Fall/Winter Hosiery: Hold-ups

Lately, I have been wearing hold-ups because it is chilly, but hasn't been so cold that I feel like I am catching a draft!  I already have too much hosiery, but I love looking at what's out there.  Although I will say that a few years ago I did learn  that I need lace-top because they have silicone backing that hold well against the skin.  The ones with the thick elastic just squeeze the hell out of my thighs and then roll down as the day progresses. So I recommend lace-top thigh-highs.  I have a couple different brands, and I can't say that I can tell the difference.

Pretty Polly has some nice hold-ups with a small lace band.  And how cute is their pin-up-inspired cover? $17.95

These Falke Peacock Top tights are so cute! and tempting! $49

These Charnos Ava hold-ups have a gorgeous floral motif as a "back seam" $22.85

I first heard about Secrets in Lace because Dita von Teese wears them because they are made in the traditional vintage style.  They also make a large variety of sizes.

Another great thing about thigh-highs is that it evokes a sexy/vintage feeling. Pin-up cartoons from the first half of the 1900's were mostly about showing women in their states of undress or undressing.  Whereas nowadays the image of thigh-high stocking tends to be only thought of as oversexualized, back then nylons were the only sheer leg coverings available.  And, with a casual look over pin-up illustrations from that time period, the act of showing the tops or putting them on was also considered sexy!

The Pin-up Source is a great source of vintage and contemporary pin-up cartoons, most of which are NOT SAFE FOR WORK.  And guess what? There were/are women pin-up artists too! I had no idea. After the jump are some illustrations with women wearing hold-ups that I like:

Tights for NYE

If you already have plans for  NYE, time to start getting an outfit together.  Every fall and winter I get some new tights and I love the selection offered from British e-tailers.  I am a repeat customer at Mytights.com and I just bought some from ASOS.com last week.  They take a while to ship and clear customs and so forth, so if you are outside of the UK and need some unique tights to wear under a short skirt or dess, ORDER THEM NOW.  Be sure to check if the tights you want are in stock.

Get 20% off your purchase at ASOS with the code:

pswlovesasos

I am not sure when it expires...

HOLD-UP
If you want a solid over-the-knee look, I have and love Transparenze's Jennifer hold-ups.  They are made from wool blend so they will keep your legs warmer than nylon.  Another reason I love them is that they are comfortable, because despite my small-to-medium frame, I have a lot of weight on my thighs.  These fit! $28:

Another warm option are these ribbed angora socks from ASOS. $17:

Henry Holland designed these faux suspender tights. $28:

Another faux hold-up look featuring lace. $14:

BACK SEAM


Classic and sexy.  These were apart of my order. On sale for $7.76.

I am nuts about these hearts as a back seam.  Of course I had to order them.  You don't have to stop at a straight seem when ordering something for a sexy effect.  The gradual increase in heart size makes the eye wander...$10

Looking for some plus-sized back seams? ASOS has you covered! $14

SPARKLE

Love these Pamela Mann black tights with gold studs! $14:

Shimmery tights in 3 size an 4 color options from Jonathan Aston. $16:

SPOTTED

"Champagne Bubble" tights - how fitting for the night! $32:

A classic look with small dots.  $20:

Hearts disguised as small dots! $9

If you are looking for US-based e-tailers, check out Nordstrom, Target, sock-dreams.com (they have a lot of unique looks for great prices!), and barenecessities.com.

photos lifted from mytights.com and asos.com

Black Friday Weekend shopping list - Style

Well, I managed not to buy anything for anyone other than myself this weekend.  And I barely got a discount on the stuff I ordered.  Actually, I am mulling another beauty order, but I made a deal with myself that I can only get it if I cross off someone on my Christmas present list.  Anyway, let's get on with what I got for my wardrobe. 

I made a mytights.com order with these Lurex Back Seam tights by Aristoc.  Hot, yes?  I am hoping that I will be able to wear these under thigh high socks so you can only see a hint of back seam between the socks and a mini skirt or winter shorts (whatever the hell those are, lol).  I am just wondering if the stones will punch holes through any over-the-knee socks.

Next up is the Gennifer merino wool blend tights from Trasparenze in blu.  The composition is 70% Wool, 15% Microfiber , and 15% Elastane.  I already have this style in this color, but I love it so much, I had to get another pair for back-up purposes.  The color is nice and dark, but still visibly blue.   Although they are wool, they are not itchy! 

Next up are these Jennifer wool blend hold-ups from Trasparenze in black.  The composition is 70% Wool, 15% Microfiber ,15% Elastane.   I have large thighs, so I hope that these fit comfortably!  I usually find that a lace top fits comfortably when getting thigh high hosiery, so hopefully these will work, I already love the full tights from this company.






pictures courtesy of mytights.com

Lace Hosiery

I have to admit, I am really not into lace tights. But I did fall in love this style, Dentelle, from Le Bourget.

When the weather started to reflect the Fall season, I went onto one of my favorite tights online retailer, mytights, I came across these and they stuck in my head - the back seam detailing is probably what did me in. I am a sucker for a back seam. I didn't really dedicate any brain power wondering if I should get them or not, but all of a sudden the desire to HAVE THEM LIKE, RIGHT NOW hit me about a month ago. Much to my chagrin, they were off the mytights site. I googled and googled, then wrote to the mytights who informed me that they were discontinued. I believe they were marketed as a summer style, so that is probably why I couldn't track them down anywhere on the internet.

Le sigh.

I have found some potential second-bests:



First, from mytights.com, Jonathan Aston Sweet Roses



Second, from sockdreams.com, Hot Sox Fern Lace thigh-highs



Third, from asos.com, Aristoc Lace Tights



So far, I am leaning toward the Fern Lace thigh-highs, I mean how marvelous is the lace band? I also really like the Aristoc Lace Tights, but I have only had one experience with Aristoc, and I not too impressed. I got their Crystalli Tights, and did not get what I expected, which was a few spaced out crystals making a back seam. Instead, the tights had silver rectangle decals that didn't span a lot of the length... not what I was expecting at all.

Like I said, I am not too much into lace tights, but I suppose I should jump on the ones I actually like before they escape my clutch.

By the way, does anyone know how to glue a few crystals to some hosiery? :-) I can be a DIY-er when necessary!!



P.S. how awesome are these House of Holland for Pretty Polly tights? Too bad I don't have the legs for them...and I am not the party girl type :-)

Pictures are from

http://www.mytights.com/
http://www.sockdreams.com/
http://www.asos.com/