José Eisenberg

by Geraden

I seem to be wearing a lot of ladder-resist tights these days. That is mainly because I am so impressed with the Marks & Spencer ones that I have reviewed elsewhere.

However I was given some run resist tights the other day by my friend Ash, who did not like them and wanted me to try them. Fortunately she had bought the largest size, which to tell the truth were too large for her, but I reckoned that they would fit my long legs better. And so it proved.

These tights are by José Eisenberg of Paris, a company I had not heard of before. It seems that they specialise in cosmetics and skin care products: there seems to be no hosiery currently on the website http://www. jose-eisenberg.com.

My friend bought the tights from TKMaxx for £3.00, reduced from £13.00. Maybe Eisenberg had had second thoughts about a venture into hosiery, and as a result the products were remaindered at TKMaxx.

The tights are called Indémaillable (un-deknittable), and advertised as le collant ultra-fin qui ne file jamais; 'the ultra-sheer tights that never run'. They make a much more positive promise that the M&S ones, which are said only to 'resist laddering'. Ultra sheer they are not – 15 denier does not count as ultra sheer in my book. They would have to be 10 denier or less for that. They come in 5 sizes, and the maximum height / weight is 6'3" and 235lbs. I am slightly more than that in height, but several pounds lighter in weight. They fitted me a treat.

The lycra content is very high: 40%, so they are not as rough to the feel as the original 100% nylon run-resist tights, but they do not have the softness of the new M&S ladder resist.

They are sandal toe and sheer to waist, with a broad, soft, very silky waistband. The seams are flat. With generous sizing and the high lycra content the fit is very good, and they cling to the legs.

However the most interesting and unusual feature is the gusset-panel. This starts from the waistband at the back as an ordinary back panel, but it extends high up at the front to a point on the waistband. This was the feature my friend did not like, and she readily agreed with me that they seemed to be more suited to the male anatomy than the female.

They remind me of the Evona range of men's tights from Czechy, though even with the Evona ones (which are uncomfortable by comparison) the male comfort panel extends only half way up the front of the body. I do think that, with this design, Eisenberg could have marketed these to men, as well as to women.

The packet insert makes some wide ranging claims for these tights:

ANTI-STRESS: Soothing, relaxing tights, a gentle voile to feel well and in harmony with one's body
SLIMMING: Elegant tights for an anti-cellulite effect, the legs are lighter, more slender
YOUTH ELIXIR: Feminine, sensual, refined, these tights fight the free radicals responsible for pre-mature skin ageing
ENERGISING: Silky, fine, elegant tights, they bring freshness, moisturisation and energy to the legs
ALL: thanks to our progressive support weaving technology combined with natural plant and fruit extracts.

Fortunately I cannot comment on the run resist properties, and I do not intend to put them to the test!

I am not saying that these are my favourite tights. But they are not as bad as Ash made out, so I will not be throwing them in the bin as she suggested.

Update Aug 2007

Much to Ash's surprise I have worn and washed these tights several times since she gave them to me, mainly in bed at night. They have stood up well but a couple of holes have appeared. One near the crotch about 1 inch in diameter and a small one on the leg. The one on the leg has run very slightly. However it is fair to say that the tights are durable and certainly ladder resistant.

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tags: josé eisenberg  run resist  gusset  panel  gift  ash  

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