At school, skin coloured tights didn't even enter the domain of my thoughts. I had seen the range in Marks and Spencer of skin coloured tights for black women, which consisted of one pair of 15 or 20 denier tights aptly named "Cocoa" and simply thought... "Oh dear." So for the entirety of my school career the option was either no tights, trousers (when I got to sixth form), or the 60 denier black, black tights which are pretty much equivalent to leggings. I bore the weight of the 60 denier burden for at least 5 years and then I chanced upon 40 denier tights which stayed firmly out of leggings territory whilst giving me the opaqueness that I wanted. I'd suffer sometimes in the summer months though because tights can get incredibly hot and uncomfortable so an alternative would have been very welcome.
My interest in tights became heightened after I wholeheartedly jumped on the "House of Holland mock suspender tights" band wagon in all its Jessie J glory. I bought one pair and was careless with them so they laddered, and I resolved to buy another pair. So I went online and stumbled across this little gem of a website http://www.tightstightstights.co.uk/ . The words "GET TO THIS SITE NOW FOR ALL YOUR HOSIERY NEEDS!" adequately describe my position and opinion of this site, and the effects it has had on my life. I didn't re-buy the House of Holland tights specifically because I thought them too expensive, so I got the standard Pretty Polly one's which are also very lovely. They however were not the important purchase.
My selection of skin coloured tights however, absolutely took centre-stage.
I bought different pairs of tights in different colours and with a couple of different price points. I will start with my absolute favourite pair which are Pendezo tights, and retail on http://www.tightstightstights.co.uk/ at £5.49 a pop; expensive I know but so very worth it. Here is a piccyture of me wearing them...
Pendezo tights specifically cater to mixed race and black women and so the colour match, even though I was unsure and had never bought them before, was exquisite. They blended in beautifully and they wore like a dream. I got shade 30, which I thought would be too dark but they were perfect, so if you're my colour buy in 30 because they will look fab. I laddered these upon first wear which was a shame but that did not lessen my opinion of them in anyway; the dainty manner of putting on delicate tights is something I've yet to learn because I have spent most of days putting on tights akin to leggings. People could not tell I was wearing tights which is, in my opinion, a very good result indeed.
The next pair I tried were much more bank balance friendly and come in at £1.30. They are by a company called Gipsy who make tights for every skin colour you could possible imagine. I bought two pairs but the colour I enjoyed wearing the most was called "Mink"...I think. I also got the colour "Seigle" as well. Here's a picture of me wearing those...
These tights, were fine to wear although at £1.30 they lack the luxurious feel of the Pendezo tights. However, they are fabulous because you can try them without destroying your bank balance so I'm not fussy, especially as I have yet to perfect the delicate art of putting thin tights on without tearing them to shreds. All my tights get bought in either Large or X large or Tall or whatever, because I like having the extra room to manoeuvre :-p
All in all, this year for me has been about discovery and this is probably one of the coolest I have made. My Mum has always worn tights so she was really interested to hear this particular discovery as I hope you will be too. I have realised that if you know where to look, you can find beautiful skin coloured tights for everyone and that black tights all year round is in fact an option that can be chosen because of convenience or the look that they give to your outfit, rather than a mandatory fact of hosiery wearing life.
Until next time,
Hugs and Kisses,
xxxxxxxxxxxx
I am about the same skin tone as you and want to order the gipsy tights cos im terrible with thin tights! i last ordered some falke shelina tights, and though the colour was great, they got ruined the night i wore them, and it was a waste of money at £8.50 a pair plus p+p.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, my skin tone is about the same as yours. I've seen a 4 pack of the gipsy tights on the gipsy website for £4.75, except the only have them in mink, and not seigle. I'm wondering whether you would suggest going for the 4pack in the mink or trying out one mink and one seigle, at £1.30 each. Why did you prefer the mink? Is the photograph you wearing
he mink or the seigle?
I'd really appreciate your help! I'd like to buy them to wear at a wedding next Sunday. I can check back here or if you'd like to reply to my blog, its www.thedoveystuff.tumblr.com
Thank you :) x
Hello babe sorry its taken me 40 years to reply! I think I liked the Mink because they had a warmer undertone to them, the siegle coloured tights looked a bit greyish although I didnt try them on. The thing is, that I can't remember exactly and I've lost the box with the other tights in but I've compared the tights that I thought were mink to the picture online and I'm pretty sure that Mink is the colour they are, and that Mink will be your best bet.
ReplyDeleteThe siegle tights did look like a wet weekend in the box though so I avoided wearing them and Gipsy probably thought the same which might be why they've stopped selling them. If I'm really honest, the tights are so thin that you probably won't notice too much so I'd go ahead and get the 4 pack of mink coloured tights for £4.75 if I were you. I hope I'm not too late lovely and I'll post this on your blog as well so you get it faster :-) xxx
Thanks!! I went ahead and ordered the mink, they looked much 'browner' on the colour chart. So I'm just hoping they come before the wedding!!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure the colour will be fine, especially if they're thin. Only problem is how easily they'll tear but they're not that expensive so its not so much of a waste.
Thanks again for your help :)
Abi xxx
Awesome resources Women of colour have always had trouble finding the right hosiery to suit their skin shade. Now all that is about to change - we are presenting five shades of ultra sheer skin colour tights for brown and black skin.
ReplyDeleteGreat article. Women of colour have always had trouble finding the right hosiery to suit their skin shade. Now all that is about to change. we are presenting five shades of ultra sheer skin colour tights for brown and black skin.
ReplyDelete