What do you think of Laila Lee? I’m sure she’d love to read your impressions in the comments below.
The name Wolford is associated with luxury, class, and elegance but when people first discover the brand they often wonder, “Why exactly do these stockings cost so much?” After all, hosiery is hosiery, right? And cheap pair of tights from the drugstore should cover your legs just as well as those from the department store, right?
Well…yes and no. While all legwear pretty much serves the same function (to cover your legs), it’s not all created equally. Think of it as the difference between a Kia and a BMW. They’re both cars. They’ll both get you from Point A to Point B. But one is just a car while the other is an experience. Wolford is, without a shadow of a doubt, the BMW of nylon.
While Wolford has dozens of items in its permanent Basics collection, the brand also releases special collections every season. These limited edition items are only available for a few months, and once gone, they’re gone forever. The Wolford Dazzle tights, which I’m reviewing here, are from this season’s line.
Available in two colors, black and hibiscus (this is the color I own, and I just call it “raspberry”), these tights are a variation on the classic fishnet design. They’re composed of an 81% nylon, 19% elastic blend and come in two sizes, small and medium, fitting a maximum height of 5’8″ and maximum hip measurement of 42″. They retail for $55/pair and unlike most hosiery, are rarely ever on sale or eligible for discounts.
My first impression of the tights is that felt rather…light. The fishnet weave is wide enough and the fibers are delicate enough, that it almost felt like I wasn’t holding anything when I removed the tights from their package. My second impression, after putting them on, is that these tights are extraordinarily stretchy. I think they could accommodate at least another inch or two and probably another three inches in the hips…good news for folks who don’t quite fit into a medium on the size chart. My third impression was that these tights are a little…uncomfortable. With most Wolford hosiery, I wear it and forget it. With these, I was aware of them most of the day; something about the pattern made them a little more distracting than regular fishnets on my legs.
Here’s the verdict: While I’m more than happy to spend money on great lingerie, these didn’t wow or impress me. They’re nice, as all Wolford hosiery is, but they’re not worth the premium. I’d spend the money on pair of their basic pantyhose or fishnet tights before picking these up again.
Disclosure: I received the item discussed above free of charge for review purposes only. The retailer/manufacturer/designer did not influence this review in any way, shape, or form. All opinions presented here are the authors own.
Below I’ve made a list of some of my favorite styles. Because we’re talking everyday undies here (and not the special occasion kind), everything is $12 or less. Tell me which ones are your favorites and those are the ones I’ll buy. The more opinions, the better so please share this on your blog, Twitter, or Facebook too! I’ll compile your votes a week from today and let you know which knickers came out on top.
Thanks so much for helping me out! :-)
b.tempt’d by Wacoal Captivating Cotton Bikini Panty
$10.00
b.tempt’d by Wacoal Captivating Cotton Hipster Panty
$10.00
Warner’s All Day Fit No Pinching V Hipster Panty
$9.50
Betsey Johnson Wideside Bikini Panty
$12.00
Biatta Seamless Hotshort
$9.00
Maidenform French Collection Tanga
$10.00
So one of the things I like most about writing this blog (aside from connecting with other lovers of lingerie, of course!) is discovering new and interesting designers. I look at a lot of lingerie now, and while I love it all (or most of it anyway), not much makes my breath quicken and my heart race anymore. But these tights do.
Gal Stern is an Israeli designer who specializes in hand-printed tights. Her designs are fresh, innovative, and ultra-fashionable. They’re also surprisingly reasonable; many of my favorite items only cost $35. Gal doesn’t have many stockists yet, so it looks like ordering directly from her online is the best bet.
I’d love to hear what you think of her unique designs! Why don’t you tell me in the comments?
So I was in a bookstore with The Boyfriend over the weekend and ran across the British GQ’s May issue featuring a photospread of Rosie Huntington-Whitely taken by Ellen von Unwerth. And, my goodness, is it delicious! I’ve featured only a few of the shots here; visit GQ-UK’s website for more.
P.S. Scroll to the end of the article to find out where you can buy the pieces Ms. Rosie H-W is wearing!
Today’s review is a bit of a departure from the norm for me. While I do wear and love shapewear, I’m not usually a fan of the modern stuff. It just seems kind of boring compared to vintage-inspired girdles, cinchers, and merrywidows. That’s why I wasn’t sure what to expect when I received the Yummie Tummie Lace Teddie.
Composed of a nylon/polyester/spandex blend, the Yummie Tummie teddie bills itself as a piece of firm control shapewear able to take you from the “boardroom to the bedroom.” It reminds me of a bodysuit, with a lace covered demi bra up top, smooth seamless paneling in the middle, and a sheer lace boyshort at the bottom. The bra has adjustable straps and keyhole style hook-and-eye closure at the back, while the panty has a snap open gusset to make your daily functions as easy as possible. The teddie is available in sizes XS through XL (fitting maximum dimensions of 39-31-42″), comes in the colors black and nude (nude is only available at the Yummie Tummie webstore), and retails for $108.
I wore the teddy to work all day yesterday and found it surprisingly comfortable. The boyshort didn’t bind, bunch, or snag and the bra stayed in place all day. The shaping midsection was also very smooth and barely noticeable. My chief complaint, however, is that this piece doesn’t offer any shaping power. It felt almost exactly like wearing a leotard underneath my dress…a nice, warm underlayer but without any of the curve-creating power old-fashioned shapewear provides.
Here’s the verdict: if you’re looking for light control or just a cute, modern one piece to wear under your clothing, this works just fine. If you’re looking for firming, cinching, or any other figure-reducing power, I have to say there are better out there…and for a bit less money too (check my Lingerie Resources page for examples).
Has anyone reading this experimented with Yummie Tummie? I’d love to hear what you have to say.
Disclosure: I received the item discussed above free of charge for review purposes only. The retailer/manufacturer/designer did not influence this review in any way, shape, or form. All opinions presented here are the authors own.
