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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.
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.
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?
Entertainment industry can make or break pantyhose
Robin Maryland, President, ActSensuous
Is what’s considered fashionable a case of art imitating life, or life imitating art? Everyone knows that fashion was influenced more by the golden era of Hollywood than anything else, and I am sure it’s every bit the case today.
Life Imitating Art
By now you know that Sarah Jessica Parker is “credited” with creating the “bare legs movement” with her “Sex and the City” TV show and movies. When everyday women saw the show’s high-profile characters strutting around New York City – fashion capital of the world – all dressed up minus the pantyhose, they completely lost their minds, adopted the idea, and from the mid-1990s to present, pantyhose practically disappeared as a fashion staple.
Art Imitating Life
As the bare legs culture grew in popularity among non-celebrities, naturally, more and more actresses and entertainers jumped on the bandwagon, too. It was almost as if celebs felt obligated to sport the new fashion look since they are expected to be the trendsetters in such things, and it had become clear that anti-pantyhose fever already was firmly established among the general population.
Coming full circle
While pantyhose were disappearing in society, even in the workplace, the entertainment industry’s role in it was evolving from instigator in creating the bare legs culture, to one of jumping onto the bandwagon, to now becoming the one place where pantyhose most likely are seen and appreciated today.
There’s one thing you can depend on about fashion – no fad lasts very long. What’s “in” eventually becomes what’s “not in,” and you can be sure that as soon as what’s not in takes off and everyone gets enough mileage out of it, ultimately, it will become what’s in again.
Geena Davis
Today, entertainers appear to be split on the wearing of pantyhose. Thankfully, some truly professional stars, such as Geena Davis, Julianna Margulies, Linda Fiorentino, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Fran Drescher, Holly Hunter, Goldie Hawn, Shelley Long, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman to name a few, never bought into the bare legs thing and, as long as the role or the scene they played didn’t preclude it, they always wore pantyhose. And there are some bright new stars today who are contributing to bringing pantyhose back into popularity, among them the likes of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, and for the most part, Katie Holmes, Kate Moss, Megan Fox, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Alba, Milla Jovovich and Olivia Munn.
Pantyhose on display
Already this year, stars wearing pantyhose has been a frequent scene in many TV programs, movies and entertainment venues.
Paula Abdul jokes with host Craig Ferguson during an appearance on The Late Late Show Jan. 12, 2011.
I have to give props to Paula Abdul, who always wears pantyhose as host of her new show, “Live to Dance,” and always wears when she makes appearances on the late night talk shows. To me, that shows that she is professional and classy. Good for you, Paula.
So, it seems that the best we can hope for these days is this pantyhose love-hate relationship in the entertainment industry. Last week, I saw Gwyneth Paltrow on Jimmy Fallon. She wore a short dress and very sheer nude pantyhose. Sadly though, lovely little Sandra Oh appeared on Jimmy Kimmel, wearing a slacks outfit.
Those who have seen Sandra only on “Grey’s Anatomy,” might be surprised to learn that she has gorgeous legs (and feet), and she’s shown them off in pantyhose in several movies. Sadly, she mostly does the bare legs thing during red carpet or publicity events. I just don’t get that. She doesn’t seem like the follow-what-everyone-else-is-doing type to me. She is one celeb I really wish would glam it up a lot more because she can do it so well, and it would show a totally different side of her. Oh well. I still love her.
Maggie Q stars on TV's 'Nikita.'
Also last week, I couldn’t wait to see Maggie Q on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno just to see if I would win the bet I made with myself that she would wear a short dress and high heels but no pantyhose.
Sometimes, I just hate being right. Then again, with someone like Maggie Q and her perfect Asian skin, whether she’s wearing in this picture or not can be difficult to tell.
She really looked good on Leno. Here’s a small pic I found of Maggie on the Internet. Is she wearing? Could be. I doubt it, but I want to believe that she is.
This weekend, I re-watched the movie, “Get Smart,” with Steve Carell, who did a great job as Maxwell Smart.
When the movie first came out a few years ago, and when I saw it again on Saturday, I was so disappointed in Anne Hathaway for not wearing pantyhose in her role as Agent 99. (She “Missed it by THAT much!”)
UPDATE (See the Reader Comments on this post. Looks like I was wrong about Anne Hathaway. One reader provides compelling evidence that, at least in one scene, Agent 99 indeed was wearing. “Sorry about that, Chief!”)
And speaking of spy shows, another celeb I am disappointed in is Piper Perabo, who stars in TV’s “Covert Affairs.” She’s really lovely, but she did the bare legs thing on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson last week. Sorry, I just think that shows a lack of class, and I had a different image of her than that.
I have written before about my disappointment in the way she often doesn’t wear pantyhose with her otherwise professional attire on “Covert Affairs,” despite that advertising spots almost always show her in pantyhose.
Again, I don’t know who’s at fault – Perabo or the show’s costume designer – for Perabo’s character not wearing pantyhose on ”Covert Affairs.” I wonder how much say Perabo has about the matter, and which way she’d lean if she did have a say.
It’s interesting, as one reader commented, that advertisers don’t miss the opportunity to show off Perabo in pantyhose during promotions for the show.
Check out this site: http://www.emrahyucel.com/tr/entry/category/all/company/5/customer/0/page/8
and scroll down to the bottom of the page. You’re looking for page 16.
<< ÖNCEKİ 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | … 94 | SONRAKİ >>
On page 16, the “Covert Affairs” set is about halfway down the page. These are some beautiful publicity photos, and hopefully, a sign of the outfits to come on this show.
And it’s not just on TV and in movies that pantyhose are finding their legs again. One of this blog’s devoted followers, Peter A., pointed out earlier this month that everywhere he looked, he saw the professional models and visitors wearing pantyhose during the Jan. 18 Detroit Auto Show. I love that. Thanks for the photo, Pete.
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.
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.
Was Sandra ‘wearing’ on Letterman Monday?
Sandra Bullock arrives at the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York for an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. Sandra always can be counted on to wear pantyhose for the right occasions.
Sandra Bullock is one of my favorite actors (they like to be called actors — not actresses). First, she is a great comedic actor. Second, she is beautiful and very classy.
So it was important to me to check her out on Monday’s (2/8/2010) episode of David Letterman to see what she’d wear. I knew it would be a black dress, and I was quietly confident that she would be wearing pantyhose. I mean, this is Academy Award-nominated Sandra Bullock we’re talking about here.
Well, was she? At first, I was sure she was. Then, the horrible thought that perhaps she wasn’t creeped into my mind. Then, I wasn’t sure. Now, I have no idea.
So, was she? If so, those are some seriously sheer pantyhose. I paused the DVR in all the right places and I am sticking with my original thought that she indeed was wearing pantyhose.
But I’m not 100 percent sure. So, I’m asking you. Was she?
Incidentally, I put Sandra on one of my recent polls, “Which celebrity do you most want to see wearing pantyhose?” I am happy to see that Sandra got 21 of the 43 votes, or 44 percent. Coming in at a distant second place was Jessica Alba with a mere nine votes, or 19 percent. No one else was really close.
I was sorry to see that the always lovely and elegant Michelle Yeoh got only one vote. Seriously, just one? Kinda cool though that you gave Bai Ling three votes. I even gave you a chance to write in your favorite, but only a few were named and no one got more than one vote. I did think it was great that tennis star Jelena Jankovic got a vote. BTW, the poll is still open.
I’d like to hear from you. Was Sandra “wearing” on Letterman Monday?
