A Treat when Pantyhose show up unexpectedly

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

Frequent readers of this blog know that I  think pantyhose should be worn for the right reasons, during the right occasions and at the right places.  OK, so pretty much, always.  

Obviously, I want pantyhose at the office, the courthouse, the wedding, the funeral, the party, the stage, the TV studio, the movie set ….. you get the idea.  When this happens, I am so proud and very happy.

Today, it’s hard enough to see pantyhose worn in movies where the occasion and venues would seem to warrant it.   I like it a lot when it does happen.  So imagine the thrill I get when pantyhose show up on an actress in a role and a venue where one not only wouldn’t expect them, but in which one would actually forgive the character/actress for not wearing them.

This weekend, I watched one such movie, “Blood: The Last Vampire.”  

Beauty and the beasts

Now, I like a good vampire-killer movie, but throw in a Japanese setting, karate fights and samurai swords, and I’m all in, baby! 

So, I was excited to watch “Blood: The Last Vampire,” but I certainly didn’t expect to see the young heroine, Saya, wearing a traditional Japanese schoolgirl uniform, complete with pantyhose so sheer, even I didn’t realize she was wearing until almost halfway through the film. 

One-girl wrecking crew

I just wanted to check out the martial arts action sequences more closely, and when I put the DVR in slow motion to enjoy Saya’s beautiful spinning wheel kicks, I realized she was wearing pantyhose.  Wow! 

I was digging the movie anyway, but the fact that the actress, or the costume designer, chose to put the actress in pantyhose, even for the samurai sword and karate fight sequences, well, you had me at Japanese vampire.  

Dishing out demon destruction

Like the “Resident Evil” movies being based on a video game, “Blood: The Last Vampire” movie is based on the wildly popular and multiple award-winning Japanese anime cult classic series.  

I’ve read different accounts of the timeframe in which the live action movie version takes place, but most say it’s around 1966, during a period when the U.S.military is preparing to enter the Vietnam War.  The setting is an American Air Force base in Tokyo.  But while the base is on edge about the war, there’s already an unseen battle going on; a 400 years long fight waged by vampires and their monstrous bat-like creatures who feed on human blood.  

Soaring into action

Enter Saya, the lone execution arm of a covert government agency that has been hunting  demons for centuries.  She is installed as a would-be student at a military school on the base to discover which of her classmates are demons in disguise, and to force a confrontation against the most powerful demon of them all, Onigen, who murdered Saya’s father when she was a young girl.  

Sad soul

While Saya has the appearance of a 17-year-old student, she really is a 400-year-old samurai of extraordinary ability.  Saya is a half-human, half-vampire, who preys on the demons who feast on human blood.  

Joining forces with a secret government agency known as the Council, Saya is tormented at being a half-breed creature with the soul of her human father and the powers (and need of blood to survive) of her vampire mother.  

She is obsessed about finally facing the most powerful of demons – the one that killed her father – and, en route to the confrontation she seeks with Onigen, Saya wages a one-girl series of battles in which she dispatches with her samurai sword hundreds of lower level demons. 

Not so dark

Saya is played by beautiful Korean model/actress Jeon Ji-hyeon. (Remember, traditionally, Asian people say and write their family names first, and their given names second.  Because she’s young, I am going to call her by her first name here.)   By the way, don’t be confused: For an English audience, Ji-hyeon changed her named to Gianna Jun, and the film credits list her as only Gianna.   To complicate things further, some Internet sources list her name as Jeon Ji Hyun and Jun Ji-hyun.  I thought Jun Ji-hyun was accurate, but a  Korean movie data base site that I trust has her name listed exclusively as Jeon Ji-hyeon.  My feelings about these things is that one should always believe the way the country of origin spells and pronounces a name.   You’d have to think the Koreans know how one of their own spells and says her name. 

Whoever cast her in “Blood: The Last Vampire” is brilliant.  Ji-hyeon is one of Korea’s most popular young actresses, beloved for her starring roles in romantic comedies.  Who could have imagined she could pull off such an impressive performance in an action thriller, relying on martial arts fight sequences throughout?  In an interview, Ji-hyeon said she never imagined she’d play a part in an action movie, but that she had a lot of fun doing it and is hooked. 

While I haven’t seen any of Ji-hyeon other movies, I am extremely impressed at the transformation she makes of herself from a romantic comedy legend to a role in which her very dark character doesn’t smile once throughout the movie.

Always lovely

I am so glad I saw ‘Blood: The Last Vampire” because I am now a Jeon Ji-hyeon fan. 

I am so extremely impressed with her.   For a 27-year-old, she is very professional and classy, almost always wearing dresses, high heels and pantyhose during public appearances and in fashion photo shoots. 

It is so heartwarming to see a young professional displaying good taste and showing such grace and elegance in her young career.  I am looking forward to seeing more of  her. 

“Blood: The Last Vampire” is done by one of the producers of “Hero” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”   An extremely good story with wonderful acting and martial arts fights, “Hero” stars Jet Li, Maggie Cheung and Zhang Ziyi.  It is one of my favorite martial arts movies because the story is so beautifully told (and I love Maggie Cheung and Zhang Ziyi).  And, of course, you know all about “Crouching Tiger …”    

While “Blood: The Last Vampire” might not win any prestigious film awards, it is definitely worth checking out.  It often runs on the Encore channels.   

Pantyhose in other Action Settings

In some of my earlier blog posts, I’ve gloated over how often pantyhose are  worn by some of the female contestants and most of the female audience members at the site of the hit Japanese game show, “Ninja Warrior,” known as “the world’s toughest obstacle course.”    

Talk about pantyhose in unexpected places!    I so love the Japanese.   How many female athletes competing in a brutal obstacle course would be wearing pantyhose in Western countries?  And how many spectators sitting on bleachers at such a venue would be dressed in skirts, high heels and pantyhose anywhere except in Japan or other Asian countries? 

Resident goddess

Back to pantyhose showing up in movies in which you wouldn’t expect them,  I’ve often praised Milla Jovovich (and/or the costume designer) of the “Resident Evil” movies for dressing Milla’s character, Alice, in pantyhose for many of the scenes in which  she’s shooting and kicking the crud out of zombies. 

These rare cases are so impressive to me.   While today, so many movies that are set in business or formal scenes feature lead characters who dress up, except for the awful bare legs look, it’s so rewarding to see that some actresses (and/or costume designers) have so much class that they dress their star characters in pantyhose.   They truly get what so many others don’t – legs look so much better in pantyhose.

Delicate beauty, but ...

A couple of my other favorite action movies are “Beyond Hypothermia,” about a beautiful Chinese professional hit woman, who dispatches countless dudes, while dressed in lovely outfits, including high heels and pantyhose.  There’s just something about a delicately beautiful and petite woman (Wu Chen-Lien at right) dressed all femininely, while toting a high-power rifle that’s bigger than she is, and wielding assorted semi-automatic handguns.  Maybe it’s the juxtapositioning of the whole thing – pretty but deadly women, kicking butt, while wearing the most feminine thing in the world – pantyhose.  

And, you’ve read before how much I love “Princess Aurora.”  Don’t let the title fool you.  This is a Korean movie, starring the immensely popular Korean singer/actress Uhm Jung-hwa, who plays a heartbroken mother out to avenge the kidnap/murder of her young daughter (who loved the character, Princess Aurora.)  

Taking a stand

Despite the fact that this movie is pretty violent, it is a heart-wrenching, beautiful story, incredibly well-written and superbly acted.   I love Uhm Jung-hwa and will buy anything I can find that she’s done. 

Unfortunately, “Princess Aurora” is not available on DVD, but it is shown on IFC (Independent Film Channel) from time to time. 

Besides that I love this actress and this movie, one of the reasons I am recommending you see this is because Jung-hwa wears stunningly beautiful outfits, complete with high heels and pantyhose throughout the movie.  

While not quite as powerful or well done, another two movies I like are “Black Angel” and “Black Angel 2,” about a young Japanese woman who, years after witnessing the murder of her yakuza boss father, becomes an accomplished hit woman, who eventually extracts great vengeance on the new yakuza clan. 

Real-life angel?

The beautiful star who plays Black Angel is Riona Hizuki, who wears all black (naturally) dresses and pantyhose throughout the entire movie.

Seeing a trend with me here?  I guess I like movies in which women assassins extol the virtues of dressing femininely while blowing (mostly men) away.   Hey, I’m sure men would rather be done-in by a beautiful babe in pantyhose, than killed a little bit each day by women who go bare-legged.   Guys, am I right here?

Recently, I watched the movie “Salt,” starring Angelina Jolie as a CIA spy (or Soviet Union double-agent?).  In the beginning of the movie, her character wears a skirt suit with high heels, but sadly, no pantyhose.  Too bad.  I thought it would have been very attractive and sexy if she had been wearing pantyhose when she kicked off her heels to fight and flee once her cover was compromised.  

How about you?   Do you love it when you see pantyhose in unexpected places?   What’s your favorite action (or otherwise) movie, in which the lead actress wears pantyhose throughout?   Or, do you have a favorite pantyhose scene during a movie?   Please share so that we all can enjoy!

Pantyhose wearers catch more eyes

    

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

     From time to time, I hear from ladies who say they love wearing pantyhose because of the extra attention they get from men when they do.  

    They say they love it when they catch men staring at their pantyhose-adorned legs out in public. 

     Others tell me that their boyfriends or husbands are so grateful whenever they wear pantyhose, that they wear them often to please their men.

   More than anyone else, I hear from ladies who wear pantyhose at the office, sometimes because it’s required, or at least, expected. 

     In offices where the wearing of pantyhose is not required or particularly encouraged, it’s the ladies who are highly professional and classy who wear pantyhose of their own volition.  Those are my heroes. 

     These ladies tell me that when they wear pantyhose, they get a great deal more attention from their male co-workers.  But they say that this often causes a sense of uneasiness or even resentment among their fellow female employees.

Office girls in Korea would never not wear pantyhose to work.

     They tell me that female co-workers will approach them and say something to the effect of “You know, you don’t have to wear pantyhose.  You can go bare-legged.”  Or, “How can you stand to wear pantyhose every day?” Or (and I love this one), “Pantyhose are so  ‘out’ these days.” 

     Well, you know me – I think it’s downright pathetic when women blindly jump on the bandwagon in the name of what is thought to be “in or out of fashion,” especially if it gives them an excuse to be less feminine and not as desirable.  And I think it’s just plain wrong when women use that same excuse to go against time-honored business acumen, and then try to encourage others to do so, as well.    

     Anyway, it got me thinking:  How many of you have been approached by your co-workers about your wearing pantyhose at the office?   Or how many of you have noticed that you get more attention from co-workers, those in your circle, or people on the street when you wear pantyhose?

     Are you seen as a threat to your fellow females who don’t wear pantyhose and don’t want you to wear them either?   (And is that to keep you from garnering the attention of men, or to help them somehow  justify their own choice to not wear pantyhose?) 

     I’ll bet you have some stories to share.  Please do.

Office girls in China gather for a meeting. Wonder if the businessmen at this office find it difficult to concentrate?

Wearing Pantyhose an Issue of Values

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

     Ever since the global bare legs movement began right around the year 2000, I’ve tried to figure out how and why this happened. 

     We know that it was actress Sarah Jessica Parker’s character on Sex and the City that is universally “credited” with running pantyhose as a fashion staple out of Hollywood.   As the show was set in New York City – fashion capital of the world – it’s easy to see how women everywhere would jump on the bare legs bandwagon.  

     Its effect has been felt all over the world – although nowhere more prevalent among modern nations than in the United States. 

     Initially, the reason women gave for arbitrarily ending their decades-long commitment to wearing pantyhose was that the accessory had gone out of vogue, as evidenced by the fashion fad Parker’s show spawned. 

     But fads in fashion typically don’t stay around long, and eventually, women’s excuses for not wearing pantyhose turned to: 

• They’re uncomfortable (the fabric being hot, itchy and saggy most often cited)
• They’re not necessary (my legs are tanned enough) 

     I’ve never bought into the fad thing because I believe fashion always should be about good taste – especially when it comes to being professional in the workplace.  

     As for the excuse: “I don’t need to wear pantyhose because my legs are tan enough,” I think some women are just missing the point.  It’s not that simple.  Nylons do so much more than add a little color to your skin.  They cover minor skin blemishes, soften lines, and enhance the shape of your legs, giving them a look of perfection that bare or oiled legs will never have.  More than all that, pantyhose offer an allure, a sense of glamour and good taste. 

     If you read almost any blog about pantyhose, you’ll always find some women complaining that they’re uncomfortable.   Oh, come now!   That is a weak excuse given by those who are lazy, spoiled and apparently not well educated, as most of them can’t even spell the word pantyhose correctly.  

     I Googled this subject: “most uncomfortable women’s clothes” and was pleased to see that pantyhose, while they certainly made the list, weren’t exactly the Number One bad guy.  Most women cited high heels, bras and thongs as the most uncomfortable things they wore.  

     Somehow, I got sidetracked to uncomfortable uniforms, and found that female police officers in almost every country except the USA wear much more feminine uniforms, complete with high heels and pantyhose.  Check out this picture of Russian policewomen.

     In the U.S., where everyone is spoiled, we can’t get most women to wear pantyhose with a business suit in an air conditioned office.   Our women wouldn’t last a day in Russia, China, Japan, Korea, and most other countries, who clearly have higher standards of what constitutes proper dress, if not good taste.  

     But I’m not picking on just women here.  I stumbled across one blog in which the founder of some computer software company wrote that he didn’t wear business suits anymore and couldn’t imagine why anyone ever would.  His post elicited 416 comments – most agreeing with his point of view. 

     I think we have lost some of our good sense, our values and our judgment about how we present ourselves.  Pretty soon, Casual Friday will turn into Casual Tuesday-through-Friday-but-wear-something-businessy-on-Monday, just for old times sake.

     Here are some pics of female police officers in other countries.  And if you think these female officers are decked out in dress uniforms for only ceremonial occasions, notice that they’re also dressed this way on the street for routine duty.

A Good Time to be Asian II

 

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

     Last year, in one of my first-ever blog posts, I wrote that I was going crazy for all things Asian – especially because Asian women appear to be much more prolific wearers of pantyhose than their Western counterparts. 

     I say it’s A Good Time to be Asian because it seems as if the whole world is discovering their selling power.  Today, Asian women are highly visible and they’re everywhere:  

     They’re on television shows and in major motion pictures.  All over the world, they are the face of every huge cosmetics company.  They have at least a bit part in almost every TV commercial. They’re in every magazine, they’re on billboards, on staff at every news organization.     

     Why?  Because they are practically perfect.  They are beautiful, glamorous, sexy.  They are the epitome of what’s female.  They are classy, graceful, elegant.  They are delicately beautiful, yet physically, mentally and emotionally powerful.  They are awesome. 

      My best friend is Vietnamese.  She is extremely intelligent (she has two bachelors degrees and a pilot’s license); she has a wonderful sense of humor, she is tons of fun to be around, and she is beautiful (although she doesn’t know it).  She’s also totally devoted to her family.  She gives and gives and never asks for anything for herself. 

      I have read about and seen documentaries about Asian culture, and I admire their work ethic, positive attitudes and commitment to values. 

      Mostly, I love their devotion to femininity.  I’ve read that it is considered rude in Korea for women not to wear pantyhose in public.  In Japan, women apparently embrace pantyhose not only at the office and during formal events, but (and I love this), also in everyday settings.   Those of you who’ve read my blog know how I love watching Ninja Warrior because some of the female contestants wear pantyhose even though they know they are likely to fall into the muddy waters beneath the toughest obstacle course known to man.  And even the female spectators sitting in the bleachers at the outdoors event can be seen in dresses or skirts and pantyhose.  

     But of all the Asian cultures, my heart still is owned by the Chinese.  I’ve read more and seen more documentaries about China than any other Asian country.  For me, it began a long time ago with my becoming a Bruce Lee fan, but that’s a whole other story.   

     I set my DVR to record anything starring Asian actresses.  There are at least 30 Asian actresses (mostly Chinese) I regularly follow.  Of course, I love Asian-American actresses like Lucy Liu, Michelle Yeoh, Bai Ling, Sandra Oh and Joan Chen, but I also love many who are popular mostly in their own countries. 

     Below, I’ve put together a photo gallery for you of a few of the more famous Asian actresses wearing  pantyhose.  In the captions, which you can read by expanding the pictures, I’ve written a note about the movies you can see them in. 

     I’m sure I’ve left out a few of your favorites Asian actresses because of space issues.  I would love to know who your favorite Asian actresses are.  

(Have pictures of Asian actresses wearing pantyhose?  If so, please email them to me at Robin@ActSensuous.com and I’ll use them in a future blog/gallery.) 

     What do you think?  Is it A Good Time to be Asian?

So lovely

Cute and sassy

Sitting pretty

Flawless

Star power

Lounging legs

In control

Dressed to kill

High marks

High rise

High blood pressure

Class dismissed

Too cute

To die for

So sweet

Such a doll

Luscious legs

Feminine fighter

Most perfect?

Powerful presence

Boss lady

Captivating

I’ll Bai

Beautiful Bai

Image conscious?

Dressed up doll

She can do girlie

Pretty toes, too

A goddess

Belongs in nylon

I Love Lucy

Formal femme

Classy look

How lovely

Like a dream

Very professional

So sophisticated

Killer legs

Picture perfect legs

Three Times a Lady

Who knew?

Lonely walk

Last call

Need a ride?

Transport this

So adorable

Legs that can kill

Wow

So glamorous

Oh, those legs

OMG!

OMG again

Mesmorizing

Super sexy

She’s got legs

What a doll

Super sweet

Dynamic Duo

Super fabulous

So adorable

The babe is bad

Flying wonder

Leggie lady

Lethal legs

Warrior women

Grace and elegance

Absolutely perfect

Giving back

So gorgeous

Looks can kill

Good taste

Simply irresistable

She’s perfect

The best

A good time to be Asian

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

That’s what I tell my best friend/employee.  She’s Vietnamese-American, and an absolute doll.

You see, Asian women today are showing up everywhere in the world on TV, TV commericals, movies, magazines.  Why? First, Asians are probably the world’s most beautiful women.  Second, it seems they are much more prolific wearers of pantyhose than Westerners and all other nationalities.

Maybe it’s just part of the Asian culture – they seem to do everything elegantly and gracefully – and they appear to be much more professional-minded in the workplace, always wearing business suits, high heels and pantyhose.  I read on the Internet that it’s considered rude in Korean culture for girls to show bare legs in public.  I think I love Korea.

So, it’s a good time to be Asian because it seems like the whole world is discovering Asia.  Not since the superhuman Bruce Lee revolutionized martial arts and introduced it to movie audiences throughout the world and brought global attention and pride to China, has there been such an explosion of Asian talent in the mainstream media of today.

I admit, I am hooked.  I can name 20 major Asian actresses off the top of my head.  I’m sure I could think of many more if I really tried, but the ones I’m counting are well known (including Lucy Liu (love her), Sandra Oh, Joan Chen, Michelle Yeoh (OMG), Maggie Cheung, Gong Li (gorgeous is not enough of a compliment), Ziyi Zhang (the most perfect woman in the world), Bai Ling (wow), Shu Qi (adorable) and Maggie Q).  Wow, all of them except Maggie Q (mostly Vietnamese) are Chinese.  OK, so there’s Devin Aoki (Japanese) who starred in “D.E.B.S.,” and Jet Li’s “War.” And, one of my faves, Uhm Jung-hwa  (Korean) who starred in “Princess Aurora” (an exciting, heartwrenching mystery/drama, which also is beautifully written and acted).

I’m trying to get our little Asian employee to model for us because she looks absolutely awesome in ActSensuous pantyhose, but she is so modest.

Quick Question: Would you like to see a gallery of pics of our lovely little Vietnamese girl modeling ActSensuous pantyhose?  If so, please leave a comment below.

We have a few Asian customers, but I’d love to have many, many more.  Please tell your Asian friends about ActSensuous.  Also, I am pleading with our Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Thai customers out there: Send us photos of you wearing our beautiful, sexy and decidedly feminine pantyhose.  I’d like to start an all-Asian models category of the gallery on our website.  Please honor us with your beauty and grace.

What do you think, readers?  Are you Asian crazy yet?  Please click on the comment link below this post and tell us your thoughts.  It’s completely anonymous to participate. Only the name you provide will appear along with your comment.