Have a look around your workplace. If there are more than seven men, there is a good chance one buys women's lingerie - not for his partner but for himself.

A survey by an Auckland mail-order lingerie shopping service of 1368 New Zealand men reveals that 14.6 per cent bought lingerie for themselves.

That is one in every seven males.

When the same question was put to American males, a staggering 49 per cent said they bought women's lingerie for themselves.

American men were far moreopen about their underwear habits, with one asking online whatunderwear would not show the panty line through his trousers, said company spokesman Martin Rotteveel.

Kiwi and American males had similarly strong views on whether their partners should wear briefs or G-strings, with 90 per cent opting for G-strings. Women had different ideas, with around 25 per cent from both countries opting for G-strings.

Kiwi males were far more loyal to their partners than Americans in their choice of the top five women they wanted to see wearing lingerie.

In order of preference, Kiwis chose Jennifer Lopez, their wife or partner, Anna Kournikova, Natalie Portman and Elle Macpherson.

The wives or partners of American males did not even make their list of the top five.

- NZPA