Do you think there are a disproportionate number of September birthdays by accident? December is a sexy time because as the weather gets colder, people cuddle up. Sometimes it's with a blanket, stuffed animal or member of the opposite sex. There's a simple correlation: When the heat outside drops, the temperature on the inside begins to rise.For men, the college years are a time of rediscovery. Much like the 10-year-old boy who moves from tighty whities to boxers, the 20-year-old reaches the point in his life when he has to make a much more complex transition: From regular underwear to "nice underwear." For all their hooking-up, high school boys, on the whole, don't care about what they look like until they reach adulthood. Maybe that's an unfair generalization, but assuming it's true, silk and designer boxers are more marketable to the 20-something male.

Women, on the other hand, seem to care about their undergarments at an earlier age. I frequently see preteen girls shopping at Victoria's Secret or the underwear department of Abercrombie and Fitch. And when they reach adulthood, some women enjoy intimate moments more, for the simple reason that their counterparts have finally realized that undressing can also require dressing up.

How to go about this? My suggestion is to go to a nice department store and discuss options with the furnishings expert, whether you're a man, a woman or you don't identify. Be aware, however, that experience can be overwhelming because there are more options to choose from than most anticipate.

Men in their twenties are going to have to choose between their long-loved boxers, and new options like boxer briefs, briefs, bikini-style, the thong and others. In a society where youth is valued so highly, young men may be hesitant to make a move that makes them feel "older," such as graduating to a more mature type of underwear. For everyone, it's a personal choice: Some people feel that looser underwear is more comfortable; others desire more support. Aesthetics are also important. It's clear that briefs reveal more skin than boxers. There is no right or wrong here, but the best idea is to look at all the options and, shockingly enough, try them all on.

For women, my advice is minimal. Sexy underwear is visible in the retail marketplace, but be careful because salespeople are sometimes manipulative. A basic bra can be the most supportive and the most comfortable. Thongs with strings of pearls are cool and trendy but may prove unhealthy or unbearable. Since underwear is so personal-it touches your body and only a few people will ever see it-the decision should be made by you.

So what should you think? It's important to wear nice underwear for that special date, but you shouldn't choose underwear to please anyone but yourself. My advice may seem paradoxical, but it boils down to your call: If you want to wear designer underwear to please your partner, go for it! If you want to be comfortable in seamless, tagless undergarments, you can do that too. But own up to your decisions and choose underwear that serve an express purpose. 'Tis the season to be yourself.