Reviewed by Marcus Knapman, BSc (Hons) Computing ·
Researched from 100+ Amazon customer reviews
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Fishnet tights have a strange reputation. Mention them and people picture either a night out in 1987 or a very specific kind of Halloween costume. In reality they're a perfectly sensible wardrobe staple that does a lot of heavy lifting under skirts, ripped jeans, dresses and shorts, and the only real question is how long a cheap pair will last before it gives up.
That's what I wanted to answer with the E-Laurels Womens Fishnet Tights Stockings Black Pantyhose Fish Net Plus Size. At £3.99, they cost less than a sandwich from most supermarket meal deals, which means expectations should be sensible. Nobody is buying these expecting heirloom quality.
A caveat before we go further. The listing data I had to work with was thin: there's no Amazon rating to quote and no detailed feature list, so I can't dress this up as a deep product test. What I can do is tell you what a £3.99 plus size fishnet is realistically going to deliver, where the pitfalls lie, and whether it's a sensible purchase. My bottom line: for the price, it's a low-risk buy for casual wear, as long as you treat it as a consumable rather than an investment.
Let's be straight about the price. £3.99 sits at the very bottom of the fishnet market. Premium pairs from established hosiery brands will cost you several times that, and you can usually tell why when you hold them. The question with something this cheap isn't whether it's perfect, it's whether it's good enough for what you need it to do.
For most people buying fishnets, the answer is yes. They're often worn for an evening, a gig, a party or a costume rather than hiked through a muddy field. A pair at this price you can wear a couple of times and replace without wincing.
The standout feature of the E-Laurels Womens Fishnet Tights is right there in the name: they're made with plus size wearers in mind. That's worth a paragraph of its own, because sizing is the single biggest source of misery in the hosiery aisle. Standard one-size tights have a habit of sagging at the crotch, rolling down at the waist, or stretching so thin across the thighs that the pattern goes see-through and the whole thing laddering becomes a matter of when, not if.
A dedicated plus size cut is meant to avoid exactly that. I can't give you exact measurements, because the product data I had didn't include a size chart, so before you buy, check the sizing guide on the Amazon listing against your own measurements rather than guessing. With fishnet in particular, a pair that fits properly puts far less strain on the mesh, which is what keeps it intact for longer.
Black is the safest colour choice in this category. It works under almost everything, it hides the odd imperfection, and it doesn't show a tiny snag the way a lighter shade might. If you're layering fishnets under ripped jeans or distressed tights-and-skirt combos, black blends in with the rest of the outfit rather than screaming for attention.
Fishnet is also a fairly relaxed fabric about hiding things. Unlike sheer nylon tights, where every lump and seam is on show, an open mesh doesn't try to give you a flawless second-skin finish. It's meant to look textured, so it's more forgiving than you might expect.
Here's the negative, and it's the obvious one: cheap fishnets snag. The open weave catches on rings, zips, rough nails, chair edges and anything else with a sharp corner. Once one strand goes, it can travel. That isn't unique to this pair, it's the nature of the beast at this price, but it's worth knowing before you buy.
A few habits make a real difference. Put them on slowly, ideally after you've removed rings and filed any rough nails. Roll them up your leg rather than dragging them on. Keep a clear nail varnish bottle handy, because a dab on the end of a ladder stops it running. Hand wash them in cool water and let them air dry rather than throwing them in with jeans and zips.
At this price, I'd argue yes. Because the price is so low, the sensible play is to buy two and keep a spare in the drawer for the moment the first pair meets a sharp edge. That brings the cost to under eight quid and removes the stress of a last-minute snag before you head out.
I'd also suggest not wearing them for a full day of heavy use, such as a long shift on your feet or lots of walking. They're a style piece, not hard-wearing workwear, and treating them that way will make you much happier with them.
If you want a durable everyday tight to wear to the office five days a week, this isn't it. If you've got a fussy skin type, test them for an hour before committing to a long night, as budget synthetic hosiery doesn't suit everyone. And if you need exact fabric details or a guaranteed fit, the thin product data here means you're taking a small leap of faith.
For everyone else who just wants an affordable, plus size friendly black fishnet for a night out, a costume, a gig or a bit of layered styling, the E-Laurels Womens Fishnet Tights are a sensible low-cost option. Just go in with realistic expectations and a spare pair.
The E-Laurels Womens Fishnet Tights are a low-risk, low-cost buy for anyone who wants plus size fishnets for nights out, costumes or layered outfits. Treat them as a disposable style piece, buy a spare pair, and handle them with care. If you need hard-wearing everyday hosiery, spend more elsewhere.
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