I was looking for a pair of stockings to wear with my Ruffle garter belt. Lace top stockings by Leg Avenue seemed to be a perfect choice: relatively low price, nice look and an opportunity to try out a pair of vintage backseam stockings - all in one.

Material and care

What I got in a mail was a pair of sheer nylon stockings packed in a standard clear plastic bag with a cardboard insert. Nylon is a synthetic polymer first introduced in hosiery production as a substitute for silk. Due to its great properties such as being able to retain its shape and dry quickly, nylon is nowadays the most common choice for stockings and pantyhose. I would recommend to hand wash your nylon stockings in the warm water, use only non-chlorine bleach when needed, drip them dry and never attempt to iron. Also as nylon is quite sensitive to chemicals, it's better to use a soap rather than a scouring powder.

These stockings by Leg Avenue are very soft and comfortable. After a few hours of wearing them I had no itching whatsoever, even at the lace top. This means they can be used as you average, regular stockings, not only a bedroom accessory. Unfortunately, being nice and comfy, they are also very delicate and run easily. So be careful and avoid wearing bracelets or rings while putting them on.

Design and construction

The key feature of these stockings is a back seam. In the beginning of the 20th century seams used to be necessary to hold two parts of the stockings together. Modern stockings and pantyhose are knit on circular machines eliminating the need for the back seam. The real seamed stockings (or "fully fashioned") are not so easy to find now and most stockings have a decorative seam - either stitched or printed. Lace top stockings with backseam have stitched ones, which makes them very authentic looking. The seam (which goes from the toes right up to the lace band) is outward and very soft, so there's no discomfort at all.



If you look at the product page, you get an impression that these stockings are stay-ups. Actually, they are not. There are neither silicone straps around the lace top nor is the band tight enough. But as I was going to wear them with a belt anyway, that was not a disappointment at all. Moreover, I guess, that on larger thighs they may in fact hold up.

The lace top is 2.5" high and also semi-sheer. It has an adorable floral pattern and is pretty stretchy.





As I've already mentioned, the material is thin and sheer. I got black ones, but Eden Fantasys also carries them in red and white. The toe is closed and not reinforced. There is also a very noticeable seam, so wearing open-toe shoes might not be the best idea.



Sizing and fit

According to the packaging, these stockings are made for a weight range of 90-160 pounds (41-72 kg). However, I would rather say they are on the larger end of this limit. I weight 120 lbs (54 kg) and - as I said - they don't stay up for more than a few minutes. On the other hand, that means no muffin tops which is surely great. I suggest using them with a garter belt to ensure that they won't unexpectedly fall down.

Pictures below show how they actually fit me. I'm 5'6" tall (168 cm) and these stockings don't come up to my thigh's thickest part around which is 20.8" (53 cm) currently. The lace part sits where my thighs measure only 17.3" (44 cm).

Suggestions

There are so many ways to use these stockings, some of them too obvious, but still worth mentioning. I've got several of them summarized into larger groups:
1) As your regular hosiery. Black nylon stockings are practical, yet they can make you look a little bit sexier during your workday. Moreover, unlike some opaque or patterned stockings, sheer ones are usually making legs look thinner. However, a pronounced seam at the toes will most likely ruin the possibility to wear these with a pair of open shoes.
2) For additional warmth. You can combine these stockings with different skirts, shorts, dresses or even wear them under your jeans to keep your legs warm during colder seasons.
3) To finish your vintage or pin-up girl outfit. This is hard to imagine a pin-up girl without back seams, which applies not only to sexy lingerie, but to the outside-of-bedroom clothing as well. But if you want to use these for sex appeal, I would recommend combining them with Retro cupless chemise by Coquette - the one I'm wearing on the pictures. You can read my review on it here or some other great reviews here.

Conclusion

Overall, these are very good and stylish stockings. I would recommend them for any occasion - sexy, fancy or casual. However, as far as they are too delicate and not very durable, I'm giving them only 4 stars out of 5.