A Treat when Pantyhose show up unexpectedly

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

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

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

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

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

Beauty and the beasts

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

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

One-girl wrecking crew

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

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

Dishing out demon destruction

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

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

Soaring into action

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

Sad soul

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

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

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

Not so dark

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

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

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

Always lovely

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

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

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

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

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

Pantyhose in other Action Settings

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

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

Resident goddess

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

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

Delicate beauty, but ...

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

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

Taking a stand

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

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

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

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

Real-life angel?

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

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

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

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

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.

Credit ‘wear’ credit is due

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

Lest anyone think I am too hard on Hollywood celebrities for their role in today’s “bare legs culture,” (a phrase I coined in 2001 and still have never heard anyone else say), this month’s blog topic is about the handful of today’s celebs who do wear pantyhose (often, where you would least expect it).

 The first celeb who comes to mind is Olivia Munn, co-host of the “Attack of the Show” program on G4.  I mean, c’mon, she’s young and this is a hip show.  So why is she often seen wearing pantyhose?  To me, the reason is that she has class.  It’s so cool when a young professional “gets it” and chooses to wear pantyhose on air. 

Since I’m talking about G4, which carries the show, “Ninja Warrior,” I have to mention more about the topic of my favorite subject lately, Asian women, who are more likely to be seen wearing pantyhose.  I’m still shocked that no one commented on last month’s post.  I thought the whole world (not just me) was Asian crazy, but not even any of our Asian ActSensuous customers commented on that post. 

So, here I go again.  Even during the “world’s most grueling obstacle course” that is Ninja Warrior, female contestants often wear pantyhose with their outfits or costumes.  Are you getting this? Pantyhose during the world’s toughest obstacle course! 

Beautiful Japanese women samba dancers give a brief performance to the crowd at the starting line of a Ninja Warrior contest, just before one of the members competes. Many of the contestants show up in costume, complete with pantyhose.

These female athletes and celebrities of Japan know they are likely to fall into the muddy waters beneath the course on Mt. Midoryama, yet, they have so much style  and grace (and presumably because they’re appearing on national TV), they have the class to wear pantyhose. 

And I’m not stopping there. Even many of the female audience members in the bleachers can be spotted wearing skirts, high heels and pantyhose. How many American women would you find attending an athletic contest wearing that kind of attire?  None!

OK, moving on … here’s a movie trilogy where one would not expect to find the actresses wearing pantyhose.  It’s the “Resident Evil” movies, in which star Milla Jovovich (“Mee-lah Yo-vo-vitch”) battles zombies during a post apocalyptic-style period of the world.  Pantyhose while shooting up flesh-munching zombies?  Yup. 

Milla Jovovich as Alice dispatches zombies during a scene in Resident Evil. As zombie movies go, the trilogy might be the best ever, in large part because, while Milla is beautiful and feminine, she kicks the @#$%^&* out of some zombies.

Pause some scenes (from “Resident Evil” and “Resident Evil: Apocalypse” on your DVR and you’ll see pantyhose worn by main character Alice and her cohorts.   In “Resident Evil: Extinction,” Alice doesn’t wear pantyhose, but a couple of the other women do. )

Jovovich also wore pantyhose throughout another movie called “.45” (as in a handgun), in which she stars as an abused girlfriend.  This world renowned model, singer and talented actress is my new hero.

Finally, I recently saw a young actress I never would have expected to be wearing pantyhose as a guest of a late-night talk show.  I take that back: I always expect certain actresses to wear pantyhose with the awesome dresses and heels they do wear on these shows (even if for no other reason than that the sets are extremely cold).  But even the classiest ones, such as Sandra Bullock and (gulp) my little Lucy Liu, have disappointed me so many times.  So I was stunned to see Anne Hathaway appearing on David Letterman wearing a beautiful dress, heels and pantyhose.  I have just become an Anne Hathaway fan.

OK, now it’s your turn.  What are your thoughts about this? Which celebrities do you find can always be counted on to wear pantyhose?