Leggings are tight, form-fitting pants that extend from the waist to the ankles; in the United States, they are sometimes referred to as tights (although the word tights is often used to refer to opaque pantyhose). Leggings are typically made from a blend of lycra, and either nylon, cotton, or a cotton-polyester blend. However, leggings can also be made from wool, silk, and various synthetic fabrics as well.

Types of Leggings

Leggings made from a nylon-lycra blend (usually 90% nylon, 10% lycra) are traditionally worn for exercise, although they were worn for fashion during the 1980s. Nylon lycra leggings are often referred to as bicycle or running tights, and are shinier in appearance than those made from cotton. Many have racing stripes or reflective patterns to further distinguish them as athletic wear and provide extra safety.

Leggings made from cotton-lycra, or a cotton-polyester-lycra combination, are more typically worn for fashion, but are also common as fitness apparel as well. Although cotton lycra leggings can come in many colors, black, navy, and various shades of gray remain the most commonly worn.

Leggings are typically ankle-length; they are occasionally stirrupped, or less commonly, footed. Since socks are normally worn over the top of leggings, rather than underneath, stirrups prevent the leggings from becoming untucked from the sock.

History

Leggings were primarily worn by men in Europe, especially during the 15th and 16th centuries (the Renaissance period), and into the early 17th century (the time of Shakespeare). In many places, especially in colder countries such as Russia, men continued to wear leggings into the 1970s, often as an additional underlayer for warmth. It was not until the fitness and aerobics craze in the very early 1980s that leggings came into regular use by women. Because of their comfort and attractive apperance, leggings quickly found their way out of the fitness clubs and into everyday casualwear. By the mid-1990s, leggings were actually outselling jeans in many parts of the United States. Because leggings had so quickly and commonly become associated with women during this period, their use by men was almost nonexistant, except by more serious runners and cyclists.

Between 2000 and 2005, women's use of leggings in the United States dropped substantially, replaced by various loose-fitting sport pants, jazz pants, and various styles of shorts and capris. As women's use of leggings has declined, their use by men has been on a slow but noticeable increase. Because most cotton and nylon lycra leggings are unisex, exact numbers are difficult to come by, but data suggest that for the first time, around 2004, more leggings were purchased for use by men than by women (in the 18-36 age group). Men's use of nylon-lycra leggings has expanded from hardcore runners and bicyclists to more everyday exercise and sport activities. In cooler northern states, cotton-lycra leggings are replacing longjohns as the long underwear of choice. Men are also wearing cotton leggings more frequently for more casual physical activities, such as walking, hiking, or gardening, as a more comfortable replacement for the old-standby, sweatpants.