Backseam fishnet stockings with tassel bows - stockings discontinued by Leg Avenue - review by Jul!a

These stockings are a cute way to add a slightly retro feel to just about any outfit with their prominent backseam and bow tassels. The packaging is what you'd expect from Leg Avenue; them wrapped around a cardboard insert with a cardboard wrap. The outer packaging gives sizing information, materials (88% Nylon and 12% Spandex), and care instructions. They say that you should hand wash these in warm water and drip dry, but if you put them in a lingerie bag or pillow case, you should be fine running them through the washing machine.

These, like most stockings, are a one size fits all item. Leg Avenue only lists a weight on their packaging of 90-160 pounds, but in general they recommend between a size 6-11. Where these sat on my thigh at first is about 21" or so around and they dug in enough to be a bit painful, but if moved down a little farther to 18 1/2" or so I found them to be a lot more comfortable. My inseam is about 29" and where these were most comfortable is about 8" from my bikini line. Surprisingly, even with them pulled down a bit lower there wasn't any awkward bunching or anything else that usually plagues those of us with short legs.

The design on this is super simple; fishnets with a backseam and an added tassel. At the very top you have a support band that's pretty thick. It does stretch but it feels like it takes some work to get it to do so. It measures about 4 3/4" across when laid flat and stretches up to about 8" but at that point they'll be pretty tight. The band is also about 2 1/4" tall, and has a tendency to roll down if it doesn't like the positioning your leg is in or if it's too tight. From there you have a backseam that runs down the length of the leg, stopping at the bottom of the foot. The toes aren't reinforced, but also don't seem to let your toes out too badly either.

They've got a tube design, no formed foot, so it's hard to say exactly where the tassels are going to fall on you. On me, they were a few inches above my ankle; low on my calf and not in the way if I wore heels. The tassel itself is about 2 1/2" wide and hangs down about 3". It's tied in a bow, but you could untie it if you wanted the tassels to just hang down. You can also take a seam ripper and remove it very carefully if you really wanted, but if that's what you want to do I'd recommend just getting a plain black pair of fishnets.

I'd call the overall quality on the higher side of average. The netting feels a lot like most of the other fishnet things you'd get from Leg Avenue, although nicer somehow. The tassel looks and feels like a real tassel would in any other decorative setting. The support band, while restrictive, is also very nice to touch. It almost feels like jersey knit cotton, only way less loose and stretchy. I do recommend wearing these with garters to help keep them from rolling and falling down. The thick support band makes this difficult, but not impossible.

Here I have pictures of how the toes look, a closeup of the bow, and what they look like on me.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with these, even if they do hurt a little bit if I hike them up too high. They were a total impulse purchase because while I have a lot of fishnets, I don't have anything with tassels and I thought the idea was pretty neat. They're definitely a great accessory, assuming that you'll fit into them.

It took me a while to decide on a rating for these. If your thighs are small enough, these are easily a 5 star set of stockings. They are tight, but they don't run any smaller than most stockings I've had experience with. That and the unique design bring me back up to a 4 star rating.