Black stilettos, red lipstick and a push-up bra have emerged on a list of 20 things which make a woman feel sexy, research has revealed. The list of instant pick-me-ups for women also included a pair of stockings, a splash of perfume and knee-high boots.

The top three sexy boosts were having silky smooth legs, putting on new underwear and receiving a compliment from a man (or a woman).

Also on the list were painted finger nails, putting up hair and sipping a glass of wine, according to the study by online underwear retailer Boux Avenue in the UK.

"It's amazing that the most subtle changes can make a woman feel sexy," spokesperson Lisa Bond said.

"High heels and red lipstick predictably have an effect on how we look, feel, and act, but people tend to underestimate the power that new underwear can have on a woman, despite the fact very few people will actually see it.

"Dressing up by wearing nice underwear, a fabulous dress and a spritz of perfume can really make you feel special."

The study also found a flashy one in 10 women think wearing diamonds makes them feel sexy, while 80 percent said high heels made them feel instantly appealing and feel that bit slimmer.

Perhaps unsurprisingly the study found that more than half of females said they always feel better when their hair and makeup is done.

A very dedicated one in 20 women said they consciously make the effort to be sexy every day, but a slightly less sultry 19 percent said they never bother.

Aside from clothes, hair, and makeup, the biggest impact on a female’s sexiness was considered to be confidence, followed by her personality and charisma – with one in 10 feeling that a sense of humour was a sexy personal trait for women to possess.

But it would seem there is a fine line between what is overtly sexy and what is considered unappealing.

Visible cleavage is thought to be sexy by 40 percent but unappealing by 60 percent. Tattoos, lots of makeup and the tops of knickers on display are also considered turn-offs by the majority of people too.

Of the 2000 women polled, more than half said they like to be sexy for their other half and 28 percent have even admitted to dressing provocatively to get what they want.

Of those, three quarters did it to woo a date and one in 10 women did it to get their car fixed.

The poll found on a typical morning, women spend around 17 minutes getting ready before heading out the door, but would spend nearly 40 minutes preening if it was a big night out.

But a saucy one in five women said they often dress up to stay in, with a third saying they regularly don stockings, suspenders and high heels.

When it comes to night time, four in ten women feel sexiest when they are wearing nothing at all, but a quarter prefer to slip on a sexy nightie- a more laidback 20 percent said they prefer a pair of pyjamas.

More than half of females said they favoured black underwear, followed by red.

On average 29 percent of women regularly wear matching underwear.

"The clothes we wear and the style we adopt contribute to how sexy we feel, and underwear plays a huge part in that," Lisa Bond added.

"Putting on new underwear for the first time and wearing a matching bra and knicker set does boost your confidence and make you feel more alluring.

"Lingerie is no longer just to be hidden under clothes, something that the recent 'Underwear As Outerwear' trend has reinforced.

"Women are celebrating their curves once again, aspiring to an ultra-feminine Mad Men-inspired silhouette, and investing in beautiful lingerie to help them feel as sexy as possible.”

Top 10 sexy tips

1. Smooth legs
2. Receiving a compliment
3. New underwear
4. Wearing a push-up bra
5. Black stilettos
6. Wearing perfume
7. Wearing stockings and suspenders
8. Applying red lipstick
9. Painted fingernails
10. Glass of wine
11. Short dress
12. Knee high boots
13. Tight jeans
14. Dancing
15. Curling hair
16. Putting their hair up
17. Wearing diamonds
18. Fake-tanning
19. Applying false eyelashes
20. See-thru top