A unitard is a skintight, one-piece garment with long legs and sometimes long sleeves, usually stopping at the wrists and ankles. It differs from a leotard which does not have long legs. The leotard is also usually considered a more feminine clothing item, while the unitard is not. The garment can be thought of as a combination of a leotard and leggings, and was historically called a "one-piece long legged leotard". The term unitard is mostly used in relation to sports, while it is usually referred to as a catsuit in other contexts.
A dancer wearing a unitard, a shrug and pointe shoes.
Figure skater Diāna Ņikitina wearing a sleeveless unitard.
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
