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Men: In Tights
Men have been wearing the same things for decades now, trousers? I mean, how old school are they? The modern man needs to get his legs into some tights (or not).
Keep everything in place with a pair on control tops: £6.49 BARGAIN!
The internet is a weird and wonderful place, full of all sorts of shit you potentially never needed or wanted to see. I remember the first time I have saw tights-for-men like I remember where I was when I found out Princess Diana died, two very similar experiences I know. I was on Facebook (of course) not doing what I should be (doesn’t even really need that explanation does it, what else are people doing on Facebook?) when it popped up in my news feed. Tights for men? I thought, Tighttsssss for mennnn? Every word became elongated with my excitement.
I clicked through with all the ferocity of a person who likes to click things on the internet, you know the one, clicking and clicking even though to get to the link you only have to do it once. Swearing at the computer “Come the fuck on you stupid bastard I haven’t got all day” and then there it was. The jackpot. The website itself is uninviting, it looks like it was made on a 1980’s version of powerpoint all grey and powder blue and crap looking. The front page comprises a load of bullshit about how hosiery for men or ‘mantyhose’ as the cool kids call them is a booming industry. Funny that, as last time I picked up a copy of Vogue I don’t remember seeing David Gandy prancing around in a pair of fishnets. But whatevs (everyone’s saying it these days thought it was time to try it out) this site is internet gold.
The strapline is ‘because men have legs too’, well yes, congratulations you’re right there but there is absolutely nothing right about them putting those legs in tights, especially if their pictures are anything to go by. It’s sick, and not in the ‘man that’s cool’ sense of the word in the ‘Shit I could actually potentially be sick’ sense of the word. The problem is, kind of like a car crash, once you’ve started you just can’t stop looking. I mean they’ve covered everything (not in the literal sense of the word there are a lot of arses on this site) but in terms of the tights world they’ve got more pairs than you can shake a stick at, or leg for that matter.
Going on a first date and worried about your beer belly putting her off? Not to worry you can just slip on a pair of Light Support Tights. Feeling the chill in the winter? Get yourself a pair of opaques and with a range of different colours there’s something for every occasion – maybe you could even match them to your football shirt. The best thing about this site is the gusto with which they pedal this crap, every product comes with a description which sounds like it has been written by someone more enthusiastic than a pre-Simon Cowell put-down X Factor wannabe.
Obviously there is one major issue here (other than the fact that men don’t actually wear tights) what would a man wear his mantyhose with? You can’t very well slip them on under a pair of jeans, think of the friction. The answer is, of course, a kilt (obviously). What better way to show off your shapely calves in your new ‘footless open-crotch support tights’ (£5.99 in case you were wondering) than in the Scottish favourite. And TFM of LFM (legwear for men) - they can’t seem to make their mind on their actual name – has those too, don’t die of excitement now will you? And if that wasn’t enough, they’re apparently pretty bloody good; “I just received my Kilt. It fits perfectly!!!!!! Really, it’s a very high quality Kilt! The pleats are falling exactly, aprons are not too small and not too wide! And it arrived before Christmas! :-))) Thanks for your great service and a merry Christmas to all at L4M and only the best for 2010!!! I’ll be back!” Nothing says satisfied shopper like 12 exclamation marks and a smiley face with not one but three mouths.
With Christmas coming up (In six months) you have just enough time to check out the site and put together your very own wishlist from what is sure to become every mans favourite fashion fix. Don’t worry, you don’t have to thank me for the recommendation.
For more from Olivia Foster click here.
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COMMENTS
Hi, I don't really understand this article. Maybe you just want to be interesting and get some more visits on your page. Nevertheless, I don't care, but what I do care is to bring you some more information. Men's pantyhose are in the market since pantyhose itself has been invented. The thing is, that nowadays, the manufacturers started with innovation in this part of their business. Good for men, bad for people with lack of information and some other roblems in their heads (e.g. xenophobia). Pantyhose for men are also very important for fashion purposes, not just medical. There are plenty of skirts for males, from different manufacturers and designers. Just open you eyes and put more objectivism to your article.
Olivia, your article is a poor joke and is quite ugly. You have a lot of hatred in you, perhaps for yourself which you redirect to men, in this case men who wear tights/pantyhose. Fortunately, it will not deter men who want to wear sheer legwear for practical and fashion reasons.
Olivia, you are still living in the arse-end of the 70s & 80s. You come across as know-it-all. Did you not know that women started wearing men's trousers back in the '70s and before that it was considered a cultural taboo? Please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trousers under the heading 'Trousers' before I pass you off as ignorant!
It sounds like Olivia Foster is probably just jealous that mens' legs in pantyhose look better than hers. She's definitely an arrogant, hateful snot.
This coming to you from one of the men you just got done bashing, men have been wearing tights for hundreds of years just because you have a little brain doesn't mean squat. women have been taking fashion from men for a long time trousers, boxer shorts, flanal shirts just to name a few. the reason you don't hear men bitching about thi is we don't care what ever floats your boat. so take a look in the mirror and say hello to the idiot looking back at you
Wow, so much angst...not that it really matters, but I wear compression stockings -which are thigh high \ waist high for health reasons. After my second blood clot (I am 24 years old) I was told to wear them from now on.
A customer of ours just brought your pathetic article to our attention. First of all, I don't recall giving permission for you to use our (copyright) images on your blog - kindly remove them. Secondly, your ignorance and narrow-mindedness are truly remarkable; the detritus you put out is far in advance of the general standard of rubbish seen on the internet these days. There is a verse in Proverbs which says 'Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.' Well, you opened your mouth and removed any doubt. Owner/manager, Legwear4Men
You'd be surprised how many men wear tights. Most of them just not openly. I wear tights with jeans, or with shorts. If that makes you sick, I have no problem to ruin your day: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58775862@N03/5623124230/
I think it's very funny that it took you almost 8 hours to post my comment you must have been truly afraid to post my comment,considering I wrote my comment around 6:30 or so on the 7th. Little Brain indeed
I do not understand how people can give so much importance to a stupid comment from someone so closed minded As Oscar Wilde said I choose my enemies for their reason
Hi, my boyfriend wears hosiery akin to the ones you are mentioning above. I've always found it makes him look rather nice (in the right outfit) as well as firming up his ass. You're entitled to your opinion, but seriously, don't knock it til you've tried it.
Wow such anger and rage! Ask yourself Olivia, why a benign subject causes you to lash out with such close-mindedness and hatred. When I put on a pair of tights the other day, what harm was brought upon you? I was comfortable and you never knew. My wife, family and friends don't care and are supportive. Most guys I know wear under pants for comfort, warmth and medical leg support. How can you take issue with any of those three attributes? And if you claim it's a look that turns you off, fine, that's your opinion. But to be so disgusted by the clothes on a person to spew such hatred seems so mean. Do you yell at the homeless women for not having a pedicure or the latest fashions from Paris? With what right do you judge us or anyone? Why can't you open your mind and your heart and accept individuality instead of hold on to the rigid peer pressured induced status quo? With all the problems of the world, why add to the collective anger when you could be a nice, good person...
I'm one of those that you wrote your hate filled article on, I was told by my Dr. to wear because of circulation problems in my legs, I wear my hose with no shame, I wear with pride, knowing that I'm taking control and trying to live longer and enjoy life. Clothing does not make a person, it is what is on the inside that counts. Just who died and made you the judge and jury on this subject. You don't seem to be enjoying your life or your profession, You went off half cocked and wrote an article without any facts to back up your claims. I would suggest that you change your profession and see a shrink and find out the reason that you hate men so much.
Your article is about the most pathetic hate speech I've had the unjust luck to read this year! After cancer, radiation treatments and terrible surgeries I now have painful swelling in my legs and have been prescribed to wear compression hosiery. If I had a choice I would not wear them, but for you to be such a ass about it makes me think the real problem isn't pantyhose/tights on men at all, I believe your writings are a reflection of how miserable and sad your life really is. I'm sure you get "judged" by people all the time which is why you think it's ok to bash people but it just shows how damaged you really are. I have never met anyone (in real life) with such hate in their heart to post something like this. P.s. I hope you lose your job over this hate speech and get sued over stealing legwear4mens trade mark property!
Olivia foster, one last thing! The love of your life Simon coswell wears tights and pantyhose too, lots of pics on the net! Wish I could see your face when you find out your dream man wears pantyhose....lmao.... Now that's funny!!!
There are a few men who privately wear tights for warmth or support, and you may be being unfair to them. The image of men in sheer tights, however, is dominated by those who are obsessed with them, who want to be seen in them, endlessly discuss wearing them, and above all are desperate for women's approval in wearing them, especially in public. You've not given such female approval, and they don't like it! There is a subculture here living in a fantasy world where such clothing is about to become mainstream, but I think the weirdo 'creepy element' will prevent this from ever happening. If you want proof of this, simply look for a man actually wearing tights: you won't find one. Well you might, but then you might win the lottery, the odds are about the same!
Cosmo, unfortunately you hit the nail on the head. Of 100 male pantyhose wearers there seem to be 99 with sexual reason. They should shut up and wear them in the bedroom.
Michael H. - I do have some sympathy with the (probably) small minority who wear tights as a substitute for long johns and that's all there is too it. I couldn't help but be amused here though by such gems as "... see a shrink and find out the reason that you hate men so much" and "I hope you lose your job over this hate speech and get sued over stealing legwear4mens trade mark property". The defensiveness betrays that more is going on here than keeping your legs a bit warmer under running/cycling gear or whatever in winter. And of course if men had really been 'wearing tights for hundreds of years', why the need to pluck up courage to venture out shopping in them because of what others might think? Finally, what kind of a man really believes "There are plenty of skirts for males ..."? So far, no-one in the men's nylon legwear fraternity has distanced themselves from this statement. 'nuff said!!
Cosmo, With all due respect, I feel you are missing the point of why I at least object to the author's rant. She writes objectionable hate filled rants calling the fact that I wear an article of clothing "sick". I wouldn't care if she said she didn't like the look but she goes on to denigrate those who like them. I for one think such close-minded thoughts are not constructive and evidence for sone things that are wrong with society. Haven't we gotten over caring what a person looks like and focus more on the content of their character? This is what I'd like; to live in a world where people can rationally disagree with each other but do so with a measure of mutual respect. Instead, she mocks us and I called her out on it. I must say I also don't think i appreciate your comments either but I want to give you the benefit of the doubt and allow you to clarify some of your comments. 1. You mention those in sheer tights who dominate the male wearers as obsessed and need female approval and need to talk about it and need to be seen in them. Where do you get your data? I don't disagree there are perverts out there, but why do you lump all of us in that group? You've never met me, how do you defend that statement. 2. There are a lot of replies that also spew anger, I do not disagree. I don't condone them. But you reply to one statement about many male skirts that since we do not distance ourselves from it "'nuff said". Whatever do you mean? Because I didn't trash a person over his stated beliefs, do you condemn me to being a pervert? Again please clarify what you mean. 3. What brings you to this page? I'd have to assume you are a regular follower of the blog. Do you have an interest in men in tights, mens fashion? What is it that drew you to this page and made you have to comment? All I ask is that you take a moment and see if someone you never met wore tights last Thursday, this harmed you in any way? My suspicion is you had no idea and went along your business as if nothings wrong. And to conclude, I don't demand approval from women to wear, I just don't want people to judge me based on what I wear but who I am.
Greg - you deserve a reply. You may haved noticed I do distinguish between tights wearers who just want the extra warmth etc, and that's all, and those 'obsessed' or thrilled about wearing them. Personally, I'm not that bothered about the former - tights can help, but from experience long ago are no substitute for genuine sports gear etc. There was a flurry of interest in this a couple of years ago, and I still find it interesting occasionally to see just how strange some men are when it comes to tights, with the fantasy ('I now wear 24/7' or 'it's now normal for men to wear skirts') and female approval etc. For good or ill, this tends to dominate the discussion or image, and I think is the reason for so much hostility - though I prefer reasoned discussion with a little humor too! It is possible to overreact to it, but you would have to admit there is some pretty disturbing stuff written about this on the net, even if you know not to take it too seriously. It does make you wonder what is going on in some men's minds. Public wearing strikes me as largely unnecessary for men, but the real problem is with those who wish to be seen wearing, and who get some kind of kick out of this - this is where it may end up a kind of perversion. In practice this is rarely if ever encountered, but women in particular find the thought of men in delicate feminine clothing (as they see it) very offputting if not creepy, hence the hostility. Public wearers don't think seriously enough about the effect of what they are doing might have on the onlooker, because the assumption is going to be something weird is going on. 'nuff said' - i.e. time for me to shut up!!
Dear cosmo i have to agree with you being a tights wearer,myself i go on forums and such and see men talk about wearing tights all the time thinking im not alone but infact i am because untill now ive Ne never seen one guy in tights in public in real life
Ps im trying to do it as a fasion statement because i think that men are very limited in the clothing they can wear without society frowning upon them
@Buddha: They are rare, but exist. @Cosmos: I own a Heavy Metal CD/Record store, you'd be surprised how many men come in with skirts. It started with the Gothic scene, but nowadays it's pretty common in our scene. I also disagree that women find men in pantyhose offputting or creepy. Most find it simply funny:-)
The photograph you chose to headline your article set the tone. It's ugly. Put a fat woman in those pantyhose and it's no different. I take it you haven't any photos of athletically fit men wearing tights. Have you ever been to the ballet? You find it revolting seeing men wearing them? Tights are a great invention. They cover the lower half of the body with few seams and keep a person warm in cooler weather. There's nothing inherently effeminate about a man wearing tights, unless they're in a bright color. Now, for use in fashion it gets a bit tricky. It's probably easier to come up with an outfit that looks effeminate, but designing a masculine look is definitely doable. I've seen a few knee length trouser designs that look sharp. And yes, this would only work on a tall athletically fit man. There are plenty of men where it would look ridiculous... just as a fat woman in tight spandex leggings looks. Plenty of both men and women are guilty of looking awful in their clothing choice. That doesn't mean a tights revealing outfit for men wouldn't work. So yes... society has made mens clothing somewhat sexually ambiguous (plenty of women wear male styled clothing, with no scorn whatsoever) while women's clothing is unconditionally associated with the feminine. Unfortunately, since women wear pantyhose and tights, they are already typecast. But I think there's room to change that, maybe in a few more years. What has to happen is a few women start championing it. Women are particularly good about spreading the acceptance of new fashion trends, if they're done right. :-)
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