Time & Tights written by Fashion Stylist Gwendoline M.

I love tights!!! There are tights for all occasions. They come in a range of thicknesses and purposes to suit everyone, these include control top, seamless, support and sheer. Most tights are mainly made of nylon or cotton however, lycra has been included in modern blends to improve their fit.

Commonly worn in the theatre industry, tights are now mainly sported as part of the female wardrobe. They were once unisex and have since been derived from the hose often worn by European men in order to keep warm during cold weather conditions. For men of nobility, the material would be made of silk or fine wool rather than the coarser fabrics used by the lower classes.

Tights can also be described as the leg coverings worn in horseback riding, cycling and other athletics, especially by runners and wrestlers. These tights are a thicker spandex-blend, and normally footless. It has also been proven by sport scientists that the use of tights can reduce muscle strain and other injuries. Athletic tights received some publicity during the 2005–2006 basketball season, when players started wearing the ankle-length tights under their uniform shorts. Kobe Bryant of the NBA was one of the first to wear tights, and the style was subsequently adopted by several other NBA players as well as by the regular male population, as a fashion statement. The style sparked controversy, leading to proposals to prohibit wearing tights with basketball uniforms.

Because of the interwoven fabrics used to make tights, there are pores in the fabric where modern manufacturers have been able to place items in them which can be of benefit to the skin. Microencapsulation techniques are used to place substances such as moisturizers and other skin creams in the tights. These creams are said to act against the skin to create a health and/or beauty benefit for the wearer. Some manufacturers have even put caffeine in tights which they claim can reduce cellulite.

In the fashion sense the beauty and practicality of tights is underrated. They have been made fitted to show the leg in its most shapely form. Ribbed tights are thick, fun and come in an assortment of colours. They are an excellent choice for cold weather, especially if you aren’t quite ready to put your dresses, skirts and shorts to the back of your wardrobe.

Tights can also be worn to add extra spice to your sexy lingerie and boost your appeal. They can show little or no leg, leaving a lot more to the imagination. A male friend of mine once said to me ‘all that Beyonce was missing in her ‘Single Ladies’ video was a pair of tights. That would have given her even more sexy points.’ (Men! lol)

Ladies try adding a pair of tights to your next look. Make your legs happy and give your outfit that extra pop that it deserves! I recommend both the House of Holland and Gypsy ranges. Or you can get a pair of plain tights and customise them. All you need are gems, other arts and crafts, fabric glue and a pair of scissors.