Tights – An Introduction to Women’s Hosiery
Tights, also known as pantyhose, are sheer , close fitting leg coverings almost exclusively worn by women. Just like stockings, tights are usually made of nylon often with added Lycra. The one-piece tights garment first appeared in the 1960s and provided ladies with a convenient alternative to stockings and suspenders. Another variation are hold ups (also referred to as Stay Ups or Thigh Highs) which are stockings with a band of silicone and elastic sewn to the top thus ensuring that the stockings stay in place when worn. With hold-ups the wearer doesn’t need a suspender belt and doesn’t show suspender bumps through skirts, dresses or other tight fitting clothing.
In American English, the difference between pantyhose (sometimes misspelled pantihose)
and womens tights is determined by the weight of the yarn used and the thickness to which the garment is knitted. Generally, anything up to 40 denier is referred to as pantyhose and anything over can be classified as tights. In the UK the word “tights” is generically used when referring to all grades of hosiery.
Tights were invented in the US in 1959 by Allen Grant, Sr. By definition, a garment consisting of both leg coverings joined together with a panty upper section, hence the term “pantyhose”, referring to the combination of panties with sheer nylon hosiery.
The main benefit of wearing tights is the convenience of not having to adjust them as much, combined with the fact that they leave a much smoother line under close fitting clothing. Most women find tights far more convenient and comfortable than stockings.