By Soni Panda x

And just like that… we’ve reached Day 29 of my holdups of the day series.

To close the month, I’m ending on something a little bit special – the Ballerina Black Secrets Angel Hold Ups. This pair was sourced through a private seller (so no direct website link this time), which somehow makes them feel even more exclusive.

If you know Ballerina’s Black Secrets line, you’ll know they don’t do “basic.” They’re known for intricate detailing, bold contrasts and designs that feel more like leg art than everyday hosiery. The Angel style carries that signature aesthetic; combining sheer elements with decorative accents that frame and enhance the leg beautifully. What I love about this pair is the drama. They’re not a quiet, blend-into-the-background hold-up. They’re designed to be noticed.

Ending the month with this pair feels right. Over the past 30 days we’ve explored classic sheers, gloss finishes, lace tops, backseams, compression styles, bold colours and statement pieces – and this one ties it all together with confidence.

Thank you for following along with this month’s series. Now the real question is…
Do we go even bolder next time? 👀

---

The Spec

Colour: Black

Size: S-M

Denier: 15

Materials: 82% Nylon & 18% Elastane

Price: £26.99

Website: Private Seller

---

My Outfit

I was going to go with a t-shirt but then opted for a bodysuit instead – I don’t know why. For the sake of it, I went with my sequin skirt, and added simple patent court shoes to finish the look.

My Deets

Bodysuit: Zara

Skirt: Off Amazon

Holdups: Ballerina

Heels: Jieeme

The Review

The Packaging

Getting Them On: my hosiery gloves are on before I begin to scrunch and roll. I took my time going over my anklets before setting them in place.

On The Legs: I don’t many motif pairs, or where they have writing on them, but these are fun! I wanted to showcase them with my outfit today rather than hide them, to give people something to look at 😉

The quality of this pair is ok, and I say just ok because they could have been made SO MUCH BETTER! I found parts where there are imperfections, and these snag very easily too. I managed to get a few at the back, which I missed when I was in them.
I do like that they are a semi-matte finish as they help the legs look a lot more toned – and I love this. But that’s the only thing I liked about quality here.

The fit of these are great; they work perfectly for my leg length and size. I had enough stretch to achieve even leg coverage all around.

The feel of these are soft enough, and smooth on the legs. I had no problems with irritation.

The Toes & Ankle: now the reinforcement is there, but it differs. One foot is a thicker denier, and the other is sheerer. I have no idea why they are different, but there we go.

I had plenty of stretch around the toe area, so there was no pressure. Around the feet and ankles, I had no wrinkling.

The Bands: now this is a nice band! I do love a simple satin band with the brand name printed on. It’s something different and I like it a lot!

I had plenty of stretch in these bands too, and they held up so well during my wear today. I had no issues with the tackiness either, which I thought would be an issue, but wasn’t luckily.

My Thoughts?

What a way to end the month! I had such a blast doing these, and this pair – as nice as they look, they could have been so much better in my eyes. I love the design and how bold they are, but the quality really lacked for me.

---

Since 2018, many of you rely on my blog for quality, unbiased reviews from thousands of hosiery brands. As it’s just little old me, my time and work is being provided to you for free. Unlike many others, I would like to continue to keep this blog going free for all readers to enjoy. Your contribution, however big or small, makes a difference. Support the blog from as little as £1. Thank you greatly.