Practice Hygiene with your Tights

Women who are modest love to wear tights. Since they provide sheer coverage, they are perfect to keep you stylish without putting your modesty at a stake. Tights are worn throughout the year because they keep you warm and at the same time ensure ventilation, unlike grandma pantyhose. Whether you have a favorite pair of tights that you keep repeating or a bunch of pairs; your tights need regular machine wash (in most the cases) every three to four wears. Otherwise, your tights will end up becoming the cesspool of bacteria.

How Regularly should I Wash my Tights?

Tights pick skin cells and sweat from body perspiration. Even though tights provide enough ventilation at the crotch area, they do develop bad odor over the course of wears. Tights keep your butt, legs and toe covered the entire day. This means they have been through the environmental dust, moisture & sebum debris that your skin produce. To keep them hygienic, it is good to toss them in the laundry basket every second day in summer/spring season. The washing cycle can be stretched to 3-4 days during winter though.

Unfortunately, washing tights scare most of the women as tights are somewhat expensive & delicate. Washing them way too often may deteriorate the finish, snag them, and make them fade the color or what worse than the development of fuzz balls? In order to prevent your hosiery from being orphan or get damaged during a machine wash, get yourself a lingerie bag. Lingerie bag keeps your undergarments safe. Furthermore, be very vigilant about keeping the machine cycle mild & wash using only cold water.

Make your Tights Last Longer Despite Regular Washing

Women’s Health Magazine suggests keeping a new pair of tights in the freezer for a night. As per them, the frigid temperature helps constricting the fibers in the tights that makes them last longer and rip-proof.

After you get a new pair of tights, simply run them under cold water and freeze. The next day, let them defrost over shower rod and let them air dry. Wear fearlessly & rock in any outfit!

Every clothing that hugs your skin closely needs to be thoroughly washed. However be gentle with your tights/stockings as these delicate pieces are prone to rip-offs. Failing to keep them clean means a cesspool of bacteria that can trigger infections at the groin & at genitals. 

Is There a Difference Between Tights & Leggings?

Stockings or Tights

There is a very thin border line between both the counterparts. Leggings and tights are often interchangeable but yet must not be confused with each other. To be precise, leggings and tights vary in fabric & length. Some distinctive features help identifying between leggings and tights. For instance, tights are usually footed and are worn underneath other garments whereas leggings are foot-less that may also serve as pants and can be worn on their own. Therefore when choosing between the two, always take note of transparency and feet.

1. Fabric Quality

Leggings are made from thicker fabric that provides structure to one’s legs. Contrary to this, tights are made from sheer fabric; usually with cotton or nylon blends. Tights are more like thigh high socks and thus should be worn underneath other garments such as skirts. They are only worn in shoes, whereas leggings are chosen when people are looking for a modest piece of clothing that could provide coverage & structure without risking the style.

2. Length

Tights cover toe till waist. On the other hand, leggings vary in length. They are either ankle-length or calf-length. Tights take the place of socks whereas with leggings people need to wear socks separately. This is why, tights are considered one of the most necessary clothing item when you are into layering your outfits.

3. Function & Structure

The most important element that keeps the difference maintained is how they are worn. Leggings are less frequently seen whereas tights are more welcoming. Tights are considered playful & multi-functional as they don’t only add style & color to your outfit but also keep you warm. They are worn at offices and at formal gatherings underneath other garments whereas leggings on the other hand are more casual thus are worn at gyms.

Leggings have their own structure, whereas tights just like socks get a shape only when they are worn. Though like leggings tights hug your legs closely; they provide an elongated shape to your legs depending on the pattern & style. Leggings, however fail in this regard and maintain their own structure even when worn. Since they are excellent at providing coverage, they are also worn alone as pants. On the other hand, no matter how opaque are your tights they will still reflect skin from underneath, especially at the buttocks; to cover which you need skirts and or tunics etc.

4. Fit & Care

Tights are like second skin- sheer & delicate

Tights and leggings both are fitted clothing. Tights need gentle care & handling whereas leggings need no special laundry requirements. Due to them being interchangeable at most places, it is often hard to recognize if someone is wearing tights or leggings. If you are really picky about what you are getting, read the label for a deeper insight. It all depends upon how a manufacturer markets their products. As a general rule of thumb; remember tights are footed, delicate & transparent.