Tights Tuesday: Oroblu Gets More Luxurious?

I was shocked when I realized that it had been over a year since I've reviewed tights from Oroblu. I certainly think of them as one of my favorite brands but somehow they've slipped through the cracks recently. I'm glad to have finally gotten the chance to give them a try and report back to you.

Oroblu makes a staggering variety of tights in different patterns, colors, and sheer-ness. The common thread (if you will) that I've noticed among the different ones that I've tried, however, is the quality. On the one hand, it's probably not surprising, as the quality out of Italy is in a league of its own, and often times, I find myself thinking that I'm wearing a much more expensive pair of tights than I really am when I'm wearing Italian-made. On the other hand, Oroblu may be taking things to a different level, even within their own country, when it comes to quality.

There may be no better example than the Oroblu Couture Tresor 10 Tights, my pick this week from UK Tights. The 'Couture' collection is intended to be the luxury line within a brand name that wasn't exactly short on luxury to begin with. But, again, as I find myself saying a lot, the luxury is in the details. It starts, in fact, before you even remove the tights from the package. In place of the standard envelope-like packaging that tights almost always come in, is a tailored box. It's supposed to give a gift-like feel to the tights, but I think it also adds a level of value to the tights, as in, these aren't just your ordinary tights you're getting into right now.

So do the tights stand up to the packaging?

The '10' in the name of the tights stands for the denier count. I've tried 10 denier tights in a number of luxury brands, such as Falke and Wolford and have come away with the same feeling every time: that these tights were a bit too on the delicate side and needed to be treated as such. Often times, as the day goes along, those tights would sag down and wrinkle a bit on the leg, mainly, I think, because I had to be so careful putting them on and tugging them up. I had really begun to think that 10 denier tights just weren't for me.

The Couture Tresor 10 are just the opposite. They look sheer and yet feel very durable. The stay super-smooth on the leg and don't bunch up anywhere. They also keep their shape and don't stretch out (a problem I've had with 10 denier in the past). This is all due to 'double covered' yarns that Oroblu uses in the manufacture of these tights, which result in the added shape and durability.

These tights also possess added little details such as a signature waistband and a boxed design. The signature waistband might seem insignificant, in a way, but when you own as many tights as I do, being able to quickly identify a pair is a very nice addition.

The tights are sheer to waist and have a cotton gusset. They are a blend of 75% nylon and 25% lycra. They come in 4 different sizes so you should find a comfortable fit if you're anywhere from 4'9" to 6'1". The come in three different colors: black, blue-chic, and cosmetic. They cost £16.27 ($25).

Similar tights from Wolford will cost you about $10 more. Similar tights from Falke will cost you about $8 more. I hope what I say next wont cause the hosiery gods to strike me down (there are such gods, didn't you know?). If all three pairs of tights had the exact same price, I'd recommend the Oroblu. That's right...the exact same price. I honestly find these tights to be more comfortable, smooth, and durable and, thus, longer lasting. The money you save from buying Oroblu is just an added bonus.