Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Tights/Strumpfhosen



Quite an unusual title, but I have been looking at tights for over a week now.  First it was cotton tights for girls.  We did order a few from Lands' End because we had a coupon, but what a disappointment when they arrived: thin material and very tight (no pun intended).  I also ordered women's tights, but they were just so bad that I sent them back.  One tore right away and was cut so strangely that I don't know who will be able to wear those.  I tried Hanna Andersson for myself next, but again, I was not happy with one of the two pairs I had ordered.  It arrived with a hole.  So I think I will go back to order from Garnet Hill.  At least, their tights are pretty good and last for at least one season.  However, they are not particularly warm.  Maybe I should try their girls' tights for Veronika.  She is in between sizes and nothing fits right now.  Or maybe try the loose fitting ones from Hanna Andersson for her?  The ones form Mini Boden were already sold out and Gymboree did not have a good selection.  We have had some luck with the ones from Children's Place in the past, but the quality is just so, so.  Or L.L. Bean?  They used to be okay, but just okay because they are also fairly thin.  So this is quite frustrating.


Image result for boys dance tooAnd today I find myself looking at white footed men's ballet tights (again).  That is even a more difficult task.  What fabric should we get?  A cotton blend or synthetic?  What kind of waist?  Which tights are the least see-through when you are up on a stage?  Which will survive a wild battle scene and several falls?  Which are in stock and ship fast?  Unfortunately, we will have to buy several ones in case one tears.  That happened last year . . . In case you have not guessed it, these are for Jonathan's role as the Nutcracker.  I love the site Boys dance too, good selection, and great service and advice (I have had many "conversations" with the male experts there about what boys and young men need in terms of ballet outfits.  Most dance stores do not have any male employees, quite annoying when you have to go shopping with your son.)  But even there, once you buy those tights, you cannot return them in case they don't fit!  And they are expensive!!


Oh well, the search continues.

Auf Deutsch kann ich das hier nicht alles so schreiben wie auf Englisch, da es sich auf viele amerikanische Firmen bezieht, die in Europa nicht alle bekannt sind.  Aber so viel kann ich doch sagen: Ich habe in den letzten Wochen verzweifelt dicke Baumwollstrumpfhosen für alle Mädchen und auch mich selbst gesucht.  Wir haben einige bestellt, doch ist die Qualität inzwischen miserabel oder der Schnitt ist so eigenartig, daß man nicht weiß, wer die tragen soll.  Andere kommen mit Löchern an, und das von namenhaften Läden. 

Heute ist dann noch die Suche nach weißen Ballettstrumpfhosen für junge Männer dazugekommen.  Das ist noch schwieriger, weil es verschiedene Materialien gibt, einige in dieser Farbe zu durchsichtig sind und alle einen Kampf und viele Stürze des Nußknackers aushalten müssen.  Letztes Jahr sind Jonathan beide Strumpfhosen während der Aufführung zerrissen.  Das soll uns nicht wieder passieren.  Und das Dumme ist, daß man diese Strumpfhosen nicht wieder zurückgeben kann.  Wenn man sie einmal gekauft hat, bleibt es dabei.  Sie sind leider auch sehr teuer.  So werden wir wohl noch weiter suchen müssen, doch viel Zeit bleibt nicht mehr, die Aufführung ist Anfang Dezember!     

14 comments:

  1. Yes, finding good tights that don't cost an arm and a leg is not easy! However, I have always had good ones from Hanna Andersson so that's disappointing that they arrived with a hole. I have also always liked Oilily tights (just google Oilily) but they can be a bit expensive . . maybe on Ebay? I've also bought Hanna tights on Ebay. Lands End used to have good tights . . but I do remember them getting rather thin! Isn't that awful and frustrating?! I can't remember what brand of tights I have in my drawer now. . I just checked. They're "MP" made in Denmark. I can't remember where I got them! I just googled them . . they're at Garnet Hill and they're not cheap (of course) but Garnet Hill is having a 25$ off sale and free shipping until December 1st. Good luck! :)

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    1. I think the quality of Hanna Andersson has been going down over the years. Most of their things are now made in China. Yes, I know Oilily, there used to be a store next to the university in Bonn that sometimes had great sales. I have never bought things from the in this country. Yes, Garnet Hill will be my next choice. I have had their Italian tights and they are okay, but also do not last more than a season.

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  2. P.S. Tights for boys is a whole different ball game than tights for girls, and they seem much more problematic!

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    1. We decided to get one BalTogs and one Wearmoi pair. Now we are waiting for them to arrive. We had to do a lot of searching to find his size and color. Most places were sold out. We are also trying the Natalie leotard for Charlotte.

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  3. Oh hugs Eva but I have to let you know that this made chuckle :-). Tights can be totally "pants!", which is a term for everything not great!! Pip cannot stand tights as the gusset invariably ends up round her knees and needs a whole heap of tugging. I by British Home Stores or Marks and Spencer tights and they last really well. Mind you I am talking about ladies cotton rich and not nylon denier.

    Hope you manage to find some durable tights for Jonathan :-) and as for dance stores not having a male employee maybe that is a part time opportunity for J?

    Xx

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    1. Oh, good, this search is really ridiculous. I spent a whole day trying to locate Jonathan's tights. We even called one place to make sure they were in stock.

      Veronika also complains about tights, they never fit. Miriam and Flora don't have those problems. Yes, I am looking at thick cotton tights, they are very common in Germany, but hard to find here.

      Unfortunately, the next store is over an hour away, It would not be easy to get a job there . . .

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  4. Viel Glück bei der Suche, hoffe ihr findet gute Strumpfhosen und hoffe sie halten die Aufführung durch und auch noch danach. Wie hat es Jonathan letztes Jahr gemacht mit seinen Strumpfhosen, hat ihm jemand welche geliehen? Oder musste er mit den Zerrissenen weitertanzen?

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    1. Für einige der Generalproben wird er seine normale Balletthose anziehen, damit wir noch was für die Aufführung haben. Letztes Jahr hat er mit kaputter Hose weitergetanzt, doch dieses Jahr gibt es drei Aufführungen und wir haben nur zwei Hosen bestellt.

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    2. Dann drücke ich spezielle die Daumen, dass die Hosen von guter Qualität sind und halten.

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  5. Zumindest Land's End haben wir hier auch, die Qualität fand ich allerdings gar nicht doll. Viel Erfolg bei der Suche! Auch blöd, dass man immer bestellen und zurückschicken muss statt irgendwo im Laden die Hosen anprobieren zu können. :-(

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    1. Ja,es gibt einen kleinen Lands' End Ableger in Europa, doch was sie da verkaufen entspricht kaum der Auswahl hier. Keine Ahnung, warum das so ist. Füher war Lands' End immer sehr gut, aber nicht mehr. Ja, Läden gibt es hier nicht, die so etwas verkaufen. Da muß man weit fahren. Ist ziemlich nervig.

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  6. Ah; tights! The bane of my existence when the girls were little! In France, my mother-in-law provided them, but my little tom-boy went through 3 pairs a week. Since moving here, it was always hit and miss; sometimes TJ Maxx, sometimes I'd order from Hannah Anderson or the occasional special order from a European woolens company. Last week I made a discovery: Cuddle Duds leggings; the thinnest ones; heaven! There are all weights as well as options I do not even comprehend, and if they have them for children, they are the best. You can wear as many pairs of socks as you like without having sticky tight material against your feet and no more throwing out a pair because the toes are out. Now I know why the teens wear leggings. I thought it was because they were thin enough that an extra layer was not going to add a vital half-inch to their hips. No; these are THIN. I am in love. Good luck! Hugs and a very happy thanksgiving!

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    1. Three pairs a week! That is incredible. We do have some German ones, they are so much better than what you buy here. I will take a look at Cuddle Duds. I have had a nightgown from them, I believe, and liked it. For teaching, I need tights, though, leggings and socks do not look so great with skirts and I tend to wear skirts when I teach. But here at home it would not matter. Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

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