Category: All Reviews

Categories
All Reviews Jonathan Aston

Jonathan Aston Carnival Backseam Tights

Jonathan_Aston_Carnival_Back_Seam_Tights

Jonathan Aston Carnival Tights are another perfect product!

We have to start this review with an apology; the plan was to have a full set of photographs, but we ran out of time on the last shoot; fortunately, the picture from Jonathan Aston gives you a perfect look at the main design feature.

Available in black with a bright pink back seam (as our review sample), or bright purple with a bottle green back seam as pictured above.

Jonathan Aston have great faith in the stretch capacity of their tights, as these are made in two sizes to fit a range of heights and weights from 4’9” to 6’0” (145-183 cm) and 90-205 lb (40-95 kg). Although we should stress that the maximum height and weight together are not recommended.

We are pleased to report that once again Jonathan Aston has managed to combine high fashion design with a good quality of manufacture. There is the most lightly of reinforced toe details, then it is entirely even sheer material all the way to the finger band, up the front of the legs anyway. The back of the leg can’t be called sheer to the waist as that is where the 10% polypropylene appears in the form of the Aztec inspired design. The panty has well made flat seams and in a sophisticated piece of detailing the strengthened areas either side of the seam and around the lined gusset are highlighted with the same colour as the design pattern.

Sizing is spot on, and the fit is good too, just make sure that you have the pattern evenly stretched for maximum comfort and visual effect. The finish has a slight shine which shows off the perfectly even colour very well; we would say however that the look on the leg is very dark for 20 denier.

The design ran perfectly straight up the back of the leg with none of the issues sometimes experienced with seamed tights. Quite clearly whoever designed these tights took account of the fact that legs have curves!

With such a robust design only the most daring will wear these tights for work, but for the weekend or a night out, they are a great fashion statement. Our recommendation is to wear with black as adding another colour will be too much, and you are unlikely to be able to match your outfit precisely to the small palette of colours available.

A real winner from Jonathan Aston..highly recommended!

For more remarkable Jonathan Aston products, click here. For more stupendous reviews, click here.

Categories
All Reviews Jonathan Aston

Jonathan Aston Burlesque Midinet Tights

Jonathan_Aston_Burlesque_Midinet_Tights

Jonathan Aston Burlesque Midinet Tights are nothing special.

Fishnets have never been more popular, sexy and sassy these midi net tights are a real must have for the fashion conscious woman of today who wants a slightly more extensive net than every day fishnet size.

We approached the last style of fishnet tights promoted under the Burlesque name with a degree of scepticism; would we just be getting everyday cheap fishnets or a slightly updated version of a standard design and be paying top price for the film endorsement. As it was, we were highly impressed!

Here we are, back to a far more fundamental fishnet, simple seamed toe, the small seam in the crotch area and a plain waistband. Instead what we feared the other design would be! On the plus side, there are two sizes but entirely who they are designed to fit into anyone’s guess. The only upper limit on sizes seems to be the waistband, the fishnet part of the garment will pretty well stretch to any extent.

With a great deal of care, you can get the material evenly spread between the toe and hip and then you can tell that the midinet is between a classic fishnet and a maxinet, quite big holes but not so big that your toes will stick out. With the legs set correctly and the waistband on your waist, the fit in the hips and bottom area is not good. The waistband would quickly pull up to the nipples on most people.

Bog standard fishnets in a fancy wrapper. One to consider only if you have a particular need for a fishnet that is between classic and maxi.

For more great Jonathan Aston products, click here. For more reliable reviews, click here.

Categories
All Reviews Jonathan Aston

Jonathan Aston Burlesque Fishnet Tights

Jonathan_Aston_Burlesque_Fishnet_Backseam_Tights

Jonathan Aston Burlesque Tights are sexy but pricey.

Many celebrities have been used to promote hosiery recently with both pop stars and movies being used to gain extra exposure. I think we can safely say that Cher, who turns 65 later this year, is comfortably the oldest. Having just turned 30, Miss Aguilera is a baby by comparison.

The film Burlesque simply full of hosiery, and many of the styles on the show are available from Jonathan Aston, the particular style we have to look at is a twist on the classic seamed fishnet, the seam being gold in this instance. They are available both in black and natural and are not to be confused with Jonathan Aston Seamed Fishnet Pantyhose, which is black on black and a different fibre composition.

There are two sizes to choose from A/B, and B/C which, if the size charts are to be believed are hugely different, the larger size coping with both far more height and width in the hips.

We love the way these fishnets are made; there is a free cotton lined gusset and no seam in the panty other than the feature gold seams that run from the heel to the waistband. The waistband is narrow but durable and carries a textured design to lift it above the crowd. The toes are finished with a simple seam.

Sizing is accurate, and the Lycra in the fibre provides a solid fit, the comfort of which is greatly enhanced by the gusset.

The bulky seam sits perfectly straight with no great effort. In our opinion it may start just a little low on the leg and over time could rub at the back of the heel, but these are party tights and looking good is what counts. Without a doubt, these tights will get your legs noticed.

A class apart from the previous seamed fishnets we have seen from Jonathan Aston yet, even carrying the added burden of a movie endorsement the price is competitive, be sure to shop around for the best deal.

For more incredible Jonathan Aston products, click here. For more fantastic reviews, click here.

Categories
All Reviews Misc.

Bootights Core Semi-Opaque Tights with Mid Calf Sock

Bootights_Core_101_Black_Midcalf

Bootight Core Tights With Calf Sock is so unique!

Sometimes an idea comes along that is so obvious, you wonder why no one thought of it before, or perhaps you wonder why everyone who had the idea rejected it for reasons that are not immediately obvious. BOOTIGHTS are just such an idea.

Heavy opaque tights work well with boots, but the downside is that to get the weight you need for warmth and durability at the foot, you have to have the same at the waist and that can be somewhat warm. The usual trick is to wear socks over a pair of tights but that can be uncomfortable when the sock moves over your foot and pulling the socks up can lead to the tights restricting your toes.  Nylon tights can also be a little sweaty when they get warm and prevent any technical sock you may wear from working. An obvious solution then is to pair a technical sock made with Tactel, with a medium weight tight for the best of both Worlds.

In practice, the idea works very well indeed. The sock is good enough to pair with a fashion boot or a hiking boot, and is not just warm but shaped and padded for the ultimate in comfort.

The tights part of BOOTIGHTS is slightly less impressive than the sock part. Being made in the USA, there is no flat seam in the panty. But on the plus side, there is a cotton lined gusset, and the construction is sheer to waist.

Sizing is on the generous side. Our tester was at the upper end of size C/lower end of size D, and size D was too big. The fit was pretty good although there was little evidence of “all over control”, no bad thing as not everyone wants to be squeezed. Colour is good and even throughout.

There are two lengths of sock available, mid-calf as reviewed here and ankle. Our tester would have preferred a more extended option as with knee-length boots the zipper was above the sock and so the more sheer material was prone to wear reducing the life expectancy of the tights

If you are a habitual boots wearer in winter and want to have warm, cosy feet, then these tights are for you, particularly if you favour ankle or calf length boots. No doubt this idea will be copied by others, bettering the sock used here will take some doing.

For more beautiful tights, click here. For more great reviews, click here.

Categories
All Reviews Bahner

Bahner 20 Denier Light Support Tights

ba_20-Denier-Support-Tights

Bahner Light Support Tights are the support tights you need!

Mention support tights to most people and they will imagine something almost industrial and practically impossible to put on, but new support tights do not have to be like that at all. We are pleased to say that these light support tights from Bahner have the look and feel of 20 denier fashion tights.

Detailing is excellent with a lightly reinforced toe, entirely shaped legs, flat seams in the panty and a cotton lined gusset in sizes Small to Large. Sheer to waist with T-band reinforcement in the panty for strength these are all that we love in sheer tights. Sizes XL and XXL have a comfort gusset.

Only when you start to put these tights on, do you notice the support, and then just in the area of the ankle, the support is very subtle. The light support means that they are only slightly harder to put on than regular sheer tights and once you are past the ankle there is no difference between these and sheer.

Sizing is pretty accurate for weight but generous for height, size XL should fit up to 180 cm or 5’11” we found they fit a 34” or 86cm leg and that is kinda leggy for that height. The fit is excellent even with a comfort gusset.

The look on the leg is sheer with a beautiful shine, subtly different from a 20 denier sheer but not heavier. There is no clue that you are wearing support tights.

Very well made, durable, attractive sheer support tights. The only slight issue we had was that there was perhaps too little support to refresh your legs through a busy day. That said there is a subtle effect and they look great, and they will last well.

If you never tried support tights, these would be a great way to see how you like them. Sheer look and steep price, so nothing to lose.

For more fantastic Bahner products, click here. For more amazing reviews, click here. For this product specifically, click here.

Categories
All Reviews Aristoc

Aristoc Wet Look Tights

Aristoc_Wet_Look_Tights

Aristoc Wet Look Tights are the way to go!

These tights create an excellent first impression; smooth and soft to the touch, fresh and glossy on the outside and warm and sweet on the inside. Well made with flat seams, in brief, a cotton lined gusset; sheer to the waist for wear with all lengths of skirts and shorts.

Made in two sizes, S/M and M/L, both for heights 5’3” to 5’10”, the smaller for hips 34” – 42” the larger for 42” – 48”. It is a little confusing that these sizes are more significant than the Aristoc sizing for their sensuous seam-free tights we also looked at today. The straight legs of these tights do seem very long. In fact, they were so long that they were too long to give a good fit on any of our ladies.   The fact that both sizes are supposedly sized for the same range of heights is worrying.

As the ultimate test of the size, we had our webmaster (6’5”, 16 stone, big feet..well you get the picture) have a try of them. Even on his solid frame, the legs were some two inches longer than required!

The sizing is a great pity as the look and feel of these tights is gorgeous. They feel as though they would last all winter too they are so well made.

We then got a second pair of these tights to look at, and we are happy to say that the sizing issue appears to have been resolved. Still quite generous, but at least they are now sized for humans!

With the sizing resolved we could get a better idea of the other features. Very comfortable to wear except for the toe detail that needed a little fiddling to get the toe seam where it was neither visible nor an irritation. A right, even colour, although we did notice a definite line down the inside and outside of each leg, possibly a result of the open packaging, as this enhanced rather than detracted from the look we can let it pass.

The weight both in look and feel is heavier than 100 denier suggests, these are opaque tights. The look the black pair was more satin than wet, indeed less wet look than the original purple pair and entirely outdone by the Religion Wet Look Leggings we received in the last few days.

As durable, satin finish heavy opaque tights these work, but if you want the high fashion wet look, then the leggings are the way to go even though they are close to double the price.

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

Categories
All Reviews Aristoc

Aristoc Bodytoners Waist Toner

Aristoc_bodytoners_waist_toner

Aristoc Bodytoners Waist Toner is a must skip!

Please note: This is a waist shaper only, not tights.

Let us get this quite clear again…these are not tights! What they are, is a ‘waspie-style’ body shaper to improve your waist definition, designed to be worn with a pair of non-shaping tights.

Made in two sizes Small/Medium for UK dress sizes 8-12 and Medium/Large for UK dress sizes 14-18.

The construction is identical to the top part of the Aristoc Bodytoners Hourglass Toner Tights we recently reviewed.

The sizing is a little curious as it seems not to be the same as the tights, the waist toner being sized a little smaller than the tights.

We found that for anyone with hips. And any waist definition at all, the bottom welt of the waist toner had a habit of rolling upwards and leaving a clear line under your clothes.

Whereas our testers wanted to keep the Aristoc Bodytoners Hourglass Toner Tights, they couldn’t wait to take this garment off. Pay the extra few pounds and buy the tights!

But wait, there’s more!

As one of our ladies was trying to get out of the waist toner, she made an exciting discovery. Pull it down to that the welt is on your waist and the bottom band is below your bottom, and this garment does a very nice job of smoothing your tummy and bottom. Similar to a very short Lycra micro miniskirt.

Not what it was designed for, but it does an excellent job.

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

Categories
All Reviews Aristoc

Aristoc Bodytoners Waist & Tummy Smoother Tights

Aristoc_bodytoners_waist_and_tummy_smoother_tights

Aristoc Waist & Tummy Smoother Tights are ‘perfect’!

A note on sizing…The Aristoc Bodytoners range is 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.

First impressions are excellent, as these tight feel ever so light and soft to the touch. Only when you open them out entirely, do you notice the control top, which is beautifully soft to the touch too? The construction is most interesting; the body is finished with flat seams and a cotton lined gusset. Well, we say body, there is a very little actual body as what we have in fact is a waistband about 13 cm deep. This is formed by doubling over the material, so there is no defined top edge.

The sheer legs are shaped at the heel and finished with nearly invisible sandal toes.

However, you describe these tights, the waistband free body, or hugely deep waistband, is exceptionally comfortable. They smooth the waist and tummy without constricting, and they stay perfectly in place all day, either on waist or hips. The legs fit perfectly and give a beautifully smooth, even, soft finish.

You probably guessed by now that we love these tights. The perfect combination of sheer eye-catching hosiery and gentle smoothing.

Did I say “perfect” three times?

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

Categories
All Reviews Aristoc

Aristoc Bodytoner Waist & Thigh Smoother Tights

Aristoc_bodytoners_waist_and_thigh_smoother_tights

Aristoc Waist & Thigh Smoother Tights are unique but flawed.

A note on sizing…The Aristoc Bodytoners range is 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.

The first thing you notice about these tights is the beautiful sheer legs with slight shaping at the heel, which look great and feel soft and silky too. The second thing is brief; it looks like a pair of shorts for a 7-year-old, it’s that tiny!

The brief construction is impressive, there are the flat seams and cotton lined gusset that are common across the Aristoc Bodytoners range, but there is no waistband. Rather than a waistband, the whole brief section from waist to just below the gusset where the legs attach is doubled over. We saw a similar detail on the Aristoc Waist & Tummy Smoother Tights.

We were surprised that it was quite easy to put these tights on, the brief may look tiny, but it has enormous amounts of stretch. The legs look fantastic and with the sandal toe making them suitable for wear with any shoe.

The top of the brief can be worn anywhere between waist and hips, and wherever you decide to wear it, will stay put. Indeed, more smoothing than shaping there is no sense of being squeezed or constricted.

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

Categories
All Reviews Aristoc

Aristoc Ultra Shine Tights

ar_Aristoc-ultra-shine-tights

Aristoc Ultra Shine Tights is another excellent staple Aristoc product!

Aristoc Ultra Shine is a classic style with a long history. As you will see from the packets and review below, it has been through a variety of packet designs over the years, but the concept, denier and fibre mix have stayed pretty consistent. Equally important, the price has remained pretty much the same as well.

In the latest incarnation, there are five colours; from a ‘barely there’ nude to a ‘dark tan’ illusion with black and barely black for winter and evenings. Unlike some Aristoc styles, the Small/Medium/Large/Extra Large sizing is maintained.

Sheer to waist with shaping in the leg at the heel and a lightly reinforced toe. The panty has a cotton lined gusset and flat seams. Either side of the seam is a narrow reinforced strip that continues into a finger band to give the transition to the waistband. You will notice that the toe is not an entirely sheer sandal toe as implied on the packet.

Sizing is accurate and, despite being only ten denier, you don’t feel there is any danger of ripping them if you stretch a little more than Aristoc intended. The fit is perfect, and the smooth, shiny legs have perfect even colour.

These tights should be a staple wardrobe item for anyone who likes a lit of shine on there hosiery, an instant classic.

For more gorgeous Aristoc products, click here. For more outstanding reviews, click here. For this product specifically, click here.