-
- |
-
- |
- |
- 70
Like scores of American women, Michelle Obama detests pantyhose. “I stopped wearing pantyhose a long time ago because it was painful,” she said on The View last June. “Put ‘em on, rip ‘em—it’s inconvenient.” As any woman knows, Michelle has a point. Wearing pantyhose is like being stuffed—thighs, butt, and belly—into a casing. Whether they’re 99-cent L’Eggs or $99 Fogels, they are good for one use, guaranteed to snag and run, rendering even the most uptight, Brooks Brothers skirt-suited attorney an Elmer Batters fetish model. This seems to be yet another way in which Michelle has raided Jackie O’s closet and tweaked it in the name of comfort and convenience. Jackie O might have gone sleeveless—as the press never failed to remind us—but her legs were nearly always sheathed.
So is this just more proof that Michelle Obama is “[a]n authentically empowered real woman who looks and feels like a modern woman in the 21st century,” as Oprah told Vogue’s André Leon Talley? Well, what the Obama-struck fail to acknowledge is that there is nothing casual—or natural—about a bare leg in 2009. Not in today’s medicalized beauty culture. Whereas pantyhose are lambasted as being constrictive and a colossal waste of money, going bare means a woman must consider waxing, exfoliation, firming creams, anti-cellulite and stretch-mark treatments, regular pedicures, and salon spray tans or self-tanners—yes, even for women of color. According to Mikki Taylor, beauty director and cover editor of Essence, self-tanners for black women are used “to combat sallowness and promote glow,” she explained over the phone. It used to be that a woman had to visit a spa to find these products. Today, however, even Duane Reade drugstores, ubiquitous in New York City, foists them upon us. Indeed, they’ve become as common as aspirin and toilet paper. And, it would appear, just as necessary.
For more aggressive treatment there is always the option of cosmetic surgery, where you may undergo laser skin-resurfacing (to smooth out texture and blotches), and liposuction for thighs, knees, and—yes—ankles. When varicose veins and spider veins surface—more visible on white women—there is sclerotherapy ($300 to $800 per treatment) as well as invasive endovenous ablations ($2,500 per treatment). Black women scar more easily than white women, and for that there are more, and specialized, lasers. Not to mention the new “baggy” knee surgery, popularized by Demi Moore, which Vogue wrote about in last August’s “Age(Less)” issue. The demise of pantyhose corresponds to a nearly 500 percent increase in plastic surgery and a soaring growth in over-the-counter “cosmeceuticals,” many of which are misbranded drugs suckering women with their science-ese and Rx packaging as the FDA turns a blind eye. In 2007, sales of cosmeceuticals reached $16 billion; they are expected to reach $21 billion by 2012, according to Packaged Facts reports.
SNL: Equal Opportunity Objectifiers
Jon Hamm spent most of the Saturday Night Live episode he hosted last night shirtless.
Confessions of a Woman Comedy Writer
Allison Silverman accepts one from New York Women in Film & Television (and tells us why it's rare).
Comments
Whoopi on a recent Obama
By: Ares | Mon, 11/02/2009 - 21:19
Whoopi on a recent Obama speech: "Your husband gave one of the greatest father's day speeches of all time, " calling on the black community to step forward and be involved. Michelle stressed government involvement and parental accountability. "He's talked about that before," she pointed out, adding, "It's connected to Barack's own experience....The thing that touches me about that speech is when he says 'The greatest gift I can give is to not be like my father.'" She described her own childhood with an involved father and a mother at home for the children. "Families can look like a whole bunch of things, but kids need that model."
* Michelle's response to the question, "When your husband first said, 'I want to be president,' what did you say? was remarkably candid: "No, I said Please don't do this... Politics is a bad business. This man was sweet and pathetic...." but she came around in time, explaining, "For this race, it's me taking this selfish hat off. I think about the sacrifice that we have to make, the girls have to make. Ares Once I started thinking about being a mom and a citizen and the kind of President I would like," that's what changed her mind. Michelle acknowledged the loss of privacy is a challenge, and that in local politics, "they don't scrutinize family as much as they do in this race
I agree that going bare
By: colinp | Fri, 10/16/2009 - 07:08
I agree that going bare legged isn’t as liberating as you think it is. I much prefer the feel and warmth of pantyhose and the support they give you.
caminetti rustici
I think Michelle has got a
By: rachjenks | Wed, 10/14/2009 - 09:34
I think Michelle has got a point. I don't know many women who enjoy wearing panty hose, they are just so uncomfortable and restricting. I dare to go bare these days instead!
fast house sale
I have to agree with Michelle
By: sandra13 | Thu, 10/01/2009 - 08:41
I have to agree with Michelle Obama when it comes to wearing panty hose. I hate the feel of them, but I feel I have to wear them to cover up my pasty pale legs!
best appetite suppressant
Michelle, Put on Some Pantyhose
By: khairuddin | Tue, 09/29/2009 - 13:24
Your article very interesting, I have introduced a lot of friends look at this article, the content of the articles there will be a lot of attractive people to appreciate, I have to thank you such an article
Iklan Baris Gratis Iklan Baris Gratis
Desain Web Murah Desain Web Murah
Cahbagus CahBagus
Inter studio Inter Studio
Khaystudio Mengembalikan jati diri bangsa
Rangkuman Ilmu SEO Rangkuman Ilmu SEO
Mengembalikan jati diri bangsa Mengembalikan jati diri bangsa
Mengembalikan jati diri bangsa Mengembalikan jati diri bangsa
Informasi Pendidikan Info Pendidikan Indonesia
Situs Murah Situs Murah
Oes Stetnoc Oes Tsetnoc
Oes Stetnoc Oes Tsetnoc
Khairuddin Khairuddin
Blogger Gurem Blogger Gurem
Khairuddin Syach Weblog Khairuddin Syach Weblog
Kenali dan Kunjungi Objek Wisata di Pandeglang Kenali dan Kunjungi Objek Wisata di Pandeglang
Mengembalikan jati diri bangsa Mengembalikan jati diri bangsa
Michelle Obama was smart to
By: yuridebura | Tue, 09/29/2009 - 05:03
Michelle Obama was smart to ask for a one-day host spot on ABC's The View instead of simply being a guest homeowners insurance. It meant she could sit at the table with the the women and - in an extended version of their regular "Hot Topics" discussion - spend over 30 minutes answering questions, sharing her opinions, and letting us see who she is.
She was poised, comfortable, funny, and honest, and I doubt that anyone watching came away with anything less than a positive impression of her.
Here's a handful of observations and quotes from her appearance - some substantive, some offbeat bankruptcy records:
* Michelle shared Barack's advice about being on The View: "Be good."
* Whoopi Goldberg asked about diversity training. Leaning into Michelle, she said, "Folks of our age were the first to be thrust among white folks to talk about diversity." Michelle's response: "The beauty of this show is that this is diverse....You can't have discussions about diversity where I am the only diverse person."
* Joy Behar asked Michelle for her opinion on Hillary Clinton and sexism during the campaign. Did she feel it was there? "Yes, there's always a level of sexism...people aren't used to strong women, "Michelle answered. "We don't even know how to talk about them." She added that Hillary Clinton said she created 18 million cracks on a ceiling, and it's only when women like her step out and take the hits that others like Michelle's daughters will find the impact of sexism lessened.
* Barbara Walters doubted she'd get an answer to her question, but she asked it anyway: Should Hillary be Obama's running mate? Michelle responded, "My answer to this is - the one thing a nominee earns is the right to pick a vice President that best reflects the country. I'm just glad I'm not involved in it citicard."
* Michelle's been put out there as a fashion icon. How does she handle the expectations of looking good? "That's the hard part. Barack puts on his suit and walks out the door...." and Michelle says she spends a lot more time on hair, makeup, what she'll wear, and getting the girls ready as well. She admitted, "It's fun to look pretty...I do a little bit of everything I have some high end stuff," and revealed something that many have been asking about - does she work with a stylist? "I work with a designer in Chicago, Maria Pinto."
* Whoopi on Michelle's positive image as a successful black woman: "Any time you see black folks on the news, they have no teeth. The teeth that they have have gold around them.... you're helping to change a perception....I just want to say thanks."
* Barbara Walters asked Michelle her thoughts on pantyhose (no joke); she told a story about attending an event bare-legged, and being called out on it auto loans. Michelle: "I stopped wearing pantyhose a long time ago because they're painful and they ripped. I'm 5'11", and nothing fits me."
* Michelle on balancing family with the stresses of a presidential campaign: "What Barack and I said when he first started this run, we would try to keep our lives as normal as we can for as long as we can...as much as people talk about my role in the campaign trail, I'm home much of the time."
* Whoopi on a recent Obama speech: "Your husband gave one of the greatest father's day speeches of all time, " calling on the black community to step forward and be involved. Michelle stressed government involvement and parental accountability. "He's talked about that before," she pointed out, adding, "It's connected to Barack's own experience....The thing that touches me about that speech is when he says 'The greatest gift I can give is to not be like my father.'" She described her own childhood with an involved father and a mother at home for the children. "Families can look like a whole bunch of things, but kids need that model."
* Michelle's response to the question, "When your husband first said, 'I want to be president,' what did you say?" was remarkably candid: "No, I said Please don't do this... Politics is a bad business. This man was sweet and pathetic...." but she came around in time, explaining, "For this race, it's me taking this selfish hat off. I think about the sacrifice that we have to make, the girls have to make. Once I started thinking about being a mom and a citizen and the kind of President I would like," that's what changed her mind. Michelle acknowledged the loss of privacy is a challenge, and that in local politics, "they don't scrutinize family as much as they do in this race."
free games adventure games
By: GamesOnline | Thu, 09/24/2009 - 07:39
free games adventure games games escape games
I would have liked
By: Davidsmith7 | Sat, 09/19/2009 - 17:54
I would have liked to see how cornstarch stacks up against these pricey dry shampoos.
As a natural blond with fine, grease-prone hair I often use straight cornstarch between shampoos, which I apply with a blush brush from a little tupperware container I keep in the bathroom. It's cheap, and it works for me!
I've been curious about these dry shampoos from the salon...but not curious enough (yet) to spend $24 for three ounces.
Buy Cialis
Viagra
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
HAHAHA
By: esculenta | Fri, 09/18/2009 - 11:47
Not wearing pantyhose means "waxing, exfoliation, firming creams, anti-cellulite and stretch-mark treatments, regular pedicures, and salon spray tans or self-tanners?"
Are you kidding me?
No one says boo to my bare, hairy legs and it hasn't interfered with my wearing skirts or my ability to find sex partners. Even in image-conscious NYC. Suck on that, peddlers of "beauty products."
Pantyhose are fun for a fetish, though.
enjoy reading
By: affek | Thu, 09/17/2009 - 19:59
really nice post
Mengembalikan jati diri bangsa
Mengembalikan jati diri bangsa
Mengembalikan jati diri bangsa
kenali dan kunjungi objek wisata di pandeglang