Tights having a localized compression effect for practicing a sport in which the legs are moved repetitively, in particular running or cycling, are constituted by stretchable textile pieces assembled to one another, namely first pieces having normal elasticity, second pieces providing a compression effect, and optionally third pieces having greater elasticity. When assembled together, all of the first and second pieces present substantially the same mean elasticity in the longitudinal direction of the tights, while the second pieces present, in the transverse direction, mean elasticity that is less than half the mean elasticity of the first pieces. Preferably, the difference in mean elasticity in the transverse direction between the first pieces and second pieces presenting the compression effect presents a ratio lying in the range 2 to 3.