“Tights vs Leggings: A Comprehensive Guide to Help You Make the Right Choice”
When there is a drop in temperature, the tights and leggings come out. Sweater tights and knit leggings are the most popular bottom types during the cooler months
They come in a variety of different styles, colors and types. Every body probably has some lovely pairs of both leggings and tights in his closet but you can’t get the perfect look or the perfect outfit, no matter what you choose to wear. Tastes change and some things are no longer suitable
So How do you get the right tights or leggings for a great look? Before answering this question, you should understand the difference between these two bottoms
So in this article, We’ll provide you with all the information we can find about both tights and leggings
What are they? Their Origin? Their best brands?
What are Leggings?
Leggings are a kind of opaque skin-tight garment that covers the legs. They do not feature fasteners such as buttons or zippers and have an elastic waistband.
Leggings made for different purposes use different materials. The most common fabrics include Nylon, Polyester, Spandex, Polyamide, Lycra and Cotton.
The fabric in leggings may feel thick or thin but it’s always opaque (not see-through).
Another obvious feature is that these leggings have a seam that runs up the inner leg
In most cases, leggings end right around your ankle. You can find different types of leggings in the market such as knee-length or mid-calf versions. You can also get them in a variety of leg lengths and different rises. For example, you can choose low-rise bottoms with an elastic waist that ends at your hips or a high-rise version that has more tummy control
Most of the time, leggings work as a casual style. To achieve this outfit they are nicely paired with low-key tops like baggy tees, sweatshirts or sweaters to use this outfit in chilly days, these leggings are paired with a tight tee and loose, baggy outerwear like a hoodie or a chunky sweater
you can also find leggings with all sorts of fancy add-ons like pockets for a cell phone, other bottoms are made out of special material like faux leather or the faux-denim used in jeggings
What are Tights?
Tights are a kind of sheer, semi-sheer or opaque close-fitting garment that covers the legs and feet. They add a fashionable accent to an outfit but should not replace pants because they can be seen through even if they are opaque and thick
Tights are usually made out of nylon combined with a good amount of elastic fibers such as Spandex or Lycra
Tights can be the perfect choice or addition to pull together an outfit.
Whether you’re transforming your favorite dress from summer staple to fall favorite, there are near-endless types of stylish, figure-flattering tights to spice out any closet
wearing tights is a synonym of elegance they actually let you express the way you are Tights look great with formal clothing such as business suits or dresses. You can also wear them with a stylish, sexy date night outfit
In general, they look great when paired with a dress, skirt or very long shirt that reaches mid-thigh or to just above the knee
You sometimes see tights and stockings grouped as the same thing or categorized as “Hosiery”. Stockings and tights appear very similar, at least on the surface but most of us know they differ in some ways.
Stockings come to just above the knee or mid-thigh whereas tights cover the legs from the toes all the way up to the waist with no interruptions
The Origin of Leggings
Perhaps your first memory of leggings would be Jane Fonda wearing them in one of her bestselling fitness videos or Olivia Newton-john dancing in them while singing “Let’s get Physical” or it could be your mum wearing leggings in a picture when she was too young
Whatever your first memories were Let’s inform you that leggings were worn as far back as the 14th century and like make up, leggings where originally made for men in Scotland.
The mother of all leggings was actually two separate boot-like apparatuses that reached the hips
These Leggings were made out of either chainmail or leather and were worn as part of military or casual attire
By the time, these tough legwears had evolved into thicker bottoms that look more like tights
Some Native Americans also wore separate leggings made of buckskin and this look or style was opted for by fur trappers, mountain men and cow boys
In cold countries like Russia and Korea people wore leggings made up with wool for extra warmth
When Lycra was invented in 1958 by a chemist named Joseph Shivers, Leggings were constructed from that material This led to the ever-so-popular slim, stretchy pants of the 1960s which were paired with mod shift dresses.
During the 1970s both punk rock and pop artists like Debbie Harry and Olivia Newton-John in “Grease” began sporting leggings in their music videos
By 1980s leggings were constructed in a wide variety of colors fuelled by the popularity of aerobics videos and artists like Madonna and Cyndi Lauper who were putting them on during their concerts
When the 2000s came, leggings became so popular and began wearing them to the gym or as a casual wear
famous persons like Kendall Jenner, Hailey Baldwin, Bella Hadid and other athleisure-loving women have turned these leggings into fashionable bottoms that have replaced traditional pants
The Origin of Tights
Let’s talk about tights! Research about the history of construction of these bottoms that the origin goes way back to the 9th century and surprisingly men were the first to wear them. European men of nobility wore hose when horseback riding.
Then, this evolved into hosiery made of fine silk or wool designed to fit as closely to the body as possible
Over time, women began sporting stockings People from the upper class wore white or colored stockings while people from the lower class wore black ones
By then, men moved from wearing breeches and stockings to wearing trousers
With the Industrial Revolution, production quantities for stockings increased making them more available.
The tights we know today came around 1950’s in the UK, they were made of nylon. Then in the 1960s, they evolved and became more popular worn with the fashionable miniskirt
The whilst patterned tights were first appeared in the 1980s and in the mid 1990’s with the new Lycra 3D technology, tights became super smooth and more durable.
Best Leggings Brands
- For workout leggings that feature moisture-wicking fabrics check out brands like Zella, Lululemon, etc…
- For a more stylish look check out brands like Alo, Beyond Yoga
- For a Cute and chic outfit check out brands like Spanx and Commando
Best Tights Brands
- If you are looking for tights with tummy control go with Spanx or Commando
- Natori is also super high quality
- Sheertex tights are super high quality too and they’ll not tear
- You can also check out brands like Express and Natori
