Fashion 101: Tights and Leggings

Windchime

I have a dress which I like a lot but is a wee bit too short. I was going to donate it but then saw a reference to wearing leggings or tights under a dress and decided to try it. But now I have a couple of questions:

1. Is the distinction that tights have feet and leggings do not?

2. Does one or the other work better with a too-short dress, or is it a matter of personal preference?

TIA!

11 years ago

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from

Anonymous

You're right. Tights have feet, leggings don't. Leggings are generally a heavier denier too. I have a dress I wear leggings under - intentionally showing my ankle, and with a pair of trim black leather lace up sneakers. Gives me the extra coverage Tights would work in winter with a too-short dress - just make sure they aren't sheer at all. Then add high boots or booties, and you're ready to go!

11 years ago

anne

Veteran

Leggings are thicker too.

And it depends on how short the dress is

11 years ago

Windchime

Veteran

Thanks, LISAPand ANNE! Leggings it is, then. Believe it or not, I don't own any leggings, although I sense that's about to change in the near future. Would a ponte material be too heavy for this use? This particular dress is quite sheer.

Re length of dress--when I stand, it's about 2" above my knee. The problem is when I sit. If I were wearing the dress casually, it'd be okay, but I want to wear it to work.

LISAP--love the suggestion to wear with sneakers!

It's a hard dress to style in several ways, and I'm understanding why it's become a closet orphan. It's s sort of peacock pattern--dark jewel tones, with full-length sleeves--which would suggest cooler weather, yet the fabric
is sheer enough that I have to wear a topper with it or I'm too cold.

11 years ago

cinnamon fern

Veteran

Maybe you could show us the dress.

11 years ago

Cary

Active Member

I always wear leggings with knee-ish length dresses. Varicose veins etc etc. Plus I'm just modest I guess! I love leggings vs tights because they are more robust and last longer, and give greater coverage. I show ankle in the summer with booties or gladiators or converse-type sneakers. In winter they just go under my boots.

A sheer dress calls for leggings not tights, I think. Unless it's a fancy occasion and you are going for a sexier look. I like the juxtaposition of matte black leggings, sheer dress, and a tough shoe -- say a black ankle bootie.

The dress sounds lovely, btw.

11 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

There is definitely such a thing as footless tights. My ten-year-old has several pairs. I used to have a pair, too, until I snagged them. Footless tights are just like regular tights -- even the sweater-knit ones are a bit see-through when you bend over -- so I'd agree with others: go for leggings with a too-short dress!

I don't really wear leggings any more for reasons of comfort (am I the only woman on the planet who finds them less comfy than jeans?), but I used to wear mine with sneakers, like LisaP. In my case, it was low-top Converse.

11 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Separate from the distinctions everyone has pointed out, do consider the weight of the pair you get in relation to the dress. A shorter dress that fits more like a tunic (so, doesn't fully cover your bum) is best worn with something thick like ponte pants; a longer one could be worn with the thinner more standard heavy-jersey types.

11 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

Might help if we saw you wearing the dress.

11 years ago

Windchime

Veteran

Thanks for your very helpful responses!

CINNAMON FERN & STYLE FAN-- I know seeing the dress would make it easier. Ironically, I feel kind of shy about showing a pic until I fugure out how to style it better!

CARY--matte black leggings, sheer dress, and tough shoe-- great formula!

AZIRAPHALE--interesting about your not finding leggings comfortable.

AIDA--really appreciate the clarification about when to wear ponte and when to wear a jersey type legging! It seems a heavy jersey type is what to try with this dress.

Okay, anyone have a good source for heavy jersey leggings?

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Aziriphale, high five! I also find leggings less comfortable than jeans.

And I don't like wearing leggings under dresses (or ponte pants, either) as some of our members do, because I always find it so bulky at the waist and "bunchy." Horrid feeling for me.

Horses for courses, I guess.

But Windchime, your dress sounds lovely and I hope you will show it to us!

11 years ago

bommarkm

Active Member

I have some fleece lined leggings that I love to wear under dresses and are very warm for fall/winter.

11 years ago

Cary

Active Member

Windchime, I get mine at the drugstore. They are cheap and plentiful and opaque. I think they are No Nonsense brand? Where I live, the bare leg season is short and the freezing leg season is long, so I like to stock up.

In deep winter I wear Old Navy compression running leggings. Not a runner, but they are super warm and super opaque. And no static cling. I should add that I live in a very casual, outdoorsy, hippie town where you can wear stuff like this.

Bommarkm, I've wanted to try the fleece lined leggings, do they add much bulk to the look of the legs?

11 years ago

Aida

Veteran

I get mine from Victoria's Secret, but find they don't get as much wear as my heavier weight ones. Nordstrom usually has a nice selection of more "interesting" leggings, like those with equestrian seaming or leather stripes etc.

11 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Thank you for asking this question. I'm glad I wasn't the only person who didn't know the difference between them.

11 years ago

Anonymous

I prefer woven leggings to knits. I think that they look more finished and last longer. I've gotten them at Nordstrom. They are more expensive but are more versatile and can be worn with tunics that I wouldn't wear with leggings. They also seem more grownup (I see so many little girls in knit leggings).

11 years ago

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