Men’s Fashion | Which Colours Do Women Prefer On Men?

Men’s Fashion | Which Colours Do Women Prefer On Men?

When men are out shopping for a new shirt, they probably ask themselves a few questions: does this match with my trousers at home? Does the material feel comfortable? Is the pattern suitable for the dress code? Something that they should also be asking is: what does this colour say about me?

Similar to the way that some animals mate based on the coloured feathers of the opposite sex, women perceive men in various ways depending what colour clothing they have on. If a man is looking to come across as powerful; choose red. If confidence is the look they are going for, opt for black. We have teamed up with Charles Tyrwhitt, experts in gentlemen’s fashion and retailers of stylish men’s shirts, to investigate further and find out which colours women prefer on men.

Deciding on colour

Research has found that the following colours were perceived most positively by women…

• Red

Red is the colour traditionally associated with love and romance — a sign of passion. It is thought that the attraction to red comes from our biological roots — many animals such as baboons are attracted to the opposite sex if they display bright colours. To wear this on a first date might be slightly overpowering, however, it does give off some vibes that a woman might be interested in.

Red should be opted for if a man is looking to show off their strong social status or demonstrate that they are powerful. Research found that wearing red can actually boost the wearer’s confidence too — a good thing during a first date for women who are looking for a man with some self-assurance. A red shirt can indicate good health and financial stability, two more things a woman may have on her checklist when looking for a new partner.

In comparison to other colours, red was found to be more attractive than blue or green. This opinion was global — suggesting many women think the same when it comes to men’s fashion!

In research, although red was linked with positive attributes such as confidence, it lacked association with other features such as kindness and sociability.

• Black

Although black used to only be brought out for mourning, it is now a classy alternative to lots of colours. Similar to red, black can be perceived as the colour of self-assurance — 56% of women said that it inspired confidence. Other comments included that the colour black made the wearer appear more intelligent and sexy — perfect for a first date!

Black is well-known for being worn at fancy events and venues. Too much black can be overpowering, so if you opt for a black shirt, you should avoid pairing it with a black jacket, pants and shoes, too. It is a versatile colour, so don’t be afraid to mix and match. For example; denim jeans and a black shirt is a good casual outfit for many events.

• White

Women rated white highly on the scale of attractiveness. It was perceived to be the least arrogant colour and instead gave off the impression that the wearer was full of optimism! A white shirt is a nice and classic look for trying to impress at a formal event. However, during research, it was the definitive white t-shirt and jeans combo that caught women’s eyes and was perceived to be the most attractive look for a man.

What colours to avoid

When choosing men’s shirts, there are some colours to steer clear of. In many surveys revolving around the attractiveness of colour, orange and brown consistently performed poorly. They often are perceived as quite boring, drab colours although an orange shirt could brighten up an outfit nicely on a summer’s day.

Pink wasn’t a favourite either. Only 5% of people thought that intelligent people would wear this colour!

Additional tips

When choosing a men’s shirt, consider the following:

• Many men look great in a colour that matches their eyes. For green eyes, perhaps opt for a moss green shirt — a popular colour this season.
• Avoid wearing dark colours with a light complexion, this can really draw the skin tone out and give a paler appearance.
• To complement dark hair, opt for bright colours.

Sources

• http://mens-fashion.lovetoknow.com/What_Colors_Do_Women_Prefer_on_Men
• http://www.rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=3663
• http://www.buytshirtsonline.co.uk/colour-perception/
• https://www.huffingtonpost.com/yourtango/go-to-clothing-color_b_8286140.html

Guest Article.