20 Little Ways to Look Sexy This Season

By Christine Lennon

• The Ways to Look Sexy

Photo by Ralf Nau/Digital Vision/Thinkstock

Amp up your holiday hot factor with these crazy-simple fashion and beauty tweaks.

Flash Some Color

"Pair your everyday neutral shadow with a brightly colored metallic liner. For example, use a rich green liner with taupe shadow, or aqua liner with bronze shadow. The key is to keep the line very thin and close to the lashes along your top lash line so that it's just a hint of color," says WH beauty director Molly Nover-Baker. Try Sephora Flashy Liner Waterproof in 08 Flashy Blue, 04 Flashy Green, and 12 Flashy Ultra Green, $8, sephora.com.

 

 

Wear a "Sex Kitten" Sweater

"A fuzzy angora sweater just makes men want to reach out and touch you," says WH contributing accessories editor Jennifer Yoo. WDNY, $78, 212-395-9309 for stores

 

Expose Your Shoulders

"I love wearing a boatneck top to show off my shoulders," says WH senior fashion editor Thea Palad. "It's one body part that you can always count on to look good."

Show Some Skin...but in Unexpected Places

Slim-fitting cropped pants are everywhere this season. They're a timeless, body-loving basic, and they shine the spotlight on an underrated erogenous zone. "A glimpse of ankle peeking out of cropped cigarette pants can be so sexy," says Liza Collis, WH fashion market editor. Reiss 1971 jeans, $175, reissonline.com.

 

Make a Lotta Noise

Stacking on thin gold bracelets can take an outfit from day to night in an instant. "There's nothing practical about having a pile of bracelets on your arm," says designer Rachel Pally. "You're not going to be sitting at your desk checking your e-mail while wearing those!" The flash ofgold and the jangly sound are a little exotic, "and they make me feel sexy," adds Pally. Try Amrita Singh bangles, $60 for a set of 24, banglebangle.com.

 

Let Loose

Most guys aren't down with updos. "So try an undone bun—it's so easy and sexy," says Johnny Lavoy, owner of Moda-Rey Salon & Spain Connecticut. "Spray your hair with a little lightweight hair spray,such as Elnett. Finger comb it into a high ponytail, then twist the ponytail into a loose, messy bun and secure with large hairpins. Finish with another quick blast of hair spray. Add a cute headband for instant glamour."

 

Go for Long, Flowing Silhouettes

"I'm always hearing from women who say that their boyfriends or husbands like them best in looser, flowing clothing items—a womanly, sensual shape that skims along the body and doesn't constrict," says Gaby Basora, designer of Tucker. "Right now, longer skirts and long drapey dresses feel really sexy."

Blush Like You Were a Naughty Girl

"Flushed, glowing cheeks are always alluring. It looks like what happens after...well, you know," says celebrity makeup artist Pati Dubroff. "Apply blush onto the apples of your cheeks and blend it to soften the edges." Try Tarte Natural Cheek Stain TEN ($30, sephora.com), a creamy stain that looks perfectly postdeed pink on every skin tone.

Layer It On

Red lips are sexy—no surprise there. But you can make them more modern by applying a hot pink shade over the red. "Start with a deep matte red," says April Greaves, a makeup artist in New York. "Blot, and then use a lip brush to paint on a layer of bright hot-pink lipstick." Try Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella, $24, narscosmetics.com, and Milani Lip Flash in In A Flash, $6.50, at CVS.

Get Deep

"Any nail hue that makes you look dead or goth (such as black orgray) is so unsexy. Instead, go for a super-dark shade that has some color, like a deep plum or inky purple. And keep your nails short and well-manicured—chips are not hot," says Nover-Baker. Try OPI Nail Lacquer in William Tell Me About OPI, $8.50, opi.com for salons, or Sonia Kashuk Nail Colour in Stop Whining, $5, target.com.

Emphasize Your Core Assets

"Wear a corset with your favorite boyfriend jeans. It's sexy butnot vulgar," says Kate Moodie, WH fashion director. ASOS corset, $61, asos.com; Current/Elliott jeans, $198, revolveclothing.com.

Scent Your Strands

"Spritz one squirt of your favorite fragrance (Very Hollywood Michael Kors Sparkling Eau de Toilette, $40, sephora.com, is an especially sexy option) on your hair. Whenever someone comes in for a hug or kiss, they'll get a whiff of your sexy scent," says Alexis Farah, WH associate beauty editor.

Let Your Necklace Dangle Dangerously

"I'm obsessed with long, slinky lariats like this metal one from Flying Lizard Design ($55, vionnetboutique.com)," says Palad."Knot it up, leave it open, or just play with it. It'll draw the eye right to your decolletage," she says.

Do Some Legwork

"If statement jewelry isn't your thing, try jeweled tights," says Yoo, who loves sparkly yet sophisticated tights that catch the light when you move. "It's an unexpected way to wear bling." Check out hue.com for styles.

Shop His Closet

"Menswear-inspired clothes on a woman can be very sexy. There's something about the gender play that's irresistible," says Pally. "Ilike to pair a solid men's oxford shirt—top few buttons undone— with a patterned or beaded mini and great heels." The Limited top, $59.90, thelimited.com; Victoria's Secret Catalogue skirt, $79.50, victoriassecret.com.

Go Glam

"My clients always say their husbands or partners like simple looks the best," says stylist Karyn Starr. Wearing a bold, jeweled costume necklace over a tee fits the bill—it's effortless but still chic. Try Jessica Simpson Collection necklaces, $55 each, jessicasimpsoncollection.com.

Lace Up

"Lace never seems to get old, it just gets hotter than ever," says Eddie Schachnow, a stylist in Los Angeles. Look for it everywhere this season, from booties to demure dresses.

Make Your Skin Shimmer

"I love when my skin has a sexy glow to it, so I mix up my own blush concoction. Using a fluffy blush brush, I blend an apricot powder blush with a peach shimmer highlighter, and then swirl the two colors together over my cheeks, nose, forehead, and clavicle," says Nover-Baker. Try Origins Brush-On Color in Coral Reef, $18.50, origins.com, and Philosophy Amazing Grace Shimmering Face Powder, $29.50, philosophy.com.

Don't Shy Away from See-Through

A sheer blouse is so hot. "Wear it over a camisole and pair with anything from jeans to a pencil skirt," says Collis. "The glimpse of skin is sexy, but the ladylike silhouette keeps it classic."

Get Your Glow On

"I love Lucy B's Frangipani Bronzing Shimmer Oil ($45, lucybcosmetics.com)," says Greaves. "Smooth it on bare legs to make skin glow. It isn't too shimmery or fake looking."
 Xoxo
D Lander