As we had a section dedicated to tights with no seams at all it seemed only right that we should add one for seamed tights.  Although shaped heels and seams are more normally associated with fully fashioned stockings there have been several attempts to bring this feature to tights, with mixed results.

The the biggest problems are getting the heel in the right place for all foot sizes and getting and keeping the seams straight and centred on the back of the leg. The foot size issue is a big one as it is a fact that the biggest wearers of seamed hosiery in the UK are, we are told, transvestites.

None of our three favourites have any problems with foot size.

It seems that each new style of seamed tights we test exceeds previous expectations.  Falke High Heel Tights are that bit better again that the Wolfords. Stunning soft and sexy and great to look at.

Seamed tights from the famed maker of tights and among the best, it is a very close run thing between the Wolford High Heel tights, the Gerbe fatal 15, the Falke High Heel Tights and Cervin Paris Esprit Couture Tights.  The Wolfords are 20 denier and slightly longer and stronger than the Gerbe and Cervin offerings.

As near to perfect as you are likely to get, and slightly more sheer than the Wolford, The Gerbe fatal 15 tights are stunning and you would have to get to know a person very well before you could tell they were not classic stockings.

Perhaps beating the Gerbe and Wolford for sheer sexiness, and certainly beating them for price, are the Cervin Paris Esprit Couture Tights.  These are made with a contrast seam and are styled far more on fully fashioned nylon stockings. The Gerbe are easier to get on with straight seams, but the Cervin are somehow worth the extra effort. 

Less successful are the Cette Bayreuth tights.  They do suffer from a short foot, so unless you have quite small feet (UK size 6 or less) we would suggest you avoid them.

Couture managed to get the foot sizing right in their attempt, but the tights themselves were not of the best construction, but at the price OK for a night out, so long as it is not a very smart occasion.

George, the own brand of the Asda supermarket chain did a seamed tight for a short while, unusual in that it was a coloured seam on a nude tight. They were based on a very basic boxer brief tight, and had no heel detail.  There were in fact quite nice and very cheap.  

Kunert have brought back the idea of the coloured seam on a nude tight for the spring of 2006.  Very different to the to the Asda offering in that they are sheer to waist and very high quality.  Four times the price of the Asda offering but well worth it. One of the best seamed tights available, just not quite as good as the Gerbe and Cervin

At the cheaper end of the market our favourite tights of this type were those from Pretty Polly. In fact until we tried those from Gerbe and Kunert the Pretty Polly Vintage Nylons were our favourites at any price.

Not be be confused with their early effort with a Cuban heel which was cheaper and less attractive

For sheer good value in seamed tights Levante Backseam Tights take some beating, priced at just £1 more than the Pretty Polly they are close to the quality of look and construction that we have seen from the premium brands.

Charnos added a backseam design to their range for 2008.  Nicely detailed and well made, very sheer and priced at £6. Packaged in the least exciting packet we have seen for a long time, no photo and no details but if you can get past that the tights are great.

We will look to add more seamed tights as we find them .  If you have a favourite please let us know.

26 June 2008

Just who wears seamed tights?

To say that we were surprised to see that queen of the bare legged look Mrs Victoria Beckham (aka Posh Spice) on the television today picking up her Glamour award not only in tights but contrast seam tights would be an understatement.  But there she was all short shorts, corset, killer heels and ever so classy looking pantyhose.   

The shorts and tights look started to appear on the streets here in the UK in the early spring but never seemed to quite get the grip that hosiery fans would have hoped.  With an icon such as Victoria wearing them are we about to see a hosiery wearing explosion?

So how did she look?  See for yourself.

Pretty damn good in our opinion.  All we need to know now is what brand and style she was wearing. Our guess is Wolford Individual 10 Back Seam Tights. Click the link to see the review.

7 June 2007

A great alternative to classic seamed tights are the Gerbe Inoui Tights which have a much wider seam and exciting heel detail.