Trend of the Moment: Tights, Man

Tight gear from DSquared, Marni, Calvin Klein, and Disney's "Meet the Robinsons"

Tights were a major staple in the 80's and still stands strong today. Women are the primary patrons of tights since a number of them (and counting) already traded their jeans for the body-hugging alternative. However, there are a slew of men who are entranced and, ultimately, enlightened with the tights trend.

Designers gave tights an opportunity to enter their menswear collection. Marni, for example, gave its latest Fall-Winter collection a snug pair of cashmere "meggings" (man-leggings). And a few seasons past Calvin Klein, a label known for minimalist sportswear, outfitted its Spring collection with brightly colored tights. And if a dose of neon spanx wasn't enough, Maison Martin Margiela generously gave a metallic sequined offering.

Martin Margiela's glittering looks

Sure enough, there are men who wear tights because of necessity. A couple of sports, for instance, deem tight-fitting clothes necessary for competition. Specifically, sports that prize streamlined silhouettes such as track and field, cycling and swimming. Also, American football players wear their color coordinated spanx for increased range of motion.

Although there is raised awareness of men donning the stretchy pants a try, there are still no tights marketed especially for men. Furthermore, a majority of men balk at the prospect of giving the skintight pseudo-trousers a chance outside the athletic field. As anyone who has seen ballerinos and male medieval characters, tights do not really provide the proper covering for men. Even Bryanboy, a renowned fashionista, once professed "My tights are, well, tights....I for one always have to wear long tops just to cover my bits up."

Amen brother.