From the articles I've read, I am not entirely clear on the tights. Were they tights, aka opaque stockings? Or were they leggings, aka tight knitted pants? I can see her popping out in a sweatshirt and leggings. Leggings are stretchy and might be described as tights by newspaper reporters who don't know the difference.
The word "leggings" is still much used, but these were later said to be made of spandex and capable of being stretched out to great lengths, so as to bind a person's wrist to her foot while still wearing them (?) if I have understood this correctly.