VICKY TIEL

Vicky Tiel, the Paris-based American designer whose signature look is seductive, feminine clothes, has a lot on her mind these days.

In the throes of a divorce, Tiel, during an appearance at I. Magnin, seems more aware than ever of the male-female issues that interest her.

“Men are so unsexual today,” she sighs. “It’s the biggest complaint I hear from women. Women need sex appeal more than ever to recapture what we lost in the last 10 years fighting for our equality. Part of my message has always been about the need to turn men on and stop this androgyny.”

Her spring collection is anything but androgynous. The key word is tight. She personally went from a Size 6 to a Size 4 to achieve a Saran Wrap fit.

“You’ve got to be absolutely pared down,” she says.

For evening wear, her specialty, Tiel gives women two choices: Long and tight, or short and tight.

“It’s either long and Hedy Lamarr-going-to-the-Casbah, or baby doll. Very, very short and very jeune fille. Almost debutante looking,” she explains.

Either way, the idea is to catch someone’s eye.

“Part of the struggle for women is just to get men interested,” she says.