The Vine: November 16, 2007
Sars,
A query for your ever-helpful armies of readers; hopefully, they’ll have some ideas that I haven’t, and I can stop wanting to tear my hair out.
I am powerfully coveting a pair of wool stockings (tights, if you will – not knee-highs or thigh-highs, but full waist-to-toe jobbies) like I had when I was a kid and have just recently realized exist in adult sizes. Glee! They’re warm, they’re cute, and they make skirts an option when it gets stupid cold in the winter.
The obstacle: I’m a fat girl, size 22, AND a tall one (5’11”) to boot. And I cannot for the life of me find plus-size wool tights (beyond “Extra Large,” which rarely fits bigger than a 14-16, at best). I have Googled this to death, I’ve asked plus-size stores and places that specialize in legwear, and I get the same abstract shrugs from everyone. Apparently, I can either have tights in wool or tights that fit, but not both. Hooray.
I implore your readers, if anyone knows of a place to buy actual wool tights that will fit a 5’11” girl, size 22-24 (3X), I would be eternally grateful.
Frostbitten Knees
Dear Frosty,
My first suggestion would have been Torrid, but it sounds like you checked there already; I visited all the bookmarks in my browser that might offer plus-size wool tights, but nobody seemed to have wool tights at all (the closest I could find was over-the-knee socks).
Readers?
Tags: Ask The Readers retail
I feel for you. Luckily I am Short to go with my tubby so “Tall” usually fit me OK. Whatever at 5’4″ I am not tall.
I googled fat girl wool stocking and ended up at this page. I haven’t taken the time to look too hard at it
http://community.livejournal.com/fatshionista/2206755.html
But there also seem to be helpoful comments at the end
Or try this site http://www.tightsplease.co.uk/ and select Wool under denier.
Hope that helps
Try justmysize.com. They have some cotton blend tights up to 6x for 7.99 each. just type in “tights” in the search box, and you should be all set.
http://www.welovecolors.com/Shop/PlusSizedHosiery.htm
You might consider looking for custom work… a few sellers on etsy.com who do custom wool socks might be able to make you some tights, as well. I found http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=20301 especially had many types of socks and legwarmers listed.
It does look like there’s not much out there, so if it were me, I’d start looking for someone who does hand-made knitted woolwork, and go from there.
You might want to check out the “hosiery” tag in the Livejournal community Fatshionista. Someone just did a big review of all the hosiery they’ve found which might be a good place to start (http://community.livejournal.com/fatshionista/2206755.html). But where to find find good plus tights is an ongoing challenge for all! I’m on the hunt for lighter officey hosiery that won’t make a swishy noise on my thighs and against my skirt when I walk (
Calzedonia is awesome. They’ve got every kind of tight-legging-sock known to man, and come in a pretty wide range of sizes. They’re a Euro-company, so the sizes are 1-2-3-4-5, but a 4 or 5 should suit… Frostbitten may be able to order online or have a friend ship some over. Good luck!
I hope this isn’t a double post…
I second the fatshoinista post that bronte found and also suggest visiting therotund.com — she’s had several posts on plus hosiery lately, plus she’s friendly and helpful in response to questions.
I have been wearing Lands End matte tights in a large (1X, 2X) size for years now. They aren’t wool–Nylon/Lycra/a smidge of Spandex–but they are gloriously soft, warm and comfortable, durable, washable, keep their shape, the whole bit. Color selection is not great but I like ’em.
http://www.landsend.com/pp/MatteTights
I’ve had good luck with plus-size tights at the big department stores. Usually the color selection is on the limited side (like… there’s black or maybe gray), but I got these adorable blue tights with polka dots at Macy’s last winter, so odd things are possible. Target also occasionally has cotton tights in the big sizes.
You guys are terrific. The options from Just My Size and We Love Colors are delighting me to no end, and I’m finding a lot of good resources from the Fatshionista community. Thank you so much!!!
You’ve probably checked both places, but I’ve had really good luck finding plus-size tights at both Target and Lane Bryant. I honestly can’t remember if they have wool, but I think LB did when I checked a few weeks ago. Good luck!
Try Sock Dreams– they have lots of plus sized options. They worked for me when I was a size 22 (and I’m tall as well!).
Check out MyTights — they have awesome selection in a lot of sizes. I think the Aristoc brand tights come in larger sizes and wool. Not inexpensive, and the shipping takes a little while (at least to the US), but I’ve been quite happy with what I’ve bought from them.
http://www.mytights.com/mytights/index.html
to Siobhan: If you turn your stockings inside out, they make much less noise. I speak from experience here, also being a large lady (size 4x, 6’1″).
And, a lateral thought – if the woolly tights are wanted to wear with knee boots, don’t overlook the possibility of finding wool leggings, or footless non-wool tights, and supplementing them with warm woolly socks. Eases up the difficulty of finding something that fits simultaneously in the waist, the length and the foot. The socks are neatly tucked over the leggings, your boots conceal the overlap, all that is on view to the public is the legging, which for all the observer knows has feet and is tights.
I looked over at Sock Dreams, which is pretty much the only place I go for hosiery anymore, and though they didn’t quite have any wool tights that came in larger sizes (only ones that came in ‘tall’), they do have two alternative options that might fit your needs. First are a pair of wool leggings:
http://www.sock-dreams.com/_shop/pages/socks_detail_ProductID_1005.php
And second are a pair of bamboo tights, which, though I haven’t tried them, are supposed to be very warm and of good quality:
http://www.sock-dreams.com/_shop/pages/socks_detail_ProductID_1003.php
Maybe one of those will help (and hopefully I did the urls right).
I’d suggest checking amazon.uk or amazon.de. When I lived in Germany, they had a far better size range on wool tights.
I would email the owners of stockingirl.com (they have great customer service) and ask if any of their XL wool tights would be likely to fit. They have a great selection and carry really high-quality stuff. They should be able to tell you how far off the size charts you can be and still get a good fit. They may also be able to special order pieces for you.
@kymster – Thanks! I can’t wait to get home and try on some that i’ve bought and that have previously failed the swishy test! In winter I’ve been living in the black opaque microfiber tights from JMS (rite aid generally stocks them in real life if people are looking for them) because they are the *only* hose I’ve found that don’t announce my impending arrival 30 seconds before people see me in the office ;-)
Do you have any favourite brands? I’m 6’1″ too! 1x/2x.
sockdreams.com (as mentioned above.)
They are awesome, and even if they don’t have something on hand that would work, they could probably point you in the right direction. They are the gods of socks, though like the above poster, I didn’t see any wool tights that would work. They do have a remarkable selection of thigh highs, which I love, and have put me off pantyhose/tights for ever. The angora thigh highs? Dreamy. Want.
Try Avenue.com
http://www.avenue.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/DisplayJsp?storeId=326&langId=-1&jspName=about/sizechart.jsp#panty
My first thought was Hanna Andersson ( http://www.hannaandersson.com ) but their largest size fits only up to 195 – I’m not familiar with plus sizing so I don’t know if that’s in your range? If so, I recommend them. They are expensive, but cozy and they LAST.
Check out Fashion Bug (www.fashionbug.com).
Ribbed (for her pleasure):
http://fashionbug.charmingshoppes.com/pagebuilder/fashion_bug_product_page?nav=Accessories&item=1227974&pagesize=3&sub_cat=TIGHTS&shop=
Regular opaque:
http://fashionbug.charmingshoppes.com/pagebuilder/fashion_bug_product_page?nav=Accessories&item=1144120&pagesize=3&sub_cat=TIGHTS&shop=
FB is also having an awesome sale this weekend – almost everything is 40% off.
Good luck!
From the Fatshionista community on LJ, Jessica London! http://www.jessicalondon.com/clothing/Cabled-Knit-Tights.aspx?PfId=112857&DeptId=10367&producttypeid=1&pref=ps&PurchaseType=G
And a review of these specific tights are here:
http://community.livejournal.com/fatshionista/2241703.html#cutid1
All you could ever want to know about plus size stockings here:
http://www.therotund.com/?p=295
She even has reviews of Sock Dreams socks that she’s purchased in addition to a bunch of other places to buy plus size stockings.
While not wool, this is a great site for plus size leggings. I have worn the microfiber ones and they are soft and fit well.
http://www.avenue.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=17683&storeId=326&langId=-1&catalogId=40000000326
For those of us up in Canada: Reitman’s and Addition-Elle have lots of cheap and large sizes that come in a variety of colours and lenghts! But the great part is, that since these stores and in most every mall, you don’t have to wait for delivery! Although, nothing too fancy like designs, though. But correct support beats designs every time.
Google Sternlein, they make a nice wool tight that should fit.
Coming in very late here (thanks to Google)
warmlegwear.com. I bought several pairs in an XL from them last year and they are the warmest, comfiest tights I’ve ever owned. When I was looking this autumn I saw they carry up to a 3XL.
I recently just bought 3 pair from Target. They go up to sizes XXL, and come in cute designs and colors. The selection is limited, but was good enough for me. The price wasn’t that bad, about $8.00. I’ve also seen plus sixe tights @ Macy’s, but they were a bit pricier, like $15.00.