Leopard Print Fishnets from Betsey Johnson!
It's no secret that I like leopard print. What started off as a passing fancy for a certain pin-up panty has since developed into a full blown fixation. In recent months, I've acquired leopard print girdles, leopard print bras, leopard print swimuits, and now...leopard print stockings.
Today, I'm reviewing the Betsey Johnson Fishnet Tights. If they look familiar, it's because I've already written about them in one of my lust features. A seasonal offering from a couple of winters back, the only retailer still selling these is Sock Dreams.
The fabric content is 90% nylon and 10% spandex. These tights are sheer to waist, and do not have a cotton gusset. The waistband is leopard printed elastic. Available in three colors (camel, cobalt, and blue) and two sizes (S/M and M/L), these tights fit maximum measurements of 6'0" and 165 lbs. Betsey Johnson is a designer label, and the price tag reflects this with a suggested retail price of $40.00.
As a child of the 80's, I was weaned on Jem and the Holograms and Rockstar Barbie. So the post-punk glamour of neon + fishnet+ leopard print appeals to me on a level I can't quite explain. It's fun and funky, and, when you get right down to it, lingerie is supposed to be about having a good time.
Unfortunately, we started off on the wrong foot with the packaging. If any corporate bigwigs are reading this please, for the love of whatever you hold sacred, don't use adhesive on the packaging of your hosiery. Not only does it cling to the fibers (making me afraid of tearing my nylons before I even put them on), it also takes off the dye and stretches the threads out of shape. In short, three very bad things happen (or are likely to happen) before I've even worn my stockings for the first time.
As far as fit, these tights are comfortable though not quite so much as the other high end tights I reviewed yesterday by Falke. The fishnet is a regular size. I bought these in the camel color, and I have to say I think the cobalt or hot pink might work better on skin tones like mine. As you can see in the picture, there are some places where the pattern just kind of fades away.
While I like these tights quite a bit, I'm not convinced they're worth the price tag. They're cute. They're comfortable. They're couture. But I'm not blown away. Those looking for a budget alternative might want to check out Celeste Stein, which also offers animal print fishnets.
