Tights Fashion

Aristoc Ultra Satin could shine as great tights if they were slightly improved.

The new Aristoc range has been an overall improvement on that it replaces. That in itself was nicely made and good value. These tights feel smooth and soft in hand and look more beautiful than their quote on quote “20 Denier”.

Construction is good quality and contains excellent flat seams, a cotton lined gusset and sandal toes. The waistband is a little over 2 cm deep. The panty area is slightly darker than the legs, although it appears to be of the same weight. However, it is important to note that this boxer styling won’t suit everyone.

The satin finish is lovely and quite suitable for any time of day. Leg length looks good, and the body seems very long. The fit is perfect, with plenty of stretches, the body length may be a fraction too long for some

The light support makes these tights ideal for any event where you will be on your feet. Either at work where the subtle sheen will add a touch of elegance to a suitor at a party where the sandal toes mean, you can wear them with strappy shoes.

You can not see that these support tights by looking at them, and the grip on the leg is so subtle that you can not feel it at first either.

Good tights that would have been great tights, if they were genuinely sheer to waist.

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Aristoc Ultimate Satin Tights are the ‘Ultimate’ pair of satin tights!

The years have seen a blurring of the line between the middle market and premium tights brands and nowhere is this more obvious than with Aristoc’s “Ultimate range which is now close in price to continental brands like Falke.

The question, of course, is whether they match the quality.

I must say that they do provide a perfect finish to the leg, but the devil is in the detail.

For your £12, you get sandal toes with a very well finished seam, sheer to waist construction with flat seams in the panty, a lined gusset and what the continentals call T-band reinforcement.

The T-band detail provides strength on either side of the seams and around the gusset and a sharp transition to the waistband. Visually, it gives an impression of sheer briefs.

Regarding sizing Aristoc have opted for a full fours sizes from Small/Petite to Extra Large/Extra Tall. It is great to see that they have not been tempted by the two size option which tends to leave tights coming up short on tall girls.

The largest size will fit up to 6’0 (183 cm) tall and 224lb (102kg) weight according to the size chart. That stretch means that both can be accommodated together, but you get a good fit if you are tall and slim or shorter and of a fuller figure.

Our only reservation is that if you like quite a bright finish on your satin tights, then these are pretty close to matt. If on the other hand, you want the matte finish then these are a more durable alternative to the ten denier Aristoc Ultimate Matt Tights.

Well worth the price and deserving of the “Ultimate” name.

The packet notes refer to “…a revolutionary yarn that prevents holes turning into ladder…” on the ten denier version this is backed up with a Lycra Fusion logo. But there is no such logo on this packet so we cannot say for sure that these tights will resist runs and we have no intention of ruining a pair to find out.

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Aristoc Ultimate Matt Tights are still as sturdy as ever!

Note: This is part 2 of the Aristoc Ultimate Matt Tights, done after the redesign.

So how does the new design stand up to inspection?

Well, good news on sizing to start off with no fewer than four sizes to choose from covering heights from 5’0” to 6’0” and hip measurements from 34” to 54”. For those of you of a metric disposition that is heights of 152-183cm and hips from 86-137cm. There is guidance on weight too, but hip and height are more useful measures. There is some overlap as regards the heights each size will cope with but the hip measurements are in clear steps. To get the last 2” or 5cm of height, you need the biggest hip size, a pity for tall, slender girls if the sizing is accurate.

£12 for a ten denier sheer tight and no inner bag! Plus the card the tights are on carries a picture of the old packaging. Not a great first impression.

In detail, these tights are made with unshaped legs and a great unreinforced sandal toe. The panty features flat seams and a cotton lined gusset; for strength, there is T-band reinforcement either side of the seam and below the waistband.

All in all, a very significant change from the past version and far better detailing.

We tested the large size as this was the one correctly sized for our model’s hips, although for height extra large would have been appropriate. The soft sheer material has masses of stretch and length was no problem, our recommendation is to buy based entirely on hip size for optimum fit.

Soft and sheer these tights may be, but you never feel there is any danger of them ripping or holing. Regarding fit, feel and overall impression of quality we would have to like them to the very best seamless tights.

Aristoc has excelled themselves with this design, they feel sublime, and they look as good as they feel, perfect even colour from hip to toe.

Will they resist runs? Well, we are not prepared to hold a pair to find out, they are just too lovely. But they feel robust. The Lycra fusion technology seems to have overcome the past problem where run resisting tights just never looked or felt as good a regular tights.

If ten denier is your thing, you should buy these tights in bulk. We can’t wait to try the Aristoc 5 denier Ultimate Sheer!

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Aristoc Ultimate Matt Tights are revolutionary!

Ultimate is something new from Aristoc, we have become accustomed to ‘Ultra’ as a name for their sheer tights. Something else unique about these tights is that they are the first we have seen from Aristoc that claim to be run resisting topical, as we have seen other makers releasing similar styles and one of our team recently starting having a lot of problems with ladders.

Not to be confused with Ultra Matte (later Ultra Natural) which was a 15 denier style. Ultimate Matt is pretty much as sheer as tights go these days at ten denier. At first, these tights don’t look so sheer but then you realise that, straight from the packet, even the large size seems quite small so that massive proportion of Lycra in the yarn will be doing a lot of stretching. Stretched over your hand, you can appreciate their lightness, stretch and strength.

As far as detailing goes, we can just about let Aristoc get away with claiming sheer toes, they are in fact reinforced but the reinforced part is only about 12 denier appearance and quite small. At the panty end, there is a cotton lined gusset and a reinforced area in the form of a very brief everyday panty that provides strength around the gusset and seams and a transition to the plain waistband. The seams in the panty are raised but well finished.

We are delighted to see Aristoc offer these tights in 3 sizes, the two size scheme these have used for some styles in the past tended to disappoint. The sizing is accurate with enough stretch to take a few liberties if you are more significant than the suggested sizes on the size chart. One small issue though is that the panty is very long, so the waistband is likely to sit above your waist, not tights to wear with hipster skirts or trousers. You may want to go down a size if you are near the size boundary.

The sheer material has a perfectly even matt finish and fits like a second skin and although not a smooth satin finish it is smoother and softer than other runs resist tights we have seen.

We can’t comment on the run resist technology as to date we have not had a small hole that could run, and these tights look and feel too lovely to damage them deliberately.

Excellent tights that deserve a place in your wardrobe for everyday wear.

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Aristoc Sensuous make up for the sizing with its exceptional quality!

Seamless tights are something we always look forward to seeing, expensive to make they appear all too infrequently. For a significant UK manufacturer to introduce a seamless style and a ten denier seamless at that, has caused a lot of excitement. So much to that, they jumped straight to the front of the queue for a review.

We were a little disappointed that Aristoc opted to make just two sizes, S/M and M/L. They are both made for heights 5’0” to 5’8” with the difference being the hip sizing; 36”-40” for the smaller size and 40”-44” for the larger. It is understandable though, much as we would like to see an extra long size for taller ladies manufacturing costs and sales volumes make this uneconomic.

The packaging gives no real clue that these are premium tights, and when you first open the packet you may think at first that you have just got a lace top hold up, then you notice that there are two legs!

Made in one piece from the very lightly reinforced toes to the delicious lacy waistband the construction of these tights is typical of other seamless tights, and like other seamless tights, they are made to the very best quality the manufacturer can achieve.

They feel very soft, and for a ten denier very strong too. It is lucky that they are strong as they look quite small and need to stretch a lot, and stretch they do, you can easily stretch them up a 36” leg. So good news for all the tall girls.

They feel soft on the leg and do fit like a second skin giving a nice even matt colour.

But back to sizing. That pretty lace waistband has very limited stretch, and our model with 42” hips could not get it past them. It seems like Aristoc has made a total mess of the sizing, or, as it entirely possible our test pair in an M/L packet were S/M size.

They are lovely tights that you should certainly try.

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Aristoc Micro Fibre; Classic British Tights, but made in Italy?

Premium priced opaque tights from England, well presented in a quality card packet. “Aristoc England”; it makes you proud to think we can still make great hosiery…but hold on, turn over the packet and read the small print “Made in Italy”. Now we love Italian hosiery, Italy makes some of the best hosiery in the World, but when a brand trumpets its country of origin on the front of the packet and manufactures in other countries it somewhat colours our view; how long before they move to Turkey or China to cut costs?

On the upside, Aristoc have at least seen fit to make this style in three sizes, so they have not entirely abandoned their two size policy as Small/Medium and Medium/Large are still there, they just added an Extra Large. The Extra Large is big too, aimed to fit up to 6’0” tall (183cm) 224lbs (102kg) and hips of 54” (137cm). Our test pair came in medium/large to fit up to 5’10” (17cm) 174lbs (79kg) and hips of 48” (122cm).

“Classically British design”; well frankly they should have left the design to the Italians too. There is no “design” these are plain straight legged opaque tights, average weight and finish from hip to toe, flat seams and a cotton lined gusset. The design here apparently just refers to the selection of fibre and the knitting technique to get the desired soft finish and surface texture; there is no design in a fashion sense and no real stand out detailing.

So we dislike these tights.. end of the review?

Well no, not at all. These are top quality opaque tights that look and great, the colour is dense, and perfectly even throughout, the finish has a soft velvety texture that we love. Sizing is spot on regarding hip measurement, but there is enough length to cope with longer legs than you would expect on a woman of 5’10”. The fit could only be improved by a little more thought about the toe detail, a reinforced toe may have allowed more shaping and comfort, and a short shaping in the leg would be excellent at this price.

The midnight shade is a very dark blue that is incredibly smart and classy, a perfect alternative to black for daytime.

The price is a little on the high side. Perhaps Aristoc should cut back a little on the marketing nonsense and put the savings into reducing the cost or building a new factory in England.

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Aristoc Micro Fibre 40 Opaque Tights aren’t cheap but are worth it.

We took Aristoc to task when we reviewed the 80 denier version of these tights for proudly putting “England” on the front of the packet “British” on the back and “made in Italy” in the small print. The same comments apply here, come on Aristoc your new Ultimate sheers are made in England, so why not your opaques?

To the good news. Aristoc finally seem to be moving away from the two size system where sizes S, M & L gave way to SM and ML; now they have three sizes SM, ML and XL. The three sizes are intended to fit a range of heights from 5’0” to 6’0” (152cm – 183cm) and weights from 97lb to 224lb (44kg-102kg).  Helpfully they also provide guidance on hip measurement, 34” to 54” (86cm -137cm). The largest size is for the big girls, and that we applaud.

At first glance, there is little to justify the premium price tag of these tights. Soft to the touch but not exceptionally so, slightly heavier than we would have expected from 40 denier hosiery and very merely detailed. Straight legs finished with a reinforced toe detail, sheer to waist, flat seams and a cotton lined gusset, topped off with a thick plain waistband.

There is nothing really to make this £15 pair of tights stand out from a £6 pair other than the sheer to waist construction until you put them on that is. There merely is masses of stretch which we found translated mostly into extra length if you need it. Our tip on sizing is select on hip size only and let the stretch deal with the rest.

The stretch translates into a very close figure-hugging fit with no bagging or sagging at knee and ankle.

Ever so smooth and soft to the touch the finish on these tights is as pleasing to the hand as to the eye. Visually the finish it near perfect with flawless even colour and an utterly matt finish. Not quite a true opaque but on the darker end of semi-opaque.

Very classy tights that look great and will keep you just that little bit warmer than sheers. A bit steeply priced perhaps, but if they last well that could be forgiven.

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Aristoc Bodytoners Low Leg Toner Tights look and feel great!

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.

These are the Aristoc Bodytoner Tights that most closely follow the “normal” design for control top hosiery. There is a heavy boxer style brief (low leg panty) that has flat seams; a small cotton lined gusset and a V-shaped tummy control panel.

The legs, which are shaped at the heel and finished with a sandal toe, are sheer and provide graduated compression.

We tested a Small/Medium pair on a tall model. At first glance there seemed no way that these little tights could fit someone of 4’10” never mind 5’10”, but with careful stretching they did. The size chart is accurate.

The control top does its job well, without feeling restrictive and the graduated compression is soothing on the legs. The fit is excellent, and the look on the legs is gorgeous. Control hosiery is just not meant to look and feel so soft, smooth and silky.

Even in you don’t need the control top, you should consider buying these tights just for their look and feel on the legs.

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Aristoc Lacey Tights is versatile and worth the price tag.

Call us cynical, but reading the last part of the packet notes from Aristoc, we can’t help but feel that they are trying to give the impression that these tights are made in Derbyshire, but are saying they are merely finished and packed there.

The first thing that you notice when you pick up the packet is that it seems quite bulky, and this impression continues once you take the tights from the pack. Although described as 20 denier, the clever lace knitting process means there is both thickness and texture of the material.

Construction is straightforward; there is a plain reinforced toe then it is lace all the way up the straight legs to the plain waistband. The panty features a cotton gusset and flat seams.

As is standard for most Aristoc styles these days, there are just two sizes; both fit from 4’10” to 5’10” with 42” hip being the demarcation between the two. At first, this seems very optimistic, but there is plenty of stretch and strength if you take things easy. A Small/Medium test pair easily coped with a 34” leg.

We can remember lacy hosiery from the 1980’s, and one of the issues then was the poor fit, that we are pleased to say is a thing of the past. The fit is very close from hip to toe, with no bagging or sagging at the knees.

Undoubtedly eye-catching party tights, a little too heavy for the summer months unless you are out on a chilly evening.

Well made and durable, suitable for wear all year round and well worth the £12 price tag.

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Aristoc Bodytoners Invisible Tights are great but do face a few issues.

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.

Controlling and shaping tights fall into two distinct types, those that look like they are made for the job like the Aristoc Bodytoner Hourglass Tights, and the far more rare type that look like classic sheer to waist tights. These fall into the second group.

Indeed, when you first handle them, there is no clue that they are designed to control and shape, they look and feel like any other 15 denier sheer to waist tights. The body seams are flat, there is a cotton lined gusset, and they are topped off with a 3 cm broad waistband that carries the Aristoc logo.

The legs are slightly shaped at the heel and finished with sandal toes.

The legs looked very short, but there was enough stretch in the Medium/Large pair to fit a UK size 16 with a 34” leg. The colour on the leg is very even, and there is a subtle pearl sheen. The fit is perfect, with no bagging at knee or ankle.

These tights do not shape as firmly as the other tights in the range, but that may be partly because the others we tested were the smaller size. It is no bad thing anyway, as not everyone likes the constrictive of my patterned control hosiery.

Although the look on the leg is very smooth, almost glossy, there is a coarseness to the finish if you run your hands over them; not a huge issue though if you are wearing them. On the plus side, these are great looking, comfortable tights that seem to be fantastically durable. If you only need a little shaping, these are the ideal solution, and even your closest friends won’t notice.

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