More Mid-Season Wolford

Some time between its Spring and Fall lines, Wolford rolled out some new styles of tights and other leg wear. I've been profiling some of my favorites here, little by little, and I'm back now to add another two.

The first of these is the Wolford Nostalgia Tights. As usual I have little else to compare this pattern to. The net pattern is done in waves running across the tights horizontally. Looking closely, the pattern almost looks like paper fans in a kind of interlocking pattern. As you get further away it almost looks like alternating larger and smaller zig-zag patterns.

The pattern is the same throughout, save for the toe, where it becomes more dense for added comfort and for the waistband, which is the Standard Wolford logo band with a scalloped edge.

These tights are a blend of 80% Nylon and 20% Elastane. They come in black only and cost £32.00 (about $53). I seriously want to run down the street and grab a pair of these now!

Also new are the Wolford Cachet Tights. These are ajour tights with an "all over holee pattern". These are almost like the exact opposite of fishnets...or maybe fishnets that are the thickest you've ever seen.

At any rate, these are pretty unique tights as well. They look somewhat thick and good for winter yet the holes make them still stylish and perhaps not too heavy. I've purchased ajour tights from Wolford before and have always been impressed by the softness of the material despite its thickness. I'm sure these would fit a similar description.

These tights are a blend of 90% nylon and 10% elastane. Again there is a soft knit waistband, and that is apparently the only place where the hole-pattern is not present, other than around the seam in the sheer panty, including the toes. These are available as knee highs as well, but I prefer them much more as tights. They're available in black, blue ink, and china white. They cost £29.00 (about $48).

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

One of Three

This week's edition of 'One of Three' is all about leggings. Leggings have been everywhere for quite a while now. Despite this, I've posted very little about them here. Not only do they deserve their own post, but they deserve some, if not many, reviews. So, to get the ball rolling, I'm going to throw it out to commenters as to which one gets a review first. I've looked through quite a few styles and have seen many things that I'm in love with, so, this will probably not be the last leggings post. But for this one, I have managed to narrow it down to three. Whichever one gets the most love below will get its own review in the near future.

Thanks, as always, for all of your great comments last week. As I mentioned yesterday, the Falke Eve Hold Ups were the most popular choice, resulting in a win for Couture Carrie on my giveaway. It also results in a review of the Falke Eve Hold Ups in an upcoming post. So stay tuned.

On to this week:

Wolford Velvet de Luxe Leggings

You didn't think I'd leave Wolford off the list of a leg wear post, did you? While that's never very likely, I do have to admit that, up to now, I have not tried leggings by Wolford. Will these be my first?

If they are, I'm sure I'll be happy. These are the Velvet de Luxe Leggings. Without knowing anything about them, they just sound divine, don't they? These leggings have a soft matte finish and can be worn throughout the fall in a variety of different looks. They're also quite comfortable and easy to move in...so I'm told.

These come in a wide variety of 10 different colors. Should I go for the 'hibiscus' or the 'electric royal' color? Sorry, but I'd probably just go with the black...I'm kind of boring that way. They're made form 94% nylon and 6% elastane. They come in 4 different sizes and cost £18.00 (about $30 USD).

Hue Black Liquid Leggings

While we're on the subject of items I'm drooling over but have yet to purchase, how about some liquid leggings? I am pretty much in love with the liquid leg wear look, but can't really say for sure how it looks on me because I have yet to buy anything. Is now the time?

Hue is always one of my favorite value brands of leg wear. Whenever I buy Hue I'm always reminded why I like this brand so much. Hue always seems to deliver above and beyond their price point. So why not combine my love of all things Hue and my intrigue over liquid leggings and go for the Hue Black Liquid Leggings? I certainly wouldn't mind doing just that, at all.

The black shiny fabric that makes up the wet look is from a polyester/spandex blend. Once again, these leggings can go with a variety of different looks. They come in small, medium, and large in black only. They cost $30.

Aqua Mesh Leggings

On the opposite end of the sheerness scale from the liquid leggings are the mesh leggings. These are about as see-through as you can get. And while they may be the very opposite of the Hue leggings, I am dying for the Aqua Mesh Leggings every bit as much.

Can you blame me? These have the look of a very sheer pair of tights, save for the missing feet and the seams down the inside of the leg. The only other non-sheer thing about these is the elastic waistband.

These are made from a nylon/spandex blend. They come in sizes extra small, small, medium, and large. They are available in black only. As an added bonus, they are currently on sale for only $26.60.

So I hope my leggings love has you convinced. Also, these are three very different pairs, so I'm definitely interested in hearing what everyone has to say. I'm not sure I could ever decide on one, so I'm hoping you can! Looking forward to hearing which one is best!

Flower Tatoo Fishnets...and Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who commented on my 'One of Three' post from a week ago. By the narrowest of narrowness, the Falke Eve Hold Ups were the most popular choice. From there, the randomly selected winner of the giveaway is.....Couture Carrie! Couture Carrie is the soon-to-be-proud-owner of these hold ups...so congratulations! Once again, thanks to all of you, we'll be doing this again, really soon.

A few weeks ago, the Free People Flower Tattoo Fishnets were among the two selected for that week's post, and I've finally gotten a chance to check them out. First, the tights themselves. I've purchased one-size-fits-all fishnets in the past and, for the most part, they've been pretty miserable. Anyone who's worn fishnets probably knows that too much or not enough stretch and the tights look bad. Happily, these are an exception. They comfortably fit my taller legs with plenty of room to spare. They're extremely comfortable, and the fishnet pattern looks extremely good on. For my first attempt at Free People tights, I have to say I like what I see.

As for the tattoo... It's done in felt appliqué. My first impression was that I wasn't going to like the way it looked or felt. The felt is kind of raised up from the fishnets, and I thought it would look bad and/or feel uncomfortable. I also didn't think the black on black would show up well. Turned out to be just the opposite. From any sort of distance, this actually looks pretty convincing...or tattoo-like. You also don't feel a thing as far as comfort. The only thing I'm keeping an eye on is how well the appliqué stays attached. It's $14, so I'm not going to sweat it to badly, but I would like to see it withstand a couple of washes.


But all-in-all I very much like what I see. This is a great alternative to the every day fishnet when you're looking for a little something extra.

These tights are 88% nylon and 12% spandex. They come in black only. Of course, they need to be hand washed. Definitely check them out, if you get the chance.

It's Gettin' Cold......

Three things I'm not ready for:

1. The first time someone walks by my office and says, "Hey, did you hear how much snow we're supposed to get tomorrow?".

2. Weather reports that include the wind chill.

3. Being late for work behind a driver who is apparently encountering a quarter-inch of snow for the first time in his/her life.

Three things I'm already sick of:

1. Every time someone says, "It's supposed to be a really cold winter this year".

2. That I keep hearing, "We're well below average temperatures for this time of year".

3. That we've already reached the point where everyone asks each other "How is it out there?" every time someone comes in from outside.

Yes I know, Winter is almost upon us. And while cold temperatures don't bother me as much as some people, I hate when fall comes to an end. I especially hate the constant reminders of how miserable winters are around here. Yeah I know...I've lived here all my life.

But it's inevitable in a death and taxes sort of way. When my parents came to this country, they picked New England...and for some reason I never left, so this is what I deal with.

At least its an excuse to start looking at the heavier tights. As always, there are some great looks out there, and you don't have to spend a fortune. Let's look at some below.

How about some merino wool? The Trasparenze Gennifer Merino Wool Tights will help keep your legs warm throughout the winter. They are made of 70% wool, 15% microfibre, and 15% elastane. They're also sheer to waist with a reinforced toe. They have a matte finish.

The best part? These tights come in 10 different colors. You can find a color to match virtually any look you might be going for. So there's no need to sacrifice comfort in the name of style. Just pick a color, throw these comfy tights on, and you're ready to rock your favorite outfit.

These tights come in 3 different sizes. They cost £12.20 (about $20).

The Pamela Mann Monochrome Tights are a fun two-tone pattern that are said to be "Chanel inspired". Good thing is, because they're Pamela Mann, you won't be paying Chanel prices.

These tights come in two different color options, either black/white or nude/black. They're a fun way to dress up a winter look and still stay warm. They're 40 denier, so they have decent thickness to protect the leg from the cooling temperatures.

These tights are sheer to waist and have a reinforced toe. They also have a matte finish. They're 90% nylon and 10% elastane. These tights come in one size fits all.

Once again, a little extra warmth won't cost you too much, as these tights are £8.95 (about $15).

Textured tights are also a very good option. Aristoc is always one of my favorite go-to brands when it comes to value. The Aristoc Wool Texture Diamond Opaque Tights here are made from a wool blend, but have a nice diamond pattern to them.

Aristoc did a great job of making a warm tight fashionable. These tights are sheer to waist and have a sheer toe. That would make them a good option for an event where you need to be dressy (maybe open-toed dressy) but the weather outside isn't so warm. These tights are made from 64% nylon, 30% wool, 5% elastane, and 1% cotton. They have a matte finish.

They're available in two different sizes in black only. They cost £11.74 (about $19). These tights are advertised as "thick and cozy" and are said to keep you warm throughout the winter.

Also available from Aristoc are the Striped Pellerine Tights. These tights are a comfy wool blend done in a very nice pattern. The nice texture and pattern again allow you to dress these tights up as much as you want and still stay warm.

These tights are a very opaque 60 denier. They're also 80% wool, combined with 17% nylon, 2% elastane, and 1% cotton.

I really like the way these look with just a pair of black pumps in the picture. They'd look just as good with a pair of knee boots, I think.

The tights come in 2 different sizes in black only. They cost £11.95 (about $20).

We're not done yet. After all, what says 'winter' more than a blue star design on a gray background. I love the way these look with the silver pumps in the picture. These are the Stellar Star Cozy Wool and Cotton Tights, by Jonathan Aston. These tights look perfect for a holiday party, or even just going out in the middle of the Winter.

Wool and cotton just sounds warm, doesn't it? They're a very opaque 80 denier, so there will be some thickness between your legs and the cold winter air. These tights are a blend of 40% wool, 40% cotton, 15% nylon, and 5% elastane.

These tights are available in one size in this pretty Zinc/Royal color. As with all of Jonathan Aston, these appear to be a pretty good value at £11.70 (about $19).

I'll keep updating on the latest cozy styles as the Winter rolls on. Just don't tell me how much snow we're going to be getting. I don't even want to know.

Stay warm, my friends.

Hosiery Care

Over the last several weeks I've gotten a number of comments regarding frustration at holes or rips in hosiery, or suggestions on how one can prevent and/or repair damages to hosiery. It got me thinking that it might be worth it to dedicate a post to this subject.

While I'm not necessarily an expert, I wear hosiery most of the time and most often make it through the day damage-free. There are a few things that I do (or at least keep in mind) in regards to hosiery that have helped me avoid damage. Some I've read about online and other things I've just figured out over time (I guess there's a lesson learned in every torn pair of stockings). So I'm going to share what I know.

Assuming you don't walk into things a lot, there are five times in the course of wearing hosiery where you're most likely to cause (or avoid) damage: buying, putting on, taking off, washing, or storing. I think by taking these one by one we can come up with some helpful tips to avoid damage.

Buying

Of course you can't cause damage when you're buying hosiery, but there are a couple of things you can keep in mind that might prevent you from lamenting another lost pair of hosiery, far too soon in its lifetime.

Fabric Content

I often include the fabric content when highlighting hosiery. I think this can be helpful in determining fit, but it can also be helpful in determining susceptibility to damage. Of the hosiery I damage, a high percentage were 100% nylon. That's because nylon, itself, has no give. Only when it's blended with lycra (or elastane or spandex) does it have the stretch we're familiar with. So if a pair of tights is completely nylon, you can very easily damage it by tugging too hard when putting it on or stretching it too much while wearing. If you find yourself the type or person who goes through stockings too quickly, you might want to seek out ones with a higher elastane or spandex count.

Denier

The denier count refers to the relative sheerness of the fabric. The general cutoff between sheer and opaque is 40, although 20-40 can be referred to as "semi sheer". If you think about the durability of an opaque pair of winter tights, versus the sheer pantyhose, its easy to see that a lower denier count means a more delicate pair of tights. If you want to buy something sheer but are concerned about causing damage, try to stick close to a 20 denier count.

Brand Names

This doesn't mean buy the most expensive pair (although Wolford and Falke do hold up very well). For close to the price of a drugstore pair, you can get very decent quality. A couple of the brands I swear by are Jonathan Aston, Aristoc, Charnos, Levante, and Pamela Mann. All of these brands offer a variety of affordable choices that far surpasses their price tag.

Putting On

Here is where a lot of the damage occurs. Even if it doesn't surface until later, it's very easy to cause a little hole or a snag that becomes a big problem before you know it.

Hosiery Gloves

Having a pair of gloves lying around for the specific task of putting on hosiery can seem silly. But it can also prevent a slightly chipped fingernail or a tiny bit of dry skin from catching the hose and snagging it. The gloves can cover up these potential landmines and allow you to smoothly and easily bring the hosiery up your legs without catching on anything. In lieu of gloves, it's a good idea to at least moisturize your hands and feet to keep dry skin from catching anything. Also check finger and toe nails for slightly jagged edges. But really, just get the gloves. They don't have to be anything fancy. These here for $3.95 work just fine.

Put Hosiery on Evenly

This is pretty simple. Bunch the hose up all the way to the toe, slide your toe in and then gradually pull the bunched hose up your leg...gently letting go along the way. In the case of tights, I usually go up to my knee with one leg and then start the other leg up to the knee, then to around mid-thigh and so forth. If the foot has a toe seem, line it up along the tips of your toes, this prevents the hose from twisting as you pull them up, causing unneeded stretching and stress.

Take Your Time

Another big cause in my ever damaging hosiery is rushing to put them on. If you're anything like me, you're probably running late, most of the time, when getting dressed. But don't rush. The extra two minutes it takes you to put them on with care won't affect your day. Rushing and damaging them will affect your wallet. If you pull them up like pants, there's a good chance you'll cause damage. If you unravel them slowly up your legs, stopping and adjusting if you feel them pull awkwardly, you might prevent causing a hole.

Taking Off

In general, just do the reverse of putting them on. Start at the waist (or top of the stocking) and slowly roll or gently tug them down. Don't pull from the toe. When you're done taking them off, the bottom of the leg (if not the whole leg) should be inside out. Keep used hosiery separate from all other clothes. I keep them in a drawstring bag that a clothing store once put my purchase in. Other clothes have buttons, zippers, and clasps that can catch on and dig into hosiery.

Washing

Rule number 1 is: hand wash. Rule number 2 is: hand wash. Rule number 3? You guessed it. Hand wash. Yeah I know your washing machine has a "hand wash" option. So does mine. I mean wash them in a sink with your hands. You can use Woolite, but I'd suggest a wash specific to hosiery like this. A $10 investment will save you many pairs of more than $10 tights. A cap-full of Hosiery Mate will get two pairs of tights or stockings clean in 15 seconds. 15 seconds? We all got 15 seconds. When you're done, gently squeeze them. Do not wring them...just gently squeeze. If you can lay them flat somewhere to dry. Otherwise drape them over a towel on a chair.

Storing

Keep hosiery separate from everything else. Again, a drawstring bag might be the way to go. Hosiery wont damage other hosiery but, again, other clothes will. Don't store them in a panty or sock drawer that you're going to rifle through one morning while half asleep. Like any other delicate object, they need to be kept aside and treated with care. You don't know when you might cause a small hole that will turn into a big problem.

I realize this post has gotten a little long, so I'm going to save hosiery repair for another day. Just know that you can only stop holes or runs from growing larger or longer. Once it's there there's no going back. You're better off trying to prevent it.

I hope this was helpful. It is, by no means, an exhaustive list. But it's a good place to start. If anyone has any other tips definitely feel free to comment them below!

Party At Dita's?

As I hope I've done a good enough job articulating via my blog, I am a huge fan of any lingerie with a retro-vintage-pinup inspiration behind it. There is something truly alluring and sexy about the lingerie styles that were predominant in the early half of the last century. I'm constantly on the lookout for designers and retailers who try to re-create that look through their lingerie designs.

With that in mind, it is always with great anticipation that I await any lingerie line with Dita Von Teese's name attached to it. Dita is an incarnation of the late Bettie Page, one of the original pin up models who, back in the 1950s, showed us just how sexy lingerie can be. While Page's death, almost a year ago, was most certainly sad, Dita has abley carried the torch for her and helped ensure that the vintage allure of the pin up girl is alive and well.

Upon hearing Dita had teamed up with Wonderbra to create her "Party Line" of lingerie, I wasn't sure what to expect. While I feel that everything Dita does is sexy, I wouldn't exactly call Wonderbra my go-to brand when I'm looking for vintage sexiness. In order for this to work, Wonderbra was going to have to get away from their business model, somewhat, and take a few risks. As always, taking risks means laying money out on the line, so there's a definite question of how far Wonderbra would be willing to take this.

So far so good. Looking through the collection, there seems to be three distinct looks that you can go with. From there you can piece items together and make it look the way you want. Honestly, there are some really good pieces within this collection.

Let's start with the most basic, or the 'Multi Teese' as Dita and Wonderbra are calling it. All this set includes is a padded bra and a thong (pictured here). They are nicely done, however.

One of my favorite aspects of true vintage lingerie is the incorporation of tulle. I like how there's just enough transparency to leave the on-looker wanting more. I also like how tulle always seems to be more comfortable than I expect it to be, given that it's a meshy material.

The Multi Teese does wonders (no pun intended) with tulle. It has a kind of modern take on a vintage look. I also like the subtle nuances they've added. Velvet lines the cups of the bra and creates an edge around the thong. Sequined bows finish off the look by (barely) covering up all of the important parts. The bra and thong also come with a magnetic "quick release" clasp...and isn't that important!

The bra costs £34.00 (about $56) and the thong is £14.00 (about $25). For the price they are certainly intriguing...perhaps worth checking out?

Next up is the 'Sparkle Teese'. This is where the pin up girl part of the line starts to surface. The line features two bras (push up and balcony padded), a brief, a thong, and a suspender. The pieces are done with an embroidered finsh that includes sequins and removable red tassel.

I think, again, they are able to capture the vintage look. They all have the checked front that is enhanced by plenty of lace detail. Both bras serve to enchance while either bottom provides some coverage with a lot of detail. I prefer the brief because I like its see through tulle back, which I think better serves to enhace the pin up girl look. Either way you go, finish off the look with the suspender and stockings and I think you'll be feeling pinup girl sexy in no time.

All pieces are some combination of polyester, nylon, and elastane. Both bras cost £34.00 (about $56), the brief costs £15.00 (about $25), the thong £14.00(about $23), and the suspender £14.00(about $23).

Finally, and my personal favorite, is the 'Satine Teese'. This is the type of lingerie Dita was born to sell. Wear this and feel like you just stepped out of a 1940s movie. Sure the red color and the satin finish enhance this look well, but in the end, it's all about the shaping suspender. This piece rises up to just below the chest. It's got a hook and eye closure that is enhaced by the lace and button detail. It also has similar lace trim down the back of the garment. Aside from the trim, the back is quite transparent, so choose carefully between the brief and the thong. The suspender has four garter straps to connect the stockings to.

The brief sits very low on the waist and is also transparent in the back. It provides much less coverage than the briefs of the other two sets. The thong also sits very low and has a button detail on both sides as well as some lace detail on the top. There is one bra with this set and it's a padded cleavage bra. It manages to provide a tremendous amount of coverage and still enhance the cleavage at the same time. You might not be completely covered head to toe in lingerie with this set, but you'll be close. The gloves? The gloves are apparently not for sale, which is too bad because, why not?

Again these are all made from nylon, polyester, and elastane. The bra costs £34.00 (about $56), the brief £15.00 (about $25), the thong £14.00 (about $23), and the suspender £24.00 (about $40).

One of Three...and a Giveaway!

I've decided that it's time for a long overdue giveaway. Since I've gotten so many great comments lately on the stuff I've profiled I'd like to give away one winner a free pair of Falke leg wear. How can you win it? Read on.

This week we're back to leg wear as I've noticed that I've been neglecting Falke, one of my favorite brands. During the time since my last Falke purchase, they've introduced a whole slew of new stuff, which isn't really all that surprising as no one turns their styles over as quickly as Falke, when it comes to leg wear. I've poured over all of Falke's new stuff and narrowed it down to three possibilities. In order to come up with three very distinct choices, I've decided to go with one pair of tights, thigh highs, and leggings. Now, as always, I'm turning it over to you. Whichever of the three gets the most comments will be reviewed in an upcoming post.

Thanks to all for your comments from last week. It couldn't have been closer, I seemed to come up with three good choices, I guess. In the end, the Blush Femme Fatale Garter Pantie seemed to just barely win out. So stay tuned for a review on that one. I can't wait myself!

On to this week:

Falke Maxime Tights

They're Falke and they're tights, so I'm pretty sure I'm going to love them.

Falke often goes sheer throughout with most of their tights. With the Maxime Tights, however, there's a boxer brief at the top. On the model it appears to come almost down to the mid-thigh. From there a very pretty wide diamond shape takes over. The website is a bit sketchy on the details, but it appears the pattern continues down to near the toe. There is a reinforced toe at the very bottom. There's also a small circle where each of the diamonds connect which adds just a bit to this look. Finally, the circles are repeated again around the waistband. It's supposed to be a unique take on argyle, and I think its very well done.

The tights come in two sizes, Small/Medium and Medium/Large. The only color option is black. The tights are 91% polyamide, 7% elastane, and 2% cotton. Typically, that type of polyamide (or nylon) count means a pretty sheer and pretty delicate tight. They cost £20.00 (about $32 USD).

Falke Eve Hold Ups

Looking at these stunning hold ups make me wonder why I didn't include them in the hold ups post a while back. The Falke Eve Hold Ups is feminine floral lace at its absolute very best. Pictured here, in ivory, the stay ups have an opaque pattern of leaves and flowers descending down the leg against a sheer background. Behind the pattern, almost too subtle to be seen in the picture, are opaque pinstripes that descend down the leg, beneath the pattern.

At the top the band seems to have a pinstripe design as well, but no lace embellishment. These are a very pretty and feminine take on a leg wear piece that most often is sexy and inviting, creating almost the perfect combination. These are among the prettiest hold ups, I've come across recently.

They are also available in black and amethyst. In either case, the floral pattern is the same color as the sheer leg, just not as sheer. I haven't seen the other two colors pictured, but it's hard to believe they could be any better than the ivory.

These hold ups are 80% polyamide, 11% polyester, and 9% elastane. They come in sizes 1-3 in the three colors mentioned above. They cost £22.00 ($36).

Falke Cotton Touch Footless Leggings

With the cold weather steadily approaching, it's probably time I start reviewing some leggings. Given how in love I am with falke tights and stockings, I have to imagine I'd love their leggings. The Cotton Touch Footless Leggings seem like a good place to start as they are your basic legging with a blend of cotton.

They're 60 denier, so they should have some level of transparency to them, though they should still be thick and comfy. They are intended to fit right down at the ankle, so they'd be perfect for boots of any height, which is always key. Finally, if they have the comfort and softness of the Falke tights, I may never want to wear anything else!

The leggings are a blend of 50% polyamide, 43% cotton, and 7% elastane. They come in 4 different sizes (small through extra large) and four different colors (amethyst, cigar, opal, and sapphire...or for those of us who don't come up with fancy names for our colors: brown, black, green, and maroon....ish). These leggings cost £13.00 (about $21 USD).

So, once again, we're looking at three great pieces from one great designer. It's all a matter of which you like best and what you'd like to hear more about.

Oh...and about that giveaway. Here's how you can win.

1. Simply tell me in a comment, by Tuesday at midnight EST, which is your favorite and why...yes it can be only one.
2. Of the option that gets the most votes, one name will be randomly picked and that person will get a pair of whatever they picked.
3. I will announce the winner here on my Wednesday post.

Easy enough, right?