Smooth skin is another interesting factor to consider with skin and sex appeal. Traditionally, men and women have appreciated the difference between their skin textures. Women’s skin is smoother and much less hairy than men’s. Vive la difference! Running hands over exposed skin is an early signal of liking. Feeling the smooth skin or the hairy skin is a socially acceptable step in the direction of seduction. Smooth skin feels softest to the touch. Men love women’s smooth silky skin. Many women enjoy stroking a man’s hand, beard or face and appreciating the mix of hairs and smooth skin, strength and softness.

A current fad is the shaved head on men. What does it say at a subconscious level? It is blatantly sexual, phallic, confident and aggressive. There seem to be three groups of men engaging in this historically unusual behaviour only made possible by the advent of the electric shaver:

• Those who are losing their hair and see total baldness as an easier road. These men are aged from the late 20s through to 50s. It takes confidence to handle the attention and remarks directed towards their newly naked head.

• Young, aggressive sportsmen who are not necessarily losing their hair but are members of a team wishing to instil fear in the opposition. This tactic may work well since the shaved head is an unashamedly confident ‘in your face’ gesture.

• Young men who want to look confident, be free of society’s traditional values, who desire to conform to a rebellious society and so opt for the easy care and inexpensive, or macho, look. The result is the shortest haircut imaginable with a soft fuzzy feel to it as it grows out. The message is aggression and raw energy.

Is the shaved head sexy? To some women yes, to others, no. It is certainly touchable and these men must have lots of appreciative hands run over their head. Touching a head, as we have seen, is one sign of intimacy. The positive aspect of having a shaved head is that it takes courage. The negative? It takes a hat or beanie in winter to keep warm.

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Purple and violet are powerful colours which people seem to either love or hate. It would be difficult even for the most ardent fans to live in a house full of purple and violet. To many they are spiritually uplifting colours, while to others they are depressing. Deep purple should be used sparingly by anyone prone to depression since it can inhibit the emotions in susceptible people.

Those who have chosen colours from the purple and violet spectrum, including mauve, lavender and lilac, have an imaginative bedroom where dreams and fantasy reign. You are a creative person who likes to be considered different and individual. You are also poised, refined and dignified with a set of strong values with which you are comfortable, even though they may be unconventional. Perhaps you are inclined to live in a fantasy world to hide the uglier side of the real world. Those with a penchant for purple and for the lighter tints of the purple family are often sensitive and intuitive. This can sometimes lead to moodiness if you spend too much time in your bedroom alone. You need to be treated with love and dignity in your intimate life as you continually yearn for emotional security.

So if you are partial to purple, lilac, mauve or pale violet are certainly better choices than bright purple or dark violet for a bedroom. They are softer and more romantic. Purple itself needs another colour with it, such as white or cream, or a soft green to

keep it emotionally balanced. It is better for you to use in small amounts as an accent rather than decorating an entire bedroom with purple, unless you absolutely adore it and don’t share your bedroom with anyone else.

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How does this type of decorating reflect the personality of the Town and Country man and woman? Natural finishes for me, they say. No polyester or plastic – let me be in touch with nature. Let me reflect on the lives of the early pioneers and their simple, functional and recycled furnishings. I can adapt all that to my city lifestyle. I can do a little creating of my own by, for example, rubbing back a table, or sifting through the discarded and pre-loved furniture in the many wonderful antique or old wares shops.

The out-and-out Town and Country person loves touching the textures. They run their hands over old furniture or fabrics and love the tactile sensation. And they wear textures themselves with style. No plain smooth fabrics – they are into comfort and easy style with textured cotton, linen, wool, silk.

When recognizing a Town and Country person away from their home environment, notice the height (often taller than average), the build (angular rather than curved) and the angles in the face. These tell you that comfort in clothing and shoes is very important to them. The overall impression is friendly and approachable. They laugh a lot. Sarah, the Duchess of York, Robert Redford and Clint Eastwood are good examples of Town and Country types.

With this understanding of the pure Town and Country man and woman, you can begin to identify the personality that flows so easily with their decorating style. It is friendly, welcoming, unpretentious, take me as you find me, and enjoy the bounty of nature. Here is a person who wants to feel comfortable and shows it.

In bed? Lots of pillows please because that’s generous and if they are feathered pillows, they are so comfortable. What about sex? Yes please. That is so natural, but it must be sensual and involve touching and more touching and appreciating the lovely smell of the fresh sheets, and the yummy natural smell of you.

Key words: cosy, casual, homely, comfortable, textured and natural country style.

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There are three basic types of Fantasy style:

1. The ethereal fairytale style of the past has lots of white and light pastel colours, in particular pale mauve, pink and blue.

Fabrics are sheer and voluminous and draped everywhere. Decorative elements include fairies, cherubs, dragons, stars, moons and clouds, all in excess. This bedroom becomes a world within a world, indicative of either the immature adult seeking to find the little girl in herself, or a highly imaginative person trying to escape from the ugliness of the real world.

2. The futuristic style of the idealistic space traveller is a more stylised decorating style, with elements relating to outer space such as robots and space ships or futuristic planes. It is the world of Star Wars. All elements to this design have streamlined, clean and clinical lines with much silver or chrome, grey and white used. Sometimes touches of red, black or yellow are also evident. Again, this is a person, usually male, trying to escape from their present reality, this time into a world of the future.

3. The impossible ideal style is the world of Hollywood movie stars, of famous entertainers and of wealth and fame. The person who has this style of bedroom imagines that the world of everyone else is much better than his or her own and that money and fame solve all problems. Of course they only see the romantic side of this other style of living and this is what they try to create in their intimate life. The interest in the lives of celebrities, whether living or dead, by the fantasy seeker is totally obsessive and unrealistic, and that is how they live their lives. To most of us, this is immature and unimaginable behaviour – we don’t understand or want to understand for that matter. It may be interpreted by many as too cult-like.

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Flair, style, unusual colour combinations and creative fabric are the elements which set the Creatives apart from the rest. These are the non-conformists among us. They tend to mix a little of everything to create their own individual style. Fabrics with patterns, fabrics with fringes and tassels, scarves and sarongs are basic decorating items to a Creative. Often they will decorate their homes with their own quirky and unusual art pieces, and they may even screen print their own fabrics to use in their homes and clothing. Admire their artwork, and ask them to explain it to you. They will love it.

Unusual restaurants are the norm for them, nothing classic and ordinary. Cult restaurants with eclectic colourful decor may well appeal. Unusual food combinations presented in a casual, relaxed style will seduce them. This doesn’t mean they don’t like traditional family cooking, they just like to experience different cuisine when they go out. If entertaining at home they may decorate the table with a mixture of odd cutlery, crockery and serviettes with many different shapes and colours. Table centrepieces may be created by combining unrelated items from their stock of odd collectibles. Unusual candles will nearly always be a feature. The food they serve may be non-traditional, or it may be traditional style with combinations you would not normally think to put together.

With seduction, think unique, different, unusual, new. Combine different elements. Be spontaneous. The more variety the better. Surprise them with your ingenuity.

Creatives don’t like habitual rituals. In the bedroom, ensure the bed looks comfortable and inviting. Ruffle the cover a little, throw a piece of fabric or a scarf over the lamps to mute the light and send colour throughout the room. Or use coloured light globes to throw a sensual glow throughout the room. Be aware of the different and unusual atmosphere you are creating.

The female Creative is the free spirit who often shocks the traditional Classics and Practicals. Be innovative when seducing her. Think of feathers and other titillating tools. Change your seduction style each time and vary the body positions. Surprise her, don’t bore her.

The Creative man loves spontaneity. Send him intriguing notes, seduce him with the unusual. Variety is the spice of life for him. As long as you do it with a sense of flair, anything goes. Don’t be shy with him. Drape yourself in seductive fabric. Let his imagination whirl.

Good news: unique, quirky, has colourful flair.

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