It's worth rethinking conventional wisdom on what makes moms so hot. There's some suggestive (although anecdotal) evidence that the very things we hate about post-baby bodies may enhance a woman's appeal. As with any aesthetic, sexy is in the eye of the beholder.
1. Under-eye circles.
A Jezebel.com writer argues in this convincing pro-circle campaign that under-eye circles should equal sexy not sleep deprivation.
"...When one covers up their undereye circles, they take away a certain depth and dimension to their faces. When you whitewash that depth, you also potentially whitewash the sexy."
Jezebel cites this image of Sophia Loren as proof, although Fashion Editor Debra Bass says the darkness under Loren's eyes are simply shadows.
There is a vulnerability and tortured fragility that goes with dark under-eye circles, case in point: Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro.
Not-so-pretty accessory: Red, blood-shot eyes. Use Visine.
2. Stretch marks
They fade to a silvery-white and look like jagged stripes. And there are countless creams and potions promising to magically erase this reminder of pregnancy for so many of us.
But singer and actress Ashlee Simpson said last year to People magazine that husband Pete Wentz isn't worried about stretch marks. He finds her post-baby body sexy.
3. Pregnancy/nursing breasts
It's not silicone, it's milk that makes for great cleavage when you're expecting and nursing.
When pregnant woman complain about how fat they look during that second and third trimester, their friends should tell to appreciate the upside of a fuller shape: Wear lower-cut tops and tighter sweaters.
4. The softness and roundness of a few extra pounds.
We do crunches for those washboard abs of yore. But mamahood can bring curvier hips and a gentle softness to once-taut muscles.
A male friend suggested this comparison: Penelope Cruz from "Jamon Jamon" when she was probably 19 or 20. Pretty, but nothing special. Then, the Penelope Cruz of Volver and Broken Embraces. A knockout. She's rounder, maybe 10 pounds rounder, and fiercer.
"She's a woman, not a girl," he notes.
Clothes hang nicely on a hanger, which is why so many models have the shape of one. But, in real life, a blemish-free, hyper-sculpted vision of beauty is intentionally designed to sell us stuff, to make us want to buy stuff that will transform us.
But like so many imaginary creations, this perfection is a myth. This video from Dove's Real Beauty campaign illustrates that modern beauty is all make-up and airbrushing and photo shopping.
In a manufactured, Botoxed world, authenticity is sexy.
