How to be sexy like the French women?

This is a follow-up to my previous article on why gym clothes are to be used only when working out.

A lot of you ask (write to me with your questions or thoughts) me how to be a sexy woman, and it ain't an easy question since not only we all have varying opinions on what makes ME sexy, others might have even more different opinions on what makes me sexy.

Maybe we can learn something from the French. Elaine Sciolino, a New York Times journalist says that "For French women, being sexy has nothing to do with age and everything to do with attitude."

While most women in their 30s and 40s and older that I see in the supermarket are not MILFs but women so obsessed with being good soccer moms that they look like trash. On the contrary, a recent study found that 90% of French women over 50 are dating actively, often younger men and are very adventurous in bed.

So what is the secret of French women?

According to Sciolino, the sexiest French women seem naturally skilled in the art of moving, smiling and flirting. She writes, "Chic French women prefer to peel and polish rather than paint their faces. Too much makeup, they say, makes a woman seem older, or worse, “vulgaire.” (Related: Makeup to look younger)

Like Japanese women, French women too spend close to 20 percent of their clothing budgets on lingerie. Just putting on a pair of lace or satin thongs will make you feel different. The other important thing to remember is how to wear your lingerie. If you don't know do some research on the Internet, or as the French do it, hire a stripper to teach you how to wear and how to undress.

Lovable Lingerie review

Recently a visitor from Honduras brought us gifts: lingerie for both of us. My wife got a baby doll and g-string and I got a pair of boxer shorts. Great design, very sexy, high-quality fabric and comfortable. So I decided to investigate the brand. It is a Honduran brand called Lovable and to the best of my knowledge, I have never seen their products in a retail store in the United States. There is a similar brand in Australia and I couldn't figure out if they were related in any way. Not that it matters.

The good news is that they sell everything online and the website is available in several different languages. And above all, the prices are incredibly attractive.

OnGossamer bustier reivew

When the name bustier is mentioned (as are girdles or garter belts), one immediately thinks of wearing something inside one's dress. Well, I am yet to see anyone wearing garter belts in public, but shapewear is fairly commonly used under jackets and open collar shirts these days as a replacement for a cami. That is exactly the case with this beautiful OnGossamer eyelet bustier available at Gigi's Closet lingerie store.

It has that cool looking flower eyelet design and hugs the body in ways that it accentuates all the right curves. If you have saggy breasts, it is ideal for giving a lift to your bust. You can match it with pants or jeans while you are enjoying that romantic tropical weekend with a special someone and are not in the mood to wear your swimwear.

Find your correct bra size

After reading our article on how to measure your correct bra size, Sue writes, "I have just been wearing the same bra size for like forever and when I go buy me a new one, the size don't work. I have been wearing a 42DD, but when I measure I get 46 inches, then add the 4 inches and get 50. The upper band is 54 inch and subtract 50 and get 4, a DD, so what size am I? Can you please help me? I need the right bra."

You are not alone with this dilemma. First of all, all the bra manufacturers are not consistent. Over time, the way suppliers have changed clothing sizes, they have also quietly changed bra sizes. I would, therefore, suggest that you put away your shyness and get measured by a lingerie expert. I would recommend a department store like Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, or Nordstrom (Victoria's Secret sometimes has someone mature; but most of the time they will have teenagers who have no idea what they are doing, based on comments from our readers).

If you find bra selection in high end department stores too expensive, don't buy there; just get yourself measured there, and try on a few bras. When you feel you have a pretty good idea of the size, buy just one bra that day. Wear it for a couple of days and make sure that you feel that it fits well. Only then buy more and even after that, get yourself measured once a year or so, or if you gain/lose a lot of weight.

Coranto bra and thong set from Elle McPherson

If I could be even half as pretty as Elle McPherson, I would consider myself lucky. The reality is that some women are simply blessed with a perfect body and she is one of them. There is another reason I admire her. Unlike other celebrities that design lingerie for women with great bodies only, she has everyone in mind, including ordinary women like me.

That is why, despite the fact that it is not as colorful as the Jeanie by Freya bra and boy shorts set, the Coranto bra and thong set, available at Gigi's Closet is still very romantic.

The underwire bra is made from lace and an accent bow resides between the demi cups. For big breasted women like me, there is a two-hook closure at the back.

The matching low rise thong is a semi-sheer, stretch lace and has a matching bow at the place that is draws immediate attention. Wink, wink!

Jeanie bra and boy short set from Freya review

Well, of course, I must wear my functional underwear when I have to, but I have my weakness for colors and prints when it comes to my underwear.

That is when I wear this plunge bra and boy short set called Jeanie from Freya available at Gigi's Closet. The bra has a sheer top panel with tiny pompoms edge on the band. Then there are tiny double bows to complete the trim. And by the way, there is a U-back strap, a two-hook closure, and of course, adjustable back straps. More importantly, the color is so cute.

The matching boy short also has tiny pompoms and is trimmed with a tiny double bow at the waist.

When I am in the mood, now I know what underwear to wear.

And by the way if you are a guy buying lingerie for a woman, here are tips on how to shop for intimate apparel.

Drew Barrymore shopping for panties

Hmmm...Drew Barrymore looks better and better these days and no wonder People loves her. So where does she shop for panties? I guess she doesn't mind a discount store.

Scarlett Johansson in lingerie for Louis Vuitton

Looks of Scarlett Johansson are so beautiful that she was herself shocked to see them once. No surprise then that even a very gay Isaac Mizrahi was tempted to play with her body in public. But don't you ever touch her if you see Scarlettt Johansson walking around in New York.

But Louis Vuitton is now going to use her face and body to sell their handbags. I wish I could buy one.

Gwen Stefani shows off her leopard print bra

I learned earlier that apart from Kate Moss, Christina Aguilera is a big fan of Agent Provocateur lingerie. There is one more person we can add to the list: Gwen Stefani.

And she is not shy about displaying her bra, though it comes nowhere close to how some Japanese idols wear their lingerie.

By the way I love this animal print fashion.

Christina Aguilera lingerie preference

Not all celebrities disclose their lingerie preferences, but Christina Aguilera tells Jane that she likes Agent Provocateur.

Since XTina has been transforming herself into a modern-day Marilyn Monroe, the classic range from the company must come in handy.