Hosiery Review - Cecilia de Rafael Eterno Super Lucido 10

I haven't done a hosiery review in a long time, and for that I apologize. I've tried a few new brands and styles of tights / pantyhose since the last review, including Gipsy Metallic tights from the UK. I promise I'll give them a review later on, but for now...

Cecilia de Rafael Eterno Super Lucido 10

Cecilia de Rafael, based in Spain, has had a huge role in defining European luxury hosiery in recent years. Their Eterno line rivals the grand dame of the glossy tights world, Platino Cleancut 15. In fact, it's been my experience that certain shades of Eterno tights out-gloss certain shades of Cleancuts, but I digress. Cecilia de Rafael has become a major contender in the glossy pantyhose marketplace.

Earlier this year, CdR released a thinner version of their Eterno Super Lucido line, this time in 10 denier rather than the previously available 20 denier. The company claimed that the 10 denier version is equal in gloss and slipperiness to their Super Lucido 20's.

I purchased a pair in the shade "Dore" from Simply Classic Hosiery (use code "SHINY" for 25% off!)

Here's my review...

The Basics

Cecilia de Rafael Eterno Super Lucido 10's are a 10-denier, glossy sheer-to-waist pantyhose. They have no gusset, no waistband and sheer toes. They are offered in 6 sizes and 5 different shades. They are manufactured in Spain and sold worldwide.

Fit

My previous experience with Cecilia de Rafael hosiery was that it fit somewhat loosely. I'm 5'8" tall and weigh just under 200 lbs, so I always opt for the largest size available. With the Eterno 15's and the Super Lucido 20's, I had no problem getting into the tights, but had to adjust (read: "pull up") them rather often, which is no fun. With these Super Lucido 10's, it was more of a challenge to get my feet and legs into them (the panty fit without a problem), but once they were situated, they stayed up quite well. The toe seams were unforgiving -- Once my foot was in the tights, no amount of tugging or gentle persuasion would get those darn toe seams to stay where they belonged. While this is a minor gripe, it can become quite uncomfortable after wearing them for a few hours with a pair of heels.

Finish

The reason people buy this sort of pantyhose (at least my main reason) is the gloss / shine of them. Glossy legs draw attention and look sexy, and this pair of tights is an excellent example of that. My Super Lucido 20's didn't seem to have this much shine to them when I first tried them. These babies look like glass on my legs! Check it out:

Observations

Though the Super Lucido 10's are only half as thick as their 20-denier contemporaries, I didn't really notice it. They didn't feel ultra sheer to me. That's not a problem, but I thought they'd feel thinner or lighter in some way.

Conclusion

These tights are EXCELLENT. Seriously! If you like shiny pantyhose, these are a MUST HAVE! I haven't owned them long enough to know if they're as resilient as the Eterno 15's or the Super Lucido 20's, but I have a feeling they are. To give you an idea, I bought my first pair of Eterno 15's about 2 years ago, and they still look brand new, even though I've worn them several times and have a history of being a bit rough on my hosiery. The price I paid for my Eterno's (about $15 US per pair) is well worth the many wearings I've enjoyed from them.

New Dress(es)!

A couple weeks ago, Larissa asked me to order her a Halloween costume from Walmart's website, since I have a Walmart credit card and she doesn't. No problem. I'll just order the costume and be done with it...

Wait a minute, Walmart has dresses on clearance? Woah, horsey! Let's take a look...

Well isn't that cute? I've been looking for some new dresses lately, and this one looks super comfy...

Oh, that's just darling! I've never worn a "cold shoulder" dress or top before, and the price is quite reasonable!

So I bought Larissa's costume and scooped up a couple new dresses to go with it. The red one fits perfectly and is every bit as comfy as I thought it would be. The blue one is a bit tight, but I love it, so I'll have to wear some sort of shapewear with it.

Though I've tried both dresses, I haven't taken any photos of myself wearing them. I'm working on my makeup skills and trying to find / style a wig that I like. When I'm happy with those things, I'll post plenty of photos in these and other dresses (including the one Gail gave me the night we went to the drag performance...OMG it's SOOOO gorgeous!)

Sorry I haven't posted many updates lately. I've been going through some serious depression and grappling with some relationship issues. Rest assured that things are shaping up and my mental state is 180° from what it was a week or so ago.

Thanks for reading! Please share this blog with anyone you think would enjoy it!

XOXO
Marika

More Makeup Practice

Day Off!

After an overnight stay in Milwaukee for a Metallica performance, I found myself at home alone with some time on my hands. So I pulled out all my makeup (not a huge collection, but enough for a beginner) and set to work trying to look feminine, but not like a clown.

Here are the results, along with a shot of today's outfit. How did I do?

I rather like this wig, don't you?

My glasses cover up the dark area under my eyes well, but they also obscure my eye makeup.

I went to the quickie mart dressed like this. Aside from some looks from the cashier, it wasn't a big deal.

I feel like I'm doing alright with my makeup so far, but without some coaching, I won't be able to move beyond the basic look. I'd like to learn to do winged eyeliner and cut creases and the like, but for now I'm happy that I don't look like the poor girl in the photo above.

Feel free to comment!

Time Flies, but Flies Can't Tell Time

Has it really been over a month since I posted? Bad! Bad Marika! LOL

Things have settled into a rather dull routine since my outing to the drag performance. I haven't gone out fully "done up" since. However, I have purchased 2 new wigs, a bunch of makeup and yet another pair of the addictive Gipsy Metallic tights, this time in Fuscia. In fact, I've taken a few photos of my first attempt at doing my own makeup, and whaddya know, the fuscia tights and both wigs are pictured! Wanna see?

Not the best makeup job, I know. From the photos, I can barely tell I'm wearing any makeup, though I spent the better part of an hour slathering it on. It's better than slathering too much and looking like a party clown, so no hurt feelings. I'm really looking forward to improving my makeup skills. I know it won't happen overnight, but when it does happen, look out, world!

I actually got a compliment on these wedge booties from another member at Crossdressers.com. I also was asked why my dress looks so "bumpy". I was trying out a new pair of hip & butt padded undies, along with a waist cincher and a bra. I can see where the bumpiness comes into play. I think what I need to find next is some sort of spandex tank top to smooth out my look. Any suggestions?

Tomorrow is my day off! Hooray for tomorrow! Of course, I have to work the following 3 days afterwards, but the payoff is going to see Metallica with my sibs on Tuesday night. Holy crap, is it only 5 days away? I'm so excited! I've loved Metallica since I was just a boy...err girl(?). Anyway, I digress. Tomorrow is my day off. That means Marika gets out of her drab cage and gets to go out into the world. The world may never recover.

It gets better! Marika has a mission! Our car's registration expires at the end of the month. Uber believes it expires in 4 days. If I don't get that registration renewed before then, Uber won't let me drive until I prove to them it's current. No problemo! Tomorrow, I'll take Larissa to work, keeping the car (it's her daily driver), then run home, get all dolled up (maybe even with makeup!) and sashay my fancy butt down to the local DMV office. As fun as that sounds, it's doubtful that even a man in a dress, wig, heels and (crappy) makeup could liven that place up. Truthfully, I probably won't wear makeup. I'm in far too dire need of practice to attempt an outing without Brenda's help. So no makeup, and probably no wig, either. The dress, pantyhose, heels and earrings, however, are an absolute lock.

I've recently come to realize that I don't own nearly enough dresses, and the ones I do own are mostly floor-length. So, after the depression party at the DMV, I'm off to the local thrift shops in search of new and shorter dresses! If I find any cute tops, I'll probably buy them, especially if they're on some sort of clearance sale.

After that, I'll probably go home, change into my drab male clothes, meet Larissa for lunch, change back into Marika's glam clothes, do a bit more shopping or hang out with Brenda. Typical day off stuff. Marika won't see the light of day again until next Wednesday, so I hope I can pack a lot into a short period of time.

Janey Uber Alles

In 2016, Larissa and I traveled to Las Vegas along with my sister (known to my dear readers as Julie). On the advice of a friend who's been there many times, we skipped the local cabs in favor of the popular rideshare service, Uber. Our experience with Uber in Vegas was excellent. So much so, in fact, that I decided to sign up as a driver just as soon as we got back to Wisconsin.

The only problem was our car, a 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca. A few months after I started driving for Uber, I was informed that our car was too old, and that I couldn't use it to drive their passengers around anymore.

Fast forward to this June. Our beloved Subaru came up lame and we had to have her shot. In her place, we bought a lovely 2017 Nissan Rogue. It's Larissa's daily driver, and she's quite fond of it. It also solves my Uber problem. On my days off from work (the days I don't volunteer to work overtime), I can take Larissa to her job, then use the Rogue to Uber my little black heart out (and earn some coin along the way). It's really the best I can do to make extra money with the DOT's ridiculous rules. In a nutshell, I'm only allowed to work 70 hours a week, after which I have to take a 34-hour break. I like earning money, so...

In my never ending quest to expose the world (or at least my local community) to Marika, I've decided to take up the mantle of Uber driver once more. My plan is to "half dress" while driving. That is, a normal "male" shirt on top with a lovely skirt, hose and girl shoes on the bottom. Sorta like this:

I've shaved off the scruff since this photo was shot. Thank goodness.

Some friends on one of the CD sites I visit have expressed concern for my safety while driving these Uber passengers around in such attire. I, however, am supremely confident that everything will go smoothly. I only intend to drive during the day, and after the many experiments I've conducted in my local area, I'm convinced that people hereabouts don't really give a darn if I wear skirts or not.

So Monday (2 days from now), I'm going to give it a go. If you live in my area and call for an Uber on Monday, 

See y'all on the flipside.

Another Baby Step

As has become customary on my days off from work, today was Marika's day to go out and enjoy herself. At some point during the day, I decided that I would not be switching back to drab mode when Larissa got home from work. Usually Larissa calls me on her way home to chit chat, and usually I take the occasion of her call to change back into my boring guy clothes.

A week or so ago, I cut short a day of letting Marika out & about to join Larissa for a drink at our favorite local watering hole. Cut short that is, with the exception of the ultra sheer pantyhose I kept on under my shorts. Previously, I've worn them around Larissa without her noticing. Well, on this particular evening she noticed straight away, and was very unhappy about it.

Upon discussion, I learned that Larissa felt "ambushed" by me and my hosiery. She felt like I thrust it upon her without warning, and in a public place, which made her feel very uneasy. One of her good friends was at the bar with her and Larissa was worried that the friend would notice. Rather than get upset with my beloved for her recalcitrance, I decided to use this episode as a learning experience.

To that end, I decided to conduct a small experiment. I would tell Larissa during our phone call that I was wearing a skirt, so she didn't feel "ambushed" again. Then I would gauge her reaction at actually seeing me in my femme attire. I was very pleasantly surprised!

Upon arriving home, Larissa gave my lower half a long glance, shrugged her shoulders and carried on with her usual evening rituals. This represents a change from her normal behavior. Previously, any time I would even mention crossdressing, she would turn cold, as if she'd just received awful news. This would go on for hours, and I would inevitably feel as though I'd injured her in some way. Tonight, there was no coldness. She was affectionate, talkative and generally upbeat.

I wore my skirt until bedtime. Larissa came to tuck me in and snuggle for a bit.

It was a very nice departure and quite an enjoyable evening.

Boys Will Be Girls

Larissa was out of town on Saturday, so I took the opportunity to get together with a GG friend of mine and go see a local drag performance. I didn't intend to go 100% female, but my friend (heretofore called Brenda) insisted on doing my makeup and styling my hair. Brenda also chose my dress, jewelry and even the shoes I wore.Needless to say, I'm awful at makeup and at coordinating outfits. I'm still male, after all. Brenda was a life saver!

The show was really fun and the performers were absolutely beautiful. My favorite performer agreed to take a selfie with me (which turned out awful! I need to get better at selfie-taking), then appeared outside 15 minutes later, but I didn't recognize her in boy mode. She's just as pretty as a boy as she is as a girl, and very sweet besides.

My first trip to a gay club and to a drag performance was fun, easy and very memorable. I'll definitely do it again.

Here we see Marika, nervous as hell but trying to act at ease for the camera. The smile is genuine. The breasts are not, though they look pretty nice if I do say so myself!

And here we see the effects of too much alcohol, coupled with the effects of Brenda snapping pictures of me every time I blink. In this case, the smile is forced, and the only thoughts going through my mind were "hurry up and take the damned picture so I can relax!"