I like to do a lot of yoga and often find myself struck by the differences in attire for men and women. Pretty much universally, women wear leggings and men wear shorts or sweatpants. I am curious how this all came about? Leggings and tights make perfect sense to me – they stretch with your movements, and they help your muscles stay warm and flexible. Shorts and baggy sweatpants, on the other hand, can bunch-up and get in the way. I think something similar can be said of swimwear – the common expectations are that women wear something form-fitting and men something baggy.
To me none of this makes sense. I like wearing form-fitting clothes! I swim laps to keep fit, and nothing is worse than baggy swim shorts – and nothing better than a nice swim brief. I’ve liked wearing tights and leggings for a long time. Back when I was a kid I’d play dress-up and try on my mom’s tights and pantyhose. This didn’t last long as I grew older, but when I became more athletic and started cross-country skiing and running, I found I really enjoyed wearing form-fitting tights in the winter – they are great for supporting your movement and keeping your legs warm!
For women, leggings today are high fashion and no longer just for the yoga studio. I for one would like to see more legging options for men! I haven’t gotten to the point in which I will wear leggings out in public, but often wear them around the house. Like many other form-fitting clothes, that can make me feel really good about myself. I find a good quality fabric that fits snuggly makes you more aware of your body which in turn can result in more confidence and pride (and encourage you to work out a bit more!).
I won’t tell a lie, even as an adult my interest in wearing nice tights and leggings has led me to try some products made for women. The styles available to women still far exceed those readily available and acceptable for men – thigh highs, fishnets, etc. – but at the end of the day, however, this isn’t what I want. I want tights and leggings made for men, with a man’s body shape in mind. And I want leggings or tights that work well for both the gym and a night out! I want something that feels right for my body, and is practical, comfortable, useful, and sexy!
What do you all think?
21 comments
I’ve also been doing yoga for years and adopted men’s dancewear for it ages ago. I actually tend to like unitards for this, and I wear a dance belt under them for support and to avoid the TMI issue. It seems that the idea of men’s leggings outside of sports is getting more acceptable, and I’m not against the idea if proper undergarments are worn (or built-in).
I’ve also been doing yoga for years and adopted men’s dancewear for it ages ago. I actually tend to like unitards for this, and I wear a dance belt under them for support and to avoid the TMI issue. It seems that the idea of men’s leggings outside of sports is getting more acceptable, and I’m not against the idea if proper undergarments are worn (or built-in).
I’ve been wearing compression tights for years now and I’m 65. It started back in the 70s when I had a skiing accident and actually stretched all my blood vessels in my right lower leg. I was young then so I bounced back went skiing the next day though it was soar but I was on vacation and I wasn’t having it ruined. Fast forward that accident has come back to haunt me all these years later. I thought I was going to have to quite working in construction. Then came physio and low and behold she says wear compression so I have been ever since and it helps with the pain. Besides that I like how everything is together and comfortable and above all easy to move in. All these years building houses with Jeans and freezing half to death I only wish I could frame homes wearing compression you wouldn’t be half as tired and you’d be comfortable so wear the damn things it’s a piece of clothing and guess what we are men and men have bulges on the lower half women have it on the top half build a bridge get over it. All the people out the sexualizing these things are the problem not the wearers of said garments. Men use to wear tight clothing for decades and guess what they had bulges as well. WEAR THEM
It feels so nice during the warm summer months, wearing well fitting Speedo swim briefs. They feel light and do feel very comfortable. The close fitting nylon or polyester material is especially nice and well fitting dry or wet. They do make a guy’s good summertime underwear too.
Yes, I really like wearing leotard and tights, especially during the cold winter season. It’s also fun wearing a bright close fitting, long sleeve leotard with matching colored opaque tights, dressed in costume, as a superhero with a long cape, stretch belt and bright colored foot booties. Seeing all those sexy costumed women at a Halloween night costume party is a wonderful sight including the warm, snug feeling in those superhero leotard, tights and shiny, well fitting panties(brief style). On some very cold nights, it’s also so nice sleeping in them without the cape or booties. Sleeping in leotards on a cold night are often better than baggy pajamas.