Maria loves leggins so much she wrote about them on her blog in March. For her, they exist somewhere on the fashion lane between jeans and tights, and give her a freedom many women have never known. On a recent trip, she tried to buy a pair but couldn’t find any on sale, and like my grandmother, buying retail is almost a heresy.

So she didn’t get one and her other pairs are wearing out. Maria is not into shopping, I thought this might be a good gift.

Mariadoes not like to receive gifts, it makes her nervous. I do it once in awhile, but carefully and inexpensively. She is not like the other children. I thought leggins would be a great gift, they are inexpensive and I thought I could also learn something from looking for them online.

The Internet often makes me crazy, like everyone else, but it often is a consumer’s friend, there is just so much information about products from people who have used them. And I knew nothing about leggins, I wasn’t sure even how to look.

I had a good time, found some colorful and idiosyncratic leggins for under $12, I read the reviews and was fascinated by the determination of women to help other shoppers by providing detailed and honest information. Men don’t do that. I ordered one pair, but didn’t notice it was a “plus” size, and Maria is very thin and small. It’s going to the thrift store.

But then I found this one, it was just a bit individualistic and wild, the kind of thing Maria loves to wear. I messaged some of the women on the review forums and told them Maria’s size. We talked about durability, taste, shrinkage keeping the colors bright. This was the one – $12.99, it came today and Maria loved it.

She warned me not to buy her any more presents, and of course, I agreed. I have no wish to buy her clothes, that is a personal thing, but I was pleased with this gift and even she can’t complain about the cost. I was touched by the generosity of so many women who shared their experience with these tights and made sure that this small gift was the right one.

I never would have thought of leggins as a liberation symbol, but I see that many women see them in that way.  Life is interesting once you start paying attention to it.