Off the Rack ~ Kix’ies Thigh High Tights Reviewed

Technically this post is still related to Curve even though it’s now 5 weeks past. Kix’ies, the hosiery brand beloved by the pinup community, was there for the first time, and I got to chat with a rep. She also gave me a sample pair of tights to try!

Kix’ies are thigh-high tights with a special no-slip, no-sink triple band at the top of the thigh so you can wear them without garters and they stay in place. I’m sure I’ve mentioned previously my ban on clothing that makes you get undressed in order to use the toilet (though I’ve since broken that vow with the Trashy Diva Hepburn jumpsuit and my Freddies of Pinewood Chain Gang jumpsuit), so tights that don’t have to be pulled down in order to pee are right up my alley! Plus they come in a wide range of styles, and the triple-band just looks cool.

I ended up selecting the sheer black tights with a seam up the back, to go with all my vintage reproduction dresses. I literally don’t own any sheer stockings, so I’m always stuck with freezing bare legs or opaque black tights.

The Kix’ies rep showed me the size chart and measured my thigh at the point where I expected to wear the tights. Since there’s no threat of a mis-fitting crotch, you only need to consider your height and thigh circumference. The sizes are as follows:

A = height 4’11” – 5’5”, thigh up to 20”
B = height 5’5” – 6′, thigh up to 25”
C = height 4’11” – 5’5”, thigh up to 30”
D = height 5’5” – 6′, thigh up to 35”

I fall right in size B at 5’6” and 23”. If you’re on the border of two sizes, consider the material of your selected tights. I was told that fishnets are stretchier, and sheer and thinner materials are less stretchy.

You may be wondering how those three bands give the appearance of floating on your skin. Well they have tiny parallel lines of fishing line-like threads between each layer. They practically disappear on your leg, and they keep each opaque band from digging in. The way the tights stay up so well is by first selecting the correct size, and second each opaque band is lined with a flat strip of clear silicon.

So let’s get to some photos, shall we?

You can see that the bands aren’t digging in, and the fishing line is totally invisible. Success! However, I did have one minor complaint…

That tag!! The little white care tag on the inner thigh was really itchy. I think they should just do away with it, and put all the care instructions on the packaging. Plus, who doesn’t already know that tights are supposed to be hand-washed? (Though I’m lazy, so I just throw them in a lingerie bag and use the washing machine’s delicate/hand-wash settings.)

Also, if you click on the tag photo above, you’ll be able to see that I drew two little lines on the top of my thighs with permanent marker so I could see if the tights slid down at all throughout the day. I drew the lines on at about 1pm, and here’s how the tights looked at 7pm when I got home (after sitting down and getting up from my desk several times, walking up and down a flight of stairs twice, and riding the subway home):

My left leg did pretty well, only sliding down about a centimeter—but my right leg! It slid down like 4 inches! This is especially unexpected because if anything my right leg would be bigger (since that’s the one I favor, the muscle gets used more and could conceivably be slightly more developed). Maybe it has to do with the fact that I have short legs. Or it could be that this side was more stretched out due to having the cardboard square stuck inside of it to keep the tights flat in the package. I guess next time I’ll pull the bands up even higher, and see if that’s an improvement.

Despite not entirely living up to the claim that they never fall down, I would definitely buy more of these. In fact, the Kix’ies rep told me there’s a new vintage-friendly style in development—sheer tan with a black Cuban heel. Can’t wait!

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