Tights Tuesday: MaxMara Gibus Tights

Pictured to the right are the Gibus Tights by MaxMara. In case you're reading one of my MaxMara reviews for the first time, I'd just like to reiterate, I love MaxMara. If I could only wear one brand of tights for the rest of my life, there's a pretty good chance they'd be MaxMara. That is why I couldn't be happier that they are this week's pick of the week from UK Tights, the only place to find MaxMara tights. I mean that, too. I walked into the MaxMara store a few blocks away from here, and they had a smaller selection of their own tights than UK Tights did. How can that happen? You're a MaxMara store!

The thing that sets MaxMara apart from just about anything else I've tried, is how soft they are. It's really difficult to find the words to describe exactly how soft they are. Just know that they feel positively amazing on the legs. I don't know what their secret is, but they just feel amazing from the second you put them on to whenever you take them off. This is the 4th or 5th different pair of tights I've tried from MaxMara, and that much never changes.

These tights are pretty sheer at 13 denier. They're sturdier than most 13 denier tights I've tried, but as with anything on the sheerer side, you're going to want to exercise caution when putting them on. Roll them up slowly and avoid tugging and pulling at all costs. It would even be worth it to moisturize your hands before handling them, or, if you have hosiery gloves, even better. All of this said, once their on, they actually fit snugger and do a better job staying in place than most of the sheerer tights I've tried. In addition, they have a comfort waistband that resists rolling and helps the tights stay in place all day long. I've tried tights in the 13 denier range from other brands and I've notice that I've had to pull them back up into place once or twice over the course of the day, I have not had this problem with the MaxMara tights.

These tights are perfect for just about any occasion. The sheerness of them helps keep the emphasis on the legs, rather than the tights, but there is a subtle shine that does help draw some attention. They're extremely lightweight which makes them a good alternative to bare legs, even as the weather starts to heat up (it WILL heat up at some point, right??).

The tights are sheer throughout, including the toe. They have flat seams and a cotton gusset. They are made from a blend of 88% nylon and 12% elastane. They come in 4 different sizes, fitting heights between 4'9" and 6'1" comfortably and they come in 4 different colors. At £10.40 (less than $17), they are a tremendous value as these really have the quality of luxury tights at a mid-range price. For the versatility of them, as well as their ability to last for many wears, with the proper care, these tights are an excellent buy.

Tights Tuesday: MaxMara Diana Tights

As if 'Tights Tuesday' hadn't already long since become my favorite day of the week, today is a little extra special. That's right, I broke the glass and took out the MaxMara tights...and it wasn't even a case of emergency. Who knows? Maybe I made an emotional breakthrough.

For those of you reading the paragraph above with a (more) confused (than usual) look on your face, I'm still dealing with the residual (figurative) scarring of a time in my life when I thought I'd never again wear MaxMara tights. It's okay. I'm better now. Thanks, in no small part, to UK Tights, who brought MaxMara back into my life...and not a moment too soon.

So...the tights of the day, are the MaxMara Diana Tights. They are an absolutely gorgeous pair of sheer tights with a small hoop pattern throughout. I was absolutely in love with them the minute I saw them, and even more so now that I am wearing them. I'm serious, you've got to try MaxMara tights. You will love them as much as I do. These tights are sooo soft and comfortable and just feel great to wear. The pattern is done perfectly and allows for these tights to be worn for a variety of occasions from office wear to more casual looks. They are a perfect alternative to the plain sheer tights.

These tights are sheer to waist and made from a blend of 88% polyamide and 12% elastane with a cotton gusset. They are pretty sheer at 15 denier. They are limited availability at this point but definitely worth checking out (as well as any other similar MaxMara styles). It's a moderately priced brand (these tights in particular are £22.95, or $37) but they are feel every bit as good and are every bit as stylish as Wolford, at a much smaller price tag. They are not to be missed (trust me on that one). I'm sure you'll love them every bit as much as I do.

Tights Tuesday: MaxMara Calypso Tights

This week's pick from UK Tights comes from one of my very favorite brands: MaxMara. MaxMara makes some of the most comfortable tights that you will ever find, and inadvertently, I picked the exact pair to really drive that point home. The MaxMara Calypso tights have the appearance of your basic semi-sheer tights with no bells or whistles. Instead, they have a tulle texture to them. What this means, is that they actually have a micro, micro, micro (really...that micro) net effect to them. You have to get really close to tell, but these tights actually have a sort of textured appearance to them, but again, it's as subtle as you can get.

Honestly, at first I was unhappy about this. Upon taking them out of the package, they felt almost kind of rough in my hands. I expected them to feel rough on my legs and perhaps, as they stretched to fit, look more like a fishnet than a sheer tight.

I could not have been more wrong. These tights feel smooth on my legs and are oh so comfortable. In addition, the tulle texture can catch the light a certain way and create a sort of shine to these tights. It's really an unusual and innovative design, but I like it a lot. These turned out to be among the better looking sheer tights that I own, and they remain very, very comfortable.

Despite the delicate looking texture of these tights, they are quite durable. At 30 denier, they have a sheerness to them, but they're not super-sheer. They're sheer to waist tights, with a comfort waistband which is very comfortable.

They are made in Italy from a blend of 85% nylon and 15% elastane. They're made to give a sophisticated and elegant look to the leg and the hit the mark completely.

They come in 4 different sizes and should fit anyone from 4'9" to 6'1" comfortably. They come in 3 different colors. I ordered them in playa(kind of a sand tone, I suppose) but would love to see how these look in nero (black) with their texture and shine.

These tights cost £14.58 ($23.15). These are not the most inexpensive tights in the world, but for their quality, they're actually quite competitively priced. Their unique enough that it is certainly worth owning at least one pair.

Tights Tuesday: New From MaxMara

Regular readers of this blog know that I have a huge crush on tights from MaxMara. A few years back, as an afterthought, I added a pair of MaxMara tights to an already rather large order during a particularly good sale. When I received my order, they were tossed aside and forgotten. When I finally got around to wearing them, I couldn't believe how much I loved them, and I quickly went back to buy more...only to find out that there were no more...anywhere.

For a year or so, for whatever reason, MaxMara stopped making tights. I couldn't find their leg wear anywhere. Then, just as suddenly, they came back with new collections of tights, with lots of great styles and patterns. As you might expect, I scooped quite a few of them up, with a healthy sense of urgency.

The funny part is, once again, I haven't worn any of the new ones that I bought. I think, somewhere in my subconscious, I'm afraid that they might go away again. So instead of wearing them...I'm just hoarding them. I feel like the people who hit the supermarket before the snowstorm to stock up on non-perishable canned goods, afraid that I might be snowed in for the foreseeable future. And for those who come from warm-weather areas that don't see snow...trust me, there is a heavy dose of hoarding that goes on before the (alleged) big snowstorm. I'm sure there's a psychological condition for this...but I'm sure I know nothing about psychology. Maybe I can even coin the term for the phobia associated with fear that your favorite tights will no longer exist when you go back to buy more. ....I'll get back to you with the scientific name.

At any rate...these are next in line to be hoarded. Who knows? If I buy them, I may even break them out of the package......someday.

Mora Floral Tights

Mixer Mock Hold Up Tights

Icaro Lace Top Holdups

Macao Tartan Tights

Melassa Net Tights

Miglio Tights

I'll Take Them All...

No theme today. Just a general grab bag of what I'm lusting over...

Roxanne Lace Openwork Leggings from StockinGirl

Polka Dotted Corset with Lace-up Back from Babygirl Boutique

MaxMara Dimma Tattoo Tights

Pamela Mann Flocked Rose Seam Tights from MyTights

Jana Sheer Heel & Toe Stockings from Secrets in Lace

What are you lusting for these days?

More Max

MaxMara continues to unveil new and interesting leg wear items. Right now, I am completely in love with everything they are doing. Here are some more of the latest...

Dimma Tattoo Tights

Disco Fashion Tights

Firma Control Top Tights

Fanale Tights

Edera Fashion Leggings

New from MaxMara

As I've mentioned on here before, MaxMara is one of my favorite brands of tights and other hosiery products. They have amazing quality and feel better than just about anything else I've tried on the market. I'd include them in my top 3 along with Falke and Wolford.

Strangely, and sadly, their hosiery products almost completely disappeared for about a years time. Shortly after I tried my first pair of MaxMara tights, which I found on discount at a clearance website, any trace of their hosiery disappeared. Fortunately they recently resurfaced, and they are now expanding their product line with exciting new looks and styles.

Here are a couple of my favorites from the 'Hold Ups' category:

Lago Woolen Hold Ups

Devoto 30 Denier Hold Ups

The Devoto is my favorite of the two. I absolutely love the wide band on the hold ups. The lace detail in the band is absolutely gorgeous.

Where Have You Been?

A while back, it may have even been a year ago, I bought a pair of MaxMara tights from a UK discount website. They were sheer throughout with a dotted pattern throughout. When I tried them I couldn't believe how amazingly comfortable they were and how good they felt. They had the perfect level of sheerness and were oh so soft.

So, of course, when I went back to got more I found...nothing...anywhere. They were sold out everywhere and never got replenished. I even went to my local MaxMara store, only to be told that they had nothing either. I checked back every once in a while, but never had any luck.

Until now. Suddenly they've unveiled a brand new line and they have styles and patterns that rival that of Wolford. Is there quality as good as Wolford? Are they as soft, sheer, and comfortable as I remember them. Well that all remains to be seen, I suppose. But I'm happy to finally have a chance to find out. They aren't cheap, their costs run from £9.95 to £24.95 depending upon the style...but they sure are nice to look at. Here are a few of my favorites:

Fata Tights

Firenze Tights

Fanale Tights

Farina Tights

Freddo Tights

Yeah...I want them all.

So Anyway....

Wore the MaxMara tights yesterday. That was a good thing, since we're in the middle of some sort of arctic blast at the moment here in the northeast.

As much as I liked their sheer hosiery, I couldn't really make out any difference between their opaque tights and those of Hue. Pricewise they're about the same as well. MaxMara is cheaper, but Hue typically makes multiple pair offers, so you can stock up and save.

My guess is, you go into MaxMara to buy a dress for some upcoming event, and, at that point, you realize that you need tights as well, so while you're there, you get them too. Other than that, they probably don't sell much. All of that is weird though, because their sheer hosiery was so nice and so stylish...

My MaxMara Question Answered......Sort of

You may recall my displeasure at falling in love with MaxMara tights only to not be able to find any...anywhere.

Well today, I dropped into their store to see what they had. The answer...not a hell of a lot. The sales associate who helped me told me that, as I suspected, the tights that I had purchased from Fig Leaves were last season's style.

No problem. What does she have for this season?

Turns out, all they have for this season is opaque tights in a few different solid colors. None of the sheer patterned tights I had been hoping for. Of course, it is November and all stores are well into their winter lines, at this point. So, hopefully in the spring they'll be back with some other styles. The sales associate did tell me to check back periodically as they do get some different styles of tights from time to time. Anyway, I picked out a few different colors. I didn't want to be rude and buy nothing, after all.

Interestingly, when I asked her if they had a web site, she told me they did not....yet. I can't imagine their are too many other stores that don't have a website at this point, but what are you gonna do?

MaxMara?

A while back I purchased some MaxMara tights from Fig Leaves. I didn't get around to wearing them right away, but finally got a chance to. So what happened? I love them that's what happened. They're called Microtrama and they have a dotted pattern covering the tights.

The problem is, not only can I not find these particular tights, I can find ANY MaxMara tights ANYWHERE. Does anyone know what happened? I feel as though I missed the boat.

I do have a few MaxMara stores in my area. I may need to drop in. Perhaps they know how/where I can find some more of these tights.

Stay tuned...