In my travels and discussions with male friends, I’ve noticed that many of the special cares that women take to be pretty go unnoticed by men. I was happy to find out a few things and was perplexed by others.

What left me shocked was the lack of care for finger nails. We spend hours caring for them but men only notice when they are gnawed or the polish is flaking. Unlike toenails, which for many are the first to be noticed. I would really like to know why you don’t like red polish on toenails. All men love lace, French, and sand tones; but red is not a winner. That’s when nails are noticed.

Women love the look of gladiator sandals, in both flats and heels. But I noticed that  men don’t like this style. If you don’t remember, these are sandals with various wraps around the foot and ankles (remember Russell Crowe in the Gladiator). The favorites are always those with thick straps, at most one around the toes and another at the ankles, party style, with sequins and delicate buckles. Boots are fetishes, especially when they are tall and shiny. Or is there a man who likes Peter Pan style boots with no heels and lots of straps? I never met one who did. Meanwhile, cowboy boots are very strongly proven sex symbols!

Women who think that a formal meeting, like dinner and talk can have zero danger are wrong. If they decide to use chocolate colored lingerie, for example, they can create resistance in those men who hate this color which became a symbol for a panty with no added fun. But if nothing is going to happen, why is this important? Because if she walks up the steps in front of you, or bends down and lets a bit of panty appear, it can be the death or birth of great hope! In terms of color, some men like white, others red. Yet some find red vulgar. And some think that sexy panties are for girls who don’t behave.  A little dental floss can really rattle a man.

Perhaps, if the combo of the century, jeans and a tank top, was a uniform for women, clothes in store windows wouldn’t be so looked down on. Is there a man who likes satin laces around the neck and long gowns that look like something that a little girl would wear? The lady  look is definitely only appreciated by the few  - those who think that the girl walked off the cover of Vogue - and not the special edition with the world’s 100 most sensual women. A little black dress on the other hand does cause a stir on the entrance line to a party, and no one will notice that it was used last week as well – disguised with colored clothes. So, after all, why are clothes so important?

Black lace pantyhose and a garter, OK, they are the approved favorites. But can you tell when a woman is using skin-toned stockings. It’s not so obvious? I ask because every time that we say we are not using stockings you are shocked, and this is an educated way to say: it’s good that you aren’t using skin-colored stockings because they’re horrible. Yet, stockings have long been symbols of sensuality, so much so that in times of economic crisis, women painted stocking marks on their legs to appear more attractive. I guess fine golden leg hairs must be more attractive than those fine stockings.

Now let’s admit it: do eyeglasses on normal women have the same effect as those used by those who ooze sensuality? No one is saying that eyeglasses are ugly; we are only admitting that they leave a pretty woman even sexier, if her hair is a bit uncombed, in a loose bun and combined with a well-cut sweater. So why is every image of a fantasy school teacher, school girl, secretary or executive biting eyeglasses with sultry lips? All men melt when they see their beautiful girlfriends with their hair wrapped back with a pencil and beautiful eyeglasses. It’s a fact!

Flowers in the hair? Flowers circulate through the feminine universe and rise and fall in popularity. At times they seem Spanish, at others Gypsy, or a bit Mexican and “caliente” or even like a hot peasant. Are flowers attractive or a turn-off? Is that flower in the hair pulled to the side something that men like in a Salma Hayek film or can it be discarded? Are they feminine or thematic, are they just for costume parties? What a tough question.

If I forgot something let me know. It’s great to know the secrets that help us shorten the marathon that we women undertake to be impeccable for our loved ones, even more so when some things could be cut from this detailed ritual  that leaves us looking like we are ready for anything. It’s not true.