#oh absolutely a really luxe matte black

[topioswords]

Customer Service

People underestimate the versatility of a pocket folding knife Noir had decided about 4 weeks into his self exile slash career change to outlaw. That still holds true, not that it is a quality specimen he’s got his hands on, but it has helped him out of some tricky spots so far. Like the cover to his charger port being stuck again. He shifts his head to get a better view, tilting the blade and - there. The edge of the semi-hidden leg port gets another nick as the dull blade scrapes against the slightly warped edge before hitting the right spot, but among all the other assorted scuffs and scratches it is hardly something you’d notice. 

Just another scar, figuratively speaking. 

Too bad bots generally don’t really go for that being a sign of honor. Then again, he isn’t exactly planning to go noticed among his own kind.

Noir checks again, but aside from a couple of cameras, which he gently redirects to elsewhere, nobody is trying to pay him any attention. Spaceports really are a blessing, that mix of people moving about hurriedly and being stuck in transit sometimes for days on end is perfect. As long as you keep to yourself nobody’s bothered by your behavior being a little off. Plus, there's the ample more or less free access recharging spots. Noir slumps back into the seemingly deliberately uncomfortable chair and thanks whatever sucky god that decided to bless him with this small mercy. He hasn’t had a decent recharge in days, he doesn’t even want to look over the list of things he’s had to shut down or set on standby near the end.

A message weasels in somehow, even though Noir could have sworn he’d blocked that function off solidly a while ag-oh wait, the half blind shut downs, he might’ve loosened up on other systems’ access. Well, fuck. 

>> Do you require assistance? It says, the reply cursor blinking at him accusingly.

>> no  he writes back glumly, checking the time stamp. It’s been there a while, he should’ve noticed. Who is this even? 

There’s a lot of people and bots at a place like this. Lots of customer service and general service models that would offer help cause that’s what they’re there for. It sounds almost like that kind of inquiry. Only the tone’s a little off, ask him how he knows, haha not like he hasn't been there done that for the majority of his functionality.

>> Are you certain whoever it is writes back, definitely too fast to be a human response. 

Which.

Is bad. Probably.

Dodging questions is easier with humans somehow.

Noir could answer instantly, he’s not that laggy, but that’d strip any hope he has of feigning being a modified human. Poking around his access settings delays his reaction a bit but not enough, his danger assessment is having a grand time somewhere at the back presenting worst case scenarios while he waits.

“I’m fine,” he says, deliberately not texting back.

The surface skimming he’s getting from the nearby service models doesn’t show any attempts at contacting him, he broadens his range a bit, adjusting the parameters. Noir runs his fingers along the edge of the lens, like that’ll somehow help focus.

A message tics in the same moment he finishes speaking very nearly ‘That leg doesn’t look fine.’

There's a location pushed at him, uninvited, and doesn’t manage to stop it before his camera picks up on the sleek matte black bot tapping its own leg inconspicuously, right where his is messed up the most. Its smooth full-face display is doing a deliberately pixelated smile and wink at him. He knows that style. It’s the one they prototyped for more complex Lux models, only the quality is arguably better.

That stupid expression configuration was trademarked

Shit.

>> What. Do you. Want. he writes, bitterly, because he doesn’t trust his voice right now.

>> How much of you is Original? they answer back with absolutely no hesitation. Like they aren’t even gonna pretend both of them know what he’s hiding under two and a half layers of clothes and a fox face.

There’s a nasty drop in performance as his threat assessment takes that bit of data in. It’s not exactly a safe question no matter how he tries to twist and turn it.

>> None of your business Noir sends, giving up on feigning human slowness.

>> It’s rare, finding working Lux models in the open, especially after the callback. 

They’re folding their dumb hover arms, leaning nonchalantly against the railing a floor up, and Noir pointedly makes sure not to turn his head towards them even though he knows they know he’s seen them.

He’s also refusing to look up what that matte jerk is talking about. Knowing isn’t gonna help him out of whatever situation this is.

>> I’m not a Lux model, Noir sends, stubbornly.

>> Well, I suppose a mod is more accurate, if you want to be technical. But I am a bit of a connoisseur at this point. I’d know that joint outline anywhere. And it’s not one that integrates well with flesh.

Noir stares at his ankle joint, which isn’t even that exposed, that is some impressive visuals the creep has. 

>> Maybe I just couldn’t afford proper prosthetics and made do with what I could get cheap, he responds, hoping for a miracle he doesn’t really believe in.

>> Lux parts are not cheap, they answer back, confirming Noir’s suspicion he can’t just squirm out of this awful conversation. That stupid copycat smile curls at the edges as he tugs the pant leg down to cover that bit of exposed frame. ‘Also, your ID is still reading Lux Industries.’

“Crap,” Noir says to himself. He never should’ve responded by text.

>> You’re not very good at the famous Lux service mindedness, the matte asshole writes after Noir has given them the silent treatment for 138 seconds straight, or in more human terms… forever. Noir audibly scoffs and folds his arms. 

>> Never said I was one. And what, are you dumb enough to think customer service people are just like that all the time?

They shift their dumb elegantly angled frame enough that Noir can follow it even at the not optimal angle and rests their arms in a new, more thoughtful pose.

Noir hates that he can tell that design is built over the same base concept as his, only refined. Showoff.

>> I have studied several, never got to see a Lux in action though

>> And you won’t. Stop implying I’m one, I’m not gonna dance for you no matter what tune you play.

>> A shame. You really are very rare now, records and demo versions really do not give an accurate sense of real life interaction. I would love to pick that programming of yours apart, see how it runs. Would you let me have a look? 

It doesn’t seem to really register what they’re saying is intensely creepy, or they’re just that arrogant, Noir keeps the annoyed yelling he wants to do down. 

>> Nope. Gonna call me in anytime soon, or are you gonna wait for me to start rusting away down here? he writes instead. Cause that is where this is going, isn’t it? It wouldn’t be the first time.

They do something with their hand, Noir can’t quite tell what from this angle, but something about it makes his much taxed threat assessment module have another fit. 

>> I won’t, for now, nobody has made a high enough bid. And you might change your mind. they send back, and before he can react they’ve slipped away.

Noir knows it won’t actually help any, but he still shudders, to get that staticky feeling clinging to his everything to go away.

He grabs his knife and charger and packs them away.

Something about this place doesn’t feel so safe anymore.

[mirandadrawss]

Chapter 1 Preview

 🕷😱

The scratch of hundreds of quills against rough parchment permeated the air around Obsidian. For what felt to him like the thousandth time, he dipped the tip of his Peregrine feather into the inkwell and swept his eyes over the final question.

Explain the importance of dialect and accents during incantations, including, how different accents affect a spell’s performance and if spells require variation based on region or location.

Oh boy, he thought. He fluffed the end of his quill against his temple as he struggled to recall the enthusiastic lectures of his Incantation professor. Obsidian had always had a hard time paying attention to the lectures about history and theory, in spite of Professor Drought’s passion. Drought fawned over the subject she taught and that carried over into her teaching style, but theory just wasn’t as intriguing as the practical application of magic. Why learn why something had to be said a certain way if you could just learn to say it right and have the spell work? And, while we’re complaining, why did everyone have to use quills? They were ridiculously expensive and ballpoint Bics worked just as well. Not to mention the incessant cacophony quills made when everyone was writing at the same time. Light from the runic stones floating overhead flickered off his indigo horns as he shook his head to himself. With a final dip into the ink, he began his answer.

When using incantations, the meaning and purpose of the Magikan is more important than the accent of the words.

It really irked him that he couldn’t just put Warlock, but the Inclusion Act the Academy had put into place required political correctness in all official schoolwork. As if someone would be offended by him writing about Warlocks specifically. Okay, they probably would be. But that wasn’t his problem. And come on, Magikans? Just because Magika was the official language of spells and basically anything magical they had to have the most stupid umbrella term for everyone who used it. He rolled his eyes and continued writing.

While pronunciation of the spell is still important, as long as the magic user holds firmly in their mind the end goal of the spell, the incantation will succeed regardless of the different accents that may be pronounced.

Sid read over the answer; not too shabby, and it might even be correct. He was at least 87 percent sure it was. He checked the pocket watch he’d laid out on his desk at the start of the exam, as black as his namesake, with molten hands that flowed around the face as the time passed. It’d been an early graduation gift from his mother, probably demonic in its design, but Sid absolutely loved it. Guess there were some perks from having a succubus as a mother. With fifteen minutes left until time was up, he put his quill back to the parchment and continued,

This only applies when using the universal language of magic, Magika, to speak the incantation. If a spell is spoken in the magic user’s native tongue, it will need to be read precisely and exactly.

Fanning the still wet ink with his hand, he chanced a glance a few tables to the left to where his best friend Chrysanthemum was sitting. She was sitting up straight, hands clasped in front of her, staring ahead. No surprise that she’d been done for a while, Chrys was the expert when it came to the theory of magic. And she was always so proper. Sid smiled to himself as he stacked his papers neatly and rolled them into a scroll, knotting some twine around the center. With a flourish of the Peregrine feather, he signed his name on the side of the scroll, Obsidian Damon Lux, and dropped his quill onto the desk, splotching it with remnants of ebony ink. Sid didn’t mind his name, all things considered. He was just grateful that his mother, Jezebeth, hadn’t named him Satan or Hell’s Son or something absurd like that. He was just loath to admit that his last name came from the Luxor hotel in Las Vegas where Jez had given birth, after yet another tryst with an unsuspecting mortal. Succubi becoming pregnant had been unheard of until Sid entered the picture. Most Warlocks were the product of male demons impregnating mortal women, but Jezebeth had been the exception. She didn’t even know who the father was, since she had no idea how long she was pregnant for and had been doing what succubi do best for the entire time; a profession she had kept up even with a child following her around. He’d been near enough to his mother’s seduction practices to be able to practice them himself had he wanted, and he’d spent most of his teen years in another dimension that was home to demons and the Dark Lord himself, to whom he’d conveniently been sworn during an anti-christening ceremony. But he was as normal as demon spawn come and had luckily been born with normal features, not counting the white-less violet eyes and the horns on his head that gleamed like the rock he was named after. Those features always seemed to get him the most friends when he was younger, at least until they introduced him to their parents. When he’d returned to the human dimension to start school, he got more hassle than he would have liked, so he’d taken to spiking his ash white hair and eventually dying it crazy colors to hide the protrusions on his head. He’d tried out sunglasses for a bit, but found that those brought an equal amount of stares, since no one really used sunglasses in the Portland gloom. Besides, Sid liked his eyes, and his true friends, like Chrys, had never seemed to mind.

“Quills down,” echoed the sharp caw of the exam proctor and almost instantly the scratching that had filled the air ceased. “Please leave your scrolls on your desk and exit the room. You will be informed of your results early this evening.”

If there was one thing that made a magic school better than regular university, it was that the grading was done by magic, which meant same day scores. Sid stood up and stretched, his back creaking like a storm-worn cellar door. He made his way towards the exit, detouring to fall into step beside the freckle-faced honey blonde female Sid called his best friend.

As if on cue, Chrys began her routine post-exam rant. “I really think I messed up that question about Werewolves and Vampires. And the one about staffs versus wands. I definitely failed. There’s no way they’ll award me my title. I’m going to have to retake this entire year! My apprenticeship will go down the drain and I’m going to look like an imbecile if I have to apply again.”

Sid sighed. He had nothing but love for the girl next to him, but she severely underestimated her smarts. He interrupted her panicked speech, “You did fine, Chrys. If even I feel like I’m going to pass, there’s no way in Hellatia that you failed.”

Sky-blue met black and violet as Chrys turned to look at Sid. Her nose was slightly crinkled in a look of consternation, but soon gave way to a grin. “Alright, alright, I suppose I can’t have done worse than a blockhead like you.” She pushed his shoulder playfully, a hint of longing flitting across her eyes. “I don’t know why you always say Hellatia. You could just say Hell like everyone else, silly.”

“But, for the fifty thousandth time, there’s not a place called Hell! Trust me, I spent way too much of my childhood in Hellatia and every”

“Every demon was very clear that Hell is not a place and they made sure that you knew it. I know, I know. I’ve heard you rant plenty of times. But even so, isn’t it easier to just say Hell? Even just as an abbreviation?” Sid opened his mouth to retort, but Chrys carried on with a grin, “So, where should we wait out the final scoring? The library?”

An exasperated sigh escaped Sid’s lips. “I don’t want to see the inside of a library for a century at least. And after that misery I could use a good burger. Shake Down sound good?”

Chrys gave a contemplative nod and they walked out the gates and past the ‘Portland Academy of Magic’ sign that morphed into ‘Portland Academy of Arts’ as they left the grounds and headed to their favorite restaurant.

“You know, once I’m actually a Warlock, I can glamour myself the way the school does so I don’t have to get stared at everywhere we go.” The two of them were standing in line, staring up at the menu above their heads, Sid trying to ignore the sidelong glances from everyone around him.

“Oh ya? You could just make everyone see a regular boring guy? Where would the fun be in that?” Chrys retorted. Sid was glad she didn’t mind the staring. They moved to the front of the line and the cashier, used to Sid’s slightly odd appearance, gave them a smile of recognition.

“The usual?” Ty the Shake Guy asked. That wasn’t really his title, but since becoming regulars, Sid and Chrys had dubbed him accordingly, seeing as he was there every time they came in. A synchronized nod came from the odd couple and Matt called back a triple decker, rare done, Avalanche burger, a double cheeseburger, and two chocolate and banana shakes.

Before Ty could tell them the total, Sid handed over the exact amount. “Pleasure doing business as usual sir,” Sid said, giving a mock salute. Chrys, polite as always, thanked Ty and they sat down to wait for their food. The adrenaline they’d felt from the exam drained from them as they sat down and a companionable silence took over until the food was brought to the booth. Sid’s order was an almost bleeding mess of patties and cheese and sauces barely staying on the bun and Chrys’s was a neat, normal, double cheeseburger. Chrys had somehow gotten used to Sid’s strange eating habits a while ago, but she did avoid looking directly at the monstrosity on his plate. Apparently growing up around demons gives you a preference for less cooked meat. Sid never really talked about how this had come about, and Chrys was wise enough to not ask.

The burgers were gone in a matter of seconds, leaving the two of them blissfully sipping their shakes. Chrys absentmindedly stared out the window, and the early summer sun glinted off her hair, haloing her in a golden aura. Sid looked up from the chocolate banana goodness, and broke the silence. “So what’re we going to do once we’re officially graduates?”

Chrys looked over at Sid, “You mean besides take over the world?” Laughter leaked out from both of them at their ongoing inside joke, and in between giggles, Chrys said “Well, I have a position with the Department of Magical Studies lined up. It might just be an apprenticeship, but I think it’s going to be a really great learning experience.” Chrys’s tone reflected the shadow that had crossed Sid’s face, “what is that look for?” “Well, um…I might have forgotten to look into something like that.” Sid trailed off and stared intently down his straw and braced himself.

“You didn’t find an apprenticeship?” Chrys gaped at him in disbelief. “They’ve been harping on us all year about that! It’s the most important part of our education. You can’t become a High Mage or Warlock or, well, anything, without it.”

More words spouted from Chrys, but Sid couldn’t hear them. He hadn’t purposely forgotten, he’d just assumed he’d have time. Even when Chrys was telling him about all of her interviews and offers she was receiving, he still thought he’d have more time. Funny how it always slips away like that. And now here he was, about to be an apprentice Warlock without an apprenticeship. Chrys was right, you couldn’t do much without completing an apprenticeship, at least not much legally. And being an unlicensed Warlock was definitely frowned upon, if not illegal in most cities.

“Sid, SID!” Sid was pulled from his pool of inner turmoil as Chrys laid a perfectly manicured hand on his shoulder. “You stopped listening to me didn’t you.”

He looked up at her, her face a mask of freckled concern. “Ya. Sorry. I totally spaced getting something figured out. I just, I thought I would have more time. What am I gonna do? My mom’s already going to be disappointed if she finds out I’m not going to be performing blood sacrifices to the Dark Lord every day, let alone if I’m not even a real Warlock. What do I do?” He really didn’t know and he looked pathetically across the table at his best friend who had everything figured out. And while he hated asking for help, he was at a loss.

Chrysanthemum straightened into her take-charge stance and in one smooth arc she was out of the booth and dragging Sid with her. “We’ve got to check the bulletin board. There’s got to be a Master Warlock who’s as much of a procrastinator as you are.” As she went on listing all of her backup, last ditch, worst case scenario, contingency plans, Sid brightened as much as an almost Warlock with no prospects being dragged down the street by his best friend could. Leave it to Chrys to be willing to figure out plans A through Z, even if it was his own fault. It was something he loved about her. She was so selfless and willing to help anyone who needed it, especially the people she cared about.

They didn’t slow until they were nose to nose with the bulletin board just inside the massive oak doors of the school. Now this wasn’t just any bulletin board. It was The Bulletin Board. In addition to being the center for local posts, it was a magical conduit for Magikans around the world. Similar boards existed in nearly every magical loci, whether a school or government base, even some select personal facilities could have access to it. A Magikan could post something on a board in one place and the same post would be reflected on the board in all relevant locations. It was by far, the best place to look for apprenticeship availabilities so of course this was where Chrys and Sid found themselves.

To both their disappointments, the board was sparse. An ad for some used textbooks, a tutor request and a lost familiar sign were all that lingered on the magical surface. The blossoming hope that Sid had felt at Chrys’s enthusiasm died as he stared at the empty board. Nothing. Not a single job posting of any kind. He could feel the sinking of Chrys’s mood as she stood next to him. “Well, we could…,” Chrys struggled to come up with an alternate option. Sid knew she’d been counting on the board, even with all of the backup plans she’s been coming up with on the way here.

“It’s fine Chrys. I’ll figure something out, promise.” He strained a smile as the halls around them filled with a familiar cawing voice.

“Attention all students. Final grades are now available in the Grand Hall. Report there to pick up your reports. If this is your final year, please also be prepared to submit your apprenticeship acquisition forms to the advisors upon receipt of your final report. That is all.” With a squawk, the voice was gone and a feeling of dread began creeping up from Sid’s feet.

“They need the apprenticeship information now?” He squeaked, looking exasperatedly at Chrys. “What are they going to do if I don’t have anything?”

“Well, I mean, I don’t think they need it right away,” she hesitated. “They just want to make sure they get things in order sooner than later. I’m sure they’ll have some good advice for students that don’t have anything lined up. Ya, let’s go now. Then we can get you in to talk to someone before everyone else storms the hall.” And without further preamble, she headed down the cavernous hallway towards the Grand Hall, purpose echoing in every step.

“Okay, I guess that’s,” Sid started to say, but cut off as a shred of hope flickered into existence on the bulletin board. He grabbed the paper as soon as it had fully materialized and read it closely.

Apprentice needed. Practical skills a necessity. Be prepared to demonstrate these during interview. Report to Devlin Smokeshard at 98 E NE Street between 4PM and 8PM on the 21st of May.

Sid stared at the scrap in his hand in disbelief. Today was the 21st. Digging his empty hand into his jeans pocket, he pulled his pocket watch out and checked the time. 4:30. This had to be the best luck Sid had ever had, even over the time he’d gotten out of a presentation on fungi because he had ingested some of the sample he’d been reporting on and ended up with a terrible flu for a week. If he left now, he could hopefully make it back before anyone noticed, and with a job to boot. Sid turned on his heel and headed back through the Academy doors, pulling up the UrWay app on his phone and ordering a ride share to take him to his lifesaver.

Thanks to traffic, it was an hour later when they arrived at the address, a run down looking building with a solitary, cracked, street light at the end of the front walk. Sid got more than the usual weird look from his driver as he stepped out and looked around. The car sped off in a squeal of tires as he took in just how terrible the place looked. Weeds sprouted from every crack in the walkway and vines covered the front wall of the house entirely. The one window he saw was cracked and on the whole, it had the appearance of a ‘condemned for the past hundred years' building. From the corner of his eye he thought he saw the streetlight flicker purple as he walked past, but he chalked it up to his nerves. “Well, I don’t really have a better option do I?” He asked no one in particular as he made his way to the front door. When he raised his hand to knock, the door opened wide on its own and Sid jumped about a foot in the air.

The view of the inside wasn’t much of an improvement. Everything looked moth eaten, moldy and termite ridden. Or at least what Sid assumed termite ridden wood looked like. He supposed this was what he got for putting it off so long. Of course he’d end up apprenticing in a garbage heap. He took one last gulp of fresh air and stepped over the threshold.

[sonipanda]

New brand alert to the blog – which I am totally hyped about! This brand is pretty new and is already making a great impression

Now this review will be slightly different than my usual as I wanna get as much info across to you all the best I can regarding Hēdoïne.

The Bold Spec

Colour: Black

Size: XS – S

Denier: 20 body / 40 reinforced parts

Materials: 70% Nylon & 30% Spandex

Price: £28.00

Website: Hēdoïne – The Bold

About Hēdoïne

From The Website:

ALL BLACK – LIKE YOUR HUMOUR

Ladder-free / run-resistant & seamless tights

With ladder-free guarantee!

We set the bar in comfort, quality, and style. Soft, ladder-free and seamless tights made in Italy – tights as they should be. One less thing to worry about on your busy schedule

20 DEN

seamless & soft

high and low slimming waistband

elegant patterns

highest quality yarns

modern 3D knitting techniques

made in Italy

no more pressure marks, no sagging and no seams that shine through your dress

  Ladder-Free: Through the combination of innovative yarns and then newest 3D knitting techniques, our tights do not ladder or run. They are 20 denier and thus, not nondestructive, but a lot more durable than normal tights. So, even if a small hole might occur at some point it will not spread down your leg – guaranteed! Otherwise you will receive a refund.

Waistband: Our tights come with two different waistbands: In low (9 cm / 3.5 inches) and in high (15 cm / 6 inches). The low waistband slims the hips and is perfect for skirts or simply when you do not like your stomach to be covered. The high waistband is great to slim and shape your silhouette and tummy.

Washing: Wash at 30 Celsius. Do not dry, do not iron, do not bleach.

Pregnancy: You might wonder whether you can wear our tights during pregnancy? Yes, you can! While they are not maternity tights per se, our Hedoines find the high waistband very comfortable in the first few months.

  About The Brand:

The brand was founded by Alex and Anna, who were working for many years in banking and consulting and did not enjoy wearing tights to work. Hēdoïne is a bold luxury brand that aims to bring innovation to every piece of the business outfit – starting with the biggest pain point: tights! Hēdoïne is a brand that caters to strong energetic women with high aspirations, who are same time outgoing and do not take themselves too seriously.

  Product & Production:

They have reinvented business tights by combining the highest quality yarns with innovative 3D knitting techniques to make them ladder-resistant and very soft, as they should be. They are produced in Italy, seamless and come in low and high slimming waistband heights for a perfect fit.

They are made with anti-bacterial and anti-odour fabrics. Expressive patterns around the waistband and under the toes reflect elegance in every detail and make Hēdoïne tights are a true part of the business outfit – and a fashion statement.

Currently, they have three models with low and high waistband each and will offer more nude colours in January to cater for all skin tones.

In comparison to the mass production of other competitors, Hēdoïne tights are hand finished with a lot of attention to detail. Hēdoïne produces in Europe with certifications that protect labour and the environment, for example: Fair pay check, male and female staff members receive equal wages for work of equal value, no child labour or excessive overtime, worker have rights like freedom of opinion, are protected by law against for example physical, sexual or physiological harassment.

Low environment impact, e.g. water is being cleaned before being remitted in the environment and all products are high biodegradable (harmful chemicals avoided, even if they are not yet legally regulated)

All products used during the production are safe for humans and environment.

Soni’s Review

The Packaging: I gotta say their packaging is super impressive. I was completely taken back by how beautifully they were presented. Through the door, they come in a branded bubble envelope, with a satin pouch which carries the hosiery.

I was blessed enough to try out the high and low waisted pairs in ‘The Bold’ collection. These came in small plastic packaging (small note – this will be replaced from January onwards with a beautifully designed recycled paper envelope.)

  Out Of The Packaging: I decided to get all up close and personal here; I wanted to show you all what to expect once you get into the packaging. These are folded down into a small cube. One thing I was impressed with was the foot and leg shaping they have to them, even though these were folded right down.

Normally you won’t find hosiery like this; a good idea to use less packaging materials.

I have to say both pairs are identical (minus the difference in the waistband) but what I did find that the low waisted tights actually came with a snag to begin with. I was so careful when unfolding these to make sure I don’t cause any snags before I even get them on. I have highlighted that below so you can see when it was held up against the light.

The High Waisted Pair

  The Low Waisted Pair

  On The Legs: I am mindblown with how gorgeous they look. My first impression was that these have a slimming effect to them; making your legs look longer and a little more toned. I thank the matte finish on these for that – they truly do work wonders at times!

The denier being 20 gives you great leg coverage, and as these are a matte finish, these will look darker on the legs than other 20 deniers I have done in the past. This is the type to hide leg stubbles (if that’s an issue for you) and gives you a luxury smooth finish.

The quality I have to say is amazing; I did mention that my low waisted pair came with a few snags, but these stayed as snags and became nothing more during the day. Hēdoïne  pride themselves in their ladder-resistant hosiery and I can see why. I hardly got anything after a full day’s wear on both of these. I was super impressed with how amazing the quality is.

**Another little tip is that they actually offer a ladder-free guarantee as well so if you do come across a snag which became a ladder, then get in touch and they will be able to sort it from there so you don’t ever need to feel like you’ve bought a pair and it’s gone to waste!**

Oh and let me mention that these do have a lot of stretch in them; I won’t say it becomes baggy or loose on the legs, but there is enough to make sure your legs are hugged well and you still have breathing room in them. I found these to be super stretchy when I was pulling them up to the point I have to shimmy them down a little as I went too high to begin with!

The overall look of them is just gorgeous; it’s a lovely classy pair which I certainly can’t get enough of. I have come across a few luxe pairs, and I have to say that these are neck in neck with Heist tights.

I love the way they fit, feel and the way they make your legs looks stunningly slim … And the fact that no pressure marks are left behind after a day’s wear which is a rare quality nowadays!

I will mention just in case you are picky like me that these may have some weird markings to them; that I found when I pulled them up higher (which let me remind you is easily done) so don’t worry too much as they begin to fall into place once you start moving in them and the markings do slowly disappear. I also found that rubbing them gently with your hands can help too!

The High Waisted Pair

  The Low Waisted Pair

  The Toes & Ankle:  I gotta say it gets even better when you start moving towards the toes and feet! These come reinforced with a toe panel which then works into a huge sole panel underneath. I really did like the design that works on the panels, and can also be found on the waistband too.

The tights give you plenty of room to wiggle your toes and is free from any added pressure. They allow your feet to breathe which I love 🙂

Around the ankles, they have a lovely smooth wrinkle-free finish, so you don’t ever have to worry about they falling down creating an ankle pile. Just make sure you get the right size!

  The Waistband: so I have to say I was waiting to review this part as the waistband plays a massive part in a pair of tights, especially when you spend most of your life in them like I do! So to begin with, I found these have no gusset or seams, so you use their logo for placement (the logo will sit at the front on the right hand side of you) to make sure you get them on the right way. You can also use the foot and leg shaping as a guide as well.

Oh and that gorgeous design can also be found here too!

Another little gem I found with these is that they have a slight compression piece in the waistband, so it can help slim the figure slightly. I didn’t know that before until I did a little research on them!

And I can’t forget that it’s completely seam-free so you don’t need to worry about lining this up against you. I love the fact that you get this smooth finish on the front and back so you can wear tighter fitted clothing with not having to worry about that pesky seam pushing through!

The low waistband fit me like an absolute dream; it seriously felt like I wasn’t wearing one once I got moving around. I absolutely loved the way they sat on them; they didn’t move out of place at all and actually moved with me rather than staying put making it uncomfortable. These sat below the belly button on me, but I found that to be ok (I normally like it just covering the belly button).

The high waistband was a little more difficult; I wore this with a bodycon dress so I expected it to sit completely flush on me. I found it did to begin with, but if you sit a lot, these might not be ideal. These started to roll down and crinkle quite bad throughout the day, which then started showing through my dress at one stage. I had to roll them down and smooth them out a few times to stop that from repeatedly happening. I got to say it didn’t really work out for me as well as I would have liked it to. These were so comfortable as well; I won’t knock that part but they just didn’t sit like I wanted them to.

The High Waisted Pair

  The Low Waisted Pair

  My Thoughts?

“Is it worth the money?”

I have to say yes it certainly is if you’re after a long-lasting and durable pair of tights. I loved being in mine and the comfort level is just insane. I love the fit and feel of them which makes all the difference. They have so much going for them and I am so glad I got to review them; the ladder-resistant feature, the slimming waistband, the seam-free parts etc. I loved it all!

These have had a lot of praise from media, and I can understand why now. This is certainly a pair I can see making it big!

  The Independent:“(…) Despite catching a nail in them, there was no laddering in this run-resistant pair” – link

Memorandum: “Most Resilient: HEDOINE” – Link

Sheerluxe: “(…) Now the big question: did they rip? Surprisingly, not even a snag, despite only being 20 denier and being worn all day and night. Impressive” – link

Hēdoïne ‘The Bold’ Tights New brand alert to the blog - which I am totally hyped about! This brand is pretty new and is already making a great impression…