View source for Tights

{{Short description|Heavy, opaque stockings woven in one with panties}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Distinguish|pantyhose|stocking|knee highs|hold-ups}}{{Refimprove|date=October 2021}}

[[File:Hosiery.jpg|upright|thumb|200px|Drawing of tights with reinforced [[gusset|crotch]] and toes. Actual most similar item can be with seams on the sides of the legs or seamless]]

'''Tights''' are a kind of [[cloth]] garment, most often sheathing the body from the [[waist]] to the toe tips with a tight fit, hence the name. They come in absolute opaque, opaque, sheer and fishnet styles — or a combination, such as the original concept of the American term [[pantyhose]] with sheer legs and opaque panty.<ref>{{Cite patent|country=US|number=2826760|title=Combination Stockings and Panty|gdate=18 March 1958|fdate=9 November 1956|inventor=Ernest G. Rice}}</ref> A variant, toe tights, are tights with individual toes, in the same way [[toe socks]] are socks with individual toes.

== Terminology and related clothing ==

When made of fine [[silk]], this hosiery was considered to be a [[stocking]].  When [[nylon]] fibres were developed and introduced in the 1940s, these stockings were referred to as nylons.  When the separate legs were woven together with a panty that covered the lower torso up to the waist in a single, integrated format, the term pantyhose was coined, since it was a one piece construction of a panty with a pair of separate hose, one for each leg.  This joining together eliminated any need for garters for holding up each separate leg covering.

In American English, the difference between pantyhose and tights is determined in the weight of the yarn used and the density or tightness of weaving to which the garment is knitted. Generally, anything up to forty [[denier (measure)|denier]] in the leg or overall is known as pantyhose and anything over that can be classified as tights, as for example 'running tights' and 'cycling tights'. Tights can be sheer yet solid in colour, whereas leggings are practically or absolutely opaque, not sheer. Thus, the almost-opaque tights are sometimes labelled as semi-opaque and are not considered suitable as pants due to being too revealing or immodest. In the [[United Kingdom]], the word "tights" is used for footed garments, which would always be worn under another item of clothing such as shorts or a skirt, while "[[leggings]]" refers to footless leg-wear of any denier, the exception being ballet tights which may have an opening under the sole allowing them to be rolled up to expose the foot without removing the garment. The word 'pantyhose' is not used in British English.

There are many sub-classifications of tights or pantyhose that describe the precise construction (such as control top, seamless, support and sheer). Although most tights are mainly [[nylon]] or [[cotton]], [[lycra]] is normally included in modern blends to improve fit. Athletic tights are absolute opaque and often footless, although they may have a "stirrup" that goes under the foot to hold the cuff down near the ankle.

== Historical background ==

[[File:Skirt and tights.jpg|upright|thumb|A woman wearing tights under a skirt]]
[[File:Renaissance-tights.jpg|upright|thumb|[[Renaissance]]-era costume]]
[[File:After Hans Holbein the Younger - Portrait of Henry VIII - Google Art Project.jpg|upright|thumb|[[Henry VIII of England]] in tights]]

Originally, leggings covered only the legs (not the lower torso); were two separate pieces; and did not contain elastic fibres, so were cut close fitting (to use less fabric) and were loose, not tight.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}

Originally derived from the [[Hose (clothing)|hose]] worn by European men several centuries ago, tights were made as close fitting as possible for practical reasons when riding horseback. For men of [[nobility]], the material would be made of [[silk]] or fine [[wool]] rather than the coarser fabrics used by the lower classes. At the time of King Henry VIII of England, such was the male fashion for displaying a well turned leg that even the king padded the [[Calf (anatomy)|calf]] area under his hose. Portrait paintings of him and other nobility often portray the wearing of a [[codpiece]] covering the groin.

In both historic and modern times, the wearing of tight [[hosiery]] by males has been associated with an accompanying garment fitted at the groin over the [[Male reproductive system|male genitalia]]. In the 15th century, some men wore an elaborate and decorative [[codpiece]] to accentuate their endowment. In modern times, tights intended for dancers are usually opaque, although their form-fitting nature can still reveal the exact contours of the anatomy underneath. Male [[ballet dancers]] generally wear a [[dance belt]] beneath their tights both to provide support to the genitalia and to promote a smooth, regular appearance. Wearing two pairs of tights is also a common practice among male dancers, as it guards against the combination of stretched fabric and bright stage lights making them appear translucent.

The wearing of tights has a history going back several centuries, when they were worn by both men and women. Today, they are worn primarily by women and girls. In recent years, however, they have been offered as [[pantyhose for men|men's fashion]].

== Current use ==

Tights are most commonly worn with a [[skirt]] or [[dress]] by women. They are also most commonly worn under trousers or [[shorts]] by men.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

In the world of [[theatre]] tights are also common, especially in [[Renaissance]]-era [[costume]]s, and [[dance]], particularly in [[ballet]].

The term "tights" has been used to try to ridicule certain traditional British [[uniform]]. Most famously the [[Serjeant-at-Arms|Serjeants-at-Arms]] at the [[Palace of Westminster]], after a protester got past the security, were described in the media as "middle aged men in tights."<ref>{{Cite news|title = True cost of the 'men in tights'|url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4317737.stm|work = BBC News|access-date = 11 May 2008|date = 4 March 2005|archive-date = 6 April 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090406022211/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4317737.stm|url-status = live}}</ref>

=== Athletic use ===

{{See also|Athleisure}}
For horseback riding, "tights" in some equestrian circles can refer to tightly fitting riding pants of light material that extend all the way down to the rider's ankle and worn with a 'paddock' style (ankle height) boot. Such pants are worn in summer or as an undergarment in winter. In warm climates they can be worn all year round. These "riding tights" are cheaper to buy than jodhpurs or [[breeches]] which are a type of riding pant made of heavier material and which extends only to mid calf length and are intended to be worn with tall riding boots.

Tights can also describe the leg coverings worn in [[bicycling]] in cold weather and in other athletic activities, especially by runners. These tights are usually a thicker [[spandex]]-blend, and are usually footless. It has also been advocated by some sport scientists{{Who|date=April 2025}} that the wearing of tights can reduce muscle tissue vibration.

Athletic tights received some publicity during the 2005–2006 [[basketball]] season, when players started wearing the ankle-length tights under their uniform [[shorts]]. A prominent [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player, [[Kobe Bryant]], was one of the first to wear tights, and the style was subsequently adopted by several other NBA players, as well as some college and high school players. The style sparked controversy, leading to proposals to prohibit wearing tights with basketball uniforms.<ref>{{Cite web| last =Rovell| first =Darren| author2 =Stein, Marc| title =League would amend uniform code to ban tights| work =[[ESPN|ESPN.com]]| date =31 March 2006| url =https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2390599| access-date =15 April 2008| archive-date =8 January 2009| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090108025200/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2390599| url-status =live}}</ref>

In colder temperatures outdoors, American football players sometimes wear spandex tights next to their skin beneath their normal padded stretchy, tightly fitted pants.  In British English such garments are referred to as 'skins'. Athletic tights are considered [[unisex]].

=== Health and beauty use ===

Because the fabric used in tights is made of interwoven fabric such as nylon or cotton, there are pores in the fabric where modern manufacturers have been able to place other items which benefit the skin. They can use [[microencapsulation]] techniques to place substances such as [[moisturizer]]s and other skin creams in the tights.{{cn|date=October 2021}}

== Design features ==
[[File:Kunert Raffinesse Net tights in the colour powder - gusset detail.jpg|upright|thumb|Sewn-in cotton lined crotch in white. Outside dyed to match the seamless net tights.]]
[[File:Tights (hosiery) panty overview.jpg|upright|thumb|Overview of different top sections of sheer tights (pantyhose in the US). From the very common to the very rare]]

Tights are manufactured in many different varieties for stylistic and comfort reasons. Certain leg wear designs include a darker brief or no visible brief at all, the former being used to create extra support or a shaping effect.

One area where design is vastly different from model to model is in the toe area. There are several varieties of toe type, such as sandal toes, open toes and reinforced, all offering different effects. Whilst some descriptions of the difference between open toe and sandal toe can cause confusion, the industry standard is that a sandal toe covers the whole foot but without a seam that would be visible in an open shoe, and open toe tights use either a silicone band or toe loops to anchor the garment whilst leaving the toes uncovered.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hosiery Glossary|url=http://www.uktights.com/page/hosiery-glossary|access-date=5 December 2013|archive-date=6 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206130902/http://www.uktights.com/page/hosiery-glossary|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Gallery ==

<gallery caption="Various uses and types of tights">
File:2016 DM Formationen Latein - TSG Backnang 1846 Tanzsport - by 2eight - 5SC0535.jpg|Fishnet tights worn by professional dancers

File:Taller Coreográfico de la UNAM 2008.jpg|Tights as outerwear by males and partly as underwear<ref name=tights>{{Cite web|last=Dance.net|title=tights ARE underwear|url=http://www.dance.net/topic/9260948/1/Ask-a-Teacher/one-kid-just-doesn-t-get-it-tights-ARE-underwear-Help.html|access-date=24 March 2014|archive-date=24 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324032215/http://www.dance.net/topic/9260948/1/Ask-a-Teacher/one-kid-just-doesn-t-get-it-tights-ARE-underwear-Help.html|url-status=live}}</ref> by females on stage

File:Jogger in pink and black.jpg|Running tights as outerwear

File:Supporting breast cancer research (2907275545).jpg|Opaque footless tights under a skirt

File:Wolford Cosmopolitan bodysuit and tights - without blouse insert - version 1 - modelled by Anastasia Voloshina.jpg|Woman wearing red tights that were produced on the same type of machinery as the [[bodysuit]]

File:Austrian Crew - 8961565272.jpg|Tights as part of a [[uniform]] for female employees
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Compression garment]]
* [[Leggings]]
* [[Pantyhose]]
* [[Stocking]]
* [[Underwear fetishism]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

{{Commons category|position=left}}
{{Ballet}}
{{Lingerie}}
{{Hosiery}}
{{Clothing}}
{{Footwear}}

[[Category:Clubwear]]
[[Category:Dancewear]]
[[Category:History of clothing]]
[[Category:Hosiery]]
[[Category:Sportswear]]
[[Category:Undergarments]]