Tights

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.

There are many sub-classifications of tights or pantyhose that describe the precise construction (such as control top, seamless, support and sheer).

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.

[citation needed] 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.

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.

Most famously the 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.

Tights can also describe the leg coverings worn in bicycling in cold weather and in other athletic activities, especially by runners.

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.