Black. White. Clear. Red. Zebra-patterned. Striped. Really there is no limit to the range of styles and colors of tights available today. It seems that most women (and a few men) have a few pairs of
tights in their dresser drawers.
Typically when you think of tights you think of pantyhose or perhaps thick and unbearably hot and scratchy material. Well this is no longer the case with advances in fabrics and fit, there really is a pair of tights out there to fit every one and every taste.
These stockings typically have a built in foot and extend all the way up to your waist. Depending on the style, these tights could have a built in control-top that helps to firm up the midsection and makes wearing dresses and skirts more comfortable. Other tights may not have any feet and are often referred to as leggings. But really whatever the style, they are a popular choice for anyone looking to add some flare or practicality to their wardrobe.
While primarily a fashion accessory coming in a variety of colors and styles, there are also specially designed
tights for athletic use. Commonly worn by gymnasts and figure skaters, these stockings are made of more elasticized material to help support the muscles and keep them warm during competition and training. There are also special rehabilitative tights available for people suffering form circulation problems or diabetes, these are also made of tightly woven material and have an elastic feel to them.
It is not uncommon to see young girls wearing brightly colored hosiery to show off their latest outfit. The trends seem to shift from year-to-year with thick patterned tights being in style in the winter months to allow women to wear dresses and skirts comfortably in the cold weather to women and girls wearing almost shear
tights to show off their legs. One of the more recent style advances in tights is the use of footless tights or leggings. Depending on the style and brand these leggings may or may not extend to the waistline. If they do not extend to the waistline, the leggings are simply long tubes that can be pulled on - often ending mid-thigh. For some young girls this gives them the opportunity to wear different colored tights.
Another area where
tights are commonly seen is on the stage. Often male and female actors and dancers will wear tights as part of their costume. Of course, not to be overlooked is the use of tights by ballet dancers who will often wear nude tights so as to appear as having bare legs. These tights are also typically made of a more tightly woven fabric to help protect and support the dancer’s muscles during rigorous training and performances.
Really whatever the reason, tights are as common these days as wearing any other piece of clothing. Sometimes tights are used as a fashion accessory, other times for health reason and still other times for athletic use. There is no limit to the design, color and fit of
tights - making them an excellent addition to any wardrobe.