To understand the relationship between pantyhose and romance, one must first appreciate the aesthetic transformation the garment provides. Before the advent of photography and film, the exposure of the leg was a highly charged, often forbidden, thrill. With the popularization of sheer hosiery in the 20th century, a new paradigm emerged: the ability to reveal the form of the leg while maintaining a veil of modesty.
Storytellers use hosiery as a visual cue to drive plot and character development. Several key tropes have emerged: Silk Stockings (Film) - TV Tropes
The Aesthetics of Allure: Why Hosiery Dominates Romantic Visuals