Tights… And What They Are About
Tights are a type of leg coverings fabric extending from the waist to feet. Originally derived from the 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 area under his hose.
Tights are today worn in fashion primarily by women and girls, as well as infants and toddlers of both sexes. Tights are also common in the world of theater and dance. Pantyhose are an evolution of tights; in the United Kingdom they are still called “tights”.
There are many sub-classifications of tights/pantyhose that describe the precise construction (eg. control top, seamless, support). Although most tights are mainly nylon, lycra is normally included in modern blends.
The difference between pantyhose and tights is determined in the weight of the yarn used and the thickess to which the garment is knitted. Generally, anything up to 40 denier would be known as pantyhose and anything over can be classified as tights.
Tights can also describe the leg coverings worn in cycling and other athletics, especially by runners and wrestlers. These tights are usually a thicker spandex-blend, and are usually footless. Athletic tights are considered unisex.
The term “tights” has also been used to try to ridicule certain traditional British uniform. Most famously the Serjeant-at-Arms at the Palace of Westminster, after a protestor got past the security, were described in the media as “middle aged men in tights”
