chamois shorts UNDER or OVER knickers?

I have a few pairs of knickers and long tights that are made for either cycling or running, although none of them have a built-in chamois. I have been wearing my shorts UNDER the knickers or tights, and so far that works just fine.

I have seen a few Ladies around my way wearing their chamois shorts OVER knickers or tights. I was wondering why....until my boyfriend just this morning went out for a ride and did the same. He said a little hole was developing in the seat area of his tights, presumably from spending time in them on a saddle, and was trying to avoid furthur damage by wearing shorts OVER tights. I don't get it, I want my chamois right next to my skin, but will it really make a difference? What do you all suggest? This will be my first winter of riding, and I'd like to get my cold-weather apparel options dialed!

I've never seen them worn over tights...

Are you sure you are seeing tights under the shorts? Could they be knee- or legwarmers?

Every once in a while I have seen people wear tights under their shorts but it seems to me to defeat the purpose of the chamois -- to put it between you and any seams. Ow. Ow. Ow.

Ouch indeed... also if it does perchance warm up if your tights/knickers are on over your shorts you can just take them off. Under your shorts and you'd have to do the full monty to get them off.

Are you seeing shorts at all? Some tights have the chamois built in:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/apparel/...-c124-c21.html

Personally I like shorts with tights on top - it means the tights stay basically clean and I can wear them more than once between washings or if they get soaking wet (as often happens around here) or muddy and needing a wash they dry much quicker.

I sometimes wear shorts over tights in cold weather. Then again, I often seem to do things against the tide. No 'OWs' involved. to each their own.

ok well good to know it's not a faux-pas either way...

I will continue to wear shorts under tights...until I get a sweet pair of cold weather tights with a chamois built in!

http://www.pearlizumi.com/product.ph...uct_id=1445644

I have 2 pairs of unpadded tights; one regular fleecy lined and one Ibex wool. I wear them for all different kinds of sports, cycling, running, hiking, x country skiing, snow shoeing. If I wear them riding, with shorts underneath, I like not having to wash them every time, since I am wearing them a lot, for a lot of different sports. Much more cost effective.
I do have a pair of padded knickers, which I wear if the temperature is cooler, but not going up much. If that happens, I wear knee warmers (which on me are essentially leg warmers).