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Friends Don’t Let Friends Go ‘Bear’-Legged
Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous
Remember the slogan “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk,” written several years ago by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Ad Council? That campaign created an effective awareness about the death toll from driving impaired, and introduced the concept of the Designated Driver.
I like to think that The ActSensuous Blog has similarly wide-reaching influence, and I’m sort of the designated person trying to drive women to wear pantyhose.
Let’s count the ways this blog has impacted what you’re now enjoying, shall we?
During the 2010-11 NFL season, I complained in my blog about Faith Hill’s awful “bear” legs in her Sunday Night Football intro song. What happened in the 2011-12 season? That’s right: She donned pantyhose and looked 100 times better. Oh yeah, I’m taking credit for that. (Hey, you’re welcome!)
Not convinced? OK, how about this: Devoted watchers of NFL Network have to admit they cringed every time they saw one of the show’s hosts, Kara Henderson, who always wore way-too-short skirts for those horrid pasty white legs of her’s, which she flashed all too often. And what happened not long after I called her out for this (Nov. 4, 2011: “Pantyhose happenings on my mind”)? That’s right. She has been wearing pantyhose regularly on the show – quite beautifully, too. Coincidence? I don’t THINK so.
Check out this video of Kara Henderson in studio on the NFL Network:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Ym7_Ji4Zf_s
I can picture how the conversation around the NFL Network studio must have gone: “Kara, we love ya, girl. But those bear legs of yours are killing our ratings. We get that you women today hate pantyhose, but listen, we don’t want you to end up getting The ActSensuous Blog’s next Grizzly Award. That’s the kind of thing that can end a gal’s career. So, c’mon now, why don’t you break out the pantyhose? Our ratings will soar, and Robin will probably heap loads of praise on you for how good you’ll look. It’ll be a win for everyone.”
Yeah, it likely went something like that, I’m pretty sure.
Now, if you Google Kara Henderson, you won’t find a single photo of her in pantyhose. But on NFL Network, she has become a pantyhose babe. But, I’m not done with the NFL Network yet. Now, it seems every female host on the show has gone all pantyhose on us. Check out this video of the lovely Lindsay Soto (now, Rhodes):
Wow. Those are some killer legs in beautiful sheer nude pantyhose, eh? Do you just see how influential the ActSensuous Blog really is?
I feel some of you slipping away from me. You want more evidence, don’t you? Fine, fine.
One of my regular columns on this blog is “Credit ‘Wear’ Credit is Due,” in which I recognize and glorify the little people (you know, like Ann Curry and Julianna Margulies) for dressing beautifully, including wearing pantyhose. Otherwise, probably no one would ever pay these budding celebs much attention.
You remember my post in January 2011, “Credit ‘Wear’ Credit is Due – Who’s that T-Mobile Girl?” In that one, I lavished so much praise upon the up-and-coming Carly Foulks for how pretty she looks in those pink dresses, high heels and very sheer nude pantyhose. Yeah, I put that girl on the map! And what happened after that? Verizon goes out and gets the beyond-beautiful model, Cherub Moore, to wear that fabulous gray skirt and dark wine-colored blouse, complete with gorgeous sheer pantyhose for last year’s Black Friday TV commercial. Need I say more?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w34kGqZb52c
Again, if you Google Cherub Moore (and, really, why wouldn’t you?), you won’t find one picture of her wearing pantyhose. But it’s pretty clear that when advertisers write spots for their clients, they think of me and the influence of The ActSensuous Blog. Obviously, they realize the value of featuring their lovely models in pantyhose. And, again, I take full credit for that.
Too much power?
But, as Peter Parker’s uncle taught us in Spiderman, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” (Did I mention Kirsten Dunst wore pantyhose in those Spidey movies because of me? But, I digress …) And now, I have to live with the fact that this far-reaching influence I wield actually could be starting to back-fire. That’s right. Those people who are equally devoted to the bear legs movement – the people I like to call, you know, the villains – are beginning to take notice of all the good I’m doing out there for truth, justice and the American way, and they’re fighting back.
I didn’t write a post about this next subject (although I did think about doing it), but you guys beat me to the punch when you wrote some comments about the CitiBank TV commercial, in which (actual professional rock climber Katie Brown) says:
My boyfriend and I were going on vacation, so I used my Citi Thank You card to pick up some accessories: A new belt, some nylons, and what girl wouldn’t need new shoes? …
A few of you praised that commercial for its obvious reference to nylons of the hosiery variety. I loved that you picked up on that and made a big deal about it. But have you noticed that the writer(s) recently modified that line? Now, when the lady rock climber talks about picking up some things she’ll need for her vacation, she says “A new belt, some nylon (instead of nylons) …”
Are you kidding me? Is the writer of that commercial such a pantyhose hater that he or she (more than likely, she) had to take away that cute play-on-words in order to not encourage us pantyhose lovers? I can just picture some little Kelly Ripa-like writer thinking to herself: “I’ll show those pantyhose lovers!” Is it just me, or is this edited line a retaliation for all the excitement I (OK, you this time) generated about this commercial’s use of the word “nylons?”
Similarly, Cherub Moore has since appeared in (at least two Verizon commercials that I’ve seen), but now she’s actually wearing pants that do nothing for her lovely figure. I hope Verizon is happy with themselves for dressing her down, and making her look just average, after I (yeah-yeah, you guys, too) bragged about how beautiful she looked in the Black Friday commercial.
Are the writers/directors/producers of these commercials making adjustments based upon what we’re doing in this blog? OK, well, probably not. But it does kinda make some sense. We brag them up for dressing their spokeswomen in pantyhose during a time when, let’s face it, the majority of the world’s women hate pantyhose. You’d have to think those responsible for these commercials might realize that they could attract a larger audience for whatever they’re selling if they suck up to the bear-leggers rather than to those in the minority who appreciate and value pantyhose.
Reality setting in
Similarly, I’ve been sooooooooo disappointed lately in many of the celebs on whom I’ve heaped tons of praise for their devotion to wearing pantyhose. And when some of the usually-pantyhose-friendly ones don’t, I make excuses for them and blame it on the costume designer for dressing them in bear legs. But, when celebs appear on late night talk shows, or are out and about town, and dress in nice outfits but with bear legs, that’s clearly on them.
Stars I’ve complimented for their devotion to class and elegance, especially in dressing up and wearing pantyhose, have been letting me down lately. For example, I have never seen Morena Baccarin wear pantyhose on a single talk show or awards show. Not Dana Delany either. Not Jennifer Lopez. And lately, I’ve seen Milla Jovovich more often bear-legged than in pantyhose. And don’t even get me started on Angelina Jolie and her constantly popping her bear leg out from her high-slit dress during the Academy Awards show. Bimbo.
Actress Julianna Margulies is always professional and classy during appearances on late night talk shows, such as "The Late Show with David Letterman."
Still, the only celeb who seems to always do the right thing when it comes to how she dresses for public appearances is Julianna Margulies. But, is she wearing pantyhose in the photo above? If so, those are the sheerest nude pantyhose on the planet. I actually saw this episode of ”The Late Show with David Letterman” and thought she was wearing, but at least one of our readers commented on this post that she is actually bear-legged. I guess my eyes aint what they used to be, or more likely, I saw what I wanted to see. What say you? Did Julianna Margulies actually appear on Letterman bear-legged?
I’ve often written that Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock, almost always can be counted on to wear pantyhose during public appearaces. And, maybe to a large extent, that’s still the case, but increasingly, it seems that 99.5 percent of celebs are brainwashed and believe they have to appear in public bear-legged because “that’s what everyone is doing.” Pitiful.
One celeb I thought I could count on more than most to wear pantyhose during public events is gorgeous Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, but she’s killing me these days. I really thought of her as very strong-willed and independent – someone who would always do what she wanted to do – not what everyone else was doing. Yet, while she once frequently wore pantyhose during publicity events, presumably because it is the right thing to do, and because she has the class and traditional values to do the right thing, it is increasingly rare to see her in pantyhose. Still, I have confidence in her. I believe (I need to believe) she’ll go back to doing what she knows is right. She looks incredible in pantyhose and even (gasp) bare-legged (no bear here for her), so I can only hope she chooses pantyhose just because she wants to.
And lovely little Lucy Liu? Forget about seeing her in pantyhose, which is practically a crime since she looks stunning in them. And the extremely rare times we do see her in pantyhose, they’re too often the thick black ones that just don’t suit her.
While it is great that Sandra Oh was honored recently in Canada's Walk of Fame, it's sad that she didn't think the occasion called for pantyhose with that nice dress.
But I am most dismayed by the way Sandra Oh dresses. I know what you’re thinking, but unlike her character on “Grey’s Anatomy,” she truly is gorgeous in a dress, high heels and sheer nude or suntan pantyhose.
Sadly, it seems lately that we’ll just never see her in pantyhose anymore.
She’s a perfect example of a star who grew up with traditional Korean values, used to dress beautifully and appropriately in the proper situations, but now has seemingly become just another brainwashed Hollyweird go-along-er.
A case in point occurred in October 2011 when Sandra Oh was inducted into Canada’s Walk Of Fame for her long career in film and television.
If ever there were a time for Sandra Oh to wear pantyhose, this was it, especially since she grew up in Canada. Instead, she did the “ugly American” thing and showed up bear-legged.
Terrible, Sandra.
Always hope
Actress Miranda Cosgrove shows class and grace, appearing on the Red Carpet wearing a beautiful dress and pantyhose during a Screen Actors Guild awards show recently in Los Angeles.
As much as I appreciate when veteran celebrities do the right thing and wear pantyhose during public appearances, I think I love it even more when very young up-and-coming stars set themselves apart from the pack in the way they dress, wearing pantyhose with their pretty dresses and high heels.
You know how I’ve gushed over the likes of Lady Gaga and Katie Perry for being frequent wearers of pantyhose when out and about. And that can be said for Paris Hilton, too. I’ve almost resigned myself to realize and admit that EVERY celeb is going to have days where they just can’t be bothered to dress nicely.
But recently, I’ve been seeing two 19-year-olds, Selena Gomez and Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly) wearing pantyhose during public appearances.
I have to say I had never heard of Miranda until I saw her on a couple of late night talk shows and was so proud of her for dressing up and wearing pantyhose for the occasions. This is such a great sign of hope for the future.
So I’ll go ahead and give myself credit for that. I’m funny that way, ya know.
Why that Bear still won’t Wear — the Grizzly Awards
Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous
It was one of my first ever (and still favorite) posts. It was Oct. 9, 2009.
Originally, it was called “Why women don’t wear pantyhose” but when I added a poll at the end, which I accidentally titled: Today’s “Bear Legs Culture,” the name stuck, and I renamed the post “Why bears don’t wear pantyhose.”
In that post, I debunked the dumb reasons women give for not wearing pantyhose, and I proposed that we refer to those women from now on as having “bear” legs instead of bare legs.
Many of you picked up on that, and in your comments or letters, you refer to women going bear-legged. Thanks for playing along. I love that.
Since 2009, thankfully, we’ve seen quite an increase in the number of women wearing pantyhose. We see it on TV, in TV commercials, in movies, in magazines, on the runway, and on stage. That is great.
Yet, the majority of stories on Internet-based magazines, features and blogs about pantyhose remain negative, if not hostile. And women still are giving dumb reasons for why they hate and won’t wear pantyhose.
So, like in October 2009, I feel it is my duty to set these bear-legged women straight. Here’s their lame excuses for not wearing pantyhose, my response, and the logic behind my thinking:
Bears: Pantyhose are hot. (Read that with a whiney tone).
Robin: Wrong, bimbo! It’s that you’d look HOT if you were to wear pantyhose.
Logic: I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating. You work in an office. It’s air-conditioned. In fact, you drive to work with the AC blasting in your vehicle. And if pantyhose really were too hot, why then during the winter, do you complain it’s too cold to wear pantyhose? Sorry, hater. You gotta do better than that.
Bears: Pantyhose are uncomfortable.
Robin: What? Pantyhose are soft and silky. They’re the most delicate, decidedly feminine thing a woman could ever wear. Pantyhose don’t weigh a pound soaking wet. How could they be uncomfortable?
Logic: If you wear control top or the super support kind that are made with too much Spandex, yes, pantyhose could be too tight and uncomfortable. But instead of just swearing off pantyhose altogether, you should try 100 percent nylon pantyhose that are ultra soft and silky. Then, if you still say that pantyhose are uncomfortable, you’re just looking for a reason to hate on things that are feminine and that men want you to wear.
Logic II: I know for a fact that pantyhose are not uncomfortable because it was not one of the correct answers to a question on Family Feud. The question was “Name something women wear that hurts.” A lovely Korean family correctly guessed 1.) Bra, 2.) Girdle, 3.) High Heels. But when one of the family members guessed pantyhose, he got an “X” and the other family got a chance to steal the points. They correctly guessed: 4.) Thong. And that family won the game.
The lovely girls in the Korean family were wearing pantyhose and looked very beautiful, and I was sorry that they lost. But, I think we can all agree now that pantyhose are not uncomfortable!
Bears: Pantyhose are old-fashioned.
Robin: Really? Try telling that to Kate Middleton, Anne Hathaway, Milla Jovovich, Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Julianna Margulies. Not convinced? Tell that to Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Beyonce’.
Logic: This has got to be the dumbest excuse women give for not wearing pantyhose. Consider this: Undergarments were invented in the 13th century. Pantyhose were invented in the late 1960s (stockings during the 1950s). High heels were invented sometime around the 15th century, and the first shoes were said to have been invented between 1600 and 1200 BC. So should we all stop wearing shoes and undies now because they’re even more old-fashioned than pantyhose? Come on, haters!
Bears: Pantyhose are not necessary because my legs are tan enough, and pantyhose are irrelevant today because of relaxed dress code standards, even at the office.
Robin: Big mistake! Sure, for informal occasions, bear legs look fine, but tan as they may be, they’re still no match for how much nicer they’d look in pantyhose. Don’t kid yourself. Unless you’re Zhang Ziyi (and even she wears pantyhose more than the average bear), those bear legs of your’s still have flaws. Between uneven skin tone, blemishes, etc., your legs are less attractive without pantyhose.
Now, if you’re shopping at the supermarket on a day off, by all means, go bear-legged. But, if you’re going to a wedding, a funeral, a fancy restaurant or any formal venue and you don’t wear pantyhose, you have no class. If you work at a McDonald’s or Taco Bell, you don’t need to wear pantyhose. If you work in a business office and don’t wear pantyhose, you are completely unprofessional. Period!
Logic: We’ve dumbed down enough in society. Do we have to dress down, too? The everyday people in almost every civilized nation in the world have more class, more grace and more elegance than us. And they all dress better than we do. It’s beyond time we improve in these areas.
When you break it down, the reasons women give for not wearing pantyhose have little or no merit. They are giving very lame excuses. Pantyhose were the standard of elegance throughout the 1960s, 70s, 80s and most of the 90s. Women wouldn’t think of being seen in public without makeup or pantyhose. And pantyhose were the standard for professionalism in the business world.
But during the 2000s, an excuse was created for not wearing pantyhose, and millions of women jumped on the bandwagon and have been trying to justify going bear-legged ever since.
As you know, in this blog, I’ve recognized and praised professional entertainers who are devoted pantyhose wearers in my series: Credit ‘Wear’ Credit is Due. And while we’ve seen more and more entertainers wearing lately, there still are far too many women going bear-legged.
So, I am starting a new series. This one will recognize those celebrities who never or almost never wear pantyhose.
Introducing …
That’s right, the Grizzly Awards will “honor” those celebrities who contribute to the bear legs cause by never wearing pantyhose on their TV shows, in movies, awards events, appearances on late night talk shows, and whenever they are in the public eye in general.
And the first celeb to receive this “honor” has to be:
Sarah Jessica Parker
You know the story. SJP is “credited” with creating the bear legs movement because her character and others on the TV show and movies, ‘Sex and the City,” ditched the pantyhose with their fancy dresses and sexy shoes as they gallivanted through New York City — the fashion capital of the world.
That started it all. Hollywood always has influenced fashion, and what SJP’s charaters did was set a bad example for women everywhere.
For the first time, pantyhose were seen as being out of style. Then, as more and more celebrities followed suit, and everyday women in droves jumped on the bandwagon, pantyhose were practically run out of existence.
Worse, the anti-pantyhose sentiment that resulted from SJP’s show grew into outright hatred for pantyhose, which became villified among women on a global scale.
In fairness to SJP, when I searched for a photo of her for this post, I found as many pics of her wearing pantyhose as not. That really surprised me.
Here’s what I want to know: When SJP looks as awesome in pantyhose as she does in this picture at right, why wouldn’t she want to be seen this way all the time, or at least much more often?
As I’ve written before, I have no way of knowing whether it was SJP or the costume designer for “Sex and the City” who ultimately made the decision to feature her character without pantyhose.
Is it possible that SJP doesn’t really have an agenda against pantyhose? Is it time for us to forgive and forget? I’d like to say yes, but the bear legs movement that was created as a result of her character on “Sex and the City” persists today in way-too-high numbers.
And she is bear-legged in her TV commercials for Garnier, so it doesn’t seem as if she’s trying too hard to distance herself from the bear legs movement.
Fair or not, the bear legs culture has a figurehead, and the pantyhose industry has an arch enemy. Every good story needs a villain. Whether truly earned or not, that person will always be Sarah Jessica Parker — our first honorary recipient of the Grizzly Awards.
Stay tuned. There’ll be more recipients in future blog posts here.
NOTE: My thanks to Bridget Brown, owner of Solarity Design, a professional graphic arts design company, and an ActSensuous customer, for her clever artwork featuring bears and our pantyhose.
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.'
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.
Credit ‘Wear’ Credit is Due – Carrie Ann Inaba
Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous
As you must know by now, I am nothing if not fair. I’ve criticized Carrie Ann Inaba in earlier posts because she didn’t wear pantyhose during appearances that called for it, be it on late night talk shows, red carpet events, or on Dancing with the Stars.
I have searched for pics of Carrie Ann on the Internet, and here’s what I’ve found. I have NEVER seen a photo of her wearing pantyhose. Let me repeat that: NEVER! Not one picture out of the hundreds and hundreds of them on the net.
So when I learned she was going to be the host of the new version of the game show, 1 vs. 100, I figured she wouldn’t wear dresses or skirts, and certainly not pantyhose, but I hoped with all my energy that she would.
Well, I am so happy to say that she has not let me down. I’ve watched … I don’t know … half a dozen or so episodes, and in each case, she has worn a nice dress or skirt and sheer pantyhose – every single time. I am so proud of her.
Does this mean she is maturing? Exercising good judgment? Showing she has class and professionalism? Or maybe it’s the producer of the game and/or the Game Show Network (GSN) who is making the calls here.
Either way, she looks fantastic. I mean she is such a beautiful woman, it was such a shame that she never showed any class or professionalism the way she dressed before.
As a TV game show hostess, well, she’s no Bob Saget, who hosted the original version of the game show, but hey, who is?
In fact, many fans of the show have complained (justifiably so) that her voice is annoying, she has no sense of timing and she seems very uncomfortable. That was all true, but I figured with time, she would improve, and she has.
The show may not survive, but it wouldn’t be Carrie Ann’s fault. It just isn’t compelling with the top prize (if a contestant outlasts 100 opponents in answering multiple choice questions) being a whopping $50,000, when it was $1 million in the original version. And then there’s the mob itself – 100 people who are shown via web cams, instead of live on the set as in the original. I think for this show to survive, it has to make some major adjustments.
But this post is about Carrie Ann stepping up in a new role for herself – game show hostess. I am proud of her for dressing professionally and with class and grace. Of the several episodes I’ve seen, there were only two in which she (sorry) looked ridiculous – the ones where she wore a short skirt and knee-high boots. Yuk!
Since I can’t find stills from the show online, I decided to take some pics myself with my cheap digital camera on my 15-year-old 60-inch TV. I couldn’t get close enough because the set lighting is so bright, and the picture quality of my TV is better viewed from at least 12 feet away.
So while the pics I’m posting here aren’t of good quality, at least they’ll give you the idea of the outfits Carrie Ann is wearing.
Here’s what I want to know, and not just about, Carrie Ann: When you look this good in a skirt and high heels and pantyhose, why would you ever wear goofy, dumpy, sloppy, ugly boots? It’s the least feminine look there is.
Since the two episodes in which she wore those awful boots, Carrie Ann has worn high heels the past four or so episodes in a row. I would hope that she sees what she looks like in boots, as compared to high heels, and made a conscious decision to pretty up her look.
I hope this is not just a fluke. I hope Carrie Ann sees the light now, and that this is the beginning of a career choice for her – to dress femininely, and with class and professionalism when appearing on nationally televised shows.
For what it’s worth, Carrie Ann finally has won me over. Like another game show hostess – Meredith Vieira – she is doing the right thing. She is showing class, and she looks beautiful and glamorous in a skirt, sheer pantyhose and high heels in a venue that calls for it.
Good for you, Carrie Ann.
Perry’s ‘Hot N Cold’ – Margulies just plain Hot
Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous
By now, many of you have heard or read that Sesame Street has pulled the plug on a taped segment during which pop singer Katy Perry sings with Elmo. The segment was supposed to run during an upcoming episode of the popular children’s show, but has been cancelled by Sesame Street because of negative comments received after the video was previewed on YouTube.
Sesame Street says it won’t air the segment because of the controversy generated by the risque’ dress of the pop star. Perry is wearing a strapped yellow gown with a sheer mesh top, which does little to cover up her ample cleavage.
In the video, Perry sings an edited-for-children version of her hit, “Hot N Cold,” to Elmo.
Earlier today, viewer complaints prompted Sesame Street’s producer to cut the segment from its planned spot on a future TV show. The video also has been removed from Sesame Street’s YouTube Channel.
The video remained on Perry’s own website for a while. Seeing the video, I can understand some parents’ concern, but I don’t find it really offensive. Perry’s outfit seems no less revealing than anything you might see a princess or mermaid wear in a Disney movie. Too bad it got yanked because I thought Perry’s performance was very well done. Her facial expressions and demeanor were very cute and innocent enough. And, she expressed sadness that the segment was pulled, describing it as one of the most rewarding bits she’s done. Good for her.
I agree that the bustier-type top of her dress was a bit risque’ and inappropriate for the age of the intended audience, but I doubt that it would have had any adverse effect on them. Here’s what I want to know: How did this even happen? Isn’t someone at Sesame Street responsible for wardrobe? Didn’t the video’s director have a say on the matter?
I do respect and appreciate that Perry thought it was important enough to wear pantyhose with the outfit.
Katy Perry is one entertainer who can be counted on to wear pantyhose during performances and public appearances.
Many of my readers tell me that Katy Perry is one of today’s pop stars who can be counted on to wear pantyhose during her act.
Off stage, I don’t think Perry is as devoted a wearer of pantyhose as Lady Gaga. I checked Perry out in a couple of galleries and saw her wearing pantyhose in only about one-third of the photos.
So pantyhose don’t appear to be her signature fashion statement the way they are for Lady Gaga, but hey, one-third of the time is far better than the norm in the entertainment world, so Katy Perry is OK with me.
It bears mentioning that Beyonce’ is another young entertainer who seems to always appear in short outfits, showing a lot of leg in pantyhose.
It is so good to see these young entertainers demonstrating class and professionalism in their acts.
Hopefully, they will influence an entire generation of young women who might otherwise not find many examples of their contemporaries wearing pantyhose.
Talk about Hot
Meanwhile, I wrote last time about how Julianna Margulies is so very classy, always wearing pantyhose on her hit TV show, The Good Wife, and during appearances on late night talk shows.
Just as in her TV and movie roles, Julianna Margulies always has the class and professionalism to appear on late night talk shows wearing dresses, high heels and pantyhose.
Funny how in the photo above it looks like Dave is going after a quick feel of Julianna’s pretty pantyhosed leg during a recent episode of The Late Show with David Letterman. You go, Dave!
And check out how stunning Julianna looked recently on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/179565/late-night-with-jimmyfallonjulianna-margulies
Wow! She is really special. She’s extremely talented, seems to be a good person, and she carries herself with grace and elegance.
I’m just cynical enough to believe that this is just a fluke; that she’s going to let me down; that I’ll tune in one time and find her doing the bare legs thing during a national TV appearance, but she just keeps blowing my mind because she always wears a beautiful dress, high heels and very sheer pantyose. This lady is classy.
If you aren’t watching The Good Wife, let me tell you it’s about the best drama on TV. Very well written and wonderfully acted. I am officially a Julianna Magulies fan now.
‘Ladies, please …’ Class or No Class
Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous
If you’re like me (and really, for your sake, I hope you’re not), there are a few TV shows that piss you off.
You see, it really irks me when people miss opportunites: To make a statement, to do the right thing, to be special. With that in mind, here are the most obvious:
TV shows that piss me off
- Deal or No Deal
Like the game – hate the dumb models. Sorry, but the models rely on their short and beautiful dresses, their fancy high heels, their big hair and big – you know – brains, rather than glamming it up for the big occasion and wearing pantyhose. Not impressed.
Now, I will say this: The few times it’s aired, the special Deal or No Deal Around the World is great.
The Real Deal
A case in point, the models of the Phillipines, left, not only have the class and grace to wear pantyhose, they come out and do a rousing little coordinated dance routine to the show’s opening theme music.
It’s very creative and really cool.
Likewise, the models in Estonia have the good taste to wear pantyhose. In fact, I’m sure the models in all the countries except the good old USA “get it” and wear pantyhose.
Back to DOND in the U.S., when the banker makes a statement with a special gimmick offer, he usually has one of his Robert Palmer band-looking girls deliver it, and she always wears pantyhose and looks incredible. Why the other models (or at least the idiot costumer for the show) doesn’t see that and say, “We should really dress up all the models” is beyond me.
OK, one more reason I hate this show: The idiot contestants, the idiot audience members, and the idiot models always boo or put down the banker at every opportunity, which I understand is part of the act, but the banker is hillarious, and he should get credit for his antics. Idiots!
- Covert Affairs
That’s right, I said it. I had such high hopes for this show after seeing it advertised and watching the pilot, both occasions on which the star, Piper Perabo, wore a skirt suit with high heels and pantyhose.
No longer a "special" agent
Well, that lasted all of that one whole episode. Since then, the bimbo agent (uh huh) is always bare (bear) legged. Yeah, like you’re going to go to work at the CIA in a suit and bare (bear) legs.
Sorry, not a fan!
A TV show that probably will piss me off
- Nikita
Coming later this month, it’s another version of the “La Femme Nikita” professional assassin story, this time, starring Maggie Q (“Balls of Fury,” “Mission Impossible II or III,” “Live Free or Die Hard”).
Now, you’ve read my blog – you know how I love and appreciate Asian actresses for always having the good sense and class to wear pantyhose. Well, I can tell you that I’ve NEVER seen Maggie Q in pantyhose and I am sure she won’t be wearing them in “Nikita.” I do hope I’m wrong.
TV shows that make me proud
- The Good Wife
Thank God for this show. It’s a bigtime corporate lawyer show, so it would really have infuriated me if the the female cast members weren’t dressed lawyerly.
Always classy
- The Closer
Never watched it, but I have seen it advertised many times and ALWAYS the lovely little Kyra Sedgwick is wearing a skirt suit with pantyhose and heels. Good for her. I probably will begin watching that show just to support her.
- Ally McBeal
No, seriously, the series is being re-aired and it’s the first time in 10 years that I’ve seen it. Wow, talk about pantyhose city! Calista Flockhart, below right, as the title character, along with fellow lawyers, including Portia de Rossi and Lucy Liu, make this show a real pleasure to watch.
Adorable attorney
Watching the show is kinda sad though because it harkens us back to a very special time in our past, as even in the scenes where people (extras) are just walking through the streets of Boston, all the women are wearing pantyhose.
Ahhhh, those were the days.
OK, readers, what TV shows piss you off because the female stars don’t wear pantyhose in them?
Or what shows make you proud because they do?
Let us know.
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.
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.
