Apr
19

Holdups that stay up for the woman blessed with curves

What’s the difference between stockings and hold ups? 

Stockings are held up with a suspender belt. Hold ups (called ‘stay ups’ in the US) have a silicone band (or two, in the case of our holdups) on the inside of the thigh band, to make sure they stay up by themselves. And ours really do – with no rolling or slipping. 

Some people still like to wear a suspender belt with hold ups as they love the look, but you don’t need to. You’ll want sturdy clips on your suspender if you wear one, as they’ll need to hold the slightly thicker silicone.

What size should I choose?

You’ll notice we’ve changed how we size our All Woman holdups. We reckon giving a dress size for holdups is as irrelevant as giving a shoe size! So we’re sizing them now by the measurement around your thigh at the widest point at the top, just below your bottom. It’s best to measure your thigh whilst standing.

You’ll see there’s an overlap in thigh sizes with our sizing. If your thigh measurement fits into two of the size brackets
• Go for the smaller size if you’re 5’4” (163cm) or less 
• Choose the larger size if you are 5’5” (165cm) or more 

Please note that these are plus sized, so if your thigh is smaller than 24 inches you might experience some slippage, which nobody wants on date night. We’d recommend you check out our Prague holdups instead – which fit to smaller sizes.

If you can’t find a tape measure (or if measuring a thigh would spoil the surprise of a gift) the sizes translate roughly as follows, but as people’s bodies and proportions are all different, this is a less accurate guide:
24-30” thigh (61-76cm) – roughly UK14-20
28-34” thigh (71-86cm) – roughly UK20-28
32-38” thigh (81-96cm) – roughly UK28-40

If you’d like further advice on sizing just give us a call on 01326 373 268 (in the UK), or email hello@thebigbloomerscompany.co.uk, and we’d be happy to help.

Any tips for wearing them?

To put them on don’t just pull them up. Roll them up in your hands, with your thumbs in the toe, and your fingers on the outside, then pop them onto your toe and unravel slowly up towards your thigh, feeling very sexy and retro as you do it. Roll them down from the thigh when you take them off.

To keep the silicone holding well in place on your skin, avoid oils or heavy creams on your thighs. These can stay on your skin and prevent the silicone from sticking. If the weather is hot you could use a little deodorant or talc around the area the silicone band sits to help it stick.

How do I care for my holdups?

Wash by hand in lukewarm water not hotter than 40° C, making sure you clean the silicone and rinse the soap off properly so it doesn’t affect the ‘stickiness’ of the silicone. Do not tumble dry or iron, as heat will reduce the band’s elasticity. 

Store your stockings and hold ups in a mesh or cotton bag away from your other lingerie, to prevent anything snagging on them.

We hope you enjoy your hold ups!

You’ll find them here.

May
25

Becky Barnes Blog: Beating Summer Chub Rub

“It is going to get warmer, I tell you! And when it does, there is nothing worse than the dreaded chub rub, as those of us with ample thighs will know. I wanted share with you today my go-to anti-chafing short, which for the past couple of years has been from The Big Tights Company…. 

…The shorts are lightweight and hugely stretchy and above and beyond their anti-chafing properties, I also find them great for keeping my modesty. As a perpetual trouser wearer, I’m always a little nervous when wearing skirts, so when I have these on, I feel assured that I’m not going to be flashing my pants to the world!
If you’re looking for a comfortable solution to modesty and chafing, I cannot recommend these enough!”
beckybarnesblog
Apr
27

CurvyGirlThin: Prevent chafing this summer

“We’ve all been there.  Wearing our favourite 50’s skirt or floaty maxi for a day exploring in the sunshine (normally with a few outdoor pub stops along the way) when the day gets ruined from a little overheating and the springs of a rash, from the tops of your thighs rubbing painfully against one another in the heat…”

CurvyGirlThin

Apr
23

Fattyboomtatty: Anti Chafing Knickers – My summer must have!

“…The sun has finally started to come out and so have my skirts. Which means it’s time to start stocking my wardrobe with some essentials. First on the list would have to be anti chafe shorts. If like me and thousands of other women, suffer from the dreaded ‘chub rub’ then we can all wince at the mere thought of the burning pain we endure after a warm day. So to warn off said thighs of fire, I usually wear some kind of anti chafe wear. This year, I’m trying out the anti chafe, short leg knickers from The Big Tights Company…”

Apr
20

Fashion Loves Photos: Sock it to me – Stockings and suspenders from the Big Tights Company

“…As someone who enjoys wearing stockings and hold ups, I’ve tried a LOT of suspender belts over the years. However just like with most things, as my clothing size went upwards, the amount of choice and quality available drastically decreased. Once past a size 18, all I could find were terribly made belts with plastic poppers which frustratingly pinged at every opportunity. I felt I couldn’t really rely on them to get me through a night of sitting, let alone dancing, so was thrilled when I discovered that The Big Tights Company had in fact created the answer…”

blog.fashionlovesphotos.com

Dec
20

Lolly likes, reviewing our 180 denier tights, and other things!

“…As you can see the tights have loads of stretch. They are very comfortable and I had no chafing of the thighs as the top area is thicker material. They bunch up a little at my ankles but nothing too bad and they did not fall down!…”

lollylikesfatshion.blogspot.co.uk

Jul
17

Michaela from Cardifforniagurl, reviewing our Lace Anti Chafing Knickers

“Tried and tested I can honestly say these shorts are amazing. No riding up, not visible under clothing, breathable in the heat, my chub rub is no more. My last pair were so restricting but these I can sit without them digging in and restricting me . I got three pairs, plain black, black with lace and nude and I simply can’t stop wearing them. The lace pair are amazing to show under a sun dress and give a real 90’s feel, that is all the rage this summer…”

cardifforniagurl.co.uk

 

Jun
10

Leah, reviewing our Anti-Chafing Shorts and Seamless Knickers, over on LoveLeah

“…They pull up over my bum and stay put all day both in the waist and in the legs thanks to the wide hem, but they don’t dig in. They aren’t just comfortable from the perspective of keeping your legs from chafing, but they actually stop you from sweating altogether. I’ve said it before, but I think it’s witchcraft. These are a summer essential…”

http://www.xloveleahx.co.uk

May
22

Hayley from Curves and Curls, reviewing our Lace-Edged Vest and Knickers

“…The All Woman Lace Edged Vest is a simple black fine ribbed vest, with lycra for stretch. The stretch is such that no matter how much you wear it or wash it, it’s not going to lose shape. The vest is a good length on my long torso. Here I am wearing size 18-22 – as I am at the top end of the size range I was a little worried that it might be a little snug, but it accommodates my curves comfortably. The little lace trim gives this practical piece a little femininity and hint of sexiness…”

curvesandcurl.co.uk

Apr
25

Sassy Scarlett reviewing our Magic Stockings

“…I love the silkiness of the material.  They are soft as a whisper and look lovely on my legs.  They are sheer with just the right amount of color.  I have worn both pair three or four times without snags or issues so I am extremely pleased, any stocking that gets through more than one wear with me is great quality!!  The stockings are not too heavy but still made from sturdy material. I really love my Magic Stockings and cannot wait to try more of the wonderful products from The Big Tights Company!!”

sassyscarletpinup.blogspot.co.uk

Apr
08

Georgina Horne, reviewing our Lace-Edged Vest and Knickers

“…I have the set in a size 18-22 and it’s so comfortable and fits perfectly without any bulging or cutting in! The top is intended as under or outerwear – I must say that I have worn mine as outerwear loads! It washes well, it keeps it’s shape and it’s a really nice length on my long bodied, large busted frame. The cute lace edges add a little something feminine to both pieces, and they aren’t itchy or annoying…”

Fullerfigurefullerbust

Dec
02

Elinor from The Nylon Swish, reviewing our Anti Chafing Knickers

“…As some of you may know, I regularly dance rock and roll and rockabilly, and that is a sweaty past time. Anyways, I am always on the lookout for undies I can wear while dancing that will still look pretty if and when my skirt fly’s up. These babies not only look pretty but they are lightweight making them super easy to dance in and they stop the chafe!”

https://thenylonswish.com

Nov
05

Diana reviewing our winter tights, on her Fashion Loves Photos blog

“…If you’re tall, big hipped, full stomached or in any way dare to have any sort of curve to your body, you’ll know the sad shuffle caused by ill fitting tights. Whether rolling down, digging in or simply laddering the second you put them on because you’ve yanked too hard to get them where they should be, they are the bane of your wardrobe once Autumn hits. Thankfully The Big Tights Company have put an end to this madness, by selling a large range of stocking and tights which go all the way up to a UK 42…”

http://blog.fashionlovesphotos.com

Apr
17

How it all started

We are the little sister of The Big Bloomers Company, launched by mother and daughter Dianne and Laura. Intent on selling truly plus size hosiery, the duo decided that all of our key products must be available in a UK size 28/30. Realising that they couldn’t source tights in the sizes that they wanted, Diane and Laura decided that they would have to try to find a way to manufacture them.

 

In April 2009, Laura set off to Italy, home of lingerie manufacture, to try to explain the plus size design that was required (with the aid of her English/Italian dictionary). After speaking with numerous manufacturers, Laura stumbled upon a small lingerie factory in the industrial heart of Parma. The owner, Francesca, was aware of the problem with the sizes of tights and confessed that she rarely wore them. She listened to Laura’s theory that a bigger barrel was needed, rather than extra width in the gusset. Together, they worked out how big this barrel needed to be and what size minimum order would make it worthwhile for Francesca to go to the expense of buying it.

 

The first of our All Woman tights were produced in 2012 and are exactly to the specifications which Laura knew were required. They are long in the leg, they won’t ride down and you won’t need to wear an extra pair of knickers to keep them up. They are wide on the hips, stretching up to 100 inches. We now have an array of tights and other products to fit an array of body shapes and sizes and will do our very best to help find some to fit you!