THERE IS no doubt about it, the corset is firmly back in fashion; from couture catwalks to High Street shops, this season's look in dresses, suits and evening wear is a nipped-in waist with bosom and hips proudly on display. And for those not blessed with a natural hour glass silhouette, the quickest way to get that look is to suck in and lace up.

Maybe it's a reaction against years of androgynous skimpy underwear, but now we are buying lingerie which really does something for our figures and emphasises our femininity. Let's face it, singlets and briefs might be practical, but they are not very sexy; and with a corset, even the flattest chested can enjoy instant curves.

The 21st century corsetted woman may feel in control of her 19th century style figure and sexuality, in a way her Victorian counterparts never could, but watch out - you may be sending a stronger message than you realise.

Some scientists now believe that the most powerful human sexual trigger is the female waist. In experiments in the USA, men rated as most attractive (sexually and for childbearing) women of average weight with curves, which meant waists 24 to 28 inches with 36 inch hips or waists 27 to 31 inches with 40 inch hips.

Interestingly, this ratio is now recognised as a key indicator of health and is also linked to fertility, as oestrogen, the female sex hormone, concentrates fat on buttocks, while testosterone, the male hormone, builds fat around waist.

So by wearing a garment which emphasises your waist you are actually sending men a powerful subconscious message which says, "I'm young, female, healthy, and ready to mate with you and have your baby." So use it carefully!

Lingerie supply Sexy Lingerie and Underwear online from the UK