The Lucky Four-Leaf Clover

of my mother wriggling into a girdle, sliding on her stockings, and snapping them onto a clip. Pantyhose could be worn with short-short skirts—some women even wore them with shorts! They made our legs look smooth and toned. They came in cute, plastic, eggshaped containers, and they were worn by nearly every woman from ten to 100-years’-old. Why then did they fall out of fashion favor?

Tan-in-a-can is one reason. Self-tanning products gave women the leg-color they desired without covering them. Hose are admittedly hot in the summer. But, in the winter, the sheer fabric can keep our legs surprisingly warm. I know athletes who wear them under their uniforms for this very purpose. Pantyhose also looks hideous with open-toed shoes. Even the “allnude” variety has a stitch-line at the toe that screams, “I’m wearing pantyhose.”

Another reason is our lackadaisical culture—our perspective has changed. There is often little desire to look our best—even at work, school, church, and social events. Years ago, when men wore hats, shined their shoes, and tucked their shirts in, women wore gloves and hats. Hosiery was another element of fashion used to show dignity and respect for themselves and others. Pantyhose can improve the appearance of legs. They can hide discolorations and cellulite. The key is to choose a pair that matches your skin tone—the more transparent, the better. It’s also trendy to wear patterned hosiery—in geometric or floral designs. Fishnet stockings are another modern choice. They are available in large and small weaves, and in every color from nude to black to white to pink. Sheer, support hose can help manage varicose veins by pushing the blood flow up, keeping it from puddling in the calf and ankles. Pantyhose helps to trap skin’s natural oils—keeping our skin from drying out. Care of pantyhose is simple. They can be washed out each night with soap and water, hung to dry, and ready to wear the next day.

Putting pantyhose in perspective, as fashion trends come and go, our eye adjusts and what we find “fashionable” one day can change to “out-of-fashion” the next. For me, as a woman who grew up in the 60s, and as a dancer, wearing pantyhose is my comfortzone. They’ve been part of my style routine since I was ten. They keep me warm and make my legs look better. So, from my perspective, pantyhose are a style staple I don’t want to give up.

The four-leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the three-leaf clover. According to folklore, the four-leaf clover can bring good luck to the finder because this special leaf can ward off the mischievous fairies who like to play tricks on humans. The tiny, individual leaves represent: faith, hope, love, and luck. It is estimated that there is only one four-leaf clover for every 10,000 three-leaf clovers.