Future of Pantyhose in Men’s hands?

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

Much of the feedback I got from a recent post, in which I featured our vice president, Kelly Linh, was about how great it was that I wrote about something other than celebrities in (or not in) pantyhose for a change.

Don’t think I didn’t hear you.  I am always trying to think of new subjects.  And I’m open to your suggestions.  One just came from one of our longtime readers/commenters on this blog, libertariangman.

Here is what he wrote in a comment tonight:

Quick ActSensuous poll: What percentage of men do you think PREFER women in hosiery to “bear” legs?  And by “prefer” I mean – it matters enough to them to notice whether she’s wearing or not, and to be mildly disappointed if she isn’t.  One word of caution:  Don’t let your biases influence your vote.  Remember – if a significant majority of men preferred women in hosiery – we’d have never gotten into this situation where the hosiery industry was nearly killed off entirely. Women have never stopped wearing heels or short dresses after all.

Funny, I had been trying to come up with a subject for a new poll, anyway.  I never would have dreamed of writing libertariangman’s poll because it seems like a no-brainer to me.  Of course, I am thinking that the response would be overwhelmingly positive, but then again, I was surprised by the results of a similar poll I posted on April 28, 2010:

Pantyhose – To Wear or Not to Wear (ladies only please)

The answers attached to that poll ranged from:

I choose to because I believe in and wholeheartedly support the concepts of beauty, glamour, class and sexiness inherent in pantyhose

to

I choose not to because I believe in and completely support the cause for the bare legs movement … period

Surprisingly, (remember, I asked for only ladies to participate in this poll), not one vote came in for the negative response, and 19 out of 24 votes were for the positive answer.  (Three other answer-choices were of the middle-of-the-road type.)

The results of this poll (it’s still open, by the way) tell me this:  It wasn’t ladies only who responded.  But, if by some miracle, this poll reflected the true answers of real women, then that’s great.  Of course, let’s face it – we got a whole 24 total votes.  Not exactly a good measure of anything really.

This is one reason I say I never would have dreamed of running libertariangman’s poll.  First, it leaves the door open for women (masquerading as men) to vote that they don’t prefer women wearing hosiery.  See how easy it would be for the results of the poll to be completely inaccurate?

Other thoughts I have about the poll, as worded by libertariangman:

“What percentage of men do you think PREFER women in hosiery to ‘bear’ legs?  And by ‘prefer’ I mean – it matters enough to them to notice whether she’s wearing or not, and to be mildly disappointed if she isn’t.”

I probably would leave out the “mildly,” and say … “and to be disappointed if she isn’t.”  Actually, in my way of thinking, I’d like to say “extremely disappointed.”

“Remember – if a significant majority of men preferred women in hosiery – we’d have never gotten into this situation where the hosiery industry was nearly killed off entirely. Women have never stopped wearing heels or short dresses after all.”

The way I see it, the reason we’re in this situation where the hosiery industry was nearly killed off is not because men don’t overwhelmingly prefer women in hosiery, but rather because women no longer care what men like or want them to wear.  Instead, they don’t wear hosiery for all the reasons (dumb as they are) they continue to give:

• They’re old-fashioned
• They’re uncomfortable
• They’re irrelevant in today’s society
• They’re not in style

Of course, none of these reasons are valid.  They are merely excuses.  The main reason is that the bear legs movement was created in Hollywood, women jumped on the bandwagon, and the rest is history.  And, as for wearing short dresses and high heels, let’s all just be glad that women haven’t made these things the enemy (yet).

So, I disagree that we wouldn’t be in this mess if men preferred women in hosiery.  Nevertheless, I do think there’s a chance that if men had only made it known in those early days (late 1990s) of the bear legs movement that they had a strong preference for women in hosiery, the bear legs culture might not have taken off or become as strong as it did.  Similarly, I believe that if men today would make their voices heard louder and in greater numbers, we might win back more women.

Professional model Kate Moss in sheer pantyhose.

Obviously, men have made their feelings known because there are hundreds of websites and blogs that promote pantyhose over bear legs today.  But it’s not enough!  Sadly, men are living up to the rap that’s always been on them – they don’t communicate their feelings well enough to women.  If they would just care more and become more vocal, I really think it would make a difference.

And maybe that’s the point of the poll, as suggested by libertariangman.

Often, I’ve jokingly stated that men should ditch their neckties, or stop wearing socks, or maybe stop wearing belts, or even shoes.  How about a three-piece business suit complete with sandals?  Maybe that would send the message that men are tired of this ugly bear legs culture.  Enough is enough.  Women have had their fun.  They’ve gone on a long vacation, and now it’s time to get back to the real world.

I think men probably have too much class to do something like stop wearing neckties to express their disappointment in the bear legs culture.  I don’t see them stooping to the low level that women have just to make a point.

So, maybe it’s back to celebrities.  If some of the biggest male stars out there would just go on record that they hate this bear legs thing, it might help.  Then again, I’m beginning to believe that all of Hollyweird is hopeless, so that’s probably never going to happen.

What do you think?  Do men overwhelmingly prefer women in hosiery over bear legs?

Let us know your thoughts.  And/or take the poll.

I’ve edited the poll a bit.  Ultimately, it might not tell us much of anything.  But what the heck – we aint the Smithsonian here.

Two Jolie thrillers – One a thrill for Pantyhose lovers

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

This month, I’ve watched two very different Angelina Jolie thrillers on DirecTV, both of which I had missed at the theater.  One was a Hitchcock-inspired thriller set against the beautiful backdrops of Paris, France and Venice, Italy, “The Tourist,” complete with classic film noir glamour in its costumes.  The other was a better action-oriented, spy movie that wasn’t worth its “Salt” when it came to the costumes.

Oh, the difference a movie’s costume designer can make. 

Responding to one of my earlier posts, “A treat when pantyhose show up unexpectedly,” Julio commented about Jolie wearing pantyhose throughout “The Tourist.” 

“The Tourist,” tells the story of an American tourist, Frank, (played by Depp) who meets a mysterious beauty, Elise, (Jolie) on a train, while traveling through Europe.  While the flirtatious encounter appears innocent, we soon learn that Elise deliberately crosses Frank’s path as part of a much more sinister plot, leading to a whirlwind romance and dangerous pursuits, as both dodge deadly criminals through historic streets of Paris, and the winding canals inVenice.

Angelina Jolie looks stunning in 'The Tourist.'

While “The Tourist” is a pretty good thriller on its own merits, the movie is helped by the beautiful scenery, which includes Jolie herself. 

Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood dressed the characters in classic, contemporary clothes “to complement but not overwhelm the breathtaking settings of Paris andVenice.”   

Atwood, who won Oscars for costume design for “Chicago” and “Memoirs of a Geisha,” told People Magazine, “My inspiration for Elise’s costumes were the Hitchcock movies – minimal elegance.  In a Hitchcock movie, everyone looked great, even if (he or she) was not a particularly chic or fashionable character.”

Jolie dressed in classic film noir glamour in "The Tourist.'

Mission accomplished in “The Tourist.” 

 

From the outset, one cannot take one’s eyes off Jolie.  In the opening sequences of the movie, Jolie wears a cream silk dress, a mocha wrap, elbow-length leather gloves, towering stilettos, and very sheer nude pantyhose, which in some lighting seem to have a cream tone themselves. 

It was so nice seeing Jolie in those very sheer and soft-textured pantyhose, especially because of the shoes she wore with that outfit, supplied by legendary designer Salvatore Ferragamo. 

Those suede, rose-colored stilettos with gold metal heels quickly earned their own identity (the Elise), named after Jolie’s character in “The Tourist,” and available at retail for $750 a pair.

Knowing Atwood’s work on such films as “Chicago” and “Nine,” as well as her devotion to classic film glamour, it’s no surprise that Jolie wore pantyhose throughout the entire film.

What is a surprise, however, is that wonderful scene our reader, Julio, described earlier.

Said Julio:

Another lovely surpise happened in “The Tourist” starring the always sexy Angelina Jolie.  About halfway through the movie, both she and Johnny Depp start to undress, each in their own rooms, and there it was – a very short glimpse of Angelina stepping out of her shoes, revealing the most lovely pantyhosed feet.  Too bad the surprise only lasted a second, but the image lasts forever.

Right then, I made a mental note to see “The Tourist,” and I got that opportunity, as it was on one of the Starz channels last night. 

That scene is exactly what’s been missing in film for decades.  When Elise slips out of her heels, the camera doesn’t cut away or pull back, or come at an inconvenient (for us) angle.  Rather, the scene is shot close up, and we get a close, clear look at Jolie’s very pretty nylon-covered toes, albeit, for only a couple of seconds.  It’s the sexiest such scene I’ve seen in about a hundred years.  

It makes me wonder why a scene like this is never shot today, and why it was shot in “The Tourist.”  For the past, well, ever really, a scene like this – if it were done at all – would be shot far away, the angle would be wrong, and the actress would have curled her toes in a way that the audience wouldn’t have gotten a good look.  And, if she were actually in pantyhose, they would have had a reinforced toe, or would have been so dark or so thick, you wouldn’t have been able to see anything. 

But in “The Tourist,” this scene is delicious.  The pantyhose is so sheer and delicate that they do what they’re supposed to do – enhance the beauty of what they cover.  This is what so many women today don’t get.  

If those stilettos Elise was wearing were open-toe or even peep-toe shoes, all the “fashion experts” would have said that the character shouldn’t have been wearing pantyhose with them.  Yet, this scene in “The Tourist” clearly shows why that thinking is just ridiculous.  The pantyhose Jolie wore were completely sheer.  One couldn’t even see a seam (not that it would matter to me because I think it’s sexy anyway), and the nylon made Jolie’s feet absolutely beautiful. 

It makes me wonder how this scene even made it into the final cut.  It wasn’t essential to the story in any way, but it was done so beautifully and tastefully.  Could this mean that someone with influence over the script – a writer or director – “gets it?”   Is this a case of someone giving the millions of people out there with a foot fetish or a pantyhose fetish (or both if we’re truly tortured souls) what they so long for – a closeup of pretty toes in pantyhose? 

Or, could it be that this scene was shot to focus our attention on those fabulous shoes, and Jolie’s pantyhosed feet were just a freebie for us?  I guess if you’re the sexiest shoes on the planet, you deserve a closeup, and ….. wait for it ….. the lovely lady wearing you had better be in pantyhose to honor your true beauty and sexiness. 

More often than not, I am disappointed in movies because the costume designer ruins the look of its female lead by dressing her in fabulous costumes, but bare legs.  

Jolie flees CIA headquarters in Washington, D.C. during a scene from the movie, 'Salt.'

A case in point is the other thriller starring Jolie, “Salt.”  Jolie plays a CIA agent named Evelyn Salt, who, while interrogating a Russian defector, is told (as her superiors listen) that she is actually a Russian sleeper agent who will assassinate the president of Russia during his upcoming visit to New York City. 

The movie then goes into practically nonstop action, as Salt employs all her spy skills to elude capture.  She runs, climbs buildings, jumps on moving trucks, and pretty much just kicks everyone’s rear end who tries to stop her, while she tries to learn the truth about her identity and clear her name. 

 In this movie, Jolie is at first dressed in what would seem to be the usual “spy wear” for a female agent, a skirt suit, pumps and ….. wait, no pantyhose?  That can’t be.  I can’t believe a CIA agent based in Washington, D.C. would be bare-legged.  

This is all the more disturbing because it follows the same thinking as another disappointing spy show, starring Piper Perabo, who is almost always bare-legged in the TV drama, “Covert Affairs.”  

While I have no way of knowing whether real-life female spys routinely wear pantyhose as part of their usual dress, I know this: costume designer Sarah Edwards didn’t do Jolie any favors in calling for bare legs with her suit.  

I hate missed opportunities, and so when Salt tries to extricate herself from CIA headquarters, there’s a scene where she kicks off her pumps, exposing some Casper-like white tootsies with bright red toenail polish.  I thought then (before I saw “The Tourist”) that this scene would have been really sexy if she had been wearing pantyhose. 

Now that I’ve seen just how gorgeous Jolie’s feet were in pantyhose in “The Tourist,” I feel even stronger that costume designer Edwards blew it in “Salt.”

For those who think it doesn’t make much difference, consider these movie stills from “Salt” and “The Tourist.”  

When seen in their expanded state, who could honestly say that Jolie’s character in “Salt” looks equally as lovely as her character in “The Touist?”

I have to wonder how much credit the costume designer in movies gets, versus how much influence the actress has over what she wears.   I would have to think that someone of Angelina Jolie’s status would insist on her character wearing pantyhose if she felt strongly about it, but maybe it doesn’t work that way.

But how can Jolie watch herself in “Salt” after seeing how much more beautiful she looked in “The Tourist?”

Maybe next time, she’ll demand more say over her wardrobe and choose pantyhose.

‘Burlesque’ a great movie/musical for Pantyhose

     If not for her starring role in the upcoming movie/musical, “Burlesque,” Christina Aguilera likely would have made her way into my column, Credit ‘Wear’ Credit is Due.  That’s because, long before Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Beyonce and a handful of other current pop stars, Aguilera has been a devoted pantyhose wearer on and off stage.  

     “Burlesque,” which opens in theaters on Nov. 24, gives me an excuse to recognize Aguilera now for her pantyhose prowess. 

     Born Dec. 18, 1980, Christina Aguilera is an American pop singer, songwriter, dancer, and officially now, actress.   Known during her childhood as “the little girl with the big voice,” singing in local talent shows and competitions, Aguilera always aspired to be a singer. 

     Indeed, Aguilera has been compared to the likes of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.  A review in the Los Angeles Times compared Aguilera’s vocal stylings to Barbra Streisand, Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin.  

     “Burlesque” stars Aguilera in a role it seems she was born to play: A small-town girl, Ali (Aguilera), ventures to Los Angeles and finds her place (as well as love, family and success) at a neo-burlesque club run by a former dancer (aptly played by Cher). 

     In the movie, the burlesque club apparently encompasses not just striptease and comedy routines, but modern dance and mini-theatrical plays, performed by barely dressed women in fishnets. 

     Beginning in the early 18th century, burlesque was a form of musical and theatrical parody, in which a serious or romantic opera, or a classical theatre piece, was adapted in a broad, often risqué style that ridiculed stage conventions.

     The popular burlesque show of this period eventually evolved into the striptease which became the dominant ingredient of burlesque by the 1930s. 

     Stockings were around as early as the 16^th century, mostly in the black wool variety, until silk stockings debuted in the 17^th century.  These garments helped define the burlesque era.

     During the 1920s, silk or artificial silk (rayon) stockings ruled the flapper era of the Roaring 20s. 

     After World War I (1914-1918) short skirts were fashionable and long silk stockings were worn. Nylon was invented in 1930 by Dupont, and after World War II (1939-1945), nylon stockings became popular and completely replaced silk stockings until the late 1960s, when pantyhose replaced stockings and never looked back.

     Previews for “Burlesque,” look very exciting – lots of great music, dancing and pantyhose-adorned legs in action.  

     While pantyhose hadn’t been invented during the burlesque era, today, Hollywood and modern live burlesque-style shows can and do take creative license in adding the sexy wardrobe accessories to the costumes for movies and musicals depicting the jazz, burlesque and flapper eras from as early as the 16^th century, to the roaring 20s, through today. 

     And here’s something I love: when some of the dancing girls in these movies wear nylon stockings, they usually are wearing very sheer-to-waist pantyhose underneath them.  But mostly, I love that the majority of the dancers in these movies just wear pantyhose, as if no one would notice or care that that makes the film historically inaccurate.  I don’t care.  I love that pantyhose are viewed as so important and necessary by the writers, directors and/or costumers of these productions.

     During the 2000s, there have been quite a few successful movies depicting the jazz, burlesque and flapper eras.

‘Nine’ 

     This movie/musical, described as vibrant and provacative, tells the story of film director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he contends with personal and professional crises near his 40^th birthday, while trying to balance the demands of numerous women in his life including his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penelope Cruz), his muse (Nicole Kidman) and his confidant (Judi Dench). 

     Set in 1960s Venice, “Nine” was directed by Rob Marshall (who also directed “Chicago”) and also starred Kate Hudson, Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson and Sophia Loren.  It was released in December 2009. 

     The original Broadway production debuted in 1982 and ran for 729 performances, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

 ‘Chicago’

      ”Chicago” is a dazzling spectacle that is extremely well written, well acted and wildly entertaining.  It centers on the themes of celebrity, scandal and corruption during Jazz Age Chicago.

     Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Renee’ Zellweger)  are two criminals-of-passion who find themselves awaiting trials for murder in 1920s Chicago.  Velma, a vaudevillian, and Roxie, a housewife with aspirations of having the same profession, fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows.  The film also stars and gets fabulous performances from Richard Gere, Queen Laifah, John C. Reilly and Christine Baranski (“The Good Wife“). 

     Directed and choreographed by Rob Marshall, and adapted for film by screenwriter Bill Condon, “Chicago” won six Academy Awards in 2003, including Best Picture.

 ‘Moulin Rouge!’

    A young English writer ventures to Paris during the 1899 Bohemian revolution that holds in its grip the city’s drug- and prostitute-infested underworld, never more evident than at the Moulin Rouge night club.  

     The movie/musical of 2001, directed, produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann, was nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Nicole Kidman, and won two: for art direction and costume design.

     The movie stars Ewan McGregor as Christian, a young, English poet/writer, who falls in love with Nicole Kidman as Staine, a cabaret actress and the star courtesan of the Moulin Rouge. 

     The production is lush and elaborate, featuring the musical setting of the Montmartre Quarter of Paris, France. 

      I haven’t seen “Nine” yet, but I plan to buy the DVD.  “Chicago” and “Moulin Rouge!” were great movies for showcasing pantyhose.   It appears that “Burlesque” will be a great movie for pantyhose lovers, too.  

     I just hope “Burlesque” delivers a story with as much charm and fun of “Chicago.”   From the previews I’ve seen, it certainly appears that the glitter and glam is there.  We’ll find out beginning on Nov. 24. 

     By the way, I intentionally left out the movie, “Showgirls,” which was great for pantyhose, but a weak and poorly written/acted storyline in my opinion. 

     Perhaps this trend of movies/musicals depicting the jazz, burlesque and flapper eras will do as much for creating an attraction for pantyhose among young women, and sparking renewed interest in pantyhose among more seasoned viewers, much the same way pop stars, such as Madonna, Lady Gaga and others, have been doing recently.

     What do you think?  Do you like these kinds of movies/musicals that feature beautiful ladies in exotic costumes, including pantyhose?   The genre seems like a dream come true for those of us who can’t get enough of our favorites celebrities embracing pantyhose on the grandest of stages.

Who’s the next Pantyhose Goddess?

 

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

     Hollywood has always blessed us with glamorous actresses who set the beauty standards of the day. 

     From the late 1960s to the millennium, nylons were as much a staple in Hollywood as makeup.  So while it wasn’t unusual (until now) to see a TV or movie star wearing nylons on screen, a few actresses actually distinquished themselves as what I am calling Pantyhose Goddesses. 

     Julie Newmar appeared on Broadway in the 1950s, and had many starring roles in television and movies during the 1960s, possibly none more auspicious than her role as Catwoman on the Batman TV series.  

     At 5’11, 135 pounds and with 37-inch legs, it wasn’t hard to notice Newmar, but she was more than just a Hollywood glam-girl.  She did one thing that will link her to pantyhose forever – she designed her own, actually winning a patent for her design in the mid 1970s.  She called the pantyhose “Nudemar” and marketed them during the 70s and 80s.  

Julie Newmar was a true Pantyhose Goddess in her day.

     She said she invented them out of necessity:

     “I have two drawers of pantyhose, but I don’t like what they do for my backside.  

     “It’s a simple improvement.  I just gathered the back seam, but it gives a woman the firm fanny of a 12-year-old.” 

     I like the fact that she had two drawers full of pantyhose.

     In the 1970s, Catherine Bach played the character, Daisy Duke on the Dukes of Hazzard TV series, wearing short, tight cut-off jean shorts, which would become known as “Daisy Dukes.”  

      Apparently, network censors believed that the cut-offs were so short, that the the producers could get them on air only if Bach wore sheer-to-waist pantyhose with them, to ensure that the shorts didn’t reveal more of her than intended.  

     Bach certainly created a pantyhose identity for herself, if not an entire fashion trend.

     But, perhaps, no actress aligned herself with pantyhose more than Joyce DeWitt during the 1970s TV series, Three’s Company.   On its Web site, Central New York Promotions states:

“Being an avid pantyhose wearer, DeWitt is famous for refusing to do any scenes bare-legged. When shooting Three’s Company (1977), she always wore either pantyhose or tights, and refused to work bare-legged. Though this caused conflict between her and the show’s producers, it endeared her to hosiery manufacturers, and she became the spokeswoman for L’eggs pantyhose in the late 70s.”

     That kind of professionalism, commitment to femininity and just plain good taste is very rare today.  I liked Joyce DeWitt’s style back then, but having learned her story, I’m even more impressed with her now.

    I wonder:  What other actresses could or should have become Pantyhose Goddesses back in the day? 

     Again, during the 70s, 80, and 90s, pantyhose were the standard of class, elegance and glamour, so actresses wearing them on screen wasn’t at all unusual.  Still, some stars just stood out from the crowd, and in the process, pantyhose gained cult-level status.

Gorgeous Kim Basinger starred in many movies during the 1990s.

      During the 80s and 90s, I have to say that my favorite stars who could have earned the title of Pantyhose Goddess were Kim Basinger, Michelle Pfeiffer, Linda Fiorentino and Geena Davis. 

     And then, there was Markie Post, Goldie Hawn, Shelly Long and Christina Applegate – all truly lovely and classy pantyhose babes.  Honorable mention could go to Jennifer Tilly, who was almost always seen in pantyhose and looked awesome in them; Fran Drescher, who really did align herself with pantyhose; and one Parker Posey, who actually was known as “Miss Pantyhose.”  This was never more evident than in the role she played as a vampire in the third installment of  Wesley Snipes’ Trinity trilogy.   

     With all due respect to Lady Gaga, today more than ever, we need a Pantyhose Goddess in Hollywood – someone whose beauty, class and grace is so awe-inspiring that, when she permanently aligns herself with the wearing of pantyhose, it would make for an irresistable combination that would once again propel pantyhose to cult-type status.

Sandra Bullock

She always has been so classy, and until I saw The Proposal, I didn’t think I’d ever see her not wearing pantyhose.  She kinda let me down on this one, especially because her role in this movie was a corporate executive.  Even though she is beautiful and classy, I don’t really see Sandra in the Pantyhose Goddess role.  I think deep down, she’s sees herself as kind of a tomboy.  I think she’ll usually choose to wear pantyhose for the proper occasion, but I don’t think it would be for any reason except just good taste.

 

 

 

Nicole Kidman's fabulous legs are always in pantyhose on screen.

Nicole Kidman

 

I don’t know if she’s been around long enough, is sought-after enough or revered enough, but I would love to see Nicole take this title. 

Lately, I never see her on screen not wearing pantyhose, and it would be hard to find someone who looks better in them than her. 

I’ve always liked Nicole, and I think she’s got the class and grace to be the one.

Milla Jovovich

Yep, I said it.  The more I see her, the more I love her.  She is beautiful, but she’s also powerful and edgy.  And she’s here and now. 

I love her in the Resident Evil movies, and I’ve seen her in many public appearances where she always looks classy, always wearing pantyhose.  I think it would be  neat if we thought of Milla as a Pantyhose Goddess.

Catherine Zeta-Jones    

Catherine Zeta-Jones has the beauty and class to be the current Hollywood Pantyhose Goddess.

Of all my choices, she probably is the most realistic.  Catherine always carries herself with class and grace, and I never see her not wearing pantyhose. 

There’s just something very captivating about her. 

She has the beauty and the charisma to be the next Pantyhose Goddess, but also, she’s got the credibility and the relevance that it would take.

Morena Baccarin

That’s right, Anna, the head alien visitor on the TV series, V.   If an evil overgrown lizard who’s out to take over Earth can look that incredible in pantyhose, and she is never not wearing them on the show, she gets my vote for Hollywood Pantyhose Goddess.

Julianna Margulies

She might already have this title, and that would suit me just fine.  As The Good Wife, she always dresses professionally and looks great in pantyhose.  Better still, she appears on the late night talk shows the same way.  It really bothers me when the big stars, even when they wear pantyhose for their roles on screen, think they’re somehow obligated to follow the “trend” and go bare-legged out in public, especially, if it’s a talk show with a younger host who caters to a younger audience.  But that’s not the case with Julianna.  She always dresses beautifully and does the right thing by wearing pantyhose.  Maybe she should be the Hollywood Pantyhose Goddess.  Maybe she already is.

Meredith Vieira

OK, maybe Meredith already is the Hollywood Pantyhose Goddess, too.  Here’s why:  Not only does she always wear pantyhose on screen and in public appearances, she actually has gone on record and said she “likes wearing pantyhose” and admitted that she doesn’t wear anything underneath.   Meredith definitely deserves consideration for Pantyhose Goddess.  The question is: Is she credible and relevant enough today?

Honorable mention

I’ve got to say that I like what I see from Megan Fox, Kate Moss, Jessica Alba and Kate Beckinsale.  And, thankfully, there are many other young actresses out there who seem to understand the allure of pantyhose.  Are they ready to become Hollywood’s next Pantyhose Goddesses?  Perhaps.

     OK, who’d I leave out?  I know you have your favorites, and I’d like to hear who they are and what you have to say about them.

What’s your ‘feeling’ about pantyhose?

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

      What is it that we love so much about pantyhose?  Is it the look, the feel, or both?  

     Most people will admit that pantyhose look better than bare (bear) legs.  I believe true lovers of pantyhose love their feel as much as their look. 

What is silky?   

     Almost universally, people say pantyhose have a silky feel, probably because that’s the word they’ve always heard associated with pantyhose.  But when they describe how pantyhose feel to the touch, most people use words such as “smooth,” “slick” or “slippery.”   

      I have always thought of pantyhose as “silky,” but to me, “silky” means extremely soft and delicate like the silk of a spider’s web. 

Not exactly silky

      When Lycra or Spandex are added to the nylon fabric, you get a “support” effect.  That can be good for keeping pantyhose from sagging, or for therapeutic reasons.  You get a  smooth, slick or slippery feeling to the touch.  If you run your hand over pantyhose like these, it will slide across effortlessly, as if on a glassy surface  – like running your hand over a  dolphin as it swims by.  

     I do understand how some people are attracted to pantyhose made with a bit of Lycra.  They can look alluring and still feel petty nice.  On the other hand (or legs), pantyhose made with a high degree of Spandex become real shiny (yeah, I know many people really like shiny) and elastic.   To me, those pantyhose feel like a rubber band stretched to the max.

      There’s a reason why women say they hate pantyhose and complain that they are too tight, too hot and just too uncomfortable. 

Give and take

     What I love is the extremely soft and truly silky texture you get from 100 percent nylon pantyhose.  I love that when you touch that fabric, it touches you back.  It gives.  It moves.  When you touch this fabric, you can really feel it, and you can make the person wearing it feel what you feel because the pantyhose will move on her legs, forcing her to “feel” the soft and silky fabric against her body. 

     And then, there’s the overall concept of 100 percent nylon pantyhose.  There’s just something very sexy about the sense of vulnerability that truly silky and delicate pantyhose provide.

     Most of the pantyhose you find on the market today are made with some degree of Lycra or Spandex.  What bothers me is that women who think pantyhose are uncomfortable might never have tried anything but that kind of pantyhose.  Perhaps they don’t realize they have a choice. 

     I can’t fathom how anyone would describe the feeling of 100 percent nylon pantyhose as “uncomfortable.”  The way I see it, nothing could be more soft, silky and delicate than 100 percent nylon pantyhose.  They make your legs look perfect, they feel so nice on, and they feel incredible to the touch. 

     Pantyhose can be practical:  The right thing to wear at the office, proper for a formal or special occasion, or good for a massage.  Or, pantyhose can be beautiful, decidely feminine and very sexy.  You do have a choice.

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.

Wake Up and Wear the Pantyhose

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

     Ladies, have you noticed that men have been telling us for some time now that they love women in pantyhose.  

     Men are talking about this subject on Internet chat rooms or blog threads.  They are subscribing to the hundreds and hundreds of Web sites out there whose content is dedicated to women in pantyhose.  They are looking at, posting and downloading pictures of women wearing pantyhose everywhere in the world.

      Call me crazy, ladies, but shouldn’t we be listening?  Shouldn’t we care about this a little more?  

     Throughout history, we’ve made every sacrifice out there to make ourselves more beautiful, more glamorous, more appealing. We wear high heels that one day will likely kill our feet forever.  We do spa treatments, obsess over hair and makeup, even undergo surgery if we think it’ll help our cause. 

     Yet, men aren’t asking us to do any of these things.  To men, none of these things make us sexier to them than our wearing pantyhose.  Men aren’t asking on a global scale that we wear shorter skirts or higher heels.  They simply, honestly and with compassion, are asking that we grace ourselves with the softest, silkiest, most decidedly feminine and beautiful thing we could ever wear. 

     Yet, women everywhere shun the wearing of this lovely, classy and glamorous accessory. In light of everything else we do to ourselves in the name of beauty and glamour, how did pantyhose become the enemy here?

     Here’s what I think:  Men ought to start fighting back!   That’s right –men should arbitrarily decide that they no longer are going to wear neckties, for example.  They should show up at the office in suits but no ties.  After all, ties are too hot, too tight, and too uncomfortable to wear.  And really, they’re sooooo yesterday. 

SPECIAL INSERT:  Guys, c’mon.  No comments from you about this?   I’m out here carrying the torch for your favorite fetish, beating up my fellow gal-pals over it, and giving you this brilliant suggestion about how to get back at women for not wearing pantyhose.    Yet, no comments?   I thought we were friends!   Where’s the love?

     Indeed, men ought to just unbutton their shirts to show off their gold chains instead?  We could call this new fashion trend the “bare necks movement.”  Or what if men wore designer suits but no socks?  The “bare ankles look.” 

     Really, men should show a lack of professionalism by dressing this way not only at the office, but on television shows, in movies and on the Red Carpet to collect their awards? 

     And how about on dates?  Men could certainly show their women how much they respect and appreciate them by choosing to look “so cultured” when being seen in public with them.  

     Think about it.  What if men arbitrarily decided that all of a sudden they just don’t need, or can’t be bothered with, dressing in good taste?

     Isn’t that exactly what most women are doing today?  And isn’t it getting a little old?

Lady Gaga “a hit” at Yankee Stadium?

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

     As I’ve written in this blog before, you may not love Lady Gaga, but you gotta hand it to her – she’s a force. 

     One of the things I admire about her is that she always wears pantyhose – not only on stage, but everywhere.  She’s showing no signs that her commitment to (in her own words) “always dressing nice in public” is merely a passing fancy.  

     And, while it might not have been the nicest outfit to wear when crashing Yankee Stadium during a Yankees game last Friday night against the New York Mets, at least Lady Gaga wore pantyhose with her pinstriped Yankees jersey (unbuttoned to reveal a black bra) and black bikini bottom, presumably with black high heels. 

     If she had only showed up in the clubhouse before the game started, her appearance might have inspired a win out of the Yanks.  As it was, her visiting the clubhouse after the loss didn’t inspire everyone associated with Yankees management, but at least the players enjoyed the event.

     Apparently, Lady Gaga talked her way past Security to visit the players in the clubhouse after the game.  While there, she reportedly drank whiskey, as players Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano visited with her.

     OK, so maybe she doesn’t win points for tact or playing by the rules, but hey, she’s a fan.  Fans can be crazy.  Whadaya gonna do? 

Pop star Lady Gaga, far right, poses for photos as the New York Yankees play the New York Mets during a baseball game Friday, June 18, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

     I love it when pantyhose show up at unexpected places.  I mean today, you almost never see a celebrity wearing pantyhose with her million dollar gown on the red carpet during those awards shows.  Most of them wouldn’t wear pantyhose to a wedding or even a funeral.  Sadly, formal events just don’t demand the respect of pantyhose with these celebs anymore.

     That’s why I gotta hand it to Lady Gaga.  She may be a bit off, but she’s got more class and a better sense of femininity and style than most of her star contemporaries.

Entertainer Lady Gaga, left, stands for the singing of "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch, as the New York Yankees play the New York Mets in a baseball game Friday, June 18, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

     My thinking is that if Lady Gaga influenced even one young woman by choosing to wear pantyhose at that venue, then she deserves credit “wear” credit is due.

     What do you think about Lady Gaga’s fashion sense?

Pantyhose – To Wear or Not To Wear II

    

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

     Two months ago, I wrote what was originally going to be a follow-up to last year’s post: Why Bears Don’t Wear Pantyhose.  But the headline, and ultimately, the post, changed because I realized I first had to gather some current solid intelligence. 

     So I wrote the above-titled post in April and attached a poll under the same heading: Pantyhose – To Wear or Not To Wear.  The poll invited (ladies only) to select whether they choose to wear or not wear pantyhose and why/why not.  

     The choices for answers I offered were pretty strong: 

• I choose not to because I believe in and completely support the cause for the bare legs movement … period
• I choose not to because the excuse now exists thanks to the bare legs movement
• I choose not to on my own personal volition because I think pantyhose are uncomfortable, impractical and/or unnecessary
• I choose to because I believe in and wholeheartedly support the concepts of beauty, glamour, class and sexiness inherent in pantyhose
• I am not on one side or the other and would wear or not wear pantyhose based on the appropriateness of the situation/environment
• Other 

     I thought I was opening the door for those women with “bear” legs to pounce.  I figured that, once armed with the reasons real women gave for not wearing, I would write Why Bears Don’t Wear Pantyhose II and completely debunk all their ridiculous excuses. 

     Unfortunately, two things have kinda killed that plan.  First, no one has taken the poll (as of this writing on June 12, we’ve gotten only eight responses.)  Second, of those who did take the poll, only one of the eight chose a negative answer – the first one. 

     Now, of course, I am delighted that 88 percent of the poll takers selected the most positive response – I choose to because I believe in and wholeheartedly support the concepts of beauty, glamour, class and sexiness inherent in pantyhose. 

     Makes me wonder whether, despite my plea that ladies only take the poll, it was actually men who so overwhelmingly voted positively. 

     I am leaving that poll open, but I’m not expecting much more activity out of it.  

     I have seen many blogs in which women totally haterize about pantyhose and swear they never will wear them.  Yet, I give them a golden opportunity to anonymously trash the wearing of pantyhose (all they had to do was pick a button), and they don’t bite.  

     So tell me, readers (men and women), what do you think this means? Could there be a shift in fashion attitudes brewing out there?  Maybe those who’ve been committed to “bear” legs are starting to come over to the good side.  

We’re seeing more and more pantyhose these days.  They’re in magazines, TV shows, TV commercials, movies, concerts.  Are pantyhose getting a leg up in the marketplace again?

Pantyhose – To Wear or Not To Wear?

Robin Maryland, president of ActSensuous

     Ladies … hate pantyhose?  Refuse to wear them?  Here’s your chance to state for the record why.  Please take our poll at the bottom of this post.

     Last year, I wrote the post Why Bears don’t wear Pantyhose,  in which I rebuked the few lame excuses women typically give for not wearing pantyhose today.   

     The headline was my way of poking fun at myself for mistakenly using the wrong word in that post’s attached poll: Today’s Bear Legs Culture, as obviously, I meant “bare.”  (By the way, the No. 1 answer by far was “Can’t die a horrible death soon enough,” but then, I am sure it was mostly men who voted.)  

     Still, I can’t fathom why so many women are against pantyhose.  I suspect the biggest reason is just that this “bare legs” trend created in Hollywood gives them an excuse not to wear pantyhose.  They’re jumping on the bandwagon.  Oh, I’m sure there are those who are much more militant about it, but I think if pantyhose weren’t considered “not in vogue” today, women would be wearing, as they always have.  

     I was going to write a sequel to Why Bears don’t wear Pantyhose, but I decided that rather than guessing their reasons, I want to hear what they really are from real, live women today. ( Then, armed with their legitimate reasons, I’ll write Why Bears don’t wear Pantyhose II, and completely tear apart their ridiculous excuses.)  

     So here it is – The ultimate pantyhose poll.  It gives any woman who wants to participate, the opportunity to vote on why she would choose to wear or to not wear pantyhose.  I’ve offered the possible reasons, but there’s also a place to write in other answers, and I would encourage women to do that if my choices don’t reflect their true and accurate reasons.  

     Please Note: For this to work, it must be handled with the utmost integrity, so puh-leeeeeease . . .  ladies only.  Guys, please do not cast a vote.  (Feel free to comment on this post, just please don’t vote on the poll.)  The idea here is to gather real usable data.  Hard evidence.  I want to know the real reasons why women shun the wearing of pantyhose today.   

     Don’t you?