Category: Celebrity Style

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Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

The X Factor: Demi v Britney

It was announced yesterday that two of America’s most famous faces were set to join the judging panel on the X Factor USA this year.  Britney Spears and Demi Lovato were announced as the two new addition, replacing Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul and joining LA Reid and Simon Cowell on the panel.  How will they fare?  AlexBlake.com has decided there’s only one way to find out – by looking at their hosiery choices, of course!

Singer-songwriter and Disney star Demi is continually spotted in fashion tights.  One of our favourite looks was when the usually rocky star went ladylike, teaming spotty tights with ladylike red peep toe shoes, a black, tailored coat and leather gloves – very Mad Men!  You can get a chic, 1950s look too – try classic seamed stockings or a subtle all over pattern like spots or diamonds.

Britney tends to favour a more casual LA look, and is often spotted in footless tights or leggings which she teams with a slouchy sweater and Starbucks.  When she’s on tour, however, it’s a different story – the singer showcases raunchy outfits on stage which almost always include fishnet tights and some kind of PVC bodysuit.

Both stars have also worn ripped tights – Demi to fit in with her rocky, edgy look and Britney when she was going through her “troubled period” (and didn’t appear to be able to dress herself).  You can of course create this look by customising a pair of your old opaques, but if you feel it’s a bit too much, lace pantyhose will give you a similar effect but without the full blown rocker girl style.  Fash-tastic or fashion fail?  You decide.

Our verdict?  Demi is our Tights Idol, but we think it will be Britney that gets everyone tuning in to the show this fall – if only to see whether her dad (and official conservator) will turn up to keep an eye on her new venture…

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Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

Fit for a Queen – Sheer Pantyhose is Back!

Summer is here, and across the country we’re swapping heavy sweaters for floaty dresses, and unearthing sunglasses, flip flops and dreading the great summer tights removal. But with the advancement in hosiery technology and endorsement of tons of celebrity fans, nude pantyhose is back – so you can get great coverage for your legs no matter what the weather.

Credit for the sheer pantyhose revival has to go to Kate Middleton, whose glossy, flawless legs convinced us that the days of terrible orange toned, scratchy nylons were truly over. Most good hosiery brands offer a range of quality sheers perfect for those summer days when you want to bare your legs – but still want the comfort of a little coverage.

Hanes hosiery does a fantastic range of sheers that are perfect for achieving everyday elegance. The brand has been endorsed by celebrities including Christina Applegate and Jennifer Love Hewitt, and it’s easy to see why.

They have been creating Hanes pantyhose since 1914 which has meant that they are well ahead of the game in technological advancement and their sheers are soft, luxurious and come in a style for every occasion. Whether you want a control top style for a special event, a reinforced toe for durable everyday wear or sexy stockings for that hot date, Hanes has it covered – and all of their styles come in loads of shades so you can get a perfect match to your skintone, meaning you will look as though you have naturally flawless legs!

From the OC’s Samaire Armstrong in the Hanes Silk Reflections collection to Katie Holmes wearing them in New York Magazine, Hanes is one of the nation’s favourite brands and is perfect for getting affordable luxury. So take a leaf out of the Duchess of Cambridge’s book and try sheer pantyhose – we can guarantee that as soon as you know how naturally flawless your legs can look, there will be no going back!

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Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Rihanna: Hooked on Hosiery

If you haven’t yet seen the picture that hosiery addict Rihanna tweeted of her Pretty Polly Pretty Braced Suspender Tights, chances are you’ve had your head in a hole somewhere.  The star tweeted a picture of herself on the way out to the Giorgio Baladi Restauant in Santa Monica in the tights, which led to a social media frenzy with fans, critics and the press all rushing to comment on her latest look.

She’s already been spotted teaming sexy black stockings with a red garter belt, and the Pretty Polly Pretty Braced Suspender Tights are the perfect way to get the look in a way that’s comfortable and practical for daytime, too.  They feature a mock thigh high design with a realistic looking red clip which Rihanna had on full display in her fresh white dress with daring thigh split.  Tweeters were quick to comment on the two visible runs in the stockings – but we think she still looked hot.

The singer can’t get enough of hosiery at the moment – she’s already been snapped in classic suspender tights, and last month stepped out to celebrate her win at the Brits in a lime green jumpsuit teamed with fishnet socks and bright blue pointy courts.

On the same London trip, she showed us she can do demure, too, by going out for dinner in a super chic black high necked sweater and grey blazer, and finished the look with luxury opaques.  She’s also worn fishnet tights on tons of occasions including nude and black versions during her sellout tour.

She soon reverted back to her trademark statement style, though, and sparked a buying frenzy when she worked bondage tights which were an instant sellout.  So hurry and get your hands on the latest style to grace the singer’s legs – you can guarantee they won’t be around for very long!

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Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

Katy Perry: Glam vs. Gothic

Not content with a sellout tour and hit album, Katy Perry has turned her hand to conquering the world of fashion, and just can’t seem to get enough of statment tights at the moment!  Following hot on the heels of her BFF Rihanna, she’s hooked on hosiery at the moment, showing off two very different looks over the last couple of weeks.

At the end of March she was snapped leaving a radio interview in the UK in an unusually ladylike look.  A beige coat was layered over a gorgeous cream dress and the look was given a cute finish with spotty tights and shoe of the moment – the amazing Charlotte Olympia Kitty flats that we’ve seen on everyone that’s anyone, including Beyoncé and Alexa Chung. It was also one of the last times she was spotted with her electric blue hair….

Then the pop princess showed off her post-Russell purple hair at the launch party of Coachella last week.  In a complete about-turn of her demure styling in England, she worked gothic chic in an outfit more suited to a teenager than a 27 year old global sensation.  She wore a studded leather jacket over a dipped hem black maxi dress, under which you could see the incredibly cool Henry Holland Bones Tights which had been customised with some rips and tears.

Katy is known for her bold fashion choices, and whilst we LOVE the first look we’re not entirely convinced the second is wearable for real life.  If, like us, you love the Henry Holland Bones Tights, why not dress them up with a bodycon dress and punky leather jacket for rock star style with a glamorous touch – totally wearable on a night out!

Do you agree?  Or do you think Katy’s demure look is boring and LOVE the grunge-luxe look?  Let us know your thoughts – find us on Facebook or tweet us!

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Thursday, April 5th, 2012

Get the Royal Seal of Approval…

Princess Beatrice, daughter of Sarah Ferguson, was snapped at a memorial service for her great grandmother, the Queen Mother, last week and gave the world a flash of her shapewear. The famously curvy Royal has slimmed down a couple of dress sizes over the last few years and now looks as though she is around a size 6 – which proves that no matter what you shape or size, we can all feel more confident in shaping garments.

If you’re already slim but feel like you want a bit of extra shaping or reassurance when you’re wearing tight-fitting outfits, control tights are perfect. Take a look at the range of Hanes pantyhose which include several styles of control top pantyhose that are perfect for a bit of subtle sculpting – no one will ever know! The Secret Slimmer range from Pretty Polly is also great, especially if you want fashion tights with an in-built control top.

Curvy ladies might want something a little stronger to really make the most of their gorgeous curves, in which case you can’t go wrong with Spanx shapewear. With loads of different styles available, they really are the go-to brand for shapewear to go with any outfit, including strapless and very short dresses! You can also choose between different levels of control for optimum shaping.

Of course, if you are already breaking out in a cold sweat about the thought of bikini season approaching, check out the ShaToBu shapewear range. These shapers help you to burn up to 12% more calories going about your day to day life using unique resistance band technology. A workout we won’t even know we’re doing? Yes please!

If the variety of options on offer confuses you, be sure to head to our shapewear advice pages for help. If nothing else though, you can be safe in the knowledge that you won’t be alone – with everything from SJP to Krsiten Stewart (and now Royalty!) giving shapewear a go, you’ve never been in better company!

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Monday, March 26th, 2012

Stars in suspender tights

Suspender tights just get hotter and hotter!  This week we’ve had two sightings of stars in their suspender tights. First we saw Paris Hilton (see picture) on her way to family dinner at Boa Steakhouse in Beverley Hills wearing her favourite Henry Holland Tights. Then a couple of days later Toni Braxton released some sneak pictures of her new video and there she was sporting a pair of House of Holland Suspender Tights.

Paris Hilton has been wearing her suspender tights so much lately they could almost be called a signature style.  Her suspender tights technique is to team them with an all short black dress that just shows the mock stocking tops.  It’s a classic way to wear the trend and I love the way they add a sexy edge to an otherwise ordinary dress.

It’s probably unfair to compare Toni’s look with Paris’ after all the rules of dress for a music video are very different from those for a dinner date.  I’m not so sure about the colour of her leotard but you can’t deny that Toni’s House of Holland Tights really show off her sensational legs.   Hotpants this short might be a little extreme for real life but wearing suspender tights like Toni’s under a pair of shorts is a sexy look that is bound to get you noticed.    Do copy Toni by wearing your Henry Holland Tights with black platform shoes to make your legs look like they go on forever.

Who would have thought that Paris Hilton was in with a shot of being on our “best dressed” list?  How times change.   How do you wear your suspender tights? Do you team them with slinky dress or show of those mock suspender straps with shorts or hotpants?  Perhaps you have come up with a whole new way to wear them?

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Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

Spring Fling… The hottest trends this season

With Spring officially here and the weather heating up, we decided to pull together a round-up of the key trends this season and how you can pull them off. From daytime sequins to outdoor pyjamas via vegetable print dresses, there are so many new and exciting trends that we feel utterly spoilt!

TRIBAL (AS SEEN AT MISSONI)
Your hosiery companion: Emilio Cavallini Ethnic Patterned Tights
Yes, ok, tribal is on trend every year without fail, but that’s because it’s so chic and flattering. Because you can pretty much guarantee comes back every summer it’s a great trend to invest in, so keep an eye out for soft, tan leather accessories and crisp white cotton. You can wear last year’s maxi dresses and maxi skirts, and mix with bright flashes of colour and tribal designs.

1920S (AS SEEN AT MARCHESA)
Your hosiery companion: embellished tights
The 1920s trend is another one that’s back this year, but the pajama trend has made it fresh and exciting. If that doesn’t sound quite like your thing, look for fringing, drop waists and embellishment. Color-wise, stick to neutral shades like pale golds and dusty pinks on luxurious fabrics like chiffron and silk.

PRINTS (AS SEEN AT D&G)
Your hosiery companion: Jonathan Aston Cherries Tights
We were dreading yet another spring with florals as the print of choice… and then we saw the catwalks. Although florals still have their place (they look amazing with pastel basics), this year it’s all about quirky designs such as the vegetable print dresses and D&G. Look out for other tropical inspired designs, as well as scarf and abstract graphical designs, too.

UNDERWATER (AS SEEN AT CHANEL)
Your hosiery companion: Bebaroque Tigerlily 80 Denier Tights or Henry Holland Pearly Suspender Tights.
We admit we were sceptical when we first heard about “underwater” being a trend. But as soon as we saw the amazing Chanel SS 12 show we were instantly convinced. Karl Lagerfeld’s amazing sea-scape at the show means that sequins are now acceptable for daytime wear (blue and silver, NOT black!) Team them with pale pastel colours (again, blues and grays are perfect) in sheer fabrics. The Chanel show also featured pearls EVERYWHERE – from the more traditional necklaces to belts and hairpins too.

SPORTS LUXE (AS SEEN AT ALEXANDER WANG)
Your hosiery companion: Something neon from Emilio Cavallini
This trend does not have to mean going out partying in your sweats… to get the sports luxe look in a glam way, get well cut basics in bright white and accessorise with flashes of neon. Loads of stores are now making beautiful dresses in sports fabrics which are perfect, and keep an eye out for mesh detailing, too.

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Thursday, March 1st, 2012

Stars in Technicolor Tights

We’ve always said that colored tights are one of the easiest and most affordable ways of updating your look with the latest color trends.   Well it seems that the stars agree with us.  They have been brightening up our fashion pages all winter with their colorful pins.  From teen stars to bridesmaids to Sex and the City stars, here is trend that works for every age and style.

Color blocking is a trend that looks like it is here to stay and we recently spotted Liv Tyler working this look in bright blue tights and a blue sweater with a black dress.   Get the same look with the Pamela Mann 50 Denier Tights in Flo Blue.  Color blocking can also make your little black dress work for every day of the week.  Just swap blue for red, green or orange tights for completely a new look every day.

Sarah Jessica Parker showed us all the way to wear bold color when she stepped out in a pair of eye catching turquoise tights.  SJP made sure her outfit wasn’t too loud by pairing the bright turquoise with nude colored dress and shoes which gave her a fresh, breezy look.  Copy SJP with the Pamela Mann’s 50 Denier Tights in Flo Turquoise.

Bridesmaids star Kristin Wiig has been praised on fashion pages for her red tights which gave her jewel embellished dress a less formal feel.  A welcome change from the “play it safe” long gowns on the red carpet, Kristin’s look had a hipper more youthful flavour.  On this evidence, I’d definitely recommend teaming heavily embellished tops and dresses with colored hosiery to give your “dressed up” dress a new lease of life for cocktails or club nights.

Finally, Bella Thorn has proved that colored hosiery is a trend that works for all ages.  The teen star accessorized her glitter skirt and short jacket with purple tights that added a dash of color.  If your legs are your best feature make sure they are the centre of attention with colored tights and a short skirt like Bella’s.  Pull off your own version Bella’s look with Pretty Polly’s 60 Denier Tights in Grape.

Whether you are 18 or 80, copy the stars and update your look on a budget.  Here at AlexBlake.com we’ve got tights in about 80 different shades so give last season’s dress a new lease of life with colored hosiery from our unbeatable range.

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Monday, February 27th, 2012

Pretty Polly Suspender Tights at the All Star Game!!!

Without a doubt the best thing about the all star game at the weekend was the half time performance from Ne-Yo and the Orlando Magic Dancers. The dance troupe led the way with some amazing moves and seriously hot outfits… finished off with none other than the Pretty Polly Suspender Tights! These super sexy suspender tights are having a moment this season, having been featured on the Today Show just a few weeks ago. We completely get why the cheerleaders chose this style of hosiery – not only are they amazing to look at, the design means you get the look of stockings and a garter belt with none of the hassle, meaning they could dance away without worrying about socks that fall down. The sheer tops of these tights also add a touch of class, meaning that you can look sexy without ending up looking trashy.

You can see the picture of the girls and many more in the USA Today Photo Gallery, or watch the clip below!  If you haven’t yet bought some of these tights (amazingly inexpensive at just $25), you need to get in on the trend fast. With stars from Rihanna to Kimberley Wyatt stepping out in these tights recently, they are a surefire way to get your man to stop watching the game, and pay you some attention instead!!!

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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

Rihanna Wears Falke at Grammys

We’ve just had it confirmed that Rihanna was wearing Falke Pure Matte 50 Tights for her sensational performance at the Grammys on Sunday night.   We’ve become used to seeing RiRi in striking fashion tights lately (with both her suspender tights and bondage style tights causing a media stir and a flurry of sales) but these classic, understated opaques were just what she needed to keep the attention on her bare midriff and sensational figure.

Falke are famed for creating great quality basics that don’t draw attention to themselves but we can think of some great reasons why RiRi might favour this brand.

Rihanna is famous for her energetic and provocative dance routines so making sure that her tights don’t hold her back is vital.  Falke hosiery offers a great fit and I speak from experience when I say you can shimmy and shake your stuff on the dancefloor all night and they’ll still hug your curves and look sensational.

Secondly, because they are made from such high quality yarns, Falke pantyhose and tights tend to be more durable than other products in the same category.   Whether hanging out backstage or rocking out for the audience, I am sure that knowing that her tights are as tough as her look gives RiRi the confidence to perform at her best.

You don’t need to be working it on stage like Rihanna to appreciate the quiet brilliance of Falke.  It’s definitely worth paying that little bit extra for tights that give you the perfect fit and won’t restrict your movement.   Rihanna clearly also appreciates (or at least her expert stylist does) that, because all Falke hosiery is made from high quality yarns, they also tend to last longer.  Kneeling or crawling sexily on stage holds no fear for Rihanna in these tights!   Check out our full range of Falke socks, tights and pantyhose online.  You’ll find something for every occasion and every look – whether you are a shrinking violet or a fully fledged diva like Rihanna.

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