There’s a store near my office which sells deeply discounted name-brand clothes. While I don’t have the patience to regularly sort through rack after rack after rack of tops and skirts and pants to find the one gem, it’s a good place to go when you’re looking for (a) fancy party dresses, of which they have a nice and affordable selection; (b) designer jeans, which they have hundreds of; or (c) socks and tights, which are just way overpriced at regular stores.
The other day I went in there to look for a pair of jeans I could tuck into boots. I absolutely refuse to pay a lot of money for skinny jeans, since I still mostly believe skinny jeans are an abomination but I am a slave to fashion peer pressure, and skinny seems to be what everyone is wearing these days, so FINE. (I scored a super cute pair from Paper Denim & Cloth that were slim but not super skinny tight, and which only cost $20! Less than the Gap! Victory!)
While I was there, I swung by the tights rack and picked up a very cute pair of dark heather grey “sweater tights” that were thick and warm looking, perfect for wearing in winter under skirts and dresses, and with boots.
This morning, I pulled on a dress, and got out my new tights. I took off the wrapper, pulled them on and:
Huh. It appears that I have inadvertently purchased leggings.
I checked the label again, and it clearly says “Sweater Tights.” The word “leggings” appears nowhere on the packaging. Nor the word “footless.” Maybe I’m wrong, but to me “tights” implies “will cover your whole leg, including your foot.” Am I wrong?
Fortunately, I was planning to wear knee-high boots anyway, so I could just pop on some socks and go. But now I somehow own skinny jeans and leggings. What’s next, over the knee boots paired with a menswear vest and skinny tie? Formal shorts? Or, god help us, pegging my jeans? Somebody save me!
That is awesome. Tights without feet. Liars! False advertising! Stop trying to make me trendy!
Leggings are useful for yoga class, at least. Or most forms of exercise, really.
And that’s where I believe they belong.
I agree: tights have feet. Or else they have to say footless. I’d go back and demand the feet.
Also, I saw legwarmers at Target today.
Also, at least your leggings are not STIRRUP leggings.
dude, tights DEFINITELY have feet. that is very poor / misleading advertising.
perhaps also why they were at loehmanns.
ah! i’ve totally been considering doing the same thing! finding cheap skinny jeans, because while i do not believe in skinny jeans in principle, i STILL FIND MYSELF WANTING TO TUCK IN JEANS. wtf!
For the love of all that is holy, please do not peg your jeans.
What in hell was Katie Holmes thinking, anyway? Oh, wait, she’s married to Tom Cruise, so I don’t think she can make her own decisions anymore. Scratch that.
As for leggings and ‘footless tights’ – they should’ve stayed in the late ’80s/early ’90s; I tried those trends when I was a ‘tween.
At nearly 30 – definitely not.
Uggs though? Love. Them.
I know what store you are talking about and I love that store…when I have the patience.
I would take it as a personal affront if leggings were labeled as tights. Tights are awesome and wonderful!!! Leggings…are not.
In NZ/Australia those are tights. Tights are footless. They’d be stockings if they had feet. Perhaps it’s all a matter of where they were manufactured?
Incidentally…I’m pretty sure Heather doesnt come in shades of grey lol. It’s a pinky/purple plant so I’m curious about the naming of your tights!
Oooh, I love the concept of leggings, though I won’t wear them until I lose another 20. You, my dear? I’m quite certain you wear them well! =)
Paper Denim Jeans rock. You can typically find some good deals on ebay…