Thoughts

The Difference between Pantyhoses, Tights, Stockings, Hold ups and Leggings

July 23, 2013
It is for showing off legs and great booties… Night Party tights

It all started during an office meeting when a colleague rudely complained that I was wearing leggings (Jeggings) in my skirt – which was true, leggings tend to be warmer than stockings – which I had tried out in the morning before settling for the leggings – and it was not appreciated in the office space.

My mind started to run, remembering online complaints on Twitter about jeggings and not actually knowing the difference between them, tights, pantyhoses, stockings, and hold-ups.

Because of the two scenarios I took it on to myself to offer the well-needed knowledge about these women’s undergarments, and shed some light on their usefulness to women’s legs.

Let’s begin with Pantyhoses;

Female legs wearing stockings
These are the thinnest of all them all, with a transparent layer of skin that makes you think that the lady’s legs are bare. They tend to fit properly on the skin and are sheer. They are mostly worn by professional women under dresses and skirts to offices. They are made in various colors, but thin black see-through is the most dominant one as they contain a great amount of spandex.
This is how fitting a tight should be on a lady
Pantyhoses tend to present a more elegant and polished look from tights or even leggings. They are undergarments, as per every designer I know and have read talking about this topic. They should be worn with a dress or skirt on top of them.

Then the famous Tights;

Don’t mistake these for pantyhoses, just because they almost have the same feel as them. Tights are a little transparent and thicker than pantyhoses. They are warm and can be worn under dresses plus skirts too. Some women like me if it gets really cold we tend to wear them under trousers sometimes.

Tights are still not leggings even if they are less transparent than them, this also means they are not designed to be worn without a top over them.

Now the famous Hold-ups

Hold Ups are stockings that can be worn with or without suspenders.  Hold Ups, unlike stockings come in a wide variety of textures, materials, and patterns. They are usually made from nylon or a Lycra blend.

They are both sexy and functional for daily wear but under a dress or skirt, except if you are a showgirl. They are more comfortable than tights. These have been on my wish list for a long time, I hear they are rare garments to find.

Then Stockings;

Now what you should know is that all the above-mentioned are under the category of stocking for many and that is a misconception.

I love these ones because of the suspenders on them, they look so sexy and fashionable. These are most thigh-high nylon or silk stockings worn with a Garter or garter belt. These can even go a few steps further and become fully fashioned. Which by far are the most beautiful and classic. These inspire confidence and sexiness in a lady, I know they do with me.

Finally what disturbs most of my guy friends is Leggings/Jeggings;

Leggings which are worn in pant form

These are tights but more fitting as trousers can be worn without a skirt or dress on them.  They mainly extend from the waist to the ankles; and are made from Lycra, nylon, cotton, wool, silk, cotton-polyester blend, and other synthetic fabrics.

Jeggings are thick and warm enough to be worn alone like pants. They are not designed to be transparent as the rest of the other undergarments, though some people like me wear them in dresses and skirts, others wear them for the purpose they were made.

The classic jeggings/leggings

Hope from this lesson you have learnt something new about women’s undergarments and that your conflict with jeggings/leggings and stockings is sorted.

Patricia Kahill

Patricia Kahill is a Digital Systems Architect, faith-driven entrepreneur, and founder of the Kahill Insights Group[; a seven-company ecosystem built at the intersection of technology, human behavior, and purpose. Over two decades she has trained 10,000+ individuals across Africa, authored three books, and built a multi-platform community of 75,000+ subscribers. She currently leads the Kahill Digital Marketing School, equipping the next generation of digital professionals across Uganda and the wider region.

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