Leggings are a piece of clothing in the hosiery group, which are tight-fitting pants made of elastic fabric. They are popular due to the fact that they fit perfectly, do not restrict movement, do not lose their shape even after prolonged wear, have good stretchability and are highly resistant to low temperatures.
Not everyone knows that initially this item of clothing was worn exclusively by the stronger sex as a type of men's formal leather trousers. They were made from well-dressed elk leather, which explains the historical name. Leggings are literally pants made of elk skin.
This word came to Russia in the 18th century as the name for the uniform of the cavalry of European countries, including Russian. The tight-fitting leather trousers were very tight. They could only be put on their feet when they were wet, since natural leather can stretch when exposed to water. The leggings dried directly on the body, causing chafing of the skin.
It is known that Russian Emperor Nicholas I did not appear in public for several days after wearing tight pants at the parade. As part of the military uniform, they were lost in the mid-18th century during the reign of Catherine II.
In German, such pants are called leggings. They are still part of the horseman's clothing to this day.
Leggings found a second life already in the 80-90s of the 20th century and are considered a popular wardrobe item for the fair sex.
As mentioned above, initially leggings were sewn exclusively from animal skin - young elk, deer, and later from suede.
It is known that during the French Revolution, tight-fitting pants were even made from human skin. It was stripped from the bodies of dead or executed people.
In the 18th century, tight-fitting leather trousers were exclusively men's clothing and served as part of the cavalry uniform of European countries. Later they began to be used as an element of clothing intended for equestrian sports.
From the 20th century to the present day, tight pants have been known as a piece of everyday clothing for women. They go well with any type of clothing: miniskirt, shorts, tunic, short dress, shirt. There are male and female models designed for theater, sports and other active activities.
Today, tight-fitting leggings are a popular and fashionable wardrobe item. Their main advantage is their versatility, since they go well with any type of clothing, allowing each woman to create her own original style, regardless of age or type of build.Modern styles are represented by various types of leggings.
Depending on the length of the product, tight pants can be divided into three groups:
trousers - tailored to the length of the leg;Thanks to such a variety of options, the modern market offers many original models: with prints, plain, multi-colored or decorated with decorative elements, inserts and draperies.
The most common classification is by material. There are:
Unlike leggings, the types described above allow the use of prints, pockets, fasteners, many colors, etc.
Nowadays, tight leggings are made mainly from lycra and spandex, as well as knitwear, cotton, polyamide, velvet and other materials. Tight-fitting pants designed for sports are made from high-quality breathable materials. Advantage is given to Dri-FIT fabric, specially developed for sportswear.
It is allowed to use a mixture of artificial fibers and natural ones.This combination makes modern models soft, comfortable, tight-fitting to the body, and does not hinder movement.
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