HOSIERY FEATURES
This page has been specifically designed to help our customers to choose the right pair among our wonderful selection of hosiery and make their shopping experience enjoyable and exciting. If you cannot find an answer to your question here, please get in touch via the contact us page or talk to us in our live chat room (open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, excluding public holidays).
Brief
Denier
Finish
Gusset
Heel
Seams
Toe
Waistband
See our guide below to check what is available when it comes to various kinds of briefs in the hosiery world and which one suits your needs and occasion.
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Boxer brief |
The brief area finishes in a straight line across the top of the thighs. The weave and the denier of a boxer brief are thicker than the rest of the leg which makes it more durable. |
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Seamless tights |
Seamless tights are knitted in one go on circular machines, and so do not have seams or gusset in the crotch area. |
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Sheer to waist |
No visible panty line or reinforcement in the panty portion; ideal for wear with extremely short garments or those with high slits in them. |
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V line brief |
Similar to boxer briefs, a V line brief is reinforced in terms of the weave and the denier and elegantly hides your underwear thanks to its V shape. |
The denier system is used for measuring the linear mass density of fibers. One denier is equal to one gram of fiber per 9,000 meters. In other words, denier is the measure of the density of the weave which defines how opaque or transparent the garment is.
The lower the denier rating, the thinner and the more transparent the tights will be. The higher the denier score, the thicker they will be. You will need to handle garments with a lower denier with great care because the smallest snag could cause a lot of damage to them.
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Under 12 Denier |
Ultra sheer: ideal for hot summer months and are perfect for achieving that bare legs look; not as robust as their more opaque counterparts. |
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12 to 20 Denier |
Sheer: still see through, these are more durable and suitable for everyday wear than ultra sheer hosiery and are better at hiding skin blemishes and imperfections. |
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20 to 40 Denier |
Semi-opaque: provide a good level of coverage and longer lasting wear while leaving your legs still visible underneath. |
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40 to 80 Denier |
Opaque: provide a great level of coverage and are better for strong colours; extra durable and ideal for cold winter months. |
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80 Denier + |
Mega opaque: warm and robust, they give complete coverage and are ideal for achieving a solid colour on your legs. |
What makes the hosiery world so exciting is the number of beautiful finishes that you can choose from to pick the right pair for your outfit and occasion. However, all the different terms used by various brands to describe their product’s finish can also be confusing, so we have examined each product we offer and described them using one of the following terms:
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Matte finish |
Matte hosiery will give your legs a completely flat look as it has no shine or sheen in it. The matte finish is an ideal option for the workplace as it won’t draw too much attention to your legs. |
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Soft sheen finish |
Soft sheen will give your legs that ‘just moisturised’ silky finish and a soft outline which is subtle enough for an office but also very elegant for special occasions. |
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Shiny finish |
Shiny hosiery is specifically designed to catch the light and will give an obvious shine to your legs, accentuating their shape. Shiny hosiery is ideal for special occasions as it draws all attention to your legs. |
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Very glossy finish |
Finally, very glossy hosiery is a step-up on its shiny counterpart and is a sure way to get your legs noticed and make them stand out. |
A gusset is a triangular, oval or square piece of fabric inserted at the crotch seam to add breadth and reduce stress from tight-fitting garments. Gussets are often made of breathable fabrics for extra hygiene allowing you to wear hosiery without underwear.
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Cotton gusset |
Cotton gussets are breathable and provide the comfort of cotton underwear, making them suitable to wear without panties. If a garment contains cotton, it will usually have a cotton gusset. |
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No gusset |
Some garments have no gusset at all – instead, they have a straight seam at the top of the garment where the legs join. Seamless tights are knitted in one go on circular machines, and so do not have seams or gusset in the crotch area. |
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Open gusset |
Items with open gussets have a hole instead of a fabric patch and allow air to circulate freely and are, therefore, the most breathable option of all. |
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Plain gusset |
Plain gussets are made of similar material as the rest of the garment; they provide good comfort and fit, however, they lack the hygiene benefits of a cotton gusset. |
Considering the heel area is very important if you are planning to wear open-heel shoes with your hosiery:
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Plain heel |
The heel area has the same thickness and colour as the rest of the garment making it suitable for open-heel footwear but also more susceptible to stress as there will be more pressure on the fabric. |
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Shaped heel |
The heel area has the same thickness and colour as the rest of the garment (so suitable for open-heel footwear) but it has been shaped during the manufacturing process by thermal treatment. As a result, the fabric is under much less stress and more durable when stretched over your heel. |
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Shaped and reinforced heel |
The heel area is strengthened with thicker heavier yarns and weave – perfect in terms of durability and strength but not if you have open-heel shoes in mind! |
Garments with flat seams are considered higher quality products. Flat seams lie flat against your skin and so leave considerably fewer or no markings on your body when you take your hosiery off.
As different manufacturers use different names for describing the types of toes that are available in their hosiery ranges, we have examined each product we offer using one of the following terms:
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Open toe |
Items with open toes have an opening at the foot area making the toes completely exposed – perfect if you are planning to wear sandals or peep toe shoes and show off your pedicure. |
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Reinforced toe |
The weave is thicker on the toe which makes these garments far more durable and stronger than their sheer and sandal toe counterparts. |
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Sandal toe |
The fabric on the toe is the same colour as the rest of the garment, but the weave may be somewhat visible when worn with open-toe footwear. |
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Sheer toe |
The fabric on the toe is the same thickness and colour as the rest of the garment, which makes it ideal for open-toe footwear but also means that the toe area is more prone to snags and tears. |
Hosiery can also be classified according to the height the waistband sits at on your waist:
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Low waist / hipster |
Hipster items finish at your hips rather than directly on your waist – perfect if you want to wear low waist skirts or shorts, or simply want to bare your midriff. |
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Regular waistband |
Regular waistbands are designed to rest directly on your waist line, at the same level as your belly button. |
