Big Tights Company anti chafe shorts and seamless underwear

Before I went on holiday to Spain I reached out to the Big Tights Company to see if they had some ideas for keeping me cool in the heat, as I've got some of their other products and they're always of the highest quality. This year's holiday was my first warm weather holiday abroad since 2007 so I was concerned about coping in the heat. They sent me some anti chafing shorts, seamless knickers and a lace edged vest and knickers set. Read on to see how they helped me beat the heat!

Big Tights Company All Woman anti chafing long leg knickers size 24-28

I'm fat and my legs rub together when I walk, but then they always did. It's nothing to do with size and everything to do with pelvic placement. Even at my lowest weight my legs always rubbed. It's just the way I'm made. Big Tights do these shorts from a size 12 as they know it's not just us plus size folk who suffer in the heat! I already had a pair of these anti chafe shorts in an airy size 30-36, so I wanted to try them out in a smaller size to see how fit and comfort would be affected. Please read my previous in-depth review of the long legged knickers in a size 30-36 here. I found the bigger size very cooling (no swamp crotch) and I'm glad to say this size is equally as comfortable. 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. Buy here. You can buy one or a pack of three.

I also have the shorts in a short leg length in a size 24-28 and these weren't so good on me. It depends where your fat distribution is on your legs. My legs touch almost to my knees, so I do need something that comes down quite far. What tended to happen with the short legged ones was if I pulled them up high enough to sit at my waist, there wasn't enough length left in the leg for me to be completely comfortable - they sit about 4-5 inches above my knees. I think that if I'd sized up to the 30-36 in these I would've had enough coverage for my bum and my legs, but in this size there just wasn't enough material to do both. But again, it depends where you need the coverage to be. I know many plus size women with relatively thin legs who wouldn't find the short leg length a problem. And at least now I know that the longer length is better suited to me. It's what you're used to as well - I'm used to having comfort shorts to my knee or even cropped leggings under skirts and dresses, so I feel a bit naked with a lot of leg being exposed to the air. Buy here. They also do short legged ones with lace on the legs here.

Big Tights Company All Woman Lace Edged Vest and Knickers Set

This lace edged knicker and vest set is great. The lace is soft, not scratchy and the fabric of both is ribbed and soft. There is a lot of stretch in both the knickers and vest. I've worn the vest on a few different occasions. Because it's so stretchy it really makes my boobs stand out and the lace edging adds a little something to every outfit, regardless if it's casual or smart. I wore the vest on holiday under my Lindy Bop dress in this post.

I also wore it for a relaxed walk in the woods under a checked shirt. There is only one drawback with this vest and that's because it's highly stretchy, it does tend to ping up to my smallest part, being my waist. I find if I tuck it into my knickers or leggings then it doesn't do it as much. It's really a small thing to mention when it makes my boobs look so amazing, but I'll always be honest and bring up the good and bad points of an item so you have a balanced view.

Earlier on during my walk. I'm wearing an old shirt from Yours Clothing and a lace trimmed vest (from a knickers & vest set) from @bigtights.

A photo posted by Leah ✨🌙⭐ (@justmeleah.co.uk) on May 14, 2016 at 2:02pm PDT

The straps on the vest are wide enough to cover up the wide straps of plus size bras, which is always a thoughtful touch. Buy here. I will be buying one of the vests in white as well - you can buy the lace edged vest and knickers together or separately if you want one without the other.

Seamless knickers

These knickers are so comfortable I actually bought some more when I came back from my holiday! I have a pair for every day of the week and then some. I'm wearing them now! I have them in black, white and nude. They're made of the same fabric as the anti chafing shorts, and they actually prevent you from sweating. I don't know how, but it's magical. I find them even cooler than cotton knickers. Seriously! They're not just comfortable because they don't make me sweat, they just fit so well. I'm wearing the size 24-28 and there's lots of give in them. The don't pinch in the waist or the legs, they just hug me perfectly. If I had my way everyone would wear these. They're that good!

The only drawback to these knickers is when I'm on my period I can't wear them. Sanitary towels don't stick to them at all because they're so smooth, so I do wear cotton knickers when I'm on my period. The other drawback to them can be if you're wearing them AND the anti chafe shorts over the top, the chafe shorts will slip down. Again this is because the fabric of both has some slip. This of course can be avoided by wearing the long legged knickers with nothing underneath, which is perfectly acceptable thing to do, or wear cotton knickers underneath.

Another great thing about these knickers is they wash and dry so well. They come out of the washing machine barely damp at all. I dried mine in the sun on holiday and it took no time at all. They're perfect for taking on holiday as they scrunch up to nothing in your case and barely weigh a thing. I did mini reviews on Instagram on holiday and afterwards so I've included that information as well lest I repeat myself. You can buy them here. You can buy them singly, in a pack of 3 mixed (nude, black, white) or 3 black, nude or white.

Also keeping me cool on holiday are these pants from @bigtights. They're made of the same material as the anti chafing shorts - a polyamide elastane mix - which by witchcraft doesn't make me sweat and actually keeps me cooler than cotton knickers. They're super stretchy and they don't dig in anywhere - not in the waistband or in the leg. I'm wearing a size 24-28 UK and there's plenty of room. They also have bum shaping panels to make your tush look 👌They're available in nude, white and black with or without lace trim in sizes 12-36 UK. Look for 'seamless' or 'seamless lace' in their knicker section at www.thebigtightscompany.co.uk. #bigtightscompany #knickers #panties #plussize #effyourbeautystandards #holiday #mookieleahandcaroline6boobsabroad

A photo posted by Leah ✨🌙⭐ (@justmeleah.co.uk) on May 8, 2016 at 4:50am PDT

Mooooore of the comfiest knickers in the land from @bigtights! I have a pair for every day of the week now + spares. If you want seamless knickers that barely show under your clothes, you're in luck. If you want knickers that don't make your nether regions as hot as Satan's cleft and actually keep you cooler than cotton, get them. If you want knickers you can barely feel on, yes sirree these are the ones for the job. Plus when you buy them @fullerfigurefullerbust's knicker-clad lady area is on the reverse of the packet. If that doesn't tempt you I don't know what will! 😂😂😂😂😂 #Plussize #plussizeunderwear #knickers #pants #mingemufflers #flangefluffers

A photo posted by Leah ✨🌙⭐ (@justmeleah.co.uk) on May 20, 2016 at 4:54pm PDT

Thanks to Big Tights I had a comfortable time on holiday, and if you're struggling with the heat I recommend you check out some of the solutions on their website.

Thanks for reading.
Leah xoxo

*Items provided by the Big Tights Company

Thick winter tights from Big Bloomers Company*

Hello sweet peas!

Recently Laura from Big Bloomers Co sent me two pairs of thick winter tights to try out and share with you. I was kindly sent the All Woman 180 denier tights and the All Woman cotton (woolly feel) tights.

I tried the 180 denier ones first as they were the first ones I grabbed out of the parcel.

Before I start, both pairs of tights look like this before you put them on. The thigh room is magnificent in both pairs of tights. They are so stretchy just where I need it.

As you can see in the photo collage above, the tights are virtually opaque, even taking into account the flash I use to take photos. (I use flash as it slows my camera down and enables me to change poses without blurring the shots.) The upper portion of the tights (the darker section as worn in the photos above) is thicker than the material in the lower legs. This ensures there's very little chance of chub rub wearing the tights thin over time. As you can see in the top right shot you can barely see my knickers on under the tights so they would be totally blush free should your skirt or dress blow up in a wintry gale. The tights are incredibly soft, warm and touchable and have a waistband which is over an inch deep and is very comfortable. I could pull these tights up to just underneath my bra and there was ample room throughout every area as these tights fit hips up to 60". My hips are actually larger than that, but because these tights fit people of 6ft tall or more there's obviously more give in the thighs at my 5ft 5 and a half. The tights didn't fall down on me nor did they move about uncomfortably during wear, probably because you can't feel the seams at all. Rough seams ruin tights for me. These tights are utterly comfortable and are a total winner for me.

Onto the cotton (woolly feel) tights.

As I took the tights out of the packet they resembled the 180 denier ones closely up until the join in the legs, where the fabric changes to cotton ribbed tights. The upper part of the legs to the waistband is again as thick as the first pair, completely opaque and very stretchy. As to fit, these ones were a little lower in the crotch and did need pulling up a little more carefully (and a little more often) but that is to be expected as the ribbed cotton isn't as stretchy as the 180 denier tights. These tights fit up to a 64" hip. I could pull these tights past my waist, but not quite as high as the other pair - but it's a moot point as I don't need to wear them that high. As you can see in the bottom left photo, there's plenty of room left in the thigh. I would say it's entirely possible these tights would fit up to a 70 inch hip if someone were a similar height to me or shorter (I'm 5 ft 5 and a half.) There's the same deep, comfortable waistband and unobtrusive seams as the first pair of tights and again they're supremely warm. These tights do remind me of the ribbed tights I wore to school as a child, which pleases me as up until I started blogging I didn't think I'd ever find ribbed tights in my size.

When it comes to comparisons between the two it's incredibly difficult as they both have their merits. Because of the crotch slipping a little with the cotton feel tights I would say if I was having an active day I would err towards the 180 denier pair (I hate pulling my tights up in public - there's simply no way to do it gracefully!) and if I was looking to warm up at home I'd pick the cotton feel ones. There's no fighting and sweating to get into either pair of tights. In the past I felt like I was undertaking some kind of Krypton Factor challenge to shirk on a pair of tights with rough seams that move, legs that twisted uncomfortably (before I'd even pulled them up!) virtually cutting off my circulation, and the whole experience put me off tights for many years. Now there are choices out there, and this has rekindled my love affair for tights. I love the way they look, the way they feel and the way they keep me warm and toasty.

The 180 denier tights:

£18.95

• Fit hips to 90″ (225cms) in the larger size and 60" in the smaller size
• 180 Denier
• Extra long in the leg
• Extra wide in the thigh
• Made in Italy exclusively for us and available in sizes 22-32 UK (which I'm wearing here) and a size 32-42 UK in black.

The cotton woolly feel tights:

 £19.95

• A very fluffy woolly soft feel
• Fit hips to 64″ (162cms) size 24-34 UK
• Flat seams and gusset
• 60% cotton 32% polyamide and 8% elastin
• Black only (for now)

Yes these tights are a little on the expensive side, but they're worth every bloody penny. The tights by Big Bloomers Co I reviewed last winter were worn over and over again and look as good as new except for a few bobbles on the feet where I've worn socks over the top.

Also check out Caroline Curvy Wordy's post, as she has some full body shots of the tights on and of course, you can see what she thinks about these two pairs of tights too.

Has this post made you excited about tights? Good tights are out there! ;)

Thanks for reading.
Leah xoxo

*Items supplied by Big Bloomers Company. Opinions are honest and my own.

Big Bloomers Company anti-chafe knickers*

Hello lovelies!

Happy Monday. I hope your week has got off to a good start!

A couple of weeks ago Laura from the Big Bloomers Company asked if I'd like to review some of their anti-chafing long leg knickers. Intrigued, I said yes, as like many a larger person before me, I get chafing when my legs rub together, especially when it's hot. I know Big Bloomers worked hard to perfect these knickers - they've been developing them for over a year with the Italian manufacturers - so I was keen to try them for myself.

I had chafing even at lower weights - I've always had plump inner thighs - so it's worth noting that these knickers are available from a size 12 for slim folks with juicy thighs, as well as for us larger people.

The knickers come in two lengths - short and long legged, and I plumped for the long legged version.

Just a couple of days later they arrived, and I set them aside for a day when I knew I'd be walking to put them to the test. Hubs and I went to Rye a week ago on a hot sunny day, and Rye is a very hilly place. We ended up rushed for time and this meant walking uphill (on cobbles, in new boots) in the heat quickly, all a good test for the knickers. Not only was I hot and bothered from the walking and rushing, but we had to take a short cut down an overgrown set of steps at a scarily steep incline on the way back and I was cacking it. I got that horrible stress sweat because I was convinced I was going to fall and crack my head open because my new boots are so slippy.

You might have thought with all this going on I'd have been steaming from the crotch(!), feeling uncomfortable and in need of an industrial fan to cool off my nether regions. Nope! From the minute I put the knickers on until we were in the car on the way home I forgot about them. In fact it was only the absence of being hot, sweaty and uncomfortable 'down there' that jarred on me all of a sudden as we were on our way home. Only then did I realise I hadn't had to think about my undies AT ALL while we were rushing around. I'd got hot, I'd got sweaty - I'd mopped my brow with a tissue and felt a little sweat run down the small of my back, but I remained cool and comfortable below the waist. The ribbed cuffs on the legs stayed put the whole time, which meant no surreptitious rearranging of creeping knicker leg. This NEVER usually happens. Usually when wearing anything under a dress or skirt to stop chafing/chub rub I exude as much heat as a furnace! I normally have to reposition the legs at least a few times when I'm walking about to make sure I stay comfortable and/or waft a breeze up my legs with my dress or skirt to cool down my lady garden.

Photos c/o Big Bloomers Company. Short anti chafe knickers | back detail | thick cuffs at hem

I've tried many methods to stop chub rub - cut off leggings (far too hot in summer), Evans comfort shorts (which ride up constantly AND make my vag boil) and even my beloved Gok Wan shaper pants, which are great but can make me feel like an overstuffed sausage after eating as they're shapewear after all. Nothing I've tried has ever been as comfortable as these knickers. They're made of a lightweight tights material (93% polyamide and 7% Lycra) and I can't feel I'm wearing them at all. They're reinforced from inner leg to inner leg in a panel right as that's naturally where wear will occur. There are also two sculpted seamless back panels which mould to the shape of your bum to add support.

You can see if you look closely (apologies for the close up of my bum - I had to put knickers on underneath to protect my modesty!) the reinforced centre line in the back of the knickers. You can also see how the cuffs of the legs sit comfortably under the back of my knees.

I come in at a size 26/28 in most clothes, but sized up to a 30/34 in the knickers as I thought the extra breathability would be good. They're a good fit - neither too tight nor too loose - they just sit there perfectly like a second skin and don't move. The waistband and cuffs don't dig in at all and they don't budge an inch. I don't know what keeps them in place - it might be magic, but I don't care, it just works!

Sizes available: 12-16, 18-22, 24-28, 30-34, 36-40.
Lengths: Short £12.95, long £15.95.
Colours available: black, white and natural.
Buy here.

No horrible crotch sweat, no riding up, no twisting, just pure comfort. I've taken to wearing them around the house like shorts as they're so comfortable. They're an absolute RECOMMEND from me. I'm so used to the discomfort of measures against chafing that I never thought it would change. Thanks to Big Bloomers Company for listening to customer feedback to make the knickers in the first place, and for testing them so thoroughly to perfect them. They will get a lot of wear over the spring and summer and I think I might buy the shorter length ones myself.

Do you think you might try these out?

Thanks for reading!

*Item sent for review but opinions are honest and my own.

Big Bloomer Company tights review*

Hiya!

Lovely Laura from The Big Bloomers Company very kindly sent me some tights to review when she saw a post where I was bemoaning the woes of plus size tights.

Their motto is: "OUR SIZES START WHERE OTHER PEOPLES FINISH" so you can be sure of getting items to fit the upper end of the plus size range. They do most things up to the high 30 sizes or above. 

First, let me give you a run down of why I hate tights. Evans size 3 tights, supposed to fit up to a size 32, haven't fitted me properly since I was about a size 24. I have a big arse, a big belly and some centaur sized thighs. As Evans have been the only place for me to get tights from for years I've put up with tights that fall down (or never fully pull up) leaving my upper legs red raw from chub rub. I have to wear a pair of control knickers over the top of them just so the gusset will almost reach my crotch, and then I have to pull them up every 2 minutes. Thus I've come to hate tights with a PASSION and have avoided them for a long time. Will I have changed my mind by the end of this post?! Read on...

Laura kindly sent me two pairs - the All Woman and Paris Lady.

All Woman - £12.95

• Style: All Woman 60 denier
• Opaque tights with cotton gusset
• Single seams in the body 
• Very durable and strong 7% Lycra
• Colours: Black or Make Up (nude.)
• One size UK22/32
• Generous depth and fit hips to 60" 152cms

I tried the All Woman first, which fit up to a size 32. They looked small in the packet and I didn't think they would go round me, but they're really stretchy and fitted like a dream, pulling up fully over my bum, which Evans size 3 tights don't do. Magical!

I just noticed looking at some of these photo my knickers are on inside out. Oh lord! These tights have a cotton gusset, which will help keep things cool.

These tights are soft, supremely comfortable, extremely stretchy and are my favourite pair out of the two I tried. The waistband is wide, soft and stretchy and doesn't dig in at all and the tights are plenty large enough not to pinch my ample thighs. I wish they came in more colours than black and nude. I want these tights in every colour of the rainbow. I prefer tights with one seam at the back rather than two and I can say hands down these are the most comfortable pair of tights I've ever worn. I didn't want to take them off and I kept stroking my legs as they felt so nice. I would say they're true to size and would fit someone up to a size 32.

Next I tried Paris Lady.

Paris Lady - £16.95

• Style: Paris Lady 50 denier
• Opaque tights for winter warmth
• Top quality Microfiber with flat seams
• Very durable and strong
• Available in four colours black, deep pink, deep purple or slate
• Available in two sizes UK30/32 to UK34/36 - I was sent the 34/36
• Generous depth and fit hips to 68" 

I had a problem with these tights - the seams were far too low and too far apart for my comfort. If I'd left them like this I'd have got chub rub where the crotch of the tights didn't quite come up as far as my crotch. They felt very uncomfortable until I pulled the tights up higher (so the waistband was over my boobs.) I'd say these tights are best for short plus sized people as they're short in the leg but very wide in the body. I'm only 5 ft 5 (and a half!) and struggled to make these work for me initially, so someone shorter (or less fuller figured overall) would probably get on with these better. Once I did some huffing and puffing I got the seams in the right place, but I'm not a fan of two seams at the back of ANY tights, so I prefer the first pair. Once I got everything hoiked up they were reasonably comfortable, and they are just as stretchy and soft to the touch as the other pair. If these tights came with just one seam at the back I'd buy them in every colour available as it's not the tights themselves which are the issue, but the seams - they make the legs feel too short, they're too low and too far apart - they're nearly as wide apart as my bum and I can feel them as I wear them. However it is a bonus to be able to pull the tights up under my boobs - how lovely and cosy that'd be on a cold day!

So the winner for me are the All Woman tights. I will be coming back for more once these babies have worn out and I have my eyes on a few pairs of these to buy at some point - funky coloured 20 denier tights.

I'd like to say that Laura's service is amazing - she's probably the friendliest person I've ever dealt with over email and I know if I ever needed to phone for any reason, she'd be lovely to talk to. If you need any assistance in choosing the right pair of tights I'm sure Laura will be able to guide you through the many styles available with ease.

The Big Bloomers Company do lots of other great things for plus sized people - cotton knickers, bloomers and long legged knickers, bras, all manner of tights (some up to a size 42), knee highs and socks, leggings, hospital gowns and disposable knickers, men's boxers, etc.

Although the tights on the website are a little more expensive than other plus size retailers, there's no reason why they wouldn't last you all winter long (and beyond) if taken good care of, plus the size range the Big Bloomers Company afford isn't to be found on the high street. With Christmas in mind, there are some dresses which just look so much better with tights rather than leggings, so these are an invaluable part of a gal's winter wardrobe, especially if like me you're at the higher end of the plus size range.

The Big Bloomers Company posts worldwide. Delivery charges are a very reasonable UK £2.95, Europe £4.45, Worldwide £8.95.

Have you tried anything by the Big Bloomers Company?
How do you feel about tights?

Thanks for reading.