Too Many Tights!

These are AMAZING!

I cannot say how much I think these designers selling over at OAK NYC have hit the nail on the head.

The cuts are fantastic, the prints are awesome. Not too much not too little. This is the kind of thing I, as a designer, aspire to!

Okay enough talk, let's look at the good stuff:

Top of the pile I have to mention Indian designer Manish Arora, with the very appropriately entitled "Eagle Leggings" (click on images to view them larger).

       

The fabric is nylon, so they must be using sublimation printing to get this print to come out so well...

Next (equal first I think...) is this offering from cavern. Again, very appropriately entitled "Printed Leggings" (did they just run out of creativity when it came time to name the garment?):

 

Anyway. Nothing much else I can say here. They're just awesome. 

Buy them.

jL

Two Tones

Yesterday I brought up the idea of two tones in leg wear. Here are some further thoughts..

Now let me say right off the bat that I think this is a tough look to pull off. Some girls do it well, some girls do it badly, For example:

Doing it well:

Doing it badly:

Woah there! Just my opinion...

Notice that both the girls on top manage to pull this look off, even though the colour tones are reversed. So on top you have dark above the knee, light below, the next one is dark up to the thigh, light above. 

But I think these girls really pull it off. 

On the topic of two tones - does anyone remember these from Chanel a couple of years ago? Instead of having the bottom/top contrasting tones, they had back/front contrasting tones.  Not sure how many of these suckers they sold. I think they cost $400+ at the time:

(Let me tell you this, if you want to see where the real cost of these are, just look at the ankle! :)

Then of course you get companies that will shamelessly rip off the big design houses and do their own versions for 0.01% of the price. 

As a designer who has been ripped off before, let me just say that's not cool. :(

j

"Can Hosiery Be Luxurious?" Ummmm... Yes dear.

Just spotted over at Luxist the question: "Can Hosiery Be Luxurious?"

Why do I get the urge to smile conceitedly and mutter "Yes, darling, it can." (Because I'm an arrogant snob? Yes!)

Apparently what prompted this question was Sarah Jessica Parker wearing a pair of $250 Chanel two tones.

Now, I have no problem with the economics of it at all, but... I've got to give an opinion on the style here. 

Notice how we have two tones of black (okay, technically speaking, two opacities of black). One lighter, one darker. Now, my apologies to Chanel ubermensch Karl Lagerfeld, but I can't help but feeling that this look might have worked better with the two tones reversed.

In other words, keep the darker tone on the bottom of the leg, with the lighter tone going up from either of one of two places:

- just above the knee (similar effect to wearing thigh highs)

- just below the knee (pulled up socks look)

Just thought I'd give my two cents worth...

:) 

Trasparenze: Pazza, Ma Bella (Nel Mio Opinione!)

When I was at university and decided to do a degree in Italian Language, they laughed.

But... little did they know how useful it would one day become - such as looking at tights on an italian website that has a not very well functioning 'read in english' button. 

Hah! Who's laughing now?

Anyway... found this fantastic label called Calzetrasparenze (English: Stockings Transparence). Here is a small sampling...

   

 

And this one is for those days where you're just walking around your 18th century mansion in your underwear and golden cape (haven't we all been there...?)

And, can I just say that this is a look which shouldn't work, but which I think totally does.

 

And I also found this one, from the folder marked "Yeah, I've used Photoshop once or twice... how hard could a cut-out really be?"

They range from US$15 -$53. Although I really like a lot of their styles, I wasn't really that impressed with the $50 tights, all they had was a feature that went up the back of the calf. Nice, but not $50 nice!

By the way, if you are ever on an Italian website and you need to understand a few words to get yourself around, here's a quick glossary:

Calze - stockings

Autoreggenti - stay ups, thigh highs

Gambe - legs

Donne - Women

Moda- fashion

Stile - style

Gambaletti - socks

Bambina - girl

:)

Slightly Weird Files: Tights for your Avatar

Okay, this one is a little bit left of centre. 

How can you make sure your perfect tights always perfectly fit your perfect legs? Simple, get electronic ones for your avatar in second life.

I found this interesting blog post from a girl named Sai Pennell, who is a Second Lifer.

I never really got into second life. Some people rave about it, but I just didn't get it. If memory serves me correctly, I wandered around aimlessly for ten minutes and only managed to find dodgy S&M clothing shops. So, exit stage left, and that was it.

Maybe they have improved since then. Seems like they have quite a few fashion events going on there.

Anyway, check out these digital metallics:

 

Interesting. Especially the spiky ankles!

Of course the advantage of digital tights is that colour is never a problem. Bleaching and dying with no detriment to the fabric is just a mouse click away:

Cost: $1L. Hmmm. don't know if that one will catch on.

Although I will say this, Second Life is a much easier way to get a six pack. 

Beats dieting and exercising. And you can ever grow a couple of extras abs, like this guy above (note to programmer - NO ONE HAS SIX ABS ABOVE THIER BELLYBUTTON).

Not even me.

P.S. I had to laugh at one of the comments on these tights:

Yay!!! SOOOO gorgeous and well done. By the way, I have bugged dear Chloris so that she makes them on the Underpants layer as well so that the hoo-hoo doesn't show, just like real tights.

What the hell is a hoo-hoo?!

My Respect For Justin Timberlake Has Just Skyrocketed

 

Okay, don't get me wrong. I did say in my first post that this was not a blog that was going to get involved with men who like to wear tights.... but I have just got to mention this.

JT has whacked on a pair of 15 denier sheers under a leotard, and completed the outfit with heels.

 

Respect!!!

From the Daily Mail in the U.K.:

Beyonce Knowles got more than she bargained for over the weekend when she was upstaged by her own dancer.
But after realising the dancer was Justin Timberlake dressed in a leotard and high heels, it's no surprise he managed to steal the spotlight from the singer.
Justin was joined by two comedians for the hilarious skit on U.S. TV show Saturday Night Live, which saw Beyonce recreate her video to her new track Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).

In the real video to Single Ladies, Beyonce wriggles her hips in time with two doppelganger female dancers in the high energy routine.
But in the new 'video', Beyonce performs her dance moves half-heartedly and appears uncomfortable with the men in tights.
Before the video started, Justin limbers up and shows off his flexibility as he pulls his legs up behind him.
After realising her moves after being mocked by Justin, Beyonce halts filming. 

Former Friends star Paul Rudd, who is directing, asks: 'What's the beef B-K?'
She replies: 'Something doesn't feel quite right.'
Doing a hand movement to make John Travolta proud passing two fingers in front of his face, Justin says: 'It felt pure... We're the dancers.'
Beyonce continued: 'I'm a little bit confused because this song is called Single Ladies so I imagined the dancers would be strong, beautiful women.'
After Beyonce's concerns are ignored, filming commences again after Justin gives one of his fellow dancers a playful slap on the bottom.
t isn't long before Beyonce halts filming again after Justin gets way too close to comfort and begins grinding beside her.
The third take sees the three men closing in on Beyonce and rubbing their backsides beside her legs.
Justin ups the raunchy factor by spanking his own bottom, to the horror of a disgusted Beyonce.
When asked by Beyonce what they thought they were doing, Justin's fellow dancer said: 'We were grinding....' prompting Justin to add: 'I thought that was obvious.'
After being told by Paul they're his stepsons and pure nepotism is the motivation for casting them in her video, a happier Beyonce agrees to dance with them... as long as its not on her video.

And of course, I couldn't just leave you hanging without showing you the video!

Okay, that's enough for one day. Like what he's doing with the head at the beginning there. I'm going to have to practise that move...

But seriously, you've got to respect the guy for doing something like that. It shows that he's got enough brains to not take himself too seriously. I mean, think about it - could you imagine Kanye West ever doing something like that?

And if you don't want to imagine that, I completely understand. :)

Oh, and one more thing... I know some people have strong feelings about various aspects of fashion, but some people take it waaaaay too far. Like the people who set up this website tightsarenotpants.com. Sure, complain to your friends, have a whine to whoever will listen, but releasing a downloadable press kit on the net so that others can print and distribute flyers??? 

That's just weird.

Photography: Cedric Buchet & Jo Jankowski

Found a couple of photos with fantasitc legwear from some very interesting photographers today, both with names that sounds painfully eurohip (oooh, I just coined as new word!). 

The first is  Cedric Buchet, his bio goes a little something like this:

Cédric Buchet (1974) is a passionate landscape photographer who, together with his dog - Drexel, travels mainly throughout Europe. Despite himself, he currently feels drawn towards fashion photography. Among his major inspirational sources he lists the photographers Fred Somner, Robert Cummings and helena Christensen. Of French/Danish descent, he maintains his personal claim to fame was being the only non-American on the American Lacrosse team while in college. His aspiration is to be served a homemade dish of spaghetti bolognese by Demi Moore. He considers the Dutch landscape essentially fascinating.

Don't ask me why, but I think Drexel is seriously awesome name for a dog. Sounds like a baddie from a superhero comic.

Anyway, check out these fantastic patterned tights (I'm sure there's some name for that specific pattern - I have no idea what it is...):

I'm not sure what the magazine is that these are from, but the script was Japanese, so that narrows it down! :)

If you're interested in finding out more about this guy, there is an interesting thread about him at The Fashion Spot. 

The second photographer I discovered is named Jo Jankowski. I think he's a he, and German. How can I tell? Simple, he takes lots of weird photos of naked people, which is the irrefutable mark of german photography. 

Check out these shots, undoubtedly inspired in part by the Wim Wenders classic Wings of Desire, with the idea of 'angels' in the streets of Berlin. 

How cool are those high white socks ? Answer: very. You can find the entire set from this shoot here. 

And if you are interested in Wings of Desire, here's a quick clip:

And if any of you guys know where you can get those black patterned tights, let me know and I'll post a link.

:)

Alexander McQueen for Target

Now, let me say off the bat that I am not one of these people who is likely to go into convulsions after spewing forth a torrent of praise upon Alexander McQueen. 

I have to say that because it does happen. Regularly. There are fashion critics for whom attending a McQueen parade is akin to an ecstatic religious experience, which they, the privileged few, have been graced with experiencing.

I'm not quite ready to bow down yet, especially after his treatment of the very strange "lets explode out the hips" movement a while back (nothing wrong with a little added volume, but the hips are just not the place for it!).

However, lest anyone think I'm negative towards the guy, let me say that he does have many, many, genuinely jaw dropping moments. 

Case in point, the pic on the left here. 

Seriously, a girl walks into a room wearing that, and YOU NOTICE (in a good way)!

Now, let us turn to the issue of tights... it has been on the cards for a while now, and shall soon be upon us - Alexander McQueen for Target. 

In some quarters, the negative vibe is palpable. Take the subtle approach that Kirby at Fashion Indie has to the matter:

I am trying so hard to be accepting of the collaboration lines popping up all over, but Alexander McQueen for Target’s Go International is yet another one to add to my *censored* list. Initially, I loved the concept of music inspired fashion catered to the young and trendy shoppers for under $130. But take a look at the images released…I wouldn’t buy that crap if they sold it at the dollar store. A tee shirt with Liela Moss’ face and McQueen’s name on it? Um, no thanks. Shiny leggings? Those are everywhere. Gray skinny jeans? Nothing new. I guess the only thing that caught my eye were the awesome red heels…too bad Christian Louboutin makes those. McQueen claims that “[He] wasn’t born with a silver spoon in [his] mouth,” but I thought his taste was better then the plastic spork he used to eat off of. McQueen also said: “I’ve never understood Target.” Is Target that hard of a concept to grasp? And if you’re trying to market your hideous collaboration line, maybe you should give your collaborators some credit…at least then they wouldn’t make you look bad by selling ugly junk.  

Ouch.

Okay, no more suspense, here is what I wanted to show you...

The shoes are, shall we say, not designed for reality. The tights on the legs are great. Not ground breaking great, but still hot.

But CHECK OUT THE ARM TIGHTS!!!

How hot are they?

The female arm is a much neglected anatomical region IMHO....

Of course, with a pair of scissors some pantyhose, and a bit of perseverance, it's actually not too difficult to make tights for your arms. The only challenge is in the fact that a waist has a much smaller circumference than the area around your shoulders. 

Having a basic overlocker (US = serger) helps, you just cut straight through the crotch gusset and sew the two waist band pieces together.

If you can coverstitch, even better, just run it around the open area.

If you're having difficulty imagining that, don't worry, I'll do a post on it sometime in the future. :)

Maybe even a video...

Welcome to TooManyTights!

Thanks for dropping by, and welcome to the TooManyTights blog.

This is a blog for those for whom too many tights is not enough tights! Yeah, you guys know who you are...

So let me give you the low down on what you can expect:

1. All the latest info and pics from the world of legwear  

2. Regular updates, and special deals

3. Reviews of what's hot and not

And what you can also expect (and this is where the TooManyTights blog will be fairly distinct from most other tights blogs on the net!) No trannys and porn.

So... if you are here for either of those things, move along. :)

Please, don't forget to subscribe, as subscription will entitle you to any deals I manage to wrangle with tights companies. In other words, subscribe and you could get some really amazing legwear for a hell of a lot cheaper than you normally could.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I can be reached on:

 tights At jameslillis d0t c0m

All the best :)