Weaned on the Sex and the City franchise, a generation of women is infatuated with the swanky meals, stunning clothes and sassy personalities of Carrie Bradshaw and her trio of girlfriends. Often, though, the everyday woman has neither the time nor the money to support a lifestyle that even remotely resembles the ones these idealized women enjoy. But, experts say, there are steps every woman can take to embrace her inner sexiness.

Make Time For Routine Maintenance

Spending just minutes a day washing your face, putting on jewelry or applying makeup can pay off, because those simple actions create a self-assured attitude that lasts throughout the day. "It boosts the confidence that gives that particular woman what she needs to face the day and look at people square in the eye to feel good," says Lisa Clinkscale Porter, the author of Every Woman's Guide To Looking And Feeling Sexy From Head To Toe.

Flaunt Clothes That Fit And Flatter

Forget showing miles of cleavage, which only makes a woman look like she's trying too hard. Instead, opt for a well-fitted suit and a pair of not-too-high heels that offer a boost to a woman's confidence even more than to her stature. "Throw away all of those robot-type suits that look like they came from Daddy," says image consultant Sandy Dumont. "Show off a woman's hourglass silhouette."

Bond With Your Girlfriends

Because they're not insecure, sexy women embrace their relationships with other women. That is, to a reasonable extent, they emulate Carrie and the girls. Can't have brunch at Balthazar? Invite over some girlfriends, open a bottle of cheap wine and simply relax at home. No pretense allowed. "Enjoy sisterhood, which is not competitive," says life coach Allana Pratt, who specializes in helping moms feel sexy. "Encourage each other to shine."

Turn Flaws Into Assets

In her appropriately titled book How To Be Sexy, Carmen Electra writes that people who try to be perfect are too phony to be truly attractive. Within reason, flaws like crooning off-key in karaoke can be endearing and, moreover, pretty darn sexy. "Most people will relate to you if you're human, and human is not perfect," Electra writes. "You're a klutz? I think that's cute. You're the world's worst cook? So what? That's what take-out is for."

Mix-And-Match Style

There's no need for the average woman to go broke on a brand-name wardrobe. Instead, she can mix a few more expensive pieces with items culled from places like H&M, outlet malls and vintage boutiques. "Seeing somebody top to toe in a label just shows a lack of imagination. It's a little bit sexier to have a creative twist," says Joyce Corrigan, senior editor at large at Marie Claire. "It's all about an individual twist."

Flash A Warm Smile

Confidence isn't off-putting or intimidating as long as it's paired with a genuine grin. "You can still be inviting in that way, by your body language," says Lisa Clinkscale Porter, author of Every Woman's Guide To Looking And Feeling Sexy From Head To Toe.

Dance Like No One Is Watching

Dancing, according to life coach Allana Pratt, is one of the best ways to loosen inhibitions, release tension and surrender to something out of our control. "A sexy woman is at peace with exactly who she is and how life is. She's not resisting everything," Pratt says. "Real sexiness does not require approval from the outside."

Appear Put-Together

Porter, author of Every Woman's Guide To Looking And Feeling Sexy From Head To Toe, has observed women who dress simply and neatly--sans makeup--walk as if they are wearing $1,000 shoes. "It has nothing to do with the size of their bank accounts," she says. "It's the way that they maintain themselves and carry themselves."

Seek A Style That's Understated

Revealing necklines, tight dresses and short skirts are relics of a bygone age. Today's woman seeks outfits that are less obvious. "Dare I say it, there's even a ladylikeness to some of the sexiest clothes. They're softly draped and they're in demure colors. They're not micro-minis," says Marie Claire's Corrigan. "The best-kept secret of any of those extreme heels is that they are really for fun, and always pack a pair of flats with you."

Keep A Twinkle In Your Eye

While it might be hard for a single cornea to express that a woman is equal parts cunning and earnest and playful, it can--and should--be done. "Look engaged," says image consultant Dumont. "If your eyes twinkle, that makes you seem charismatic."

Make It Seem Effortless

No matter how much they primp and prepare, women should try to make their outward appearance and demeanor seem easy and natural. "There is something about today's sexy woman," says Marie Claire's Corrigan. "She doesn't look as if she's trying too hard. She's not in-your-face sexuality, with things cut up to there and down to there, with sparkles and spangles and spiked heels."

Flaunt Your Independence

The trait Sarah Jessica Parker values above all others is her independence. In an interview with Forbes.com's Camilla Webster, Parker said she was honored to put her name on a line of inexpensive clothing at the department store Steve and Barry's. "None of my decisions have been mercenary," Parker said. "I hope that I've shown that to my child, and being able to support myself and being independent has always been very important to me."

How tough times can lead to increased physical intimacy and greater communication.

The economic crisis has a huge upside: an opportunity to improve your relationship.

Layoffs, furloughs and shrinking 401(k)s may not seem like natural aphrodisiacs, but according to experts in relationships and sex, the depressed financial picture is leading some couples--and singles--to better appreciate each other.

"The recession brings with it a re-evaluation of what's important in life," says Manhattan psychoanalyst Amy Joelson.

It's too early for empirical studies evaluating the effect of the recession on the sex lives of Americans, notes Chicago psychiatrist Paul Dobranksy, author of The Secret Psychology of How We Fall In Love. He says it takes years to compile a meaningful picture of how the downturn has changed the intimate lives of Americans. "See me in five years," he says.

But anecdotal information exists. While many of Joelson's patients, for example, have expressed anxiety about spending money on frivolous items, they still feel good about engaging in physical intimacy. "People wrestle with guilt about indulging in all kinds of pleasures, like going shopping or eating at expensive restaurants; that's seen as politically incorrect," she says. "But you don't need a 401(k) to have sex."

Physical intimacy is also a great way to relieve anxiety, tension and stress, points out Wayne, N.J., psychologist and dating coach Victoria Zdrok, author of Anatomy of Pleasure: The Head to Toe Guide to Better Sex. "People are turning to sex to boost their endorphin levels," observes Zdrok. Tightening budgets means more time at home, says Zdrok. "That allows people more one-on-one time and more intimacy," she says, "which leads to more sex."

Because of all the bad news about plunging markets and escalating unemployment, says Zdrok, some couples may be turning off the television and turning to one another. "It's been shown that people who watch more TV have less sex," she notes. "In one Italian study, when television was removed from the bedroom, couples' sex lives improved."

Another upside of the down economy: With many Americans out of work or on furlough, people have more time to exercise.

"Exercise is one of the ways people deal with stress and anxiety," notes New York City relationship counselor Ian Kerner, author of Sex Recharge: A Rejuvenation Plan for Couples and Singles. "Exercise is also a great libido-booster and a great part of sexual health," adds Kerner. "Exercise increases blood flow and predisposes you to sexual arousal."

Layoffs and furloughs can also shake up the daily grind and introduce the concept of novelty, which can spur spontaneous sex. "Whenever you introduce novelty, it stimulates dopamine transmission in the brain," notes Kerner. "I advise couples to use the recession to break out of routines."

Experts agree that tough economic times can motivate couples, as well as singles, to turn to simple pleasures. For singles, that can mean greater use of dating Web sites followed by low-key in-person meetings that can lead to more intimate conversations and deeper relationships.

"To go out there and use the more traditional method of a night on the town--that's too costly," points out Manhattan psychotherapist and advice columnist Jonathan Alpert.

Couples, likewise, can forgo lavish vacations or dinners in upscale restaurants in favor of affordable pastimes that stimulate bonding, like cooking dinner at home, renting a movie, cuddling on the couch or taking a walk in the park and talking. "All of these activities," says Alpert, "encourage an intimacy and a closeness that improves the quality of a couple's sex life."

Dobranksy agrees. "Anybody who loses a job is going to take a hit to his dignity," he says. "That presents a couple with an opportunity to rediscover the non-material values in life, which are certainly the stuff of love and romance."

Meantime, notes psychoanalyst Joelson, couples should stay focused on the value of an active sex life. "Sex is a great expression of intimacy in a relationship," says Joelson. "It's a really optimistic thing, to have sex; there is hope built into the belief that together, you can create something better."

by Susan Adams

Nobody --not even Kelly Ripa--is cheerful all the time. If you can't shake the blues, here's what you need to know.

Depression disproportionately affects women. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, women experience double the rate of clinical or "major" depression--depression that isn't a temporary state caused by life events such as a death or divorce--than men do.

An estimated 12 million women a year experience it, and one in eight women in their lifetime will suffer from it. Notably, many experts put that number closer to one in four.

Why are women at such a high risk? "There's no one trigger, but we believe hormones can play a role, as can genetic predisposition," says Roselyn Watkins, Ph.D., supervising psychologist at Friends Hospital in Philadelphia. Watkins notes that societal expectations have an impact as well.

"Women are expected to be perfect wives, great moms and flawless workers, and to appear young and beautiful at all times too. That pressure can contribute to depression."

One landmark study from the 1970s found that nearly half of women physicians and 73% of women Ph.Ds had experienced depression, while another 1999 study of female physicians conducted by Emory University in Atlanta found that some 20% were depressed.

A 2007 study from British researchers found that workers (male or female) with high levels of job stress are twice as likely to develop depression as those with low levels of career-related stress.

But those figures don't only reflect the professional and highly educated. More women, including women of color, are likely to work second or third shifts, head single-parent households and have sub-prime mortgages.

They might feel guilty about their depression or simply not have time for it and push the blues to the mental back burner.

Even in an age where sexual dysfunction and menstrual cycles are all brunch fodder, depression unfortunately remains a taboo topic--which may explain why surveys show that fewer than half of women who experience depression seek help.

That shouldn't be the case, insists Charles Conway, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "I tell patients to think of depression as a stress reaction.

It is not a weakness in character or a defect; it's simply a [physical response]." He adds, "You should absolutely not avoid getting help because of a stigma surrounding depression.

There are so many treatments that are proven effective and very safe. [Plus] quite a few studies now suggest that it's dangerous for your brain to be in that state."

Comment On This StoryIn fact, untreated depression can be devastating. A recent Finnish study reveals that depressed people are twice as likely to develop metabolic syndrome, a condition that can lead to heart disease and diabetes--which may help explain why depression also increases the risk of both conditions.

Research shows that women who are depressed are more likely to have eating disorders or to gain weight.

Of course, depression can also cause relationship rifts, hurt your performance at work and sap your libido--all of which can make your blues even worse.

If you're feeling depressed, the last thing you should do is wait it out in the hopes that you'll suddenly feel better.

"It's dangerous to pretend it isn't a big deal, especially if you've been feeling blue for more than two weeks," says Stacey Rosenfeld, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in private practice in New York City who is also a staff psychologist at Columbia University Medical Center.

Notably, depression isn't just about sadness, and in fact many symptoms, such as feelings of irritation and frustration, are overlooked.

Other oft-ignored signs include sleeping and eating more or less than usual, avoiding being around others, diminished or nonexistent sex drive and reoccurring thoughts of suicide.

''If you can't feel good, and the things that you used to do to make yourself feel better or that brightened your mood, like going out for a walk or seeing a friend, don't do the trick anymore, see a therapist or your doctor," urges Watkins.

Studies suggest that more than half of women who undergo treatment, and stick with it, will get significant relief.

Talk therapy, a.k.a. psychotherapy, is still considered a gold standard of depression treatment and is especially helpful for milder forms of depression; it even appears to help reduce the incidence of further depressive episodes.

Women with major depression should consider talking to their doctor or psychiatrist about antidepressants, either alone or in conjunction with psychotherapy.

"Studies show that a combination of antidepressants and talk therapy is especially effective for treating moderate to severe depression, and in a perfect world, every patient would have access to both," says Dr. Conway.

And although this advice extends to all women, if you're depressed, it's especially important to take care of yourself. "Stay active and exercise as much as you can, and get adequate sleep," recommends Rosenfeld.

"Seek social support and find people who make you feel good." She also strongly advises delegating. "Don't try to be superwoman; it's not a failure to say, 'I can't do this.' Take on what you can, and let the rest go."

by Camille Noe Pagan

Move over CEO, there's a new job in town.

Women are flocking to the labor force in record numbers. Nearly 60% sought or occupied employment in 2008, the latest year for which statistics are available, representing 46.5% of the total U.S. labor force.

More than one-third of these women worked in management, professional and related occupations, accounting for 51% of all workers in this top-paying sector.

Though a pay gap persists--women's earnings remain stalled at around 80% of men's--women are finding the jobs that pay them the most, and some may surprise you.

Based on a U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau 2008 analysis, we ranked women's median weekly earnings as full-time wage and salary workers to uncover the highest-paying jobs for women.

An unlikely No. 1 emerged. Much to our surprise, pharmacy topped the list, where women pharmacists earn a median wage of $1,647 per week or about $86,000 a year.

Women currently account for slightly less than half of all pharmacists in the U.S. and earn about 85% as much as their male colleagues.

It's a much smaller pay gap than that of medical doctors, however, where women make 59% as much as men. And pharmacy requires less education.

Women physicians and surgeons came in far behind pharmacists at No. 6 on the list, earning a median of $1,230 per week. Dr. Drucilla Barker, economist and director of women's and gender studies at the University of South Carolina, explains this by the wide distribution of salaries in the medical profession.



Women often go into family practice or other lower-paying specialties, she says, rather than work the 80-hour-plus weeks of surgeons.

In jobs like pharmacy and speech pathology there is a clear and narrow salary range, and women are more likely to have manageable schedules, Barker says.

Women computer scientists and systems analysts came in at No. 10, earning a median wage of $1,082 per week or about $56,000 a year. In recent years, telecommuting has become increasingly common in the industry, making computer science even more appealing to women seeking high-paying work and flexibility.

And just above, at No. 9, were speech-language pathologists, the only occupation on our list in which women earn exactly equal to men and represent 50% of the field's total workers.

While women are inching higher and higher in status positions and earnings--the pay gap has narrowed by 10 percentage points since 1990--there remains a large divide.

About 3.5 million women earn within the highest pay bracket, making a minimum of $1,500 per week, compared with almost 10 million men. This may be explained by the most common female-held positions: administrative assistants, nurses and grade school teachers.

(As a comparison, there are 36 times as many women administrative assistants as there are women pharmacists.)

Yet women outnumber men in some unexpected high-earning jobs like financial managers, accountants and auditors, and budget analysts. Women human resource managers, the No. 8 position on our list with a median of $1,137 per week, outnumber men in the field 2 to 1.

by Jenna Goudreau

The way you dress affects how others view you. It's nothing personal, just business.

ForbesWoman is a new section for professional and executive women. Enter your email below to start receiving ForbesWoman news and updates.

Many professional women are guilty of multiple fashion faux pas without realizing it, and their lack of judgment can sometimes lead to being passed over for a job or promotion.

Experts agree that one of the biggest fashion mistakes women make, for example, is showing too much cleavage.

"It's distracting and inappropriate in a business environment," says Ginger Burr, president of Total Image Consultants in Lynn, Mass., and author of Fashion Secrets Mother Never Taught You.

Dressing too sexy can also have psychological effects on your peers, according to Peter Glick, a professor of psychology at Lawrence University in Wisconsin.

A study by Glick that was published in Psychology of Women Quarterly indicates that women in high-level positions who dress in what is seen as sexy attire are viewed as less competent--regardless of their skill sets.

These women are passed over for promotions more often than their more modestly dresses female colleagues.

So if you want to get ahead in the workplace, better rethink that low-cut top.

One more comment ... People do look at women very differently. At one time I was over 300 pounds. I lost it by the bariatric surgery. I've lost 1/2 and honestly I can say that heavy women are tre....

If you're confused about what is appropriate, you aren't alone, says Barbara Pachter, an etiquette expert who advises companies like Pfizer and Microsoft, noting that a surprising number of executive women admit to not knowing what styles suit their bodies.

In fact, many women wear clothes that are either too big or not tailored properly, a fashion snafu that is easily avoided, says Pachter, who advises buying clothes at department stores with on-site tailors or simply patronizing your neighborhood tailor.

Details are important, adds Burr, whose home-study program, "Who Taught You How to Dress," helps clients navigate some of these issues.

She tells of a client who was passed over for a promotion for a detail as small as scuffed shoes.

"There were two people who were equally qualified for the position, and in the end it came down to one candidate was wearing shoes that were scuffed," she says.

"The company wondered whether that would translate in a work [environment] to other details being overlooked."

Even politicians and celebrities have to polish their looks in the hopes of furthering their careers. Hillary Clinton is a prime example.

More than once she has revamped her look and wardrobe--sometimes criticized as too severe and masculine--to include more traditionally feminine touches, like pastel suits, in an effort to emphasize her role as a wife and mother and relate more to the voting public.

Assess Your Work Environment

According to James McDonald Jr., a partner at the Irvine, Calif., offices of labor and employment law firm Fisher & Phillips, it is generally legal for an employer to institute an employee dress code.

But you don't need to read a company manual to see what is and what is not appropriate to wear to work.

The best advice experts give is to simply look around the office: Are the female VPs wearing stockings in the summer months? Is your manager one who rarely takes off her jacket or, perhaps, does she favor short skirts and skinny jeans?

The fashion and social service industries, for instance, ordinarily have much more relaxed dress codes than, say, law firms.

Even if your position doesn't require you to see outside clients, you are still "making an impression on your boss [and] your potential future boss," notes Heather Kleis, a human resources adviser for insurance company ING.

While women may have more options about what to wear in the workplace, they also have more room for misstep, notes psychology professor Glick.

"What's a man going to wear, a pair of Dockers and a button-down shirt, as opposed to a tie and a shirt?" Pit that scenario against a woman whose maxi dress is semi-transparent and, well, the impact on their respective reputations hardly compares.

Common Mistakes Women Make

In general, there are wardrobe selections women should always avoid in the workplace.

In addition to the aforementioned maxi dress, wearing clothing that reveals your bra or panty lines is inappropriate office attire.

Period. Ditto for micro-mini skirts and sheer clothing without a lining or cover-up.

Summer is a season that opens the door to a slew of potential fashion landmines for professional women, including spaghetti-strap tops and gladiator sandals, a hot-ticket item that should be avoided unless the dress code is so laid back that "everyone, including higher-ups, is wearing flip flops," Burr says.

So is being overly conservative the key to advancing? Not necessarily, says Glick.

Although it can't hurt to err on the side of caution, asserting a little bit of individuality and personal style can boost your confidence and ability.

As elsewhere in your business, it pays to stay one step ahead of the expected.

by Laura Sinberg