hiplet

A hiplet is a women's pantyhose or tights garment with an elasticated waistband positioned several inches above the natural waist, typically sitting at or just below hip level. Unlike traditional pantyhose that extend to a control top at the waist, hiplets leave the stomach and lower abdomen uncovered, creating a low-rise silhouette that became mainstream in casual and athletic hosiery during the 1990s and 2000s.

The construction requires careful engineering of the leg portions, which must support the full weight of the garment from a hip-level anchor point rather than distributing load across the entire torso. Manufacturers typically reinforce the hiplet band with a thicker elastic core, often a blend of nylon and spandex, to prevent slippage and rolling during wear. The waistband itself sits roughly at the natural hip bone rather than at the narrowest part of the torso, which reduces the overall fabric surface area and manufacturing material cost compared to conventional full-length pantyhose.

Hiplets emerged as a practical response to changing fashion preferences and the rise of low-rise clothing, particularly jeans and skirts cut to sit at hip level. They remain common in casual and athletic contexts where full-coverage hosiery would be unnecessary or uncomfortable. Many manufacturers produce hiplets in the same gauge and denier options as traditional pantyhose, ranging from sheer 10-denier styles to opaque 60-denier blends, and in both ladder-resistant and standard nylon constructions.

The main durability challenge with hiplets is anchor slippage. Because the waistband carries all the tension of the leg weight from a narrower circumference, elastication degrades more rapidly than in waist-level designs. Quality hiplets use heavier spandex content, typically 15 to 20 percent of the waistband composition, to maintain shape retention across multiple washes. Lower-cost variants may use insufficient elastic, leading to visible sagging or migration downward during the wearing day.

Hiplets occupy a distinct category in the hosiery supply chain, separate from both full-length pantyhose and knee-highs. Retailers typically stock them alongside fashion legwear in moderate volumes, as they appeal to specific dress codes and personal preferences rather than serving as universal hosiery. The term itself is primarily used in English-speaking retail and manufacturing sectors; European markets may use localized terminology or classify them within broader low-waist categories.