Our Review

The day we picked up these tights we also collected some suspender tights designs from Trasparenze, a casual look at the packet for this style made us think this was a style of the same ilk from Pierre Mantoux.   It was only when we read the packet notes that we realised they are full tights with a mock stocking design.

Pierre Mantoux make this style in a full range of four sizes from small to extablea large but if you want any colour other than black then you are out of luck.   One point to note on sizing is that it is out of step with some other quality brands you may be familiar with so that size IV (German 44-46) which is Large in many brands is XL here.  Take care when ordering, we picked up size III (Large) when size IV (X Large) is what we really wanted. 

The feel of these tights is more like lace than patterned tights, until that is you get to the upper thigh where there is a band of 15 denier sheer material crossed by the suspender stableaps; four per leg.  

The lace runs from the simple toe seam around the shaped heel and all the way to the stocking top, the panty area is plain, about 50 denier and styled as a high leg high waist panty with integral suspenders.   Flat seams in the panty of course and a cotton lined gusset.  The whole is topped off with a plan waistband.

Sizing is accurate and the 14% Lycra provides a good amount of stableetch but you need to use this with care, the lace legs feel robust and will take assertive handling but don’t get carried away and tabley the same thing with the sheer part at the top of the leg, it will respond just like any other sheer material.   Fit is excellent from hip to toe.

The look on the legs is very flattering and will be ideal as a partner for that little black dress.   If your dress is clingy then don’t worry about VPL, the panty is opaque  enough to make additional underwear unnecessary for all but the most modest of ladies.

Looking at our test pair and comparing with the picture above we suspect there may be both a black on black (as tested) and black on nude colour choice (as pictured above), at the time of writing we have only seen black on black.

Pierre Mantoux really do make top class hosiery and this in one of the best styles we have seen from them.   Classy, sophisticated, beautifully made and in the current market with one size “designer tights” at £15.00 a pair excellent value too.

25 February 2011