In China, 9,999 Red Roses for Marriage Proposal Dress

The final results aren't tallied, but America's National Retail Federation's 2012 Valentine Day Consumer Intentions and Actions survey predicted that total spending in the US for yesterday celebraton of love was $17.6 billion, up 8.5 percent from 2011. To be determined.

For most guys, sending a dozen long-stem roses yesterday was enough to warm female hearts. In China Xiao Fan opted for a mind-blowing 9.999 red roses, which were transformed into a lavish marriage proposal gown for his girlfriend Yin Mi. The two met at the Guangzhou amusement park three years ago.

The stunning garment included delicate rose-petal shoulder straps and a sweeping five-foot train made from individually stitched blooms. We assume Yin Mi said 'yes'. via Ecouterre

Inspired by photographer Stephan Glathe's recent images of Gabriella Toth, Anne reminded us about the power of 'red' in yesterday's Sensual Rebel column. Science confirms that both men and women find the color difficult to ignore.

Color Red=Sexy, Dominant, Dangerous, Strong & Powerful AOC Sensual Rebel

Current Trends in Gender Bending Go Deeper Than 'Sex Sells'

Model Lea T with LOVE magazine editor Katie Grand Photo: REXWe think NYTimes fashion critic Cathy Horyn is off the mark this week in suggesting that fashion's current preoccupation with gender bending, erotica and sensuaity is just another era in the 'sex sells' mantra of brands and business.

Horyn is correct is writing that business is always looking for the sexual angle, a reality enhanced in the Internet age, when false headlines lure us to stories on Huffington Post and other media with the promise of "topless" and "naked".

What we find is Natalie Portman's lovely back and the strong visual suggestion of nothing on the front. Alas, we came for the front.

PHOTO: Natalie Portman's Topless New Dior Ad via Huffington Post

Cathy Horyn's commentary Pushing Fashion Boundaries in an Era Without Any doesn't get out of her own fashion sandbox.

In dismissing fashion's androgyny moment, the international preoccupation with transgender model Lea T, and Steven Meisel's genderless, naked cuddle puddle Venus in Furs editorial for Vogue Italia, Horyn doesn't acknowledge the possibility that a significent shift is occuring in sexual relations globally.

Posting this morning that 36 percent of Japanese males between 16-19 have no interest in sex, with half using the word "despise" to describe their feelings about the sex act, a non-lurid trend around sexuality is evolving.

Is the trend for men to look like women, and 'handsome' to be the new buzz word for women this week, just fashion's attempt to generate eyeballs and sales at the cash register, when faced with an empty creativity pot?

Global Sensuality Trends

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Men More Likely Than Women To First Look at Face in Porn Films

Tuuli Tastic by British photographer RankinA study funded by the Atlanta-based Center for Behavioral Neuroscience (CBN) suggests that the stereotypes about men and porn are erroneous.

The expectation among researchers was that men would be immediately focused on genitals, but the results disputed this popular 'knowledge' about men's behavior. In reality, men were more likely than women to first look at a woman's face before other parts of the body.

Women focused longer on photographs of men performing sexual acts with women than did the males. Technology allowed researchers to disregard what women say about watching pornography, and zero in on our actual behavior.

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