Our Review

It took us a while to work out that in the Veneziana vocabulary Panta means footless tights, or as they would refer to them in Poland where the Veneziana brand is based, leggings.   The first point to clear up then is that these are footless tights to be worn with shorts or a skirt, not leggings as we would understand the term in the UK.  (And to those girls we saw at the weekend wearing opaque tights as though they were leggings, please buy a mirror!).

There are no less than five sizes of these tights outlined on the packet, XS to XL with the size chart dividing them based on weight, height and hip measurement. Unfortunately there are only two sizes available 1/3 and 3/4, and the chart gives no indication of how these are defined.    If it is simply a matter of joining the sizes together then the larger size should only fit up to a height of 175 cm (5’9”) and a weight of 76 kg (168lbs).  StockingsHQ suggest sizing based on height of small-medium (5'1"-5'-5"), medium-large (5'6"-5'-11").

Well made these tights feature flat seams in the panty and a lined gusset. The key feature that makes this style stand out from plain footless tights though is the 7cm deep lace cuff that finishes the leg.  The cuff is attached to the leg with a flat seam, and the circle of lace is closed with a flat seam. 

The tableick to putting footless or Capri style tights on so that they will be comfortable is to put your feet though the legs and then pull them up your calves until the cuff is a far as it will go, then stableetch and smooth the material upwards until the waistband and gusset are set correctly.    You can then position the cuff where you want it and smooth out the tights between gusset and cuff.

Footless tights are less limiting on leg length and in the case of this style the combination of stableetch and the footless design means that they will fit pretty well regardless of your leg length with the cuff either at ankle level, mid calf or even below the knee.   Just remember that the more you stableetch the less opaque the look. 

Fit is good, these are certainly comfortable tights.   The look on the leg is matt but with some shine from the Lycra. Opacity suggests that these are 60 denier tights, the colour is even but we did see one or two flaws.

At £5.50 you really can’t go wrong if the footless look is your thing. Just please don’t wear with ballet flats.

21 June 2011