Return of Pantyhose TV ads a Good Sign

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

Miss the old days when pantyhose TV commercials were a staple of advertising during the 1970s, 80s and certainly into the 90s, but not since?

Well, Hanesbrands announced recently that its L’eggs brand will return to television commercials for the first time since 1997.  “You’re in luck: You’re in L’eggs” apparently is the new message.

Is this an indication that pantyhose are officially back?  Not exactly. An Associated Press article quoted a Hanesbrands report of a nearly 70 percent drop in sales in 2006 compared with the volume that the “Number One seller of hosiery” enjoyed in 1995.

And during the past several quarters, the company reported sales drops in sheer hosiery, including a 9 percent decrease during the fourth quarter of 2010 (reported on January 27, 2011), while innerwear, outerwear and men’s underwear all posted double-digit growth.

Still, there is reason for optimism, as noted in Hanesbrands’ announcement.

Apparently, the new L’eggs commercials follow an animated character as she prepares various outfits (each with pantyhose) for different parts of her day from dressing for the office to going out at night.  The idea is to show how L’eggs pantyhose complement various fashion niches.  Animated, huh?  Hmmmmmmm.

I’ve often fantasized about how great if would be if a Hollywood actress endorsed ActSensuous?  I don’t mean as an official spokesmodel.  We’re not there yet.  But it’s fun to imagine having a celebrity who makes it known that, when she wears pantyhose, she chooses to wear ActSensuous.

I like to contemplate which star would be perfect for ActSensuous?  While there are so many beautiful and glamorous celebs out there, the list of those who actually would be perfect for ActSensuous would seem to me to be quite small.  That’s because, while any pantyhose looks fabulous on a beautiful celebrity, let’s face it – the Number One feature of ActSensuous is THEY’RE EXTREMELY SEXY!

Since ActSensuous are 100 percent nylon and completely sheer to waist, the actress who makes ActSensuous her preferred pantyhose would have to be … you know, really sexy!  She couldn’t be just a beauty who has the class to always wear pantyhose, but rather, someone who truly “gets it;”  someone who honestly believes that pantyhose are sexy.

See how the list would have to be a short one?  Here are some of my favorite actresses, and the pros and cons about their being the right celebrity to represent ActSensuous:

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman – She is a very talented actress.  She’s gorgeous and just oozes femininity.

She’s also very classy, which I like.  She always wears pantyhose in all the right settings.

Yes, Nicole is one Hollywood actress I would love to see in ActSensuous pantyhose.

She is sexy, but does she really think pantyhose are sexy, or is it that she just has the class to always wear for the right occasions?

Nicole is “To Die For” in pantyhose, but I’m not sure she’d really be the perfect celeb for ActSensuous.  But I do love the idea of it.

Julianna Margulies – She wouldn’t be caught dead not wearing pantyhose for the camera or during a public appearance, which is reason enough for me to love her.  And she’s a great actress.  But do you think she sees pantyhose as sexy?  I doubt it.

Parker Posey

Parker Posey – A few years ago, she might have been the obvious choice.  She actually carried the nickname “Miss Pantyhose” because of her devotion to wearing in her movies.  I have to think that she is one who truly thinks pantyhose are sexy, which makes her perfect for ActSensuous.  My only concern is that she isn’t as visible today as some of the other stars I’ve mentioned.  But she remains a very intriguing possibility.

Catherine Zeta-Jones – Another talented actress whose beauty is compelling.  She has so much class and grace.  I never see her not wearing pantyhose for the right occasion.  She’s sexy, but I think her commitment to wearing pantyhose is all about the class.

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu – She is awesome!  She is gorgeous, very sexy and just plain adorable.  When she wears pantyhose and high heels with a suit or a dress in some of her TV or movie roles, she is incredible.

Unfortunately, I don’t see her in those outfits often enough, and rarely in pantyhose during public appearances or awards shows.

I love her, but sadly, I don’t really think of her as “a pantyhose girl.”

Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh – Maybe a few years ago.  Today, I just never see her in pantyhose anymore.

I put her on my list because I love her more than any other actress.  I think she’s the most beautiful woman in the world for the many qualities she possesses.  She epitomizes femininity, class, grace and elegance, while projecting a physically powerful persona.

Hollywood directors say she is the most professional actress out there, and she is completely genuine.

She looks awesome in a dress and pantyhose and high heels, but one would be hard pressed to see her dressed that way today.  It hurts me to admit that she’s not the one to represent ActSensuous, but I’ll never make a list of beautiful and wonderful actresses that doesn’t include Michelle Yeoh.

Zhang Ziyi

Zhang Ziyi – If Michelle Yeoh is the most beautiful woman in the world, then Zhang Ziyi is the most gorgeous woman in the world.

Literally, from head to toe, Ziyi is total perfection.  Most of the movies she’s in are kung fu period pieces, which means she’s wearing robes and pajamas.

But of all the stars out there, no one wears beautiful skirts, dresses or suits with pantyhose and high heels in real life as often as Ziyi.

Zhang Ziyi

Ziyi might not necessarily be “a pantyhose girl,” but she has the class and sense to always do what’s right and wear pantyhose for all public appearances.

She might not be the household name in the U.S. that Michelle Yeoh is, but her recent track record of appearing in Hollywood movies (“Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Hero,” and “Rush Hour 2,”) makes it just a matter of time before she is.

She is magnificent in every way, and to be able to say that Zhang Ziyi wears ActSensuous pantyhose would make my mission in life complete.

Could it really happen?  The very thought of it is too thrilling for me to be able to believe that it could.

Karen Mok

Karen Mok – Someone who truly “gets it,” Karen Mok seems to live in pantyhose.  She is ultra feminine, very lovely, and has killer legs.

Karen Who?  Precisely.  No one in the U.S. knows who this very talented Chinese singer/actress is.  You might have seen her in Jet Li’s “Black Mask,” in which she plays a quirky library coworker to Li’s character.

Karen isn’t as known to us as the likes of Michelle Yeoh, Gong Li, Zhang Ziyi and Shu Qi because “Black Mask” might be the only “mainstream” movie she’s been in, but she’s huge throughout Asia.

Karen Mok

Probably her best role was in “So Close,” a Chinese movie in which she starred, alongside Shu Qi.

Karen is brilliant.  I think she speaks five languages.  I believe it’s just a matter of time before Karen becomes more of a household name in the Western world.  When she does, she’d be my choice to represent ActSensuous.  As lovely as she is, she’s also very cute and has a great personality.  But mostly, she exudes sexiness, and I would think as devoted to pantyhose as she is, she and ActSensuous would be a perfect match.

Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich – Yes, Miss “Resident Evil” herself.  Let me tell you, she is awesome.  What’s not to love?  She is beautiful and adorable.

She can shoot and kick zombie butt with the best of them, yet, she also does dress-up extremely well.

And not just in her movies.  I’ve seen her wearing pantyhose during public appearances, awards shows and talk shows more than anyone.

Milla is cool, and she is HOT.  I don’t know if she thinks pantyhose are sexy, but from what I’ve seen of her, I wouldn’t doubt it.   One thing is for sure:  She is incredibly sexy in them.

It would be awesome to say that when Milla Jovovich wears pantyhose, she chooses to wear ActSensuous.

Bai Ling

Bai Ling –  I know what you’re thinking … Bai Ling?   Seriously?   YES!   I mean she is a little wild, a bit strange, definitely out there.  But she is unique and really cool, and I just love Bai Ling.

For one thing, she is a fine actress.  I’m not kidding.  If you don’t think so, you probably haven’t seen her in “Red Corner” opposite Richard Gere, or “Paris.”  Those were excellent roles for her and she was fantastic in them.

Bai has tremendous talent.  It’s just that she usually doesn’t choose quality roles or well-written screenplays.

Bai Ling

Bai always seems to wear wild outfits, but she is a breathtakingly beautiful girl and she’s got gorgeous legs and feet.

And in the few times I’ve seen her in a pretty outfit with pantyhose and high heels, she’s unreal.

Bai Ling is exotic and ultra sexy.  She might be the one actress who, more than anyone, would truly “get” ActSensuous.

She might not give pantyhose much thought, but I’ll bet that when she does, she’d prefer to wear pantyhose that were created and designed to be very sexy.  Just like she is.

Yes, when it is all said and done, I can’t help but feel that Bai Ling belongs in ActSensuous pantyhose.  If I could have whomever I wanted, I would choose Bai Ling to be the Hollywood actress who makes it known that when she wears pantyhose, she wears ActSensuous.

Please, someone get me Bai Ling.

NOTE:  There certainly are other suspects I’ve considered, but I left them out for space reasons.  But here are a few who deserve honorable mention:

Obvioulsy, I love Sandra Bullock, but while she most often wears pantyhose in movies and sometimes during public appearances, she’s another one who I think chooses to do so because she has class and professionalism.  I don’t really consider Sandra a “pantyhose girl.

Gong Li

Named one of the “50 Most Beautiful Women in the World,” Chinese actress Gong Li is amazing.  She is devastatingly gorgeous and looks incredible in pantyhose and heels.

Unfortunately, it’s not often one can  see her in pantyhose when she makes public appearances, but this one at right, makes me wonder why she doesn’t show off this look all the time.

While she is a superstar throughout Asia, she’s been in a few Hollywood movies, such as “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Hanibal” and “Miami Vice,” where she looked stunning in a suit and pantyhose and heels.

In the end though, I’ve seen too many cases where Gong Li embraces the bare legs look in the public spotlight, which, of course, means she’s not the most likely candidate to represent ActSensuous.

Finally, I just adore Chinese-American Hollywood actress Joan Chen.  I’ve never seen her in a movie in which she didn’t wear beautiful dresses and pantyhose and high heels.   She is so gorgeous and glamorous, but I can’t find one photo of her wearing pantyhose in public.  Not one.

I am so intrigued by her, but she has become too Americanized and follows the trend of most Hollywood actresses in doing the bare legs thing.   To me, that is just sad.

Tell us, who do you think should be the celebrity who, when she wears pantyhose, chooses to wear ActSensuous?

‘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.

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?

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?

Why not pantyhose and open-toe high heels?

Lately, I’ve read several posts on various blogs in which girls are asking for advice about what to wear to a special event.  Often – and I love this – they are open to wearing pantyhose but for the fact that they want to wear some sexy open-toe high heels and believe one is not supposed to wear pantyhose with such shoes.  

Who made that rule? 

While pantyhose of the 1960s predominantly were made with a reinforced heel and toe, beginning in the early 1970s, pantyhose evolved to sheer heels and toes, specificially for wear with dress sandals. 

In fact, some pantyhose are so sheer, it can be difficult to tell whether a woman is wearing them with open-toe high heels or not.  And on a TV show or a movie, without a closeup, it’s practically impossible to tell.  

I say it can be beautiful and extremely sexy to wear sheer pantyhose with open-toe high heels.  Pantyhose can make nice legs lethal weapons.  Likewise, they can make nice feet incredibly gorgeous and erotic.   Remember, that’s the whole idea behind pantyhose – they enhance a woman’s natural beauty.  Most guys get that.  Funny how so many girls don’t seem to.    

Always known for wearing exotic outfits on stage, singer Cher, shows her lovely toes in Suntan pantyhose and high heel sandals.

To support my case, I’ve attached this photo for your viewing pleasure. Now, you tell me ….. pantyhose, or no pantyhose, with open toe high heels? 

Want more?  See the gallery I’ve put together for you of a few notable celebrities wearing pantyhose with dress sandals.  (Scroll down below the poll.)

I rest my case. 

Happy New Year, everyone. 

Robin Maryland 

 

Here’s a gallery of celebrities (what do they know?), who must not have gotten that memo about not wearing pantyhose with open-toe high heels.  Enjoy! 

Always known for wearing exotic outfits on stage, singer Cher, shows her lovely toes in Suntan pantyhose and high heel sandals.

Nice

Always classy

Still got it

Yes!

Perfect 10!

Just adorable

She’s awesome

Incredible

She’s amazing

Absolutely stunning

Too cool

Love her no matter what

Not enough credit

So sexy

Good friend

Got the look

WOW!

Always classy

Why bears don’t wear pantyhose

    

You know, it’s OK to correct me when I flub up.  I can’t believe that no one pointed out the gaff on the heading of the poll, which appears at the end of this post.   It reads:  Today’s “Bear Legs culture:”

Wish I could say I wrote that on purpose to get people to respond, but it was a total blonde moment.  I went to see the votes (as of this writing, 83 percent of you have chosen “Can’t die a horrible death soon enough”), and I busted out laughing about the mistake I made. 

But now, I kinda like it.  So I changed the original headline of this post, too.  Maybe we ought to refer to women who choose not to wear pantyhose as having “bear” legs instead of bare legs.  But I like bears, so maybe not.  

 I’m still baffled by this whole “bare legs” movement.   What is it about this global protest over wearing pantyhose?  OK, let’s review here: Pantyhose are too hot, too uncomfortable and too … what? … too girlie? 

Korean actress Lee Yoon-seong and friend.

Those arguments crack me up.   Let’s break them down, shall we? 

     “Too hot:” I suppose if you work outdoors in Miami, they would be too hot.  But c’mon, you drive to work in an air conditioned automobile and you have to walk about 20 feet from the parking lot to the air conditioned office where you’ll spend your entire day.  Sorry, that excuse doesn’t fly. 

     “Too uncomfortable:”   Well, if you wear the super support kind, which are so tight everywhere that they fit and feel like a skindiver’s wet suit, then yes, you’re probably going to be uncomfortable.  Pantyhose aren’t uncomfortable.  High heels are uncomfortable!  But no one’s calling for a boycott of them (thankfully).   

“Too girlie:”  Hey, if you just really don’t want to be all delicate and feminine, then why even bother wearing a dress?    Is that where we’re headed?   Today, the enemy is pantyhose.  Then what?  Tomorrow, women will decide it’s too girlie to wear dresses or skirts?

 What are your thoughts about this subject, pantyhose lovers/haters?   Please comment on this post, or at least participate in our poll with the goofy heading.  

Thanks, and ActSensuous.

NOTE (Sept. 3, 2011):  Special thanks to Bridget Brown, owner of Solarity Design (a graphic arts design company) and an ActSensuous customer, for her clever artwork of the bears ripping apart our pantyhose.

NOTE II (Sept. 3, 2011):  The haters must be taking my poll.  Now, the results of “Today’s Bare Legs Culture” are only 58 of the 107 votes so far (58 percent) are for: “Can’t die a horrible death soon enough.” 

Show your Love (or not) for Pantyhose

    

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

     OK, you people are really starting to piss me off.

     Each month, I write a Pulitzer-quality rant, thinking I am giving you clever and compelling material with which to launch your thoughts, opinions or ideas about pantyhose.  But Nooooooooooooooo!

     I’ve been writing since May and we have a whole six comments to show for it.  Oh wait, two of those were my replies to your comments.  OK, we have four comments.  Four. 

     And these literary masterpieces aren’t the work of some amateur writing from a basement in some seedy part of town. I mean these are coming from the president and co-founder of the sexiest pantyhose you can find anywhere.  Yet, even our hundreds of loyal customers from throughout the world, a captive audience if you will (they are visiting the ActSensuous Web site for a reason), won’t write a one-sentence nod or an alternate viewpoint?

     I have seen plain old blogs out there on the Internet (meaning not from a pantyhose company), where someone writes that pantyhose are too hot or too tight, and there are 30 comments that follow.  I am soooooooo jealous.

     I have to think it’s your fault.  Yes, that’s the only reasonable explanation. I keep thinking that perhaps all of you (except for those four I mentioned earlier) are unaccustomed to, or uncomfortable with, the whole blog concept.  So I’ve gone to great lengths to point out that you can remain completely anonymous. You don’t have to subscribe to anything.  Heck, you don’t even have to be an ActSensuous customer (but really, why wouldn’t you wanna be?  I mean, seriously!) to reply to one of my blogs.

     Just in case you think it’s too much trouble or you’re not sure how to comment, let me offer these instructions one more time:

     Simply click the tiny “Leave a Comment” link that appears at the end of each post, and a window will pop up for you to write in.  Your identity remains completely anonymous to the outside world.  All that appears is whatever name you use and your comment.  Only I ( as the blog administrator) see the original content, including your name and email address, so I’ll know when you post a comment.  All the reader will see is a name you choose and your comment.  You can even comment on someone else’s comment.

     So c’mon, help me out here.  Show me the love.  If you don’t have any opinion about the blog topics I’ve written, feel free to send me an idea for a pantyhose subject you’d like for me to write  about.

     Is anyone out there?  Want to be heard on the subject of pantyhose?  Pretty Please.

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.