Given her penchant for wearing quirky outfits - Kermit the Frog cape, anyone? - we're getting quite used to seeing Lady GaGa turning heads with her latest ensembles. However, the Poker Face star even managed to stand out in Tokyo this week, the capital of kooky. She stopped traffic in its tracks as people craned their necks to see her in a leopard-print leotard, tight-high boots and fishnet tights, not to mention her multi-coloured hair! The 23-year-old is sure to delight those attending Japan's Summer Sonic Festival, where she is standing in for a poorly Katy Perry. Leotards and thigh-high boots are two of autumn's biggest trends, but you may want to tone them down a little more than Lady GaGa if you want to go out in them. We'd recommend black opaque tights with a leotard, while neutral coloured tights could be the ideal solution for longer boots. Check out Aristoc's Organic Cotton Tights from MyTights.com, which are available in a great shade of grey and which are made from organic yarns.

Article from MyTights Hosiery news.

Although our mum always told us not to wear red with pink and to avoid wearing sandals with tights, it seems the latter is no longer a style no-no.

In Style's fashion experts, writing for CNN, have drawn up a list of rules that are just made to be broken - and they reckon that wearing opaque tights with open-toed shoes is just fine. In fact, this will allow your wardrobe to work harder, since it means your favourite summer shoes don't have to be forgotten when the leaves start to fall. The magazine's accessories director Meggan Crum said: "Wear [sandals] with opaque tights in autumn colours like burgundy or dark mustard, or classic black." Way back in March, the Guardian's deputy fashion editor Hadley Freeman also said that sandals sported with opaque tights is a great new fashion trend, particularly when it allows clashing colours to come into play. For opaque tights that were made to be shown off under strappy shoes, try Pamela Mann's 80-denier variety from MyTights.com. They are available in a huge range of colours, including mustard, damson and orange.

Article from MyTights Hosiery news.

Fantastic MbyM Wet Look Leggings are brand new to the site! The leggings are the perfect accessory for a slick night time outfit and as they are a great quality they look both sultry and sophisticated.

These leggings are also great for a glamorous day time look, try wearing yours with a blazer and sexy heels for a relaxed look with a high shine. Make sure you don't miss out on this trend that is guaranteed to turn heads!

Tightsplease is offering free delivery + free shopping vouchers if you order today!

Japanese tights? Well ok then, I'll have a look if you say so. It's pretty interesting is this one, we're always on the lookout for something new here at Sheer Tights (you'd be forgiven for not believing me with the *ahem* regularity of our updates!).

'Online sock specialty store' is what the advert says but they do all types of legwear - patterned tights & coloured tights.

Wolford's new legwear collection is now online. They are showing 33 new products in this section (they also have Ready to Wear, Lingerie and Accessories) for Winter 2009. It's a teeny bit annoying for us UK folk because their own boutique only caters for Germany, Austria and The Netherlands. No problem though, you can get them from Wolford Boutique London.

Like your hosiery and clothing to echo that golden era of seduction and romance? Oh boy have we found a site for you! Secrets in Lace has their own range of stockings, tights, lingerie as well as clothing and accessories such as skirts, blouses, gloves and shoes. The essence of the site is glamour with a capital G and there's no shortage of choice either. In the 'leg salon' alone you'll find fully fashioned French heel, Euro, reinforced heel & toe, sheer heel & toe, hold ups and tights, sorry... 'thigh highs' and 'pantyhose'... they are in the States after all. And that's another point - they ship internationally - hooray!

With great photography and a very neat site, this is certainly a refreshing change to the standard hosiery sites out there. Visit www.secretsinlace.com

Image appears with kind permission from and copyright to Secretsinlace.com

Classic knee highs designed for comfort. The graduated compression reduces the blood falling to your ankles when you are on your feet all day, thereby alleviating swollen ankles.

The toe area is not compressed therefore your toes do not get squashed and are more comfortable as a result. Finally the comfort top reduces marking on your legs.

£4.40 (2 pair pack)

Key Points: 15 Denier (sheer) - Slight Sheen - Comfort

Colours Available: Black

More

It's a fact that sales of men's tights are soaring with more than 1,000 pairs being sold each month. The number of manufacturers producing tights for men has increased enormously, including many of the major players in the hosiery industry.

Here at Sheer Tights gender is not an issue, we realise that a large number of visitors to this site are men who buy tights for themselves or their partners. Ladies tights can sometimes be on the small side so below you will find the WoMan unisex tights range available in sizes up to 6'7".

Levee WoMan Dimension Tights
These Dimension tights have a fabulous even appearance due to their 3D construction. Flat seams and a wide comfort waistband make them great to wear.

Key Points: 20 Denier - Matte - Reinforced Toe - Sheer to Waist - Cotton Gusset.
Colours Available: Black - Haut - Kashmir.

Click here for more information.

Levee WoMan Dynamic Support Tights
Support tights designed for men as well as women. Ideal for the XTall.

Key Points: 40 Denier - Matte - Reinforced Toe - Boxer Brief - Cotton Gusset.
Colours Available: Black - Kashmir.

Click here for more information.

Levee WoMan Perfect Skin 15 Denier Tights
Soft sheer to waist tights with a slight sheen and a wide comfort waistband. Designed for men as well as women and fit a huge range of shapes and sizes.

Key Points: 15 Denier Appearance - Slight Sheen - Reinforced Toe - Sheer to Waist - Cotton Gusset.
Colours Available: Black - Haut.

Click here for more information.

Levee WoMan Sensation 40 Denier Tights
Good quality sheer to waist tights with very wide comfort waistband and reinforced toes designed for men as well as women. Fits 5' to 6'7"

Key Points: 40 Denier Appearance - Matte - Sheer Toe - Sheer to Waist - Cotton Gusset.
Colours Available: Black - Haut.

Click here for more information.

The above range is designed with the male anatomy in mind. These tights truly are the ultimate for men, where hosiery is concerned.

Jonathan Aston Fishnet Back Seam Hold Ups
Looking for an ultra sexy hold up? These back seamed fishnets add a splash of sex appeal to any outfit. The thick lacy top band is comfortable and gives a very feminie feel. For added fun try out the hold ups with sublte gold, silver and red thread entwined around the back seam. You are sure to shine in these hold ups.

Key Points
* Fishnet
* Matte
* Sheer Toe
* 7cm/2.75" Top band

Size Chart


Colours Available
Black/Black
Black/Gold
Black/Red
Black/Silver
Naturel/Naturel

Click here to see the colour chart

Description
These gorgeous tights from Gipsy are new to UK Tights. They are soooooooo cosy you just wouldn't believe it. Great range of colours (just because it's cold, we don't have to be dull) so there is a pair in here for everyone. Go ahead, try something a little new today, you'll see how much fun your hosiery can be.

The Highlights
* 100 Denier
* 91% Nylon
* 9% Elastane

Colour Guide

These tights are HOT! More

Polish shoes with old tights
Bring out the shine in freshly polished shoes by buffing them with a scrunched up old pair of tights. It works so well you may never try another method.

Long-haul air travellers are waking up to the fact they can tackle jet lag - by wearing high-tech tights. Because there is up to 25% less oxygen in aircraft cabins than our bodies are used to, oxygen starvation is a key factor in jet lag - together with the impact of long-haul on our internal 'clock'. Now the Aviation Health Institute - the world's first independent non-profit body dealing with aviation health issues - has recommended travellers wear the tights to combat jet lag. The tights increase the flow of oxygenated blood back to the heart by up to 30% by putting pressure on specific muscles. The Skins Travel and Recovery tights, endorsed by the Australian Physiotherapy Association, are used by elite athletes there. A study of Qantas pilots and passengers, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, said wearing Skins' T&R tights significantly improved circulation and decreased leg pain.

There's little question that what we choose to wear on our legs is a reflection of our pragmatism, our sense of style, or sometimes both. Thanks to advances in fibre technology, our choices in tights, stockings, pantyhose, and other legwear have never been greater. And, thanks to the Internet, we can easily find products that simply aren't available in our local stores. To find the best online source for legwear, use the following guidelines.

A Dedicated Site

While many apparel-related websites carry pantyhose and fashion tights, it's best to shop at an online store that is dedicated to selling only legwear. In fact, go a step further and shop on a site that is a leader in supplying women with world-class hosiery. When you do, you'll be able to select from the largest variety of products available. Because a dedicated site concentrates on one type of product, you will have access to all of the latest hosiery on the market. In addition, you'll be able to draw on an incredible depth and breadth of knowledge about hosiery when making your selections. Because the site is highly specialised, you can be sure that everyone from the owner to the customer service representatives will provide you with accurate information and help.

Variety of Styles

A good online source for legwear will have a variety of types and styles of hosiery products. For example, they'll have tights and pantyhose, but will also carry items like stockings, thigh highs, holdups, and bodystockings. Within a category like tights, you should be able to select from among a variety of fabrications, including velvety cottons, warm wools, and sleek microfibres. Similarly, since coloured hosiery is in vogue these days, you should be able to choose from among dozens of colours. And, of course, a wide variety of brands should be available.

Descriptions

A dedicated online hosiery site is much more likely than a non-specialty site to provide you with helpful and accurate descriptions of the products they carry. They will explain, for example, the difference between 30 denier pantyhose and 80 denier tights, as well as the types of seams, panties, panels, and gussets that each style has.

Customer Ratings

One person's idea of perfect tights may be another person's nightmare. A site that enables customers to review and rate products will help you make an informed buying decision.

Price Point

A comprehensive online hosiery site will have products available at a variety of price points, so you can find a variety of legwear to fit your needs. Perhaps you need relatively inexpensive knee-highs to wear with slacks to work, but want to indulge in French silk stockings for special occasions. A great website will have it all.

Size Ranges

Regardless of what women are led to believe, one size doesn't fit all. Women who are full-figured, who are petite, or who have very long legs are often left out when it comes to buying tights and other hosiery. A dedicated site that is committed to customer service will have beautiful styles available for virtually every body type, and will be able to answer any questions you may have about fit.

Now Christmas is behind us and we're all feeling the pinch from over spending, it's nice to see some of the online hosiery companies have responded with some great special offers and sale items. Here's a quote from tightsplease for example;

"With discounts of up to 50% we are practically giving away some of our lines! Don't worry it's not second hand! We just need to clear some lines to make way for new ones. Hurry though as this stock is limited and these deals will not last long!

To receive your free pair of tights on our 3 for 2 offer please put 3 pairs into your basket. Our system will automatically deduct the price of the third pair. This way you get to choose the size and style you want".

MyTights (their big online competitors) are offering up to 60% off selected items.

Brands and products on offer are from Aristoc, Falke, Spanx, and Jonathan Aston to name a few.

Happy New Year! Did you get what you wanted for Christmas? We're sorry for the lack of updates recently but Christmas and the New Year have been spent working on other things and I'm afraid I didn't get much time to myself, let alone the site. Mucho apologies, won't let it happen again, I promise! Thanks for reading and we hope to be bringing you many more updates this month. Taa-raa!

It seems from recent tabloid articles that the bottom has now fallen out of stockings sales in Britain.

Stockings, once associated with sophistication are now considered tiresome and inconvenient by the modern, busy, working woman surveys have shown.

Instead of stockings, modern women are choosing leggings and tights preferring the look of celebrities like Madonna and Kate Middleton.

The growing number of women wearing trousers has also helped consign stockings to the bottom of the drawer beneath the petticoats. Alarmingly sales of stockings halved in the four years to 2006 to five million pounds and now account for only 2 percent of total hosiery sales.

Tights are the biggest sellers, accounting for 74 percent of sales, with knee-highs, including foot socks and leggings, gaining in popularity, at 18 percent. Stockings and suspenders are now the preserve of the more mature woman, and the bedroom.

Contact us and let us know your thoughts on declining stockings sales. The best replies will be added to the site.

Socks & Stockings also known as hosiery are coverings for legs and feet.

Greek workmen and slaves wore hosiery in ancient times, and Roman women wore a short sock (called a soccus) in their homes.

In 12th century Europe the breeches worn by men became close-fitting, reaching from the waist to the foot like modern tights. They were held up at the waist with laces. Woman wore stockings held up above the knee by garters.

After 1545 knitted stockings came into fashion, their seams often being covered by elaborate silk patterns, or 'clocks'.

William Lee, an English clergyman, made the first knitting machine in 1589.

Silk Stockings were sometimes worn several pairs at a time in cold weather. In the 17th century, when large boots were in fashion, linen 'boot hose'; were worn to protect the silk stockings underneath. They had wide lace tops, which were turned over the boots. Men continued to wear silk stockings with garters until the end of the 18th century, but then long trousers began to appear and socks have been worn underneath ever since.

In the 19th century machine-made cotton stockings became available for women. After World War I (1914-1918) short skirts were fashionable and long silk stockings were worn again.

Nylon stockings became popular after World War II (1939-1945) and eventually almost completely replaced the silk stocking. Until the 1960's they usually had seams. They were knitted flat and 'fully-fashioned': which means that they were shaped to fit the leg by decreasing the number of stitches towards the ankle.

Seamless stockings are made on a circular knitting machine and a reshaped by tightening the stitches. Hosiery is often described as being of a particular 'denier'. The gauge describes the number of stitches in a row.

In the 1960's when skirts were worn very short, many women began to wear tights (pantyhose) instead of stockings.

Well it's that time of year again; time for the best hosiery fashion has to offer. For most hosiery aficionado's winter is the best time of year. All the new fashions are released by the designers and it's the most comfortable time of year to dress up your legs in all the latest fashions funky, sexy, smart and practical.

And to get you started MyTights is running a 40% OFF Sale to clear out old stock, and make room for the new winter fashions.

Just how hard can it be to produce a web site these days? Let me tell you, it's not easy! If I had known just how much trouble old prissy knickers sat up in the right hand corner was going to cause I wouldn't have even bothered! Don't get me wrong, she looks great and certainly fits the bill as the sheer tights mascot but she was a labour of love, I'm just glad I didn't have to draw her!

Aaaanyway, let's just explain a little more about sheer-tights.co.uk. This site is dedicated to hosiery and we intend to bring you the latest products, fashions and gossip within the industry devoted to your legs. Not your specific legs you understand - I mean legs in general. Not that we'd want to disregard your legs - after all, that's why you're here in the first place.

There's such a bewildering number of products and merchants out there - whether you're looking for day-to-day hosiery or something for a special occasion it can be quite a task. We hope to help narrow that search and help you find the right products and, just as importantly, at the right prices.

The site is funded by the sponsors but never will this site deliver popup adverts or anything else annoying. If you have a topic or suggestion to make then why not drop us a line?