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Leggings are any of several sorts of fitted clothing to cover the legs. Originally leggings were two separate garments, one for each leg. more...

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In contemporary usage, leggings refers to tight, form-fitting trousers that extend from the waist to the ankles; in the United States, they are sometimes referred to as tights (although the word tights is often used to refer to opaque pantyhose). Modern leggings are typically made from a blend of lycra, and either nylon, cotton, or a cotton-polyester blend. However, leggings can also be made from wool, silk, and various synthetic fabrics as well.

History

Leggings in various forms and under various names have been worn for warmth and protection by both men and women throughout the centuries. The separate hose worn by men in Europe from the 14th to 16th centuries (the Renaissance period) were a form of leggings, as are the trews of the Scottish Highlands. Separate leggings of buckskin leather were worn by some Native Americans; These were adopted by some Long Hunters, French fur trappers, and later by mountain men. They are the leatherstockings of James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales. The Buckskins, however were mostly a dull grey brain-tan, not the bright, glossy vegetable tanned leather we so commonly see today. It was also common for leggings to be made of light wool.

In many places, especially in colder countries such as ex:Russia or Korea men and women continued to wear wool leggings into modern times, often as an additional outer layer for warmth.

The linen pantalettes worn by girls and women under crinolines in the mid-19th century were also a form of leggings, and were originally two separate garments.

Leggings became a part of fashion in the 1960s, as trousers similar to the capris pants but much tighter.

It was not until the fitness and aerobics craze in the very early 1980s that leggings became fashionable as gym-styled street wear for women.

Military leggings

In former times, soldiers, especially infantry, often wore leggings to protect their lower leg, keep dirt and grime from entering their shoes, and to provide ankle support. These leggings usually consisted of a piece of canvas with either buckles or buttons running along one side, and an adjustable stirrup that passed under the sole of the shoe, just in front of the heel. The soldier placed the leggings around his calf with the buttoned side facing out and adjusted them and the strap to achieve a proper fit. Leggings typically extended to mid-calf and had a garter strap to hold them up and were secured with a tie just below the knee. Military leggings only extended to the bottom of the knee and buttoned to the bottom button on the knee-breeches. Sometimes confused with "gaiters", with the difference being gaiters only extend to the high ankle and were worn with full leg trousers.

Read more at Wikipedia.org