We love beautiful hosiery and truly believe that this is one of the most enjoyable things you can buy and receive as a gift.

Choice of pantyhose, tights and stockings is huge these days, but we hope that our guide may make the choice a little easier. When you buy, you may want to pay attention to the following parameters:

It might be helpful to answer the following questions:

1. What occasion are these stockings/pantyhose / tights for?

• the bedroom

• weekend away-to be worn during the day

• the evening party / function

• a special occasion (i.e.wedding)

2. What style would look good?

• rich pattern

• subtle pattern

• lace

• with seam

• classic

3. What style will be the whole creation, which stockings / pantyhose / tights are going to complement?

4. In black or the more natural tones?

5. Garter stockings and hold ups are perfect for intimate moments and romantic occasions.

6. Choosing the size is very important, but not difficult. Size chart are available on each product page and click on [ Size chart ].

 

Bridal: Whether you're getting married, a bridesmaid, or a proud family member, we've got your hosiery needs covered for the big day. Bridal tradition often calls for white stockings or thigh-highs, but pantyhose work just as well. At Spike Angel, our bridal collection offers traditional, innovative, and sexy designs, along with matching garters to complement our stunning hosiery.

Briefs: The brief is the part of the hosiery that begins at the waist or hip and extends to the top of the thigh. However, there are different types of briefs, each with its own characteristics.

Sheer to waist: These items are consistent from the toes to the top of the tights. Whether sheer or opaque, the effect remains known as sheer to waist.

Boxer brief: The denier of the leg and brief differ. The brief has a thicker fabric around the waist to thigh area, offering additional reinforcement. This section appears darker.

V-line brief: Similar to the boxer brief, the v-line brief features reinforced stitching around the pelvic area in a triangular pattern. This design offers a more natural and feminine silhouette compared to a standard boxer brief.

Control tops and support hosiery: Both styles are available in a variety of fabrics, usually combined with Spandex and nylon. They provide gentle, graduated compression for a better fit, a slimmer silhouette, and enhanced support in high-stress areas. These are durable, reinforced types of hosiery suitable for a range of needs based on individual requirements.

 

Matte: Matte tights are entirely matte with no shine at all! They offer an understated and flattering appearance, subtly enhancing your legs without drawing much attention, as they create a flat, smooth look. Matte opaques are especially popular at Spike Angel and among the press.

Slight Sheen: Hosiery with a subtle sheen features just a hint of shine instead of a completely matte finish. This slight gleam creates a softer outline for your legs, avoiding the flat look often associated with matte tights. Ideal for everyday wear and equally elegant for evening occasions, especially in sheer styles.

Shiny: Shiny hosiery has a noticeable shine that catches the light and feels smooth and silky on your legs. Perfect for special occasions, yet versatile enough for daily wear. The reflective quality accentuates your legs' shape by reflecting light, drawing more attention to them. However, shiny tights might not be ideal if you're aiming for a "bare leg look" or prefer to keep a low profile regarding your legs.

Very Shiny: We describe products like Wet Look and other hosiery as very shiny because of their high gloss. These items are similar to shiny hosiery but even more reflective! Very shiny tights reflect light, drawing attention to your legs. Additionally, very shiny hosiery accentuates your legs, making them stand out.

Microfiber is a type of nylon yarn composed of numerous fine filaments packed together into a single strand. This makes the yarn highly flexible, durable, resistant to wrinkling, and gives it a rich texture. The tiny fibers can slide and move within the fabric, allowing it to flow and stretch easily while maintaining its shape. Fabrics made from microfibers are notably soft and tend to retain their form well.

Elastane is a synthetic stretch fiber commonly known by its trade name Lycra (a DuPont trademark). These fibers can stretch from four to seven times their original length and then return to their original shape.

Lycra is a trademark of INVISTA, a DuPont company, for a synthetic stretch fabric that can stretch up to 600% and return to its original shape. Clothing made with Lycra is highly durable and flexible, offering comfort, a great fit, and freedom of movement.

Fishnet is a material characterized by an open, diamond-shaped knit pattern that resembles a fishnet. The diamond-shaped holes can vary in size, from extra small to large. It also appears in woven patterns, where the fishnet design is incorporated into regular knitted pantyhose, resulting in a distinctive look.

Flat seams in hosiery provide greater comfort by preventing seam marks on the body. A special technique is used to create these flat seams, making garments with this feature higher quality products.

Gusset: typically a diamond- or triangular-shaped insert in the seam between pantyhose legs, enhancing durability, comfort, and hygiene.

Graduated Compression: Hosiery designed with varying compression levels at the ankles, knees, and thighs. The compression gradually decreases from ankles to thighs, supporting healthy blood flow, reducing swelling, varicose veins, and leg fatigue after long periods of standing.

mmHg: Symbol for millimeter of Mercury, a unit of pressure used in medicine to measure blood pressure, defined as the pressure exerted by a one-millimeter-high mercury column under gravity. It is also used in Graduated Compression hosiery to specify the pressure applied to the leg's circumference.

 

HOSIERY CARE

Isn’t it annoying when your nail pulls a thread in your favourite pair of stockings or tights - ripping a run or a hole that cannot be repaired? Even more annoying is when you find out that your favorite style is no longer commercially available. You can take steps, however, to take better care of your nylons so that you can elongate their lifespan and get better use out of them.

Sharp Objects: Avoid sharp edges touching tights, such as chipped nails, rings, or jewelry.

Hosiery Gloves: We recommend wearing hosiery gloves when putting on your hosiery. Gather each leg at the ankle, smooth over the foot, and gently up the leg. Don't pull or jerk. Hands should work from front to back of your leg, pulling each leg equally to stretch the yarns simultaneously and ensure a smooth appearance. Hosiery should be removed equally gently.

Strength: Some areas are especially vulnerable to accidents during donning and wear. These spots are often reinforced to enhance product durability, such as reinforced toes and briefs.

Moisturiser: Applying a moisturiser on your hands and feet can prevent hosiery from snagging on rough skin.

Washing Hosiery: For optimal care, hand washing is recommended. If you prefer machine washing, use a cool cycle with a hosiery-specific wash bag. Dry them without indirect heat and avoid ironing to maintain their shape and quality.

 

 

HOSIERY SIZE GUIDE

Each brand of women's pantyhose or tights has its own sizing system that may differ from other brands. To ensure you select the correct size, each product includes a size guide. Use your height and weight measurements to find the right fit. Most size charts require drawing imaginary lines from your weight and height points and crossing them on the grid. If your crossing point falls between two sizes or near the border, we recommend choosing the larger size.

STOCKINGS SIZE

Knowing the length of your foot and crotch height is important when buying stockings. Getting the right size matters because:

 

a) If the stockings are too small, they may stretch too much, causing the lace collars to snap, rip around the toes quickly, or look unappealing and feel uncomfortable.

 

b) If the stockings are too large, they may wrinkle.

 

Choosing the correct size helps ensure they fit well and look elegant.