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Couture Sheer Shine Tights

Couture Sheer Shine Tights is disappointing…

The Couture Indulgent Hosiery collection has three styles of sheer tights, Sheer 10 and Sheer 15 have a matt finish, and this style completes the set at 15 denier with a gloss finish. Some of our favourite tights of all time are 15 denier gloss finish, it is the sweet spot between too sheer to be durable and too heavy to give a bare-legged look, and the gloss tights tend to be the most durable and so the best value for money. Prices at £1.45 more than Falke Seidenglatt these tights will not only have to be right; they will have to be exceptional.

One small issue is that at the time of writing the only colours available are smoke and cocoa; there is no black and no natural shade.

Oh dear! The description on the box sounded great, but the tights are just not as described. Firstly they are not sheer to waist “all sheer panty section” meant sheer to waist with the other two styles in the range, but these have a matt finish boxer style brief. Our test pair, which is supposed to be Large, has the Extra Large style’s comfort gusset and a boxer style panty. Secondly, the seams in the panty are not flat they are just regular machine sewn seams.

The legs are as described, a lightly reinforced toe detail, shaped at the heel, shiny and quite light for 15 denier.

If this is a simple case of mispacking and this is what the Extra size is like, then avoid the Extra size and look for another brand if you need the size. Sadly we have no way of knowing if the smaller sizes do match the description on the box.

The fit and finish on the legs are very good, and the sizing is accurate but the way this XL pair is styled it is competing with supermarket tights at a quarter of the price. The finish has some shine, but it is quite subtle.

We will try to get a Large pair first to see if it is just the XL you need to avoid.

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Couture Sheer 15 Tights

Couture Sheer 15 Tights have created another great product!

With all the patterned fashion hosiery we have seen recently it would be easy to forget that sheer hosiery exists at all, luckily a review sample arrived for what we hope will be a high quality sheer to remind us of what we like most about tights.

These tights come in a nicely designed box which creates an excellent first impression, and that right impression is maintained when you first see the tights then feel them as they just glide off the card into your hand.

Sheer to waist of course with fully shaped legs and heel. The toes are finished with a lightly reinforced toe detail, although it is sheer it is quite easily distinguished from the leg so we would suggest that there are better options if you plan to wear open shoes.

The panty features flat seams and a narrow T-band to give strength at the seams, around the gusset and at the transition to the waistband. Simple, classic and functional.

Sizing is spot on but not overly generous, select the correct size though, and you will be rewarded with an excellent fit. Colour is perfectly even, and at 15 denier there is just the right amount colour density to make it clear you are wearing tights but not so much that your legs are completely hidden.

Pricing at £8.95 is pretty brave as it pitches this style into head-on competition with the likes of Falke and Kunert both of whom make excellent 15 denier hosiery. They say fortune favours the brave and if there is any justice Couture will do well with this style as it is a match for the German competition. Falke is our favourite brand for mid-price quality sheers but their 15 denier offering is glossy, and their matt offering is 20 denier…Couture has managed to fill the gap with this 15 denier matt finish style.

UK Tights have this style of colour called “Smoke”; this is a pale grey with a hint of purple. Not a typical tone but one that flatters the legs and a great compromise between natural and barely black.

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Couture Sheer 10 Tights

Couture Sheer 10 Tights is almost perfect!

It has been a while since we last looked at a pair of tights bearing the Couture name and in that time the brand has had several owners. In the past, Couture was synonymous with good quality hosiery, and we hope that this is a return to form.

The packaging is not a bad start, a full cardboard box with a picture and a small window on the front and extensive styling notes and sizing chart on the back. The tights are presented on a card inside a sealed plastic bag, and very sensibly this is all sized such that it will be easy to put the tights back in the packet after wearing and washing.

Even on their card and in the bag you can feel how little weight there is in these tights, out of the bag you realize what they mean by “superior handle” they mean feather light and gossamer thin.

Sheer to waist with very lightly reinforced toes and shaping at the heel the detailing is simple but elegant. Just the narrowest of reinforced strips either side of the flat seams and around the cotton gusset and a finger band for durability. The waistband is soft and straightforward.

The finish on the leg is flawless with perfect even colour, sheer enough to give a bare-legged look if you select the correct shade for your skin tone. The toe detail is only visible on very close inspection so these can be called sandal toe tights.

The sizing is spot on, and the fit is excellent.

If we have a criticism it is that at the time of writing the only two shades available are smoke and cocoa. Both great colours, the smoke shade being particularly classy, but black and a few skin tone shades would be nice, please.

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