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Our Review
Unless you have been on another planet (or outside the UK) any woman interested in shopping will have seen Mary Portas “Queen of Shops” on TV taking on various businesses variously improving the look of their stores or taking them to task for poor service. A particular bugbear of hers is the lack of fashion for women over 40, so now she is bringing out her own range of clothes and selling them through a major department store chain. Part of her offering is a range of tights in partnership with Charnos.
There are two colours and two sizes to choose from in the Argyle Backseam Tights. The two colours you can see above, the two sizes are detailed here:
Before opening the packet, a rather dull affair that looks like it is made out of unbleached recycled cardboard, we have to take Mary to task over the information on the packet. There is a very general statement about the brand values on the packet along with the size chart. The style name, price, size and fibre mix is relegated to a sticker. What there is no mention of is the denier, the finish, whether there is a gusset.... in fact anything about the tights in the packet. Clearly the use of a generic pack for all the range is designed to cut costs but at £15 a pair we expect better... particularly from Ms Portas.
Charnos present all their fashion lines this way, and have done for years, but if Mary is putting her name on this range we want her standards, not theirs!
Our test pair of tights is described as “Rich Red”, they are in fact black with grey diamonds down the back of the leg, the rich red being just the fine line that makes this an Argyle pattern.
Finally to the tights themselves. Soft to the touch with a quality feel. Straight legs and non-reinforced toes finished with a good quality toe seam.
The panty features flat seams and a cotton lined gusset. The panty is slightly darker and heavier than the legs and although essentially a boxer style the legs are cut at a slight angle , much more stylish than the boxer brief we had expected.
Semi-opaque matt finish tights are great option for the colder months, warmer than sheers but less heavy than opaques. Colour density here is perfectly even and just the right background for the Argyle pattern that runs from toe seam to the top of the leg.
Sizing is more generous than the chart suggested, maximum height and weight can be accommodated together. Fit is good and the comfort levels more than acceptable.
The Argyle seam looks stylish and slims the leg, a fashionable and practical style whatever your age.
Full marks for the tights, not the cheapest you can buy but they feel like they will last the season so good value.
24 October 2011
Picture: Photographer - Chris Down. Model - Miss Saba
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