a better pair of sheer tights even from Wolford, and two pairs of £15 sheers would halve the chance of accidents without much drop in quality; but if you like quality sheer hosiery you really should treat your legs just once.

Our friend Sue, no stranger to quality, has taken a second test pair to put through a lifecycle test to see how they stand up to regular wear. We will post her comments when the test is run if these tights last like we expect that could be some time!

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