The Great Tights Debate- Expensive vs Cheap Hosiery

From patterned to opaque, high-tech winter warmers to super-shaping sheers, the choice of tights on the High Street is staggering. However as is often the problem with cheap tights, one has to eventually suffer the embarrassment of tights that fall down the second you put them on.  But this doesn’t have to be the case! Here at Luxury-Legs we pride ourselves on only offering the best quality hosiery so you can be assured that they will last!

Guest blogger Roberta who works front of house at Inanch hair salon in Great Portland Street, Central London can vouch for this as it is only recently that she made the switch from wearing cheap tights to quality brands.

‘’I always used to wear supermarket or cheap tights then after meeting Madelaine, the founder of Luxury-Legs.com, I decided to try a quality pair instead. I cannot describe how much my life has changed since I have started to wear Gerbe and Fogal: my legs feel much lighter after a long day standing at work, not to mention that they look far superior too.”

One of the reasons behind this is that the lycra in quality tights are generally double covered so that white patches do not become exposed as they do on inferior tights. This also makes the premium tights last longer. Roberta continues to say that

‘They are an investment, as where you would be buying 5 or 6 pairs of cheap tights to replace the ones that had inevitably snagged, you can buy one expensive sturdy pair and not only will they look better but they should last longer.  I definitely cannot go back to anything else!’

Across the internet, there are many similar claims, one discussion on the Daily Mail forums asks whether Wolford tights are worth the money and as one commenter laments –

‘Over the years I have invested in many pairs of Wolford tights – and with basic care (no dryer) they last for YEARS! I have several pairs of Wolford’s that were expensive, yes, but I still wear them, even after 15 years! On a per wear basis they actually are better value for money than cheaper hosiery which only lasts 1 or 2 wears…’

Read more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2285664/Would-pay-70-pair-tights–And-better-60p-pair-Heres-guide-hosiery-wont-let-.html

When it comes to buying tights from premium brands, the one thing to remember is that yes, whilst at first it may seem ‘expensive’ to spend £20+ pounds on one pair, the devil is in the details! Excellent, high-end tights last longer, look more beautiful on the leg and are far superior in comfort because they include qualities that are often overlooked and not found in cheaper types. The key things to look out for on quality tights that can make a world of difference to the experience of wearing hosiery are the following.

• Cotton gussets add comfort and hygienic properties to a quality pair of tights as it eliminates the dreaded saggy tights feeling.
• Flat seams on the foot area do not press on the toes whilst you walk allowing for a more relaxed feel.
• Stretch waistbands are specially engineered to give a comfortable fit as opposed to the restrictive bands found on cheaper hosiery.
• Superior tights are often cut and shaped to the leg, perfectly hugging the bottom half of your body. This is in direct contrast to the standard tube shape found on cheap tights.
• High-end tights are often sheer to the waist allowing for a graduated look which is great when wearing shorter dresses and skirts as it results in there being no visible outlines.
• Due to the high level of quality control that premium brands undertake, expensive tights are individually spot checked, measured and ironed to make sure every pair is in tip-top condition.

Importantly, the premium tights market offers a larger range of diverse colour options to the modern tights customer, especially when it comes to sheer hosiery.  In temperamental, transitional climates, your legs will not only feel warmer but look more polished when they are adorned with a pair of sheer tights. Wolford’s Nude 8 tight is a strong 8 denier, looks amazingly sheer on the legs and comes in a great range of colours. Fairly light is lovely for a pale complexion whereas the shades Caramel and Gobi are perfect for tanned to darker skin tones. Fogal also has a colour for every skin tone courtesy of their All-Nude range. The added bonus of this quality tight is that the seam lies on the sole of your foot which is fantastic for peep toe shoes.

Ultimately, we believe that as tights are considered by many to be a foundation of an outfit, they should be invested in wisely. Pay a little more and you will feel the difference!  What do you think? Do you feel that price reflects quality? And if so, what are your favourite brands?

*Thank you to Roberta for contributing to this article. Find out more about Inanch Hair Salon here > https://www.inanch.com/