A leotard is a unisex skin-tight one-piece garment that covers the torso from the crotch to the shoulder. The garment was made famous by the French acrobatic performer Jules Léotard (1838–1870). There are sleeveless, short-sleeved, and long-sleeved leotards. A variation is the unitard, which also covers the legs. It provides a degree of modesty and style, while allowing for freedom of movement.
Jules Léotard in the garment that bears his name
A ballet dancer in a black leotard and white tights
Singer Beyoncé wears a sparkly leotard with fishnet tights during her performance in London, July 2016.
Typical aerobic exercise wear of the 1980s
A skin-tight garment is a garment that is held to the skin usually by elastic tension using some type of stretch fabric. Commercial stretch fabrics ('elastomerics') such as spandex or elastane came onto the market in 1962, and revolutionized many areas of the clothing industry. A wide variety of clothing may be made to be skin-tight, and it is common for clothing to be skin-tight for some uses, such as in stockings, bodystockings, swimsuits and women's bras.
Various swimmers' garments
Elastic material used in the fabrics of a summer cycling attire comprising a jersey, bib shorts and gloves.
