I cannot tell you how much I love being invited to the annual French Lingerie fashion show!

Last year I went with my friend Krista, but this year I brought along with me my two product reviewers Eleni and Daphne!

There were people fashion, sexy shoes (which you’ll see on the video), gorgeous men and of course amazing sexy French Lingerie.

I honestly think that an event like the French Lingerie is all about what I saw and not what I have to say about the event.

I took loads of photos of some of the latest fall 2009 trends from France when it comes to the sexy world of lingerie and you’ll see from the video below there was a lot of really amazing designs.

You’ll notice in the video that I’ve included a lot of cue cards to highlight a few interesting section. In the middle you’ll also notice a number of photos from a performance from a few talented dancers that honestly reminded me of a Cirque du Soleil show!

>>> I hope you’ll enjoy watching the beautiful designs for fall 2009 French Lingerie trends:

***If you like this video, I’d appreciate it a lot if you could rate it!***

Eleni and Krizia looking Hollywood before the French Lingerie Show!

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Photo by Click O Momento

These evening and wedding dresses are the latest collection by designer Vivienne Dacosta from Mocha Designs and the wedding hair styles are from Michelle at Atlanta Hair Designs!

You’ll be surprised by these designs because these dresses were created for women with curves who have loads of style and sophistication!

I hope you’ll enjoy the slide show as much as I enjoyed the fashion show!

You’ll find more details on the creative geniuses behind the fashion and hair styles here:
1) Vivienne Dacosta from Mocha Designs

2) Michelle at Atlanta Hair Designs

>>>> Here’s the video!

Photo by realSMILEY

It’s no secret that a lot of us will bypass the idea of buying new clothes because of the recession and we’ll do our best to recycle what we already have bought in past seasons. So many of us have already wardrobes packed and I’m sure there are a number of items that still have the price tags on them (by the way, if you’re not wearing it, sell it at consignment stores or on eBay for a little extra cash).

I think Donna Karan said it best when asked about how the financial situation will affect the world of fashion.

Karan said that women will be buying smarter more classic pieces and less frivolity. I’ve always adhered to that philosophy myself since my teenage years. I’ve never bought trendy items because I always felt that for the money, I’d rather buy something I’ll have for a while. That’s also how I can justify buying items that are a little pricier. There are items that I’ve had for years, but every time I pull them out, I have women asking where I bought them … to which I usually answer: “At this point in time, this item is classified as vintage, love”.

If you are going to do trendy, I say look at shops like H & M, Zara, Top Shop, TJ Maxx or Winners. Don’t forget affordable First Lady Michelle Obama’s favourite J. Crew.

>>>> Bazaar’s recommendations to using what you already have in your wardrobe:

1) Big earrings are back! If you have any kicking around at the bottom of your jewellery drawer/box, pull them out!

2) Street shorts: These were popular a few seasons ago to replace the Capri pants, so if you have them, you can surely pull them out. If you have a pair of white or black shorts, you can create a black/white look for the season by pairing them with the opposite colour top.

3) Nude shades are back: Not all nude shades are equal … some are more beige, some more yellow, some more greenish and some more pink. Make sure to choose the shade that looks best with your skin tone.

4) A pencil skirt is NEVER out of style: Well, that’s my fashion prescription! I believe you can never go wrong with a body-hugging skirt if you have the right figure. Certain figures look killer with an A-line skirt (instead of a pencil skirt) that evens out a broader shoulder. If you are slender, then you’ll be fine with a pencil skirt. If you are curvy or have broader shoulders, you might want to opt for a flare or an A-line skirt instead.

5) Big bold belts say BAM! That’s right, not only will a big bold belt make you look thinner because it focuses on the smallest part of your body, but when you go big and bold you make that belt a real fashion statement. If you decide not to update any clothing items from your wardrobe this year … you might want to add a big bold belt to update any clothing item!

6) Cardigans: I never leave without a cardigan because I’m always cold when the a/c (air conditioner is blasting during the summer months). This season, cardigans are featured as a fashion note rather than a practical one. I’m sure that most of us already have one or two cardigans in our wardrobes. If you’ve not been wearing them … now is the time to pull them out.

7) Trousers/pants are a staple: HURRAY! Any style of pants will work for spring 2009 so that means you can really pull out old styles. NOW, I need to warn my readers that anything that you’ve had from the 1980s should not be in consideration. When designers bring back older styles, they always add a modern twist and it shows.

#8) Classic handbags: No doubt that the sales of the $2,000 or $3,000 or even $4,000 handbag will hit hard times because fewer women will be willing to depart from all that money just for one accessory piece. Also, I strongly believe that most of us have enough designer handbags in our wardrobe that we can pull out. If you’ve bought expensive handbags in the past, but they’ve only been sitting pretty in your wardrobe because you’ve been accumulating them season after season … now is the time to pull them out instead of buying a new one. You might want to keep you fashion budget to buy something that you actually don’t have or that needs an update because they are worn out … like a classic pair of black trousers.

9) Boyfriend blazer: This is the longer blazer that falls below the bum. This has been out of style for a while now, but it’s coming back … so if you kept your older blazer, you might want to pull them out. Now, please make sure that the shoulder pads don’t scream early 90s. If they do, take them to a seamstress and have them replaced with more demure shoulder pads.

10) The classic white shirt is another staple: A white shirt is not only timeless, it’s also season-less. You can wear it anything, with anything for many different occasion. One word of caution, make sure your white shirt is always white and new. If you find that you have an older shirt that is looking stained or yellow, it’s time to buy a new one. White shirts rarely go on sale, but you can surely find them at many fashion discount.

Photo by Art Comments

>>>> Black/white keeps coming back!

When it comes to black/white, you’ll see a lot of polka dots and a lot of graphic prints. I don’t think I’ve ever warmed up to the idea of wearing polka dots and I doubt that I’ll start wearing that print now. That said, I do like some of the softer graphical prints that are coming out this season because they are less edgy than they were in the late 1980s when black/white was also very popular.

When it comes to the Queen of black/white you have to take a look at Chanel … because no one does black/white like she does.

>>>>Nude Shades are back!

Not all nude shades are equal … some are more beige, some more yellow, some more greenish and some more pink. Make sure to choose the shade that looks best with your skin tone. If you find that you don’t suit nude shades, you might want to incorporate that trend via a few accessories instead of clothing pieces.

>>>>Trousers/pants will be softer and less constructed

Any style of trousers/pants will do this season, but the runway has been showing softer fabrics and I quite like the movement in the pants that have been featured by designers like Armani, Etro, Blumarine and Nicole Miller.

I’ve found some fashion slide shows from New York Magazine!

These slide shows really give you a great insight on what’s in this season. Make sure to take a look at some of the ugliest fashion to walk the spring 2009 catwalks!

>>>>> 100 Most Fabulous Spring 2009 Looks

>>>>> Spring 2009 fashion I’d never be caught dead wearing – 100 Most Hideous Looks

>>>>> Spring 2009 looks by designer (you’ll be able to see the different trends from different designers on this page).

Photo by Art Comments

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This breaking news just arrived in my inbox one second ago about what Michelle Obama will wear today.

It seems the First Lady will go Latin with her design because she’s chosen to wear an outfit by Isabel Toledo at the swearing-in of her husband Barack Obama as the nation’s 44th president on Capitol Hill this morning.

Toledo is a Cuban-born designer who has worked under her own name for more than 20 years and briefly served as creative director for Anne Klein.

No word yet as to what the outfit will look like, but it surely will be stunning because this is a HUGE day for Michelle Obama and the entire Obama clan!!!

Michelle Obama has worn Isabel Toledo’s designs in the past during the presidential campaign.

Michelle Obama has something for Latin designers (especially those of Cuban heritage), as she seems to like Narciso Rodriguez a lot … so much so that she wore two outfits by Narciso’s to the pre-inaugural events on Sunday.

No one inside Michelle Obama’s office will reveal more details on the dress/outfit, but given this is a historic day and this dress will be photographed for every single magazine and newspaper cover around the world, there is no doubt it will be stunning.

Isabel Toledo MUST be quite excited because this kind of exposure can change her career and take her to the international forefront.

As I get more news today on what Michelle Obama will be wearing, I’ll pass it on to my readers.

In the meantime, you can take a look at the dresses that were submitted to Michelle Obama for the weekend festivities: What will First-Lady Michelle Obama wear at the inauguration of President Obama’s ceremony?

My verdict on Michelle Obama’s fashion choices for the inauguration:

I wrote the first part of this post before seeing the Isabel Toledo outfit. After seeing it from every different angle possible, I have to say that I’m a bit disappointed.

My opinion might not be unanimous, but I personally didn’t like either of Michelle Obama’s choices. The Isabel Toledo outfit in chartreuse (yellow-green) is a hard colour to wear by most people and the whole outfit looked quite matronly. I’d say it made her look 15 years older.

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The white gown designed by New York designer Jason Wu was very similar to what Nancy Regan wore on the night of President Ronald Regan’s inauguration in 1981. The style is not fresh or original and since Michelle Obama has dark skin she could have really chosen a bolder or brighter colour than off-white. Also, I could understand the one strap on Michelle Obama’s dress … it almost looked like an after thought.

Here’s Nancy Reagan’s 1981 evening inaugural gown (photo from the Smithsonian Institution)

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What about Jill Biden?

No one is talking about Dr. Jill Biden’s selections! I find Jill Biden’s red coat and high black boots during the day and her red gown designed by Reem Acra during the evening were quite flattering.

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In the end, I still believe that the selections I had picked for Michelle Obama in my original post were better, but January 20, 2009  was about history more than fashion so I will leave at that!

My original selections for Michelle Obama:

I still recommend the Diana Von Furstenberg dress yellow and white suit for the inauguration and the party dress would still be a toss between Monique L’Huillier’s divine dress gown and Michael Kors’ vision in vivid blue!

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All photos of the inauguration from Flickr.

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I’m a hard core fan of Bill Cunningham’s way of seeing New York City through the lens of his camera and I’m always amazed at how astute he is in his analysis of street fashion.

During the last economical meltdown back in 1930, women had adjusted their fashion sense to the harsh reality of the time.

I’m sure that Fall 2009 will be a mirror of the time and fashion will be a little more conservative (the international fashion shows will start at the end of February and I’ll be sure to share highlights with my readers). I’m almost tempted to say that during the 81^st Oscars presentation on February 22, 2009 (hosted by High Jackman), Hollywood female stars will be a lot less flashy in their selections because times are so tough and everyone is quite aware that many people around the world are finding themselves in a situation that has never been seen in recent history. I did watch the 66^th Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, January 11^th, 2009 and I did notice that the couture was a lot simpler. The lines were clean and the colours were either neutral (flesh and soft rose) or black. You had a few Hollywood stars show up in red like Eva Longoria-Parker, but for the most part, the fashion was not as over the top as it’s been in past years. I’d even go as far as say that even the jewellery was not as flashy and “in your face” as it’s been in the past and I’m sure that the Oscars will only confirm these first changes in the world of fashion.

Bill Cunningham’s slideshow is from September 2008 (so as things were starting to change, but it had not gotten to the critical situation it is now). Bill features trends from New York City and from Paris and you’ll notice that the styles are more somber and the length of the skirts and dresses are longer than they were a few seasons ago. Since women can now wear trousers in public (which was not the case in 1930), Bill Cunningham also highlights how more women are wearing them … but they are opting for styles that are pleated in the front. Pleats in the front of trousers have been out of fashion for a very long time now (I’d say since the late 90s in Italy and early 2000s in North America), so it’s interesting that they are making a comeback.

Here’s the slideshow I’ve been referring to:

Bill Cunningham’s Street Feature: The New Recession Style & Fashion

Here’s another slideshow from Bill Cunningham showing a fashionista recycling her vintage designer coats … since buying too many new clothing items has become so gauche.

Bill Cunningham’s Street Feature: Vintage Coats

Photo by Peter Duhon

The countdown has started and everyone is already buzzing about one of the most important fashion questions of the year:

What will Michelle Obama wear to the inauguration of her husband to the highest seat in American politics?

I’ve read many times over that Michelle doesn’t have a stylist, but I have a sneaky feeling that this is about to change if even for one day in her life.

All eyes (and I mean all eyes given how many foreign countries kept a close eye on the November 4, 2008 elections) will be on Michelle Obama and since the black and red Narciso Rodriguez’s Spring 2009 dress she wore back in November was not the biggest hit with the fashion critics, it will be interesting to see if she picks one of the many gowns that have been sketched out for her by some of the most talented designers.

Not long ago New York Times featured the submissions from some of the top fashion designers all fighting to dress First-Lady-to-be Michelle Obama.

Here are some of my 14 favourite picks for Michelle:

1) Monique L’Huillier’s smashing red gown: I have a love affair with Monique L’Huillier to the point where I’ve already decided that she would be my designer of choice if I were to get married again. This dress screams diva and I love the way the fabric flows. Since Michelle is quite tall, she can certainly get away with this dress.

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2) Carolina Herrera’s green off-the-shoulder gown: I’m not partial to green, but this dress is so glamorous and I really like the off-the-shoulder design.

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3) Karl Lagerfeld’s black gown: Karl is Chanel’s vision these days and this dress is quite reminiscent of something that Jackie O would have worn. The lines are crisp and clean. I quite like the detailing in the middle that looks like a strand of crystal.

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4) Christian Lacroix’s va va voom gown: Wow! This gown commands attention! I believe Christian has combined a purple gown with a red satin cape and the effect is arresting.

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5) Christian Lacroix’s purple vision: Wow again! Christian Lacroix has certainly outdone himself on this dress. I quite like it and the colour and style would look dazzling on Michelle Obama.

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6) Michael Kors vision in vivid blue: This off-the-shoulder blue gown is spectacular. I’m not 100 per cent certain, but it seems that the skirt has some kind of shimmery effect that would only make it even more stunning.

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7) Tracy Reese’s lavender gown: This colour would be a show-stopper on Michelle Obama. I quite like the fullness of the skirt. The detailing on the chest is very charming and if it has any shimmery effect what so ever it will bring so much light to Michelle’s face. I know that pockets in evening wear are quite fashionable and I usually frown upon such fashion detailing, but in this case, I have to say that Tracy Reese is right on the money with this dress.

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#8) Elie Tahari’s purple gown with bow: Elie Tahari is one of my favourite American designers. I really love his clean lines. This purple dress is very stylish. The glittered bow and the draping on the right side has a vintage flair to it and given Michelle Obama’s height, I’m certain she could wear this dress effortlessly.

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9) Kai Milla’s high waist gown: Kai Milla is a master at creating clean and elegant lines for the fashionable urbanite. She’s created an elegant and refined look with this sketch. The high waist black skirt will only elongate Michelle Obama and the embroidered top will add some glitz to the dress.

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10) Nicole Miller’s pink gown: A few years ago, I had worn a Nicole Miller gown to one of my first formal events and I felt like a movie star. This gown is stunning. The high waist will emphasize Michelle Obama’s long legs and the bow ads a touch of evening elegance without being over the top. The colour will stand out against Michelle Obama’s dark skin and it will also bring a lot of light to her face. I’m sure Michelle Obama would radiate in this gown.

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11) Reem Acra’s grey slate delicate gown: This could really work on Michelle Obama because again, this designer has put emphasis on Michelle’s stature and the high waist skirt on this gown will elongate the First Lady. The accents on the shoulders will bring the touch of formal dressing to this gown that makes it quite appropriate for the inauguration.

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12) Diana Von Furstenberg’s 60′s evening suit: This is stunning! It’s not as formal as the other selections on my list, but this suit rocks. It’s dressy enough to be worn during such an important event and the accent of the big diamond (or faux-diamond) brooch really works. The combination of yellow and white will look stunning on Michelle Obama.

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13) Christian Lacroix’s super-glammed up evening coat: This is the third creation from the French designer on my list! If Michelle Obama needs an evening coat … this is IT! The purple will stand out against her skin and the fur trimming at the colour and the wrists are so glamorous. I really love this coat a lot!

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14) Peter Som’s short white dress: Had this dress been long, it would look like a wedding gown, but the short sleek white dress designed by Peter Som really works. It’s dressy, but not formal and if the First Lady is looking for a shorter dress for the inauguration and a more formal gown for any party, this white-almost-vintage-dress would work perfectly.

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If I were Michelle Obama’s stylist, I would recommend the Diana Von Furstenberg evening suit for the inauguration and the party dress would be a toss between Monique L’Huillier’s divine dress gown and Michael Kors’ vision in vivid blue!

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Take a look at the other gowns designed for Michelle Obama that didn’t make my list of favourites:

You can view all of the gowns that have been sketched out for Michelle Obama here: Michelle Obama: What should she wear?

>>>> Which one of these 14 stunning dresses would you select for Michelle Obama? Leave your comments below!

Photo by mikebaird

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WOW! What a show! W-H-A-T A S-H-O-W!!!

I had planned on watching 10 minutes of it, but ended up watching the full hour that ended thirty minutes ago because it was hard to do anything else.

The lingerie was very couture and the models were beautiful.

It hurts me to admit this, but Heidi Klum (mother of three and Seal’s wife) looks absolutely incredible.

I think the lesson here for women over 35 is that sexy lingerie can make you feel super-sexy and I’m damn sure it can give you that boost of  confidence I saw those models bathing in tonight.

Here are some of my favourite Victoria Secret lingerie–

I love Selita Ebanks in this number … that’s my favourite:

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Here a few other favourites:

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Don’t forget to check my video on French lingerie:

Here’s a video featuring the Victoria Secret Fashion Show – Final Preparation

Korto’s dazzling collection was getting to be too much for one post, so I’m delivering more of her arresting fashion to my readers!

Once again, these photos are courtesy of ProjectRunway.com!

>>>> Don’t forget to read part 1 of this post: Korto’s (from Project Runway) final collection (part 1)

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What have I said about the colour green? I’m really starting to like it!

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I like the ruffles in the front

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I sooooooooo need to get myself a yellow/golden dress for next summer!

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This is extremely sexy

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The grand finale

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The end!

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All photos are from ProjectRunway.com

I’ve loved Korto’s style from the beginning. She has a sense of aesthetic that quite appealing to me.

Once again, I was able to score some exclusive photos for my readers and you’ll get to see Korto’s glorious final collection!

I hope you enjoy and soak in the beautiful fashion. Once again, these photos are courtesy of ProjectRunway.com!

There were so many photos that I had to cut this into two posts!

Don’t forget to check the dazzling styles in part two of this post.

Here’s the final collection of the talented designer!

In my opinion, this dress can stop traffic!

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I have one word: WOW!

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I hate the colour green with a passion, but I can tell you that I would wear this little number from Korto in a heart beat!

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Sleek and chic!

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Very flirty!!!

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>>>>> Don’t forget to read part 2:

Korto’s (from Project Runway) final collection! (part 2)

All photos are from ProjectRunway.com!

Once again, I was able to score some exclusive photos for my readers.

I hope you enjoy these photos courtesy of ProjectRunway.com!

Can you believe the colour of that skirt? I love it!!!

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Leanne flipped the previous look and it’s now the top that’s turquoise

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This is soooooooooo chic!

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This skirt is killing me because it’s so flirty and so feminine

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This design below is being auctioned on ProjectRunway.com … you can bid on it if you like it!

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White at it’s best!!!

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That’s quite the dress

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Leanne walking the Project Runway catwalk with her model

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All photos are from ProjectRunway.com

I must say that it pays to be a beauty contributor for both sites because I’m able to get access to really great videos that I can share with my readers!

***These segments won’t air on TV so I hope you’ll enjoy them … this is as exclusive as you get!***

There videos will feature Joe, Suede and Jerell’s collections presented at Bryant Park!!!

Jerell:

Joe (America ’s Next Top Model Contestant Naima walked for Joe!!!):

Suede:

Here’s an interview from SeenON! with winner of the fourth season of American reality show Project Runway, designer extraordinaire Christian Siriano:

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A few months ago, I was invited to a fall 2008 French lingerie evening to view the upcoming collections from some of the top French brands.

It’s so crucial to wear the right underwear because the reality is that the foundation to any wardrobe is your underwear. If you have larger breasts or if you had kids, it’s imperative that you get a bra fitting in order to wear the proper size bra that will not only give you support, but also ensure that your clothing falls as it should.

The same applies to your undergarments. Nothing can ruin a nice dress or a nice skirt faster than an undergarment that can be seen from 10 kilometres away or worse an undergarment that spends most of its time fitting in an uncomfortable position that forces you to constantly pull and tug at it.

Another reason why women should mind their underwear is because there is something quite sensual about nice feminine lingerie that brings out the vixen in all of us and the truth is that sexy underwear will boost our confidence and make us feel good about ourselves … even if no one else will see them. Any time you boost your “feel good” hormones, you are adding years to your life!

The French have always given underwear the place it deserves and have always made it as important as anything else you put on in the morning.

A mistake so many women make is to hold on to old underwear for far too long because they are “comfortable” and they cease to understand why clothing doesn’t look good when they try it on. The equation is quite simple = underwear can make or break anything you wear.

Another huge mistake is to keep “sexy” underwear for “special” occasions … life IS a special occasion and I think it’s a crime to walk around during the week in dated and loose underwear when you could be walking around in something that makes you feel incredibly attractive.

Take a lesson from the fashion pages of French women and buy something pretty for the week.

I’ve created a quick video showing you the latest trends from France in the world of lingerie.

You’ll notice that sexy lingerie is not only black and just like in the world of fashion, French lingerie designers are using colour to add a bit of vibrancy and fun to our underwear drawer.

The French Lingerie Fall 2008 fashion show featured the following brands:  Aubade Paris, Barbara Paris, Chantelle Paris (which has recruited Stephanie Seymour as their new face), Lise Charmel, Elixir de lingerie, Empreinte, Gerbe, Huit Lingerie, Simone Perele, Passionata, Rosy and Legaby.

These are brands that can easily be found today in either high end department stores of small lingerie boutiques across Canada and the U.S..

If you’ve always shied away from buying nice and maybe a little more expensive underwear, I hope this video will inspire you to change your ways:

I’m enlisting your participation this week to help dress Style Correspondent Joslyn Davis for New York Fashion Week. Joslyn has her eye on three totally different über sexy designs by Project Runway designer Rami Kashou. Canadian readers should know that Season 5 of Project Runway might have only started last week (Monday, September 1^st, 2008) on Slice TV, but it’s already in its 9^th week in the US (which started on Wednesday, July 16, 2008).

Designer Rami Kashou has a distinctive sense of style than he describes as: “My personal style is a combination between dressy and casual. I like being comfortable in tailored clothes that can be worn to different occasions. I prefer to mix vintage with new as well as wear my own creations. There is nothing better than clothes that fit well from hip slacks to a well fitting shirt. ” It’s no wonder Joslyn is having such a hard time picking her favourite Rami design!

I’ve already placed my vote for my favourite Rami design for New York Fashion Week and you should also. It will take you just about two seconds to do and you get to look at great designs!

Also, when you vote you get to see the winning look on Joslyn and Project Runway’s exclusive behind-the-scenes video of the shows and cast interviews!

Cast your vote below: Rami Kashou design

You might also want to check out this video: