What is the difference between pantyhose, tights, stockings, and leggings?
Pantyhose, is a kind of stockings made of nylon and shaped like pants. Pantyhose was marketed in 1967 after the advent of miniskirts
Fashion stockings with sock disappeared because of the presence of pantyhose. Most women say that pantyhose is more comfortable.
The term 'pantyhose' comes from the United States, referring to the combination of 'panties' (the US term for women's underwear) with a nylon shirt. That means the pantyhose is usually worn without other underwear.
There are also pantyhose for men. This type of pantyhose is sold under the name of men's pantyhose.
Male pantyhose is more elastic in terms of length. Usually worn by horse jockeys under his son's socks. Some fishermen also wear it to fight sea animals.
Tights / Tights are a kind of cloth-based clothing, usually worn to cover the body from the waist to the toe with a tight fit, so it is given a tight name (Tights). They come in the appearance of absolute opaque, thin and mesh or a combination of all three, like the original concept of the American term pantyhose with thin and opaque legs. Wearing tights has a history going back several centuries, when they were worn by men. Today, it is more often used by women and girls. In recent years, they are sometimes offered as men's clothing.
In American English, the difference between pantyhose and tights is determined by the weight of the thread used and the density or tightness of the garment knitted. In general, anything up to forty deniers in the leg or whole is known as pantyhose and anything that can be classified as tights, such as 'walking tights' and 'cycling tights'. In the United Kingdom, the word "tights" is used in all types of tights whether it's "pantyhose" or "legging"
Stockings, are thin socks and are generally long. Stockings are generally made of nylon, but some are made from wool, cotton or silk. Stockings that are shaped like pants are called pantyhose. Some people think all thin socks are stockings.
Leggings, in modern use from the 1960s refer to tight elastic clothing worn on the feet usually by women, such as leg warmers or tights. Usage from the 18th century refers to men's clothing, usually made of cloth or leather wrapped around the foot to the ankle. In the 19th century, leggings usually referred to baby footwear that were paired with jackets, as well as leg wraps made of leather or wool and worn by the army. Leggings prominently returned to women's fashion in the 1960s, inspired by the form-fitting dancer's clothes. With the widespread adoption of Lycra synthetic fibers and the increasing popularity of aerobics, leggings became increasingly popular in the 1970s and 1980s, and eventually made their way into streetwear. Leggings are part of the athleisure fashion trends of the late 2010s wearing sportswear outside of sports activities and in casual settings.
In short, Pantyhose is the same as stockings but looks like pants, while stockings are the same as pantyhose but only to the thigh. Tights are the same as leggings but cover to toe while the longest leggings are only to the heels.
Keep in mind in English (UK) Tight is also used to refer to pantyhose and leggings too.
