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.

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.

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?

Credit ‘wear’ Credit is Due II — Going Ga-Ga over the Lady

Known for some outlandish costumes, Lady Gaga is a true pantyhose ambassador on and off the stage.

     After just my second ever blog post (June 2009), Calling out Professional Entertainers, in which I blamed Sarah Jessica Parker (yuk) for creating the “bare legs culture” with her TV series, “Sex and the City,” I’ve been dilligent in criticizing celebrities who buy into this awful trend.  

     Then, in August 2009, I wrote the post, Credit ‘wear’ Credit is Due, giving props to some special celebs who are classy and professional enough to wear pantyhose.  I praised the likes of Olivia Munn (co-host of Attack of the Show) and model/actress Milla Jovovich. 

     Obviously, there are many celebs who deserve such praise.  I particularly appreciate and like very much Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock and Linda Fiorentino.  And, even though I don’t see these two pantyhose goddesses much anymore, I’ll always love Kim Basinger and Geena Davis.  Then, there’s Parker Posey, once known as Miss Pantyhose.  These actors have the class and elegance to always wear pantyhose on the set.  I know you have your favorites, too.  (You gotta write in and tell us who.)

     But today’s post is devoted to one Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, also  known as Lady Gaga.   You know the story:  She has exploded on the dance music scene with four No. 1 hits off her debut album, “The Fame,” has won Best New Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards, has written songs for Britney Spears, the Pussycat Dolls and others, and has become one of Barbara Walters’ “10 Most Fascinating People of 2009.”  And she’s just 23 years old. 

      From what I’ve read and heard in interviews with her, Lady Gaga is more than just a flashy new entertainment phenom.  Already, she is a dance, music, entertainment, fashion icon.  She is wise beyond her years, probably an old soul in a young body.  

     You might not like her music, her dancing, her fashion designs, her lifestyle, or her outspoken ways, but you gotta admit she is a force, and a successful one at that.   I do like her sound, her look, and her style.  What I really like is her sense of values.  First, she is devoted to her mother, father and sister.  Second, she is committed to dressing up all the time, and she is a devoted wearer of pantyhose – not just on stage, but everywhere she’s seen.  

     Consider this quote from Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls during an interview last month with Elle Magazine: 

     “She (Lady Gaga) is incredible … We’ll be at the airport and she’ll have full fishnets … on even then. I’ll be there with my hair tied up, old sweatpants and top that doesn’t even match, and she’s there in fishnets and not much else.”   

     Said Lady Gaga:  

     “When I meet celebrities and they’re in casual clothes, I’m always like: ‘Whaaat?’ I don’t mean to be judgmental, but it would do them better to be who they really are, all the time. This is really who I am all the time. When I get out of a car and there are 30 fans waiting for me, I know I’m dressed the way I should be. There’s a reason they have that emotional reaction.   I think you should look nice all the time.”

      Lady Gaga has even publicly promised we won’t see her wearing pants.  Her commitment to look good for her fans and to always present herself with class and style whenever she’s in public, to me, is very admirable.  And she’s only 23. 

      I remember when the “bare legs” movement was just gathering steam in the mid-1990s, some show biz industry columnist wrote something to the effect that it would take a young entertainer, “maybe like a Britney Spears,” who would wear pantyhose on a regular basis to set an example for young women, who otherwise might never even consider wearing pantyhose. 

     I never forgot that statement, pretty much figured it would never happen, and now, truly appreciate Lady Gaga’s sense of glamour and style for creating some much-needed press about pantyhose.  

“I’m just trying to change the world one sequin at a time,” she told Elle Magazine last month.

 I don’t know about you, but I’m ga-ga over Lady Gaga.

What drives our Pantyhose Fetish?

Hard to believe so many women don't know or don't care about the power they possess in pantyhose.

     Sooner or later, I had to write this post.   I had tried several times before, but during my research to find scientific facts, I grew  increasingly discouraged because there are so many conflicting reports, every subject is debatable, and most of the material focuses on the weird or disturbing aspects of behavior. 

     I wanted to learn where pantyhose rank on a list of the most prevalent fetishes, but I couldn’t find credible material that could be documented.  I did find one thing I expected – that the foot fetish is still No. 1, apparently, the most common.  Suffice it to say that pantyhose are high up there somewhere.

     And, thankfully, pantyhose and foot fetishes seem to go hand-in-hand, or make that foot-in-hand, or foot-in-mouth, often appearing simultaneously (“dogs and cats living together …”).

     According to a Wikipedia report about a pantyhose fetish, the allure has to do with the following: 

• Pantyhose remove the appearance of blemishes, making  the legs “perfect.”
• The reflectiveness of the material, coupled with the way they appear less transparent at the edges, often gives legs more contrast and definition, as though lit by dramatic lighting.  This accentuates the curves of the legs, making them less “flat.”
• They often have a silky texture, which is pleasing to both the wearer and her partner.
• They do not actually hide what they cover.
• The slipperiness and smoothness of sheer pantyhose makes women’s shoes slip off more easily.  This vulnerability often is sexually attractive and can result in women engaging in shoe dangling or shoe play, which also is appealing to shoe and foot fetishists.

     Obviously, there’s more to a pantyhose fetish than this, but this is a good start.   Ultimately, I decided to just write about what I know.  To me, pantyhose always have been about three things: the way they look, the way they feel to the touch, and the very concept of them in the first place.  Maybe it’s just that they are designed to enhance the beauty of everything they cover.  

      To me, there’s a profound dichotomy about pantyhose, which I find very exciting: Pantyhose possess enormous power, yet, by design, they are extremely delicate and feminine, causing an irresistable vulnerability for the wearer. 

     This is never more evident than in the way the nylon fabric moves to the touch on a woman’s legs and feet.  It’s almost as if she has a second, delicate, delicious skin.  It’s as if the pantyhose are a living, breathing intimate part of the wearer.  You can physically manipulate that lifeforce, and you have to be careful not to hurt it.     

     Once on, any item of clothing a person wears, sort of disappears.  You stop feeling it on your body.  And even though you can touch the pantyhose on yourself, it isn’t the same as feeling them on someone else.  

     Want your lover to feel what you feel when you caress her legs in pantyhose?  All it takes is to move that delicate nylon fabric over her skin.    The sensation is incredible for both parties.

     Now I ask you, readers:  What do you think drives our pantyhose fetish?