Even though I made myself quite clear in last week’s blog about leggings, a random encounter with this woman yesterday, who was wearing tights as pants, made me realize that some further instruction is necessary, especially considering that this is the second offender I’ve seen in the past week. I kid you not.
Tights are not pants!
So, how do you know if what you are wearing is actually a pair of tights and not a pair of pants? Well, while it should be plainly obvious, let’s review. Here are my top ten ways to tell if you’re wearing tights, not pants.
- If your pants have feet attached to them, they’re tights, not pants.
- If your pants have a control top, they’re tights, not pants.
- If your underwear is visible through your pants, they’re tights, not pants.
- If you can easily snag or get a runner in them, they’re tights, not pants.
- If you have to do that “gather the legs up and then work them over your your feet in legs to get them on” (similar to putting on a pair of pantyhose) then, duh, they’re tights, not pants.
- If your pants are sold in the tights and socks section, they’re tights, not pants.
- If your pants have that cotton gusset in the crotch, they’re tights, not pants
- If you can see your skin through your pants, they’re tights, not pants
- If you wash your pants by hand and then hang them over the shower curtain rod to dry with all your other delicates, they’re tights, not pants.
- If your pants say this:
They’re tights, not pants.
Finally, if you’re still confused, check out this flowchart (courtesy of Buzzfeed)
I hope that clears everything up for you.
Ha-Ha! Love it! Thanks for posting this!
Anytime! It’s sad that explanation is even necessary, right?
Ha-Ha! Love it! Thanks for posting this!
this post is awesome
!! TOTALLY agree with you! i live in Sydney and I see women all around me in tights and short tops. Simply love your posts!!
Thanks, Ritu! Thanks for reading!
Just loving this! Leggings are NOT pants!
Thanks, Imogen! It’s a sad, sad crime!
Ha ha! Good post! My husband was asking me about this a year or so ago. He didn’t feel it was appropriate work attire in his office. But the woman was wearing a long top to at least cover her bottom and her underwear.
I have no problems with leggings when worn with a top that covers the butt. However, tights and a top…even if it covers the butt, those are tights, not pants! Haha. Thanks for the comment!
Thank you – so funny and so right.
As a Realtor, I want my clients to feel like they can respect me and trust my judgment … And many fashion statements contained in my closet directly contravene that goal.
Tragically, my wardrobe can run the gamut from “boring-middle-aged-suburbanite” (khakis, twinset, multi-strand necklace, sensible shoes) – I’ve had people in the supermarket look at me and then immediately mention their mom and/or Laura Bush … – to the “bought-it-because-it-looked-good-on-that-chick-on-TV” (anything with an animal print, excluding my best Kate Spade heels – which are sacrosanct and transcend fashion in their fabulousness; also, most metallics).
Anyways. While considering taking back my leggings-not-tights (previously deeded to 12-year-old Katie after an unfortunately timed “do these make my butt look big” conversation with said same painfully-honest child), came across your blog post. Immensely helpful. Still debating leggings option with myself, but reassuring to have your common-sense input as well.
Haha, thanks and welcome! My husband is a realtor and his life is so much easier- suit, tie and shirt. I hope you can find some useful tips on this blog in general to help you evolve from the “Laura Bush” look. I do a lot of professional dressing posts. You’re a funny writer, by the way. Perhaps you missed your calling?
Tights/leggings as pants have been popular for centuries, Bridgette Raes. #getoverit
Be that as it may, this guy at least has his butt covered. We can’t say that for most women
This is an interesting flowchart you have here. Although I think you’re a little peeved that some people are comfortable wearing out tights and you don’t like it? That’s 1. Shallow. 2. Stupid. 3. Why do you care what they are wearing? If you’re insecure because you can’t look good in tights only, then that’s your problem, not theirs.
Um, are you saying that I am jealous of someone who wear tights as a pair of pants? That doesn’t make any sense. Why would I be jealous of someone who leaves the house without any pants on? And, I think we can all agree that the girl in the photo wearing tights as pants hardly looked good, she looked half dressed. I wear and enjoy wearing tights…as tights, not as a pair of pants.
No, I think the point is who cares how an individual decides to dress… This article reminds me of the bullshit high school girl mentality, whispering behind the backs of others, ” OMG!! Can you BELIEVE what that SKANK is wearing!!”. I can’t believe you would secretly take someones picture in a public place, post it on the internet and essentially write a demeaning article about their body. Your attitude sets the women’s right’s movement back a few decades. Good job!! Grow up.
P.S It’s sad when a grown up devotes their time to something as trivial and pointless as fashion. Why not something meaningful? Art, science, literature etc.? #feelinsorryforyou
Women who wear leggings as pants or dress inappropriately set the women’s movement back a few decades..
Have respect for yourself.
Wow, you couldn’t be more wrong, ” dress inappropriately set the women’s movement back a few decades.. “, Damn Ward Cleaver!! Remember the 1950’s? (Probably not) but any who, when women started wearing pant’s that was considered inappropriate. Some stopped wearing bra’s in the late 60’s/70’s to stick it to the man, who for the last millennium or two or ten, dictated every thing a woman could do or say. Historically women have been not much better off than slaves in our society but not anymore!! The worst thing women can do for their own right’s, status, and perception in this world is to be shallow petty bitches toward one another, it only serves to dial the social justice clock backwards
Wait a sec…So your yelling at this girl for liking fashion and aiming to have it as a career, when it’s painfully obvious you know a lot more about fashion than the average bear. Also, your not helping the whole ‘don’t be a bitch and make women stereotypes better!’ because going on here and getting you panties in a bunch all because tights and pants are different. Also, did you seriously just use a hash tag? That alone is doing more damage to the view of woman, than of making a chart about tights
Wait…I just want to be clear! While I appreciate your defense of me, I’m not “aiming” to have a career in fashion, I have a career in fashion. I’ve been in the fashion industry for 20 years, worked as a designer for 10 of those years, have had a style consulting business for 11 years and authored a book on fashion. I didn’t just wake up one day and decide to start writing about the topic. Some of you commenting may not know my background, so I just wanted to make it very clear that I am very seasoned and very experienced in this industry.
Isn’t judging someone for their clothes and making a spectacle of them like this sort of the antithesis of Christ’s message? Just wondering…
Well, I’m not a Christian so you’d have to educate me on that.
My bad – your blog post is just making the rounds on some “Christian” blogs as a weapon to slut shame and make fun of others. I’m not Christian either, but I do find many of the Christian principles to be universal standards by which to live. And not ridiculing, judging and otherwise excluding people seem sound and kind and fair. And I just think this article has a mean-spirited tone. But if that’s how you roll, by all means…
Again, I don’t understand how it is mean spirited or exclusive, I am simply pointing out that tights aren’t pants and that this girl (who is completely unidentifiable) is wearing them as such and that she isn’t the only one I’ve seen. We’re talking about wearing a pair of hosiery as a pair of pants. What if she doesn’t know that tights aren’t pants, what if there is a huge sector of women who don’t know the difference between tights and leggings?
According the Bible women should wear jewelry 1 Timothy 2:9 ESV / 251 helpful votes
Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire
And since BR IS NOT A CHRISTIAN those rules don’t apply to her now do they?
Yeah! She can have what ever opinion she wants! She may be new to fashion world and current trends but s she’s entitled to an opinion:) you go girl!!
Thank you but, again, why does everyone think I’m new to fashion? I’m nearly 40 years old and have been in fashion for 20 years, as a designer, stylist, author and have run a style consulting company for 11years.
Because. As well are all painfully aware – this particular post is not truly about fashion. C’mon.
Um, we’re talking about the difference between tights and leggings, which both fall into the category of fashion. If this is not about fashion then what is it about? Enlighten me.
It is not fashion… Yoga pants and leggings are fashion. This is a failed attempt on keeping up with those trends. I think people were tights because they think is the same as yoga pants or leggings when they are not! This is a good post explaining the difference for those who didn’t know and now are aware they have been showing their butts. I know I would love someone to tell me that before going out.
I regret that I have but one upvote to give. The crutch of modern feminism is the idea that women can do whatever they want and it’s still a valid choice. That’s the goal of feminism. Women trying to police other women is women trying to take on the role of the patriarchy and that shit is counter-productive as hell.
Well it’s all how you look at this post, honestly. One could say that I am trying to police another woman, or…you could say that I am trying to help someone realize they’re essentially walking around without a pair of bottoms. Seeing that I wrote this and know its intent, and having seen two women walk around in a pair of tights as pants, it seemed important to address it. Now, many have argued with me, criticizing me that I am in no position to tell someone what to do or how to dress. Okay…valid, perhaps, HOWEVER, it’s not like I am saying to women that they should only wear dresses or that a woman shouldn’t be allowed to wear pants. What I am saying is “IF YOU WEAR TIGHTS AS PANTS YOU’RE ESSENTIALLY HALF NAKED!” I mean, come on, let’s not turn this into a woman’s rights feminist thing.
This is worse than a bathing suit… why? She has underwear.. and tights… plus a shirt. 3 articles of clothing.. works for me. 😀
i wear Rat pants to Renfaire and a shirt… Rat pants are worse than tights?.. because the side opens. 😛 hahaha
You are at a Ren Faire & wearing period appropriate clothing. What exactly is your point? This person happens to have confused hosiery with leggings & is essentially running around bottomless in colored pantyhose.
I wish others could get how simple obvious the point of this post is. Thanks for jumping in. I was starting to lose hope for much of humanity.
No, not half naked. Not seeing skin, a$$, nipples, etc. I can’t even believe how petty this is. Maybe you could put all of the energy you put into analyzing, hawk-eyeing, scrutinizing, judging, shaming, blaming, criticizing, etc. into loving your neighbor? Novel concept, I know, but well…
I am loving thy neighbor, by pointing out that she left the house half dressed. I’d do the same if she had spinach in her teeth.
Excuse me, don’t mind me. But this woman is teaching more than Judging. I am A teenager. And I have NEVER walked out in tights. Because unlike my peers. Who do. They are showing their underwear everywhere. If it were your daughter (If you do not have one imagine you do) Who was going around showing her butt and other things around, and Older men Are looking. How would you feel about it? It’s not just men her age looking. I’ll promise you that.
As I said before I am a High school student, and I see this sort of thing all the time. (And I wear pants and have never been uncomfortable stared at by Older men. ) So before you start Judging this woman for bringing up the concept I’ve been to shy to bring up, look at the teenagers and the woman. If you see their butt and are grossed out about it, Don’t forget, Don’t judge your neighbor. Even though, from your post, it sounds like you are judging this woman. So please, practice what you preach?
😉 I like you, kid.
People are free to wear whatever they want, and other people, especially legitimate fashion experts (like Ms. Raes), are equally free to comment on it – ESPECIALLY ON HER OWN BLOG.
Well there is that too, of course. 😉
No one gets to do whatever they may want – grow up. And as a woman, I am really sick of a very small group of ‘women’ trying to define for me and everyone what a ‘women’s movement’ or feminism looks like. and telling women who disagree with them that their opinion does not count in the “women’s movement.” WHAT FEMINISM? They’re just another lot of thought tyrants. ….bunch of self-important, self-righteous, self-appointed spokespeople! …and yes, the female who thought it alright to jog through my neighborhood in one of those bits with a string in the crack and three little triangles got told, “NO.” …and you can use whatever foul, juvenile language to describe it that you wish… it just identifies you as a spoiled baby who never heard the word, ‘NO,” enough in your past.
Okay, first of all, if fashion is so trivial to you, what are you doing here commenting on it? In addition, if fashion is so trivial then why is image so important in life? Secondly, PLEASE tell me where in my post I made a demeaning comment about this girl’s body? Seriously, where? If anything she is demeaning herself by leaving the house pants-less. Some have argued and commented that people should be allowed to dress any way they choose. While I don’t disagree with that, let’s be clear, she is wearing a pair of tights (which are essentially a pair of dark panythose) without any bottoms on.
Secondly, PLEASE tell me where in my post I made a demeaning comment about this girl’s body?
Here you go: “And, I think we can all agree that the girl in the photo wearing tights as pants hardly looked good” yeah, we can all agree… Jackass,,,,,,,,Pant-less? I don’t see any skin WTF are you talking about?
YOU think she’s demeaning herself, I don’t see it and I’m sure many other don’t either.. That’s just a fucked up thing to say about another human being who’s picture you took WITHOUT HER KNOWING, why hate? It just makes you look like a fool. Is that what they taught you at the fashion institute of “Technology”? Really? Technology?
BTW, image really isn’t that important in life.
HA, ‘image really isn’t that important in life’ Are you kidding me? Our whole society is obsessed with image. It’s why people kill themselves, why they puke up what they eat, why people believe size 0 is amazing, why you’d rather buy something from a hot, skinny girl rather than a ‘over-weight’ girl, and why there are social statuses at schools and everyday work.
Also, OH MY GOSH, someone took a picture of a stranger without them knowing? SOME ONE CALL THE POLICE! It’s not like people do that everyday! Imagine if people took pictures and you were actually in one. Crazy right? Even crazier would be if they uploaded such pictures to a social media website. We don’t even have that many of them! All we have is Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr ,Facebook and countless other smaller media websites. I mean, pictures are only for super models!
I laughed at the idea that image isn’t important, too. Like it or not, it is. In fact, the #1 way we’re perceived by people is our non-verbal communication, which includes body language and image. In fact, if you make a bad first impression it takes 6 subsequent positive encounters to change that person’s impression of you.
I’ve written a lot on this blog about the importance of image, one being the way you perceive yourself and how you interact with the world. Anyway, if anyone is interested, here is one post I wrote about your own personal packaging and image- https://www.bridgetteraes.com/2013/01/25/in-order-to-be-the-total-package-you-need-to-think-about-your-packaging/
Oh, okay! I get it! The best way to fight shitheadedness and shallowness is to enable it and keep doing it!?!?!!? What is wrong with you people. You are right. People do kill themselves and make themselves throw up to meet some impossible standard. And it is articles like this one that perpetuate the awful cycle. Why not fight this awful, shallow and damaging cultural, crappy ideas by NOT writing an article like this?
One can talk about fashion with demeaning an individual. The tone of this article is demeaning, hurtful rude and NOT something I would expect from a 20-year fashion expert.
To all my sisters out there – you rock what you want to rock and don’t wirry about the shallow people. There *are* sunbstantive people out there who will accept and love you for who you are and not make you feel like less of a person. Go tights!!!! I think I’ll wear a pair out tonight to celebrate.
Yea, but what impossible standard are we talking about here, that she not wear a pair of dark pair of pantyhose as pants. Oooh, I’m a horrible person. You can get off your sisterhood soapbox here if you think this post has anything to do with female empowerment. Give me a break. You go out, you wear your tights as pants. Quite frankly I really don’t care if you put them on your head an rob a convenience store.
Oh okay, so saying that someone doesn’t look good because she isn’t wearing pants is me criticizing her body. Well ain’t that a hoot. I’m not criticizing her body, I’m criticizing her choice to leave the house without pants on. I don’t care who this woman was…short, tall, fat or thin, nobody looks good wearing tights as pants because, well, they’re not pants.
You’re not criticizing her body, you’re calling her an idiot. You’re saying “You’re too stupid to tell the difference between leggings and pants so here let me help you”.
There’s nothing wrong with not liking someone else’s choice of clothing, but calling them an idiot because they like something different than you is childish. Fashion is about self expression and creativity, not forcing your opinions on other people or saying negative things about them as a person.
The difference between a professional stylist and a random judgmental blogger, is that people pay stylists for their advice. This girl was not asking for your advice. That’s why people are assuming you’re not a professional, because you’re not acting like one.
Let me clarify that I don’t think you’re a hateful, childish person. If you did, I wouldn’t bother commenting because it’d be a waste of time. I just think the tone of post is very negative and crosses a line that you normally stay on the other side of.
You’re right, This is out of the norm for what I post about. I posted it on a whim and never thought it would go viral.
But you assumed I called her an idiot, I never said that.
Well then George allow me to declare “George you are an idiot” 1)Bridgette does ‘get paid for her advice and expertise’. She has clients, she’s written a book, she’s been quoted in magazine articles.
That’s funny, because I see this trend all over Hollywood. Not the exact outfit, but very similar.
Are they wearing leggings or tights? There is a difference. Most likely the people you are seeing are wearing leggings.
shoes the color of baby shit are all over the red carpet these season. The fact that they are in fashion doesn’t make them any less hideous.
While there are, and have been, people in Hollywood known for their excellent contributions to beauty in fashion, many celebrities are walking fashion nightmares on a daily basis.
that´s a fucked up argument hahahaha think by yourself!!!
…she actually does look good.
Sure…she looks good for leaving the house without a pair of pants on, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.
Agreed!
Agreed!
I believe you’re missing the point here.. The point being that it’s rude and borderline *creepy* to photograph a stranger and then use that photograph in a blog post on the Internet without that person’s permission or without them ever knowing at all. It IS on par with high school drama to take this picture and then use it as the illustration for this blog post. Naturally, everyone is relating everything you said to the image of the girl in the tights, who has NO IDEA that everyone is talking about her.
If that’s not petty high school drama, I don’t know what is… How embarrassing for you.
Yea, because I’m sure you would be able to pick her out in a police lineup using this photo alone. Her face isn’t visible, nobody knows who she is. Besides, if she actually left the house with a pair of pants on she wouldn’t be fodder for discussion.
That’s not the point, lady. The point is that you used a stranger and her photograph as the “fodder for discussion”, when this is an epidemic so common that you needn’t even illustrate it. You could have taken a picture of yourself wearing tights as pants, illustrating why it’s bad, and I honestly think that would have been more humorous and much more original. Instead, this comes off as petty and immature.
It doesn’t matter if I can pick her out in a police lineup or not. The point is, you’re posting someone’s image on the internet without their permission and talking about them without them even knowing it. Please tell me how that isn’t petty high school drama behavior…
As long as the person is not recognizable (ie: their face) it is legal and you do not need their permission to use the photo. People do it all the time in films when they blur out the face. Using the image if someone’s bottom half (as they display themselves in public) is fine. Anyways, what makes you so sure she took this photo 1.herself, 2.without permission, 3.of a stranger, and 4.without (unneeded) permission? Do you have any proof to back up those wild assumptions? Not to mention, there is a high chance that the image was taken from somewhere online and not even photographed by the author.
So use photos from any of the “People of Wal-Mart” collections. Everyone has already seen them, and they are illustrative. It is obvious that all too many people are in need of this particular tidbit of fashion advice.
Amen, Oh Jeezzzzz!
Do you walk around in socks and no pants? the girl pictured is wearing HOSIERY as pants. Not leggings, not jeggings, but hosiery as pants. Tights are meant to have something over them because they are hosiery. hosiery=panyhose. Tights are nothing more than colored, opaque pantyhose. So, yes, PUT SOME FREAKING PANTS ON.
Meh, semantics. Bored, much?
Could say the same for you.
THANK YOU.
You know I’d say something but the fact that JESUS HIMSELF is posting is kinda of cool. Hey Jesus! what does the H in your name stand for?
H= Herman, it’s my middle name, Little know fact, It’s my dad’s first name:)
Thanks for having a lighthearted sense of humor.
Are YOU out there reading about art, science and literature and posting on their page “thank you for writing about art, science and literature and not tights.”?
More to the point, the person is not identifiable (might even be her for all I know), and it isn’t demeaning a body. It’s talking about a fashion choice.
Properly approached, fashion is an art form!
However, tights have another name. That name is stockings–a name they share with socks. For a reason. Tights are meant to keep legs covered and warm UNDER pants or a skirt/dress. Wearing them without some outer garment for the lower body is no different than wearing a bra without a shirt over it (a bra that is meant as an undergarment, of course). Tights are not pants, and muffin tops and camel toes mean that you have bought too small a size, which is only excusable if you honestly cannot afford to acquire the correct size. Camel toes and muffin tops look good on NO ONE. When you leave the house, you are putting yourself out there for others to see, and should have enough of a self image to try to look good.
Um, I think she looks just fine and quite cute. If you’re not jealous (which I doubt), then you are simple, bored, shaloow, judgmental and/or rude.
If she were wearing leggings then yes, she’d look cute, but in this case she is wearing hosiery and is half dressed. Tights are hosiery, leggings are pants to an extent. As you can tell from the photo, they are not completely opaque like a legging would be. I’m just pointing out the difference between hosiery and leggings. It’s not my fault people insist upon using the word “tights” to describe both tights, which are hosiery & leggings, which are tight, form fitting pants, typically worn for working out. I’m not saying there would be a problem if she were wearing leggings, but obviously this person is completely confused on which is which.
I’m glad somebody gets this.
Oh right, I am shallow and judgmental for pointing out that wearing stockings as a pair of pants is like walking out of the house without bottoms on. Great insight there.
Leggings are cute for little girls, not women. When I was a 7 year old I ran around in a cartoon t-shirt and a pair of striped leggings. I am not “shaloow”, I simply think that it looks ridiculous. Then again I hate bodycon clothing, it’s not chic–it looks makes me look vacuum packed (and I am not chubby at all) and I’ve never seen it look good on anyone else.
those are “it’s too friggin cold for my socks/pantyhose” tights under my pants!!!
Ha!
Well first, I didn’t create the chart. Sexond, you’re right, I don’t look good wearing tights as pants, nor does anyone else.
Bridgette, I totally appreciate where you’re coming from and for being super clever with the flow chart, and I recognize there’s an undertone of high-school-OMG-I-can’t-believe-what-they-are-wearing-this-person-is-stupid.
And with the increased awareness – and hopefully increasing intolerance – of bullying, it’s a totally valid awareness to have.
And some of the posts rightly point out that it’s shallow to identify someone as wearing something stupid. But this post doesn’t do that, and in fact
@ amanwithaplan your comment ‘If you’re insecure because you can’t look good in tights only” is bs. This post has nothing to do anyone’s body.
This post:
1. Doesn’t identify the person in any meaningful way. You can’t be on the look out for those tights and slippers and say, “Aha, you’re the idiot who Bridgette was writing about!”
2. Points out in a humorous way what many moms and dads would love to tell their teenage girls (and some boys too) about putting more clothes on.
3. Does what fashion consultants do: tell people what looks stupid to wear.
At their best, the fashion industry creates awesome things to wear and gives people a feeling of being more confident and just plain looking good.
And sometimes it’s important to know the difference between pants and tights.
Ah, except the author is no fashion expert. And, let’s not kid ourselves – this post is not about fashion. At least not primarily. It is about modesty. And the modesty rhetoric is so 1952. And, if this is about fashion, as someone who grew up very poor and sometimes had to wear very unfashionable clothes, this line of thinking if very uncharitable, jugemental and not the least bit Christlike. Just sayin’.
– How does one define a fashion “expert”? The author of this post has been in the industry for a number of years now.
– I don’t think it’s true that this is about modesty. I’m sure the author would approve of short shorts more than tights, even though they’re generally viewed as more revealing. It’s about what looks good (and underwear showing through and cameltoe do not look good). Of the bullet points in her article, 2 out of 10 made references to modesty (the one about underwear and the one about skin). Granted, in the graphic, 3 out of the 6 questions that she poses are related to modesty, but she’s not saying “this is wrong because you’re being too revealing”; she’s saying “you shouldn’t do this because it looks bad.”
– As a Christian myself, I agree that it’s not Christlike to judge a person based on appearance. I will admit that I often judge, though—usually unintentionally—and I’m sure that you do too. Appearances are important.
I took it more along the lines “did you realize this is what’s going on when others see your (insert item here) through your clothes?”. I do not think it’s pointing out modesty to judge it more along the lines of “did you know this?” because we all have days when we pick out the first thing on the top of the pile. I heard a story recently of a Mom who was so focused on her make up one morning for an event she walked her kids out to the bus stop in her slip! oops! She did say her face was awesome, her coat and boots? fabulous, her hair? just the right amount of fluff and straighten; but her skirt? still in the house.
Hilarious!!! I’ve heard that being a mom can do crazy things to a woman that seemed so simple before having kids.
This goes exactly with what I was thinking. In the same way that slips are not skirts, tights are not pants. A good rule of thumb is that if it’s sold in the lingerie department, it’s not intended as stand-alone outerwear.
So this one singular post means I am not an expert on fashion? Have you read anything else on the blog or did you come to this conclusion from reading this one post?
“Christlike?” Are you kidding? No you’re not. The issue isn’t modesty its courtesy. And yes as someone who goes to high end red carpet events in very cheap shoes I know whereof I speak.
And BR is ‘no fashion expert’ THOSE ARE FIGHTING WORDS!
It’s no more about modesty than it it is to say underwear are not headbands. Despite the fact that they do in fact, make perfect headbands, way better than tights make pants. Is it immodest to wear your underwear on your head? Who gives a f**k, it’s not what underwear are for, period.
No pun intended.
Ahahahaha! First you speak of modesty being outdated and then speak of Christ? Wow. You don’t know much about the godly thinking of Jesus, do you?
Okay, since modesty is outdated, go for a walk with a white tee shirt and no bra on.
Some of us realize that our clothing tells the world how we see ourselves and want to be taken seriously.
Well it is because little girls don’t want to take responsibility for their affect on the public, especially men. Grown women understand what it means to walk around in your underwear, little girls don’t. Women are secure, and don’t need the fleeting attention of the public to be happy with themselves. Since they have close friends, family, and know who they are as people. Little girls on the other hand, especially ones from homes with no father figure…are crevices for attention. On top of that they are competing with other women for this attention, who are also wearing leggings, or tights as pants. Which is why you see the culture of the younger generation shifting towards less dating, more sex, more sexualizing, and fame chasing. Unfortunately princess stories and romance comedies don’t represent reality. We are animals, and the laws of nature dictate how we behave. Women learn this over a period of time and become mature, and little girls just aren’t there yet. Which is why you can see a 40 year old woman acting like a little girl. She just isn’t there yet.
You think China creates “awesome” things to wear? You’re a clown.
So were cod pieces, SR. That doesn’t make it right…… 😉
That’s a painting of Louis XIV. Credited for being a major influence in ballet, and ballerinas wear tights all the time…..
You have no idea what you’re talking about because the level of skill required to create the clothing worn in that time period far surpasses $1 pants made in China.
Hi! Thanks! Be sure to read the archives here. I write a lot about dressing for work. In the meantime, yes, I definitely think the skinny jeans and leggings are okay for the over 40 crowd. It’s all in how you wear them!
i really have no opinion on the topic, what people want to wear is not my problem, I guess I just find it incredibly sad that someone would take the time to take photos of someone else, post them on line and trash talk them, I think people need to worry about themselves and not take what someone else wears and turn it into an on-line fight, which is all this has accomplished, no matter how many times you post that people should not, in your opinion, wear tights or leggings as pants, will not stop it, so really it is pointless.
Perhaps, but this post has gone viral. Clearly a lot of people find it interesting.
This post is idiotic. Tights are obviously not pants, neither are shorts, or bikini bottoms. No one has a problem with those. Tights are tights, leggings are leggings, shorts are shorts, bikini bottoms are bikini bottoms, and pants are pants. Get over yourself and your self-righteous obsession with this topic. Who cares of someone wears tights? You’re also walking out of the house “pant-less” when wearing shorts or a bikini -_-. You’re probably just can’t look good wearing tights or leggings.
You are pant-less if you are wearing bikini bottoms anywhere there is not water or swimming involved. Put something on. I’m guessing pajamas as clothing is perfectly fine also. Pajamas are only suitable for home, a hotel/motel room or bed. Stop being lazy & have some respect for yourselves… and others.
A million likes!
[…] Tights Are Not Pants, Ya Hear? (bridgetteraes.com) […]
Love, love, love this post. I also agree with you.
Thanks!
Love the flow chart, btw! So creative!!
Thanks! Unfortunately, I can’t take credit for the flow chart. It was created by someone else.
Quite possibly the best thing I’ve seen all day. I am not a fashion guru, but tights, or even leggins as pants? I want to sit down and cry for that person!
Ha! Totally.
Thanks from every guy in the world for saying what we’ve all been thinking…
Put some pants on!
Or, you know, just take the tights off.
That too
if you’re hot – wear them.. if you’re fat – nope
If you are showing skin, showing underwear, or have a camel toe, the pants you are wearing are AWESOME!!!! and we men love you for it. Good on yah. Keep it up! The new trend is awesome. Don’t listen to the overweight, jealous, dirt bag who writes the blog above.
Hmmm, fat, jealous, dirt bag? Well there’s a name I’ve never been called. I guess there is a first time for everything.
I think this guy just made your point for you.
You take that you fit, secure Hermes Birken Bridgette Raes!
Haha, of course I’m going to take it. Who gives a crap what this person thinks? And if I only owned a Birken bag.
This is the epitome of what is wrong with some of the men in our culture.
Great stuff. Thanks for sharing!
Umm jeggings are pants! They aren’t anywhere near tights! Jeggings are pretty much a really skinny skinny jean but they are pants!
I don’t necessarily disagree with you. I did not create the flow chart and was specifically speaking about tights as pants in this blog. Tights as pants = half naked! 🙂
I agree with you on that! Leggings aren’t pants either…. They leave nothing to the imagination!
Jeggings are not pants, eg they have a name that isn’t or is not synonymous with pants.
Jeggings are pants! They are a thick and you can’t see every little curve with them! They also have a zipper and button.
They’re a dangerous grey area… I’ll admit, I have a pair of black jeggings that I sometimes convince myself are *close enough* to pants, but I mean, really. You can see the shape of my kneecap through them–they’re not really the same thing as regular pants.
The shape of your KNEECAP!!!!! Oh, my that is horrific. I don’t even know how a guy would be able to concentrate around you. Kneecaps – the shame!
Yeah, they’re marketed as pants, but they do basically show every curve. If you’re going to draw a line, draw it before Jeggings and after Pants.
So do Leggings… your point? The reason they’re called “Jeggings” is because they fit like leggings and made from material that looks like denim. If you’re gonna draw a line for yourself, I suggest it’s before leggings too. But this IS a personal preference. I’ll draw the line after Jeggings because I’m comfortable with doing so. Especially if I’m wearing a large shirt that covers my butt and any self imposing Camel toe.
If I’m appropriately covered, your insecurities about my wardrobe or curves are none of my concern. So I personally draw the line AFTER Jeggings. The true debate should be people who are wearing tights as leggings. Those are NOT one in the same and should be worn under skirts and dresses, NOT as pants because they feet and have a tendency to be transparent.
I always thought jeggings were supposed to be a crossbreed of “jeans” and “leggings” (aka, more comfy jeans) and that leggings were just supposed to be a warmer version of tights (plus they’re sockless and I hate wearing stuff with feet built in). So maybe I am out of touch there. But I didn’t mention leggings at all because I was responding to Emily’s posts, and I think something “see-through” is so obviously not suitable to wear on one lower regions, and went for the other property that I find obvious (maybe somewhat less so these days) “skin-tightness”.
Mind you, I’m happy with my body, so if by “your insecurities” you meant, “you don’t think you’d look good in leggings alone” you are mistaken, and my husband will be first to back me up on that.
I just don’t wear them in public. Unless I’m appropriately covered, as you say. So I don’t wear leggings OR jeggings as “pants” because “pants” by their very nature, should not need any “covering”.
So just to be clear, my point(s) :
Jeggings – Nope, not pants
Leggings – Not pants
Tights – 2x not pants
(The jeggings debate is worth bringing up I think, because it dives into that gray area that is more hard to discern. Tights are kind of a no-brainer imho.)
PS: I love leggings and I wear them all the time.
Jeggings, to me, are a hybrid of leggings and jeans, like you said and should be worn with the same caution that leggings should be worn. But, I am also 39 years old and, lord knows, nobody wants to see my ass exposed when wearing jeggings.
Leggings, again to me, are a tights/pants hybrid, in the sense that few look good with them worn as traditional pants, meaning showing the butt, but are obviously not as thin as tights.
Tights- 2x not pants, fo’ sho’. 😉
Personally, I wear a tunic or a dress over jeggings and a dress or skirt over leggings or tights. As long as my butt is covered I’m good.
I don’t see the problem with wearing leggings as pants. I can wear whatever I want and if you don’t like it don’t look!
Yes, but we’re talking specifically about tights as pants here. I can’t imagine you’d agree with women walking around without any bottoms on? Let’s just hope she’s got some knickers on!
And w-a-y too many girls don’t wear undies with tights or pantyhose…What if they forgot to do that when they forgot to wear pants too! GAH!…Bleh!
The guys that think it’s fine to wear tights as pants are probably voyeurs…
I think this is a GREAT post!
Have you done one on slips? Seeing a girl’s underwear (or lack thereof) through their dress or skirt isn’t much better than wearing tights as pants.
Hi Jan. Thanks. OMG, can you imagine wearing tights as pants WITHOUT underwear?!?! Yikes, for sure. I’d write about that but I’m sure I’d get another army of people saying that I am a slut-shaming, horrific dirtbag, not that I care if that were to happen.
Anyway, it’s funny, what the heck happened to the slip? You ask the average 18 year old girl and she wouldn’t even know what one is. Personally, I like the Spanx skorts that are a slip/shorts hybrid. I think I may need to research the death of the slip. Interesting.
If you do not mind looking stupid, we will be sure not to look. – Put some clothes on. Only shallow men who want a free peep-show enjoy the look.
Though you make a decent enough point, the way a woman dresses should not be dictated by a man’s thought process. “congrats, you have now attracted a stalker.” ?? So because a man stalks a woman, it’s her fault because of the way that she dresses? No. It’s his fault for being a freaking creep/pervert. The blame is on him, not her.
That being said, the point of the article was to not wear tights as pants. We all know what tights are. The author of the article has explained the definition of tights time and time again and for some reason those who choose to comment are just ignoring that fact. Whatever. The point is tights are tights, they are to be worn under something, be it a skirt, or leotard for dance, dress, or even real pants if it’s cold enough. Leggings are leggings. There are no feet attached. Wear them under a tunic, or a large sweater, or any of the ways that you would have worn tights. OR ignore the rules and do what you want.
The point is that tights are not meant to be worn as pants, but it’s not like anyone can stop you from dressing however you want. It’s simply a matter of public decency/taste and your clothing choice should not be primarily driven on how you think a man perceives you.
You are right – I was identifying a previous poster as a stalker and suggesting that they are out there and are the ones who benefit from someone who is indecent in their dress. While I do not blame the woman when she has a stalker, it is a fact that they are out there and I see no reason to ignore the fact any more than I ignore sharks in the sea and bears in the woods. All clothes take into account human, male as well as female, thought processes – otherwise we would be as naked as the monkeys in the trees. I do think that women who dress in a provocative manner and then pretend that it is not their intent to provoke are disingenuous and lack grace. In this I state what I think, because I don’t have an agenda and I don’t pretend what I know to be false.
YEP!
I don’t wear tights or leggings. I do think that I would much rather see a girl in tights with a long shirt than a girl with short shorts with a long shirt. I mean, at least her bare legs are covered and I don’t have to see that.
So very useful on this college campus where I work!!
Oh I am sure!!! Thanks!!
[…] you’re not sure if your pants are actually pants, please refer to this post, or the chart below. (Click to […]
I LOVE THIS!! In high school I wrote an article stating that leggings are not pants for the school newspaper. Some girls rallied against me in rage(with the perverted support of many boys)! They planned a day to wear their leggings together and they constantly tried to show off their butts as I passed. All it did was make them look even more fashionably-challenged. And I was thanked by many perverts because those girls wore those stupid leggings as pants even more that year. It was a disaster. So glad to see so many people agreeing with my views!!!
Preach it girl!
Step One is education on what is acceptable. Now, we need to go to step two, where we enforce it!
Oh wow! You would stroke out on the Ole Miss campus!!!! Everyday……everyday…….smh!
Oh I’m sure. Although, admittedly, when I was in college I think I had a pair of velvet leggings that I wore with a a cropped sweater. I have no defense.
I totally agree. I think that wearing tights or leggings as pants is not flattering at all. If you can see the stitching on your panties, or every detail of your legs, you are showing way too much. When I see girls dressed as such, I can’t help but stare. It’s like a car accident, it’s so painful to watch, but you can’t look away! And you just stare at their legs. While at the store, a girl walked by with tights and a shirt, my husband leaned over to me and said “Oh, poor girl, she forgot to put pants on today. How embarrassing!” I could not stop laughing. People don’t want to see that!
Right? Truthfully, I felt more sorry for this girl than anything and wondered if she really thought she was wearing pants.
OK, ladies, shoot me for honesty… I have to say if you think you may be even a tad overweight, please please please reconsider wearing tights in public. They’re about as attractive as a speedo on a heavy guy. Lumpy, rolls of stretched out lycra or spandex are not your friend.
This is such a good point. Imagine I posted a photo of a guy in a Speedo? Everyone would laugh and nobody would call me out for being this mean, hateful person posting it.
The same could be said for a man, or woman, wearing bicycling pants while not bicycling. I prefer to not see every nook / cranny / and bulge / of the person I am walking past in the supermarket. Call me a prude.
Yoga pants on fit attractive women are great for pervy guys, I have had a moment or two of thinking ‘nice butt’ until realized I could see the shape of the butt muscle as it moved, then realized I was in the SUPERMARKET and was not doing anything related to shopping for food and felt a little dirty.
In general, you are doing yourself NO favors wearing that in public. Not all attention is good attention. Do you have tips for guys on here your site? I might have to look around a little..
I have a tip for you. Worry about yourself and spend your thoughts on good things. Not mentally policing everyone’s articles of clothing.
When people choose to place themselves in the company of other people, they also choose to accept the responsibility to be considerate of the people around them. You, Jennifer, are so self-absorbed and closed-minded, that you can’t seem to put yourself in others’ shoes enough to understand why wearing tights, or workout pants, or compression shorts, etc. to the grocery store, or any other public place than the gym, is wrong.
I am a woman and have been made to feel uncomfortable by the things other women wear to the grocery store. It’s not prudishness. I’m offended by the rudeness of being inconsiderate of your fellow human beings.
I have a tip for you, Jennifer. Stop being so selfish and work on developing some empathy and consideration instead of policing everyone’s opinions on a fashion blog.
Pot, meet kettle.
And when someone puts their opinion on a public blog, they should be considerate of their audience as well and be prepared to be critiqued. If you don’t like what someone is wearing, you can look away. Pretty simple.
And what is “wrong” or “unflattering” is all a matter of opinion. You’re entitled to yours and I’m entitled to mine. But when someone spews their opinions in nasty, rude, judgmental ways on a blog post that could make its way to women and girls one cares about – yeah, I’m going to counter it.
Making women continue to feel embarrassed, self-conscience, not good enough, etc. is not helpful.
Well, if you don’t want a fashion experts opinion about fashion, then why visit a FASHION BLOG? All she did was point out a fashion faux pas. Wearing hosiery as pants happens to be a fashion faux pas. If you think you look fine, that’s all well and good, but obviously people who visit fashion blogs are looking for fashion advice, which is what is given here. You can take it or, obviously in your case, get offended by it.
I don’t mind the critique, I find the comments that I am, how did you put it, nasty, rude and judgmental, amusing. If a post informing people on the difference between a pair of dark pantyhose and leggings can wreck a person’s self esteem then I really just feel sorry for them. It’s not like I wrote that women who choose to wear tights as pants are horrible people who are idiots. I never once went after the character of anyone who chooses to dress that way, all I did was point out that they’re wearing a pair of pantyhose as pants.
The girl in the photo is wearing a yellow shirt like a dress. I’ma Male… and I dont see a problem with this pic… maybe on a 500lb individual.. but this one.. nope. 😉
She’s wearing a large t-shirt with no pants or skirt. That shirt is not a dress or even like a dress. It is a regular length Men’s t-shirt. If it barely covers the butt, that is not a dress. She is half dressed.
I just hope she was wearing the right “Day of the week” underwear on the right day of the week. 😉
You don’t really have any right to tell people what to wear or how to wear their clothing.
Interesting considering hundreds of thousands of people read this blog per month seeking out my fashion advice, yet the second I give advice that not everyone doesn’t agree with I suddenly don’t have the right.
If you’re putting people down for wearing what they’re comfortablein then you’re kind of a rude and horribly judemental person.
Oh okay, so I see how this works. i’m horrible person for simply pointing out that this person isn’t wearing pantsbut, meanwhile, it’s completely okay to judge my character as a person based on one blog
You’re right. I am sorry, I should not have said that. But maybe instead of bullying someone on something they are wearing, that they are probably pretty comfortable in, you should be encouraging those that are comfortable and confident enough to wear whatever they want. It is, after all, their business and their’s only what they walk out of the house in. Unless it is COMPLETELY inappropriate, they should be left alone. I’m sure if this woman knew that you were taking her photo to put on your blog to talk about how horrible what she was wearing is… She would not be happy. Consider peoples feelings before you go pasting them all over the internet. I’m sure you give great fashion advice for those who need it. But if people are comfortable enough to wear that, then so be it. Let them be them.
Ok, clarification here for y’all. Tights and leggings are NOT the same thing. Tights are hosiery, Tights are opaque PANTYHOSE. Are you telling me you would wear pantyhose with nothing over them? Why would you wear essentially colored pantyhose with nothing over them? Leggings are a heavier material & are not sheer or see through. You wear leggings to the gym. You wear tights with skirts & dresses and such. What most of you are interpreting here when she says tights, you are thinking of leggings. If they have FEET in them, they are hosiery which equals opaque pantyhose. The girl in the photo is not wearing leggings, she is wearing the equivalent to dark colored pantyhose as pants. Geez, is it really that hard to figure out????
I , personally, would not because I would be uncomfortable. What I’m saying is people are free to wear whatever they like. It is no one’s business but their own. For someone to take photos of this person and post them on the Internet to ridicule is wrong.
I agree that people are free to wear whatever they like . . . when they’re alone, say in the comfort of their own home? I often enjoy walking around the house naked in the summer time. But I don’t think you’d agree that I should be allowed to walk around outside naked.
As soon as you step out into the world that you share with billions of other people, yes, it is other people’s business what you wear and you are not free to wear whatever you like. It’s the law, in fact. There’s this thing called “public decency” and if you just walked around in your underwear, no matter how comfortable you were or how amazing you looked, the cops would arrest you for violating public decency or indecent exposure. Tights are basically underwear. So, really, it should be illegal to wear tights as pants.
Thank you! That was my first point, if you pants have feet, they’re tights, not pants.
To quote you: “Unless it is COMPLETELY inappropriate, they should be left alone” So what you are saying is that walking around without pants on is appropriate because that is what this woman was doing. I was simply pointing out that tights are not pants.
Yea, I’m sure this woman wouldn’t be happy she was on the internet for her poor fashion choice, just like I’m sure she wouldn’t be happy about all the stares and judgement from people on the street for the fact that she’s basically walking around half naked. And, “let them be them”. Really??? In what ways does this blog post, which I am pretty sure this woman will never see, not allow this woman to be who she is? Even if she does identify herself in the photo, how does that in any way stop her from still wearing tights as pants?
Thank you! I read this to my husband, and we both laughed out loud. Oh, what a world, where you have to tell people to wear pants…
Unless you’re wearing them with a sweaterdress or something long enough to cover your butt, don’t do it. I don’t care what size you are… no girl’s ass looks good that way.
Have you ever worn leggings as pants? Its like, liberation at last. Comfiest thing ever.
I LOVE my leggings, don’t get me wrong. They’re the most comfortable things to wear. When I leave the house, I wear them so that my butt isn’t exposed simply because I doubt anyone would want to see that. But, yes, I wear them all the time.
Just checked with daughter. Apparently I have let her out of the house wearing tights as pants. I feel ashamed at this lapse in parenting skills. Explained to her that tights are designed to be worn *under* something: pants, skirt, dress, whatever. Whatever. Thanks for pointing this “trend” out, Bridgette – it won’t happen again.
Haha, well, wow, if I could help with that then I am thrilled. 😉
Next: Please please PLEASE ban flesh colored skinny jeans or what ever those things are that look like your not wearing ANY pants!!!
Oh if I only had the power to ban stuff like that.
You must be thin…there are real pants that have control tops
Pretty much all maternity pants. 🙂 Also 1 and 2 yr old girls should be able to wear pants with footies on them. But otherwise… carry on. Funny post. People wouldn’t get this angry if you siad you hated some shde of olive green. They’re likely angry because they do see the inherrant problem, and a nerve has been touched.
Oh boy has a never been touched. Wow! 🙂
it’s really none of your business what anyone wears. no one actually asked you. let’s all stop the slut shaming and policing of each others bodies.
It’s not slut shaming! It’s people going out of the house in PANTYHOSE. That are stretched and not meant to cover every inch of skin completely. Would you be okay with men or women walking around to the mall and to work/school with just underwear on? How about a slip as a skirt?? Seems like you just don’t get it.
Haha, I don’t even know what slut shaming is.
Slut shaming is the concept of calling out women for behaving or dressing in a way that is supposedly “slutty”
Most of the time, It’s a double standard because men can’t be shamed in that way, and yet it’s wielded against women like a weapon.
(Yay feminism)
I’m not sure that it is what was going on. Maybe some people are reading far too much into what you’ve written. You didn’t call anyone sluts or tramps – at least explicitly. If anything your article was just accusing some women of not knowing the difference between tights and pants.
To me, your article was clever and funny. While I was reading it, I thought about how good taste would be served by similar articles involving sweat pants and pajama bottoms. In those two cases, men could use the pointers as well. =)
And I am assuming it is usually women attacking women, right? Oh brother. Back in my day we didn’t have a term for what you are describing.
I don’t know what is going on either but my guess too is that people are reading far too into it. Like I said in another comment- this post is no different than if I clearly spelled out the difference between an apple and a banana. I’m quite certain that nobody would be all up in my grill about that. Some of these comments from others seriously makes me weep for humanity.
> And I am assuming it is usually women attacking women, right?
From what I’ve seen, men do it as well.
As long as women are held to a different standard for expressing our sexuality or enjoying sex, I’m glad there’s a term for “slut shaming”, because it’s a behavior that’s older than either of us. It’s easier to put a stop to something if you can easily identify it.
Just my $0.02
I agree about the comments. I guess all you can do is laugh.
Yes, trying to date single women who feel guilty, shameful, or otherwise have hangups about expressing their sexuality on a date because how society — mostly other, judgmental women — treats them is a drag, tiresome, boring, not sexy, and not really living the good life. I much prefer to date the feminist type women who could give a rat’s ass about what others think about how many different men they sleep with, how they dress in public, or whether they go down on or have sex with a guy on the first or second date. As a guy I can pretty much do what I want sexually with impunity and society could care less or just says, “Well, you’re a man”. Down with slut shaming! It hurts us all.
Agreed! Aren’t there much more pressing things to be concerned about?
I never said it was any of my business. Personally, I don’t care what people wear. However, as someone who writes a blog for people seeking fashion advice, I did think it was important to explain the difference between wearing tights and wearing leggings. Where in this post is there any “slut shaming” (What the hell is slut shaming anyway?) or did I police anyone’s body????? I simply pointed out that dark pantyhose aren’t pants.
Uh, this is HER blog. Nobody needs to ask her. I think you need to take Pre-Feminism before you sign up for 101.
Thanks Marc. People get spicy when you tell them what they don’t want to hear, apparently.
YES. THANK YOU. I’ve wanted to say these exact things to people I’ve seen on the street before! I can’t believe anyone is getting pants and tights confused at all, smh. Although I feel the need to point out to you that it’s a “run” that you get in stockings and tights, not a “runner”. =)