Tights Fashion

If you are familiar with the story of Gulliver’s Travels, you will know that Lillyput was the home of the little people. Whether Hudson had this tale in mind when they named this style we do not know. But it did come in the smallest packet we have seen in a long time; just 8.5x11x2 cm. What we like about this packet sizing is that it allows a lady to carry a spare pair safely in her bag. The packet opens by cracking it in two, just thing how you break a biscuit and you get the idea. Fold the two halves back, and the tights are there ready.

The tights take a bit of unfolding, but once you are done, you can see that they are very plainly designed with straight legs and a boxer style panty. The panty has an unlined gusset and well made but not flat seams. There is no reinforcement other than a finger band to give a sharp transition to the waistband.

The real stand out feature (aside from the very cool packaging) is the available colour range. Our friends at UK Tights stock bright red, ivory, white, and pale blue.

Sizing is accurate, but you should know that the Large size is only design for up to 5’8” (175cm). And the 3% Lycra in the mix provides excellent fit but not very much stretch.

The colour is entirely even on the legs and, in the case of our red test pair, vibrant, even if the fabric is quite sheer. The transparently reinforced toe is nothing of the sort; it is a standard reinforced toe, so no wearing with open shoes.

An excellent choice if you like a splash of colour from your sheers but a little overpriced for the style of construction used.

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On the whole, the German’s are an incredibly logical nation. So it is bizarre to be commenting on Hudson’s latest sheer tights, the naming of which seems completely illogical. You see we would expect ‘Light 8’ to be eight denier and ‘Ultralight 10’ to be ten denier; but oh no, Ultralight 10 are 16 denier, and these Light eight tights are 17 denier. The only logic is that the Ultralight tights are lighter than the light ones.

As for first impressions of the tights, the look and feel from the packet put us very much in mind of Falke Shelina, and indeed these tights are intended to give the same effect. There are other similarities: unshaped legs, sandal toe, sheer to waist, gusset, flat seams in the panty. Hudson also included T-band detailing for strength and durability.

So very similar but in terms of fibre different to the 100% Nylon Shelina we reviewed some years ago; the latest Shelina is 60% Nylon and 40% Polyurethane but still Lycra free. Hudson uses 6% Lycra for stretch and fits and a significant amount of polyurethane. The polyurethane is included here as in other summer tights to provide a cooling effect and a more oiled bare leg look.

Light 8 is perhaps a misleading name. But not unreasonable as they have a look and feel that makes 17 denier quite hard to believe considering Falke Shelina is only 12. Sizing is accurate, but the length in the body is not generous. Not a hipster style, but there has been a conscious decision to keep the waistband low.

Overall these are excellent tights that look and feel superb and are very reasonably priced.

For more Hudson tights, click here. For more reviews, click here.

This style is revised for 2008 with the addition of flat seams and a £1.00 on the price. We are delighted at the change of details. It seems Hudson read our reviews and take heed!

So how are they? Well, we were a little surprised to see that on the card they do not appear at all glossy, but that was soon forgotten when we felt how smooth and soft they feel.

Detailing is excellent from the flat toe seams, through the sandal toe, around the shaped heel up to the sheerlegs. The panty section is well detailed too, flat seams and a cotton gusset with no reinforcement except a deep finger band giving a transition to the deep waistband.

Fit and finish are excellent, and the sizing is spot on. Colour is perfectly even. At first, the finish on the legs is less soft than expected. But, curiously, they soften after around 30 minutes of wear.

Hudson uses the word ”shining” to describe this style, rather than the “glossy” used for its predecessor. Both words mean much the same, but the tights are neither; what we have is a smooth matt satin finish. Not quite what we expected. But a very classy finish in the style of the Falke Pure Matt 20 Tights that are Helen’s current favourites.

So Hudson, if you are reading this, great tights that are a significant improvement on the previous style in terms of detailing, but could we have a more glossy version, please?

The border is a somewhat literal translation from German. What they are trying to say is that these tights have a deep waistband to give better fit and comfort. Fit is well covered by having six sizes from 0 to 5

Our test pair in size 4 should fit up to 5’9” and 85kg.

First impressions are excellent, even on the card, you can see that the material has a remarkable finish and subtle shine. In hand, they feel soft and smooth.

Fully shaped leg and sheer to waist construction add to the impression of quality.

Unusually for tights with this feel of quality, the panty area does not have flat seams.

The waistband is on exciting construction with a standard 2cm deep waistband on top of a second elasticated band also 2cm deep but half the thickness. The label is a nice touch, although the washing instructions are perhaps unnecessary. Hopefully, none of our readers tries to iron their tights.

Once you have these tights on, you can see that they have a sandal toe. Surprisingly, this feature is not noted on the packet as it widens the range of shoes you can wear these tights with. Fit is excellent from hip to toe, the sheer gusset helping fit significantly at the top of the leg, and the waistband is preventing rollover. 

A smooth, lustrous finish to the leg, look and feel very classy.

Importantly these tights are available in navy blue. If you need good quality tights and a reasonable price, then try a pair of these.

For more Hudson tights, click here. For more reviews, click here.

We must be honest and say that we guessed the denier of these leggings as there was nothing on the packet or the web site to give us a clue. They have the same look and feel as other soft matt 40 denier tights we have seen.

To our surprise, the construction of these leggings was not entirely on par with other Hudson hosiery we have looked at in the past. In particular, we were surprised to see raised seams in the panty area; there is at least a lined gusset for comfort. The waistband was also quite simply-designed. On our test pair, the two sides did not quite line up over the central seam. Like the waistband the cuffs that sit below the knee are the simple fold over and sew type, they are at least better finished than the waistband.

The pattern is printed on to the plain leggings using a contrast colour. On the upside the fit is excellent, the sizing is spot on, and the design looks highly effective.

The focus of these leggings is the look. Our tip for getting the most out of them is to pair them with nude sheers; at least until your legs have a perfectly even summer glow of their own. On the subject of sunshine hosiery of this weight and length is excellent sun protection.

Capri length and footless semi-opaque black hosiery were much in evidence among the spectators at Wimbledon this week. Whether driven by fashion of the practicalities of sun protection in the unusually bright weather we don’t know, but the look was most effective, particularly the Capri length.

Perhaps a little overpriced for what they are but real fashion must-have. Matt opaques black pantyhose in the summer, who would have thought it?

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Hudson City 15 Tights are a great alternative to other tights!

Transparent, natural look, sheer to waist with micromesh-panty, comfortable border.

The first impression you have of these tights is that they look very sheer on the card; the second impression is that they feel very soft too.

I did wonder how tights could be both sheer to waist and have a micromesh panty. Indeed, by our definition, these are not sheer to waist tights as there is a clear demarcation between the legs and the boxer brief. The legs are made straight with a reinforced toe, the panty area is made with a sheer gusset and raised seams.

Quality and construction are as you would expect from tights of this price.

Fit is very good with plenty of length for the taller lady. The boundary between leg and panty is far less obvious once on, but it is there.

Finish on the legs is very smooth and soft. Visually the effect is matt with some shine from the Lycra in the thread under direct sunlight. You would not mistake these tights for bare legs, but they do flatter legs very nicely.

Well worth considering as an alternative to the major UK brands.

For more Hudson Tights, click here. For more reviews, click here.