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~ Martin ~
It still allow in the UK to wear anything - no illegal, maybe depend on country, I was wear tights and denim mini skirt that seem to be allow in public Ive wearing many time as cops passing me without stop or ask anything
~ Doug ~
In the US it's illegal to be dressed indecently, but not illegal to crossdress. Also, where would you draw the line? Some people might claim that all the boys wearing girls skinny jeans are crossdressing.
~ Rod ~
is it legal to crossdress when outside as a female
~ Andy M ~
epilators have been suggested. I've just bought a Braun and done my first epilate session. So far so good, but still a long way from hair free legs (which are essential for any tights wearing!!!)
~ Adrian ~
With winter on the way I shall be cutting down on heating bills by wearing opaque tights with a wool kilt.
~ 2craze2 ~
@badleg: Try Elbeo Sheer Magic or Elbeo Caresse. Size XL is available. They really do help...
~ 2craze2 ~
Ordered some tights from Emilio Cavallini, they're great! Good stretch, warm, opaque. Good replacement for my regular sock-wearing.
~ kingrichards ~
hi guys,new UK bodybuilder here, looks like a decent forum with lots of good info - hopefully i can contribute & learn.
~ Lucky ~
Men should wear tights for any reason also protect from blood flow that quite important, I do wear all time, love it. I wear with skirt that nornmal clothes
~ hoseclad ~
Hi to all, glad to see im not the only one out there,though i was all alone for for a long time. best reguards.

Latest Entries

More on leg pains

Wednesday, 21 October 2009
In which Geraden tells about his leg pain problems and how tights helped.

Changing Reasons III

Friday, 16 October 2009
In which TightsVirus concludes his personal story.

Changing Reasons II

Thursday, 24 September 2009
In which TightsVirus continues his personal story. Second of a series.

Changing Reasons I

Friday, 11 September 2009
In which TightsVirus sets the scene for his personal story. First of a series.

Men wearing tights - the objections - IV

Wednesday, 12 August 2009
In which Geraden responds to an enquiry and picks up an old thread.

Stealth or ... ?

Wednesday, 22 July 2009
In which Geraden contrasts the results of a poll on this blog with advice from a sympathetic female writer

Leo's Story

Wednesday, 15 July 2009
In which Leo tells how he wore tights first out of curiosity, then for the fell, and finally for medical reasons

Tights and Asperger's

Sunday, 24 May 2009
In which Geraden raises the possibility of a connection between men wearing tights and autism / Asperger's Syndrome

Malcolm's Photos

Friday, 6 March 2009
In which we see Malcom's tights photo gallery.

Be Yourself - or Else

Wednesday, 25 February 2009
In which Malcolm tells of his rather unfortunate introduction to tights.

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Advice for new wearers - I

posted Wednesday, 19 October 2005
Geradenby Geraden

 

I was chatting recently in the tights-excite.com chatroom with a man who admires tights on women's legs, and is lucky enough to have a girlfriend who knows about his preference for tights and wears willingly for him.

He has not worn tights himself and he was asking advice about whether he should try it, and if so how to go about it, and how to handle this issue with his girlfriend. He did not seem totally sure that he wanted to wear tights, but he seemed to be willing to give it a try. I hope I was able to give him some useful advice, and that has given me the idea for this article.

As soon as I started to write this I realised that it would have to be a series of articles rather than just one. I will be looking at three main questions in turn. The first one will be covered here, and the other two will be for future instalments. I will also fit in some advice about putting on tights/pantyhose, as this is, after all, a series for new wearers. So the topics that will be covered in this series are:

  1. should a man try wearing?
  2. how to buy your first pair?
  3. how to put on a pair of tights?
  4. whether to tell your girlfriend/wife/SO?
  5. what reaction might there be?
  6. dealing with misconceptions
  7. when and how to tell her.

SHOULD A MAN TRY WEARING?

I believe that every man should try wearing tights (or pantyhose, if you are from outside the British Isles). The trouble is that most people, and that goes for both men and women, have a preconceived idea that it is somehow wrong for a man to wear, or to want to wear, an article of clothing associated with the female sex. This oddly enough does not work the other way round! Decades ago women won the right to wear trousers without eyebrows being raised, so now they can wear what they like.

People should put aside these preconceived ideas. Let us follow a man who does so, and tries on a good pair of tights that fit him well. Of course, to get the full effect, it would be better if he got rid of his leg hair - if he has not done this already. (These days more and more men are doing so, whether or not they wear hosiery.)

He might find, particularly if he is young, that putting on tights produces some interesting and possibly pleasant physical effects. Whether these effects are welcome depends on the circumstances – where he is and what he is doing!

He might also find, quite apart from any sexual thrill that the tights give him, that they are actually nice to wear. They are comfortable, softer than the clothing he is used to wearing (nothing wrong with that – men's clothing for the last two hundred years has been designed around the premise that comfort is not necessary or even desirable).

Tights - they caress his legs; if the man spends time outside in the cold, well, tights are warm; if he is no longer so young, or spends a lot of time on his feet, he may find that tights help with aches and cramps in the legs; they also cover up some of the imperfections that creep in with time. In other words his legs will both look and feel a lot better if he is wearing tights.

By this stage the man may come to the conclusion that tights aren't so bad after all. He may have decided before hand that he would just try them once and take them off straightaway. Now he might want to change his mind and keep the tights on. He may think of repeating the experience and wearing them again tomorrow. He is well on the way to becoming hooked on tights!

And even if he isn't hooked, at least he can say he tried it once, and it did nothing for him. He will talk from knowledge and not from ignorance or prejudice.

I sometimes think that if I had unlimited money, I would set up a fund to buy a pair of tights to be sent by post to every adult male in the country. Ok, some men would bin them, some would take them to Charity shops and some would give them to their womenfolk, but I reckon a lot of men, given the opportunity, would try them on - seeing they have been given the opportunity to do so without having to beg, borrow, steal or even buy the tights. Many of those who tried them would decide that they were onto a good thing and become regular wearers. Oh well, it is a nice pipe dream.

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1. jamod left...
Friday, 21 October 2005 11:26 am

If you're worried about your first time wearing tights try this first...

With the colder weather approaching, like me you might be swapping your calf-length socks for either boot-length or knee-length socks to keep your legs warmer. The problem is that you spend all day pulling your socks up!

Buy some one-size 'knee-highs' to start with (either sheer or opaque - you don't have to concern yourself with getting the right size on this occasion). Wear the knee-highs under your longer socks - doesn't matter whether or not you've shaved your legs on this occasion. Result - your normal longer-length socks stay up all day long.

If like me you suffer from either acheing or cold feet, buy 'support' sheer knee-highs from Boots (no pun intended). You'll soon discover that your feet ache much less than before - and it's another layer to ward off the cold.

Once confident that no-one has x-ray vision, and that they can't see your knee-high's under your normal socks, you'll feel even more confident in progressing to wearing tights under your longer-length socks.

Your socks will continue to stay up all day long, plus, if your suffer with aches and pains in your legs (or if they feel colder during the Autumn and Winter), you'll soon wonder why you didn't start wearing tights years ago. What is more, they're less bulky to wear than Longjohns and are considerably more comfortable - and tights are much less expensive to buy than Longjohns.

If you do suffer from tired or acheing legs, try buying either tights with a high lycra content (most shop-bought tights often only have a relatively low lycra content), or buy 'support tights' - available from either Boots or M&S on the high street. From more 'specialist' department store hosiery sections, I find that Aristoc Classic Tights with 20% lycra content are good for me, or Aristoc Ultra Support Tights with 15% lycra.

Tip: most supermarket tights are rubbish, don't fit properly, have low lycra content, won't provide any form of support, nor will they keep your legs warm. Once tried, you probably wouldn't bother trying on another pair of tights - often, I believe, this is the reason why most men can't see what the benefits are of wearing tights.


2. Geraden left...
Friday, 21 October 2005 12:18 pm

Hi Jamod

Thanks for posting another comment, and what you say is interesting. I quite like knee-highs: for a time M&S did Silky Soft Opaque knee highs which were lovely, but I have not seen those now for many months.

Assuming that you are wearing long trousers, I can see very little difference between wearing tights under them, or knee highs, but if knee-highs are an useful stepping stone to wearing tights, I certainly would not knock the advice.

I have given up wearing socks a lot of the time. Now at work I am wearing Silkies navy Opaques with long trousers and no socks. I wear nude sheers without socks, and even on occasion I have worn non-nude sheers (dark brown, off black) without socks, though I did keep a pair of opaque knee highs hand for emergency cover-up purposes. The only time I wear socks is with shorts and tights. Then I wear long socks folded down to make a slightly chunky, more masculine look.

I agree that supermarket tights are for the most part to be avoided. They have probably put more women off tights than anything else has! And Long Johns are just, well, pants! (sorry for the pun)

Like you, I get leg-aches and cramps, and I find that support tights help. Last night I wore M&S firm support (factor 10) because my legs were hurting so badly. Normally medium or light support are fine, or good quality tights with a decent amount of lycra give support. My current favourites are Oroblu Magie 20 den. The Activskin products also give some support. The Silkies I am wearing now give the equivalent of light support.

Have you tried any support factor greater than 10, and if so what products?

Please feel free to come back and comment any time.

Geraden


3. jamod left...
Friday, 21 October 2005 2:08 pm

I have several pairs of M&S Leg & Body Toner tights, as well as M&S factor 8 and 10 support tights. I find the factor 10 too restrictive to wear for long periods of time. Consequently, I don't wear them that often - unless my legs really, really ache.

Sizing is the key, though. While I wear medium sized Aristoc Ultra Support tights, I've found that I need extra large sized M&S Leg & Body Toner tights (I'm 5'10"). Unfortuntely, M&S have stopped producing both the Leg & Body Toner tights and the factor 8 and 10 support tights.


4. Geraden left...
Friday, 21 October 2005 2:44 pm

Hi Jamod (again!)

I agree that factor 10 can be restrictive – actually they hurt my toes! Like you I only wear them when absolutely necessary. I always get XL – my legs are very long!

It is news to me that M&S have stopped producing the factor 8 and 10 support tights (Medium Support and Firm Support respectively). What they have done recently is to repackage them under the Leg Care label. I was in M&S in Birmingham on Wednesday and there were plenty of the Leg Care support tights, as well as a few pairs in the old packaging. The only tights in the new Leg Care range that I have tried so far are the medium support body shaper: they are very nice, and since you wear the leg and body toners, you might like to give them a try.

Geraden


5. ricklcas left...
Friday, 28 April 2006 9:25 am

Hello Geraden, I have been reading your blog for a few months now without registering.....I tend to be a "reader" necessarily, for most forums I visit, for the most part.

My name is Rick Castro, I live on the Pacific island of Guam in the Western Pacific Ocean region. I have discovered to my delight, in my reading of your blog, that you are a positive voice of reason and practical method (Not to mention wonderful subtle humor!), for matters of men wearing tights/pantyhose/hosiery openly and without guilt or fear. I greatly appreciate your position and place in the growing field of men who are willing to take clothing expression outside the realm of the male uniform of pants and shirt.

I have been an open wearer of tights/pantyhose (Wearing with shorts, kilts, skirts of various kinds - mostly which I have learned to make for myself) for nearly eight years. Anymore, it truly is a non-event for me. I enjoy the esthetic value that hosiery lends to legs - mine included! - as well as the absolutely essential therapeutic value that hose can provide for support and providing a general sense of wellness. I'm glad that it appears that as time has passed, more men are moving into a place in their lives and sense of expression where they are willing to take on tights/pantyhose as yet another wardrobe choice, to enhance and extend their clothing expression. Take care, Geraden, keep the positive energy and vibe flowing - you do it so well and with such conviction and sincerity. You're a gem, my Friend.

The very best regard to you, Rick Castro


6. Geraden left...
Friday, 28 April 2006 12:06 pm

Hi Rick

… errm, thanks! I am just off now to buy myself a larger size of hat, as my old one does not fit any more for some strange reason.

Seriously: I am glad you like the blog. I like to think I am doing some good and helping people who are going through the same kind of experiences as me.

Gaum conjures up images of a tropical paradise. The reality may be different of course, and if it gets too hot to wear tights there, the island will definitely not be on my holiday list!

It would be interesting to hear more about your experiences, so please keep in touch.

Geraden


7. Chris left...
Wednesday, 20 September 2006 4:00 am

Even non-support tights can offer a lot of benefits, the greatest of which being cold-weather protection.

I live in the US Northeast (already that tells you what kind of winter weather to be expected) in Rochester, NY, a city well known for its outrageous snowfall and chilling temperatures. When I was a teenager growing up in the suburbs of Rochester, I thought nothing of shoveling a clear foot of snow out of the driveway every morning before school. It was there that I discovered just how much warmer I felt wearing tights in that kind of weather (thick opaques, of course). I would normally dress warmly on top (either a thick shirt or many layers) but would only wear jeans on the bottom. That always left me feeling cold, no matter what I wore on top, because jeans in perspective do very little. Then I started wearing tights under my jeans, and man, what a difference! Not only were my legs warmer, but if my jeans got wet from tromping in the snow (and they did) the tights added an extra layer of protection against the freezing cold feeling.

Not to mention the benefits of compression in an place where you sit on your rear end all day.

So I'm surprised by the fact that more men in colder climes haven't picked up on this article of clothing that offers so many benefits. Like Jamod said, tights are much less bulky than thermals or long johns, and it really feels like the missing puzzle piece is in place. Your legs and feet are much warmer, and as a result, your whole body feels warmer and you feel less fatigued. And I'm pretty certain there's no sexual fetish or taboo in keeping yourself warm!

And as the weather starts to warm up, but doesn't quite reach shorts range, tights give one the means to enjoy the freedom of shorts but without feeling cold.

Plus, they make great clothing for just lounging around the house. Think sweatpants, only much less bulky.


8. Geraden left...
Wednesday, 20 September 2006 6:36 am

Hi Chris

Welcome to my blog. I hope you will re-visit regularly!

Your comments are spot-on. I shall certainly be wearing opaque tights under my trousers this winter when I am outdoors, and with shorts indoors too.

Geraden


9. Lucky9 left...
Wednesday, 6 February 2008 7:07 pm

I usual buy tights online from Tightsplease, My Tights, Figleave and Wolford online -- I like Wolford Fatal 50 also Cotton Velvet, Matt Opaque 80 and DeLuxe 66 cos it so softy and very comfortable. My Tights and Tightsplease can sell any tights for men as they are very happy with any advice,etc.. same as Wolford as well. I used female style tights cos it great to wear it. Wolford Cotton Velvet and Matt Opaqu 80 are very warmest to wear in cold weather also very softy plus quite stronger as it wont get ladder. I dont use men underwear as I used Sloggi brief which is very soft as well - i only buy for suitable size and make me more comfortable.


10. Julian left...
Thursday, 21 February 2008 9:49 pm

My wife encouraged me to wear a pair of her pantyhose saying that they will help keep my legs warm during cold weather, at first I could not believe how such a thin material could be so protective for cold weather and I decided to give it a try. Now, after two months, I've been wearing them everyday, she was right, they do help keep your legs warm during winter and actually, they are comfortable to wear under your normal clothes.


11. Andy left...
Sunday, 6 July 2008 10:43 am

Hi Geraden

I started wearing tights when I left university, and it started purely by accident. I have always loved seeing female legs covered with tights, and wondered what it would be like to wear them myself, then one time while my live in girlfriend was out shopping I decided to try a pair on, low and behold they were too small and I laddered them but I kept them on realising they were so comfortable to wear. I was so enjoying them I did not realize that my girlfriend had come back and she caught me in them.

Her immediate reaction was to make me take them off and get some trousers on as we were going out. Very embarrased at this point, I was shocked to see that she took me to Marks and Spencers hosiery department, so I could look at all the colours and sizes they had. She then promptly bought me a selection in variours deniers and colours but all the right size, she then took me to a chemist where I could purchase a waxing kit.

That evening she taught me how to wax my legs and how to put on tights properly, although my legs were exposed in the confines of the house my legs were always covered when out.

It was about 3 years ago when I started wearing tights outside and exposed, it all happened one day when I was wearing suntan coloured tights with lycra shorts and trainers in the confines of my own garden. My girlfriend now wife said we needed to go shopping and asked whether I needed to change or whether I was keeping my shorts on as it was so nice. I said that I would keep my shorts on and just get me my wallet and car keys which she did. We locked up and went shopping, not until we were half way round Tesco that I noticed my tights were exposed for all to see. I pointed this out to my wife who commented that she was wearing cut off jeans and black tights with trainers so whats the problem. Well I could do nothing about my tights so we carried on shopping, and no one made a comment or even stared at us, we were just 2 middle aged people shopping.

Once this initial excursion was made, it seemed easier to go out in public wearing tights. I have not got to the stage of wearing barely black or outrageous colours in public I try to keep to suntan or nude colors, although I have to say that yesterday we went out all day and I wore a pair of coffee colored with knee length shorts and trainers.

I enjoy wearing tights, they feel comfortable and make my legs look fairly respectable. But you do have to wax though, they look bad with hairy legs. I tend to buy from the USA and purchase the Just My SIze Pantyhose, they have a sewn in cotton gusset which means that you can do without panties underneath. Although they are for women they are extremely comfortable to where, they also do various toe types, so if you want to wear sandals then you not need to have a re-inforced toe.

From my experience, the only people who notice you wearing tights are people who wear them themselves as you tend to look to see if there is anyone else wearing them. A very close friend of mine, apparently was a closet tights wearer until last weekend when we held a dinner party, it was a relaxed affair so I decided to wear my tights with cutoff jeans and sandals. It was almost 3 hours before he had the courage to point out I was wearing tights, I think the drink had lowered his tact at this point. So today Sunday 6th July he is having his first outing in public. He has chosen suntan to wear with knee length shorts, he will be accompanied by his wife, and myself and my wife. We are visiting Lands End, should be a lot of people today, but myself and wife have decided that we will be matching today with cut off jeans, trainers and barely black colored tights especially having worn the coffee coloured yesterday.

Just to point out one thing I am 46 years old and well built so tights are not just for the young and slim.

Andy


12. alan left...
Sunday, 19 October 2008 10:02 pm

i have worned tights for 20 years now and i only wear tights from tesco as after i shave my legs & put tights on i feel so content with them on after a time i forget that i have them on


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