In fashion, the terms ‘tights’ and ‘leggings’ are often used interchangeably. And by doing so, you’re committing a sartorial blunder. However, there are a few key distinctions between the two, primarily when it comes to their length, material and clothing purpose. Let’s find out what they are.
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The long and the short of it

The most important and obvious difference lies in the length. Tights are meant to serve as a second skin and are long and some even cover your feet (like socks). Leggings are ideally supposed to stop at the ankle or even mid-calf.

It’s all about the fit

Leggings are designed to fit the wearer snugly and shaped to fit the contour of the body. Tights on the other hand are designed to fit you like second skin and are comparatively less comfortable than their snug counterparts.

Raw material

Leggings are made of thick, elasticised material such as spandex designed to hug your legs while tights are made of a comparatively flimsy fabric that is commonly a blend of cotton and polyester that offers a less structured fit.

Style purpose

A prime distinguishing factor between leggings and tights is their functionality. Ideally, leggings are made to provide support and structure to your legs, quite akin to pants and can be worn in lieu of them under a tunic or funky T-shirt. The same is not true for tights. Most tights are designed to be worn under your garments such as skirts, dresses or shorts and to keep your legs warm and covered.