Ready for sex
But nobody knew if women are aware of this and consciously wear red to attract men for casual sex. So the scientists looked at online dating profiles to find out.
Women interested in casual sex were much more likely to wear red in their profile pictures, their results showed. It made no difference if the women were only considering casual sex in the back of their minds or said openly on their profile that they were interested in an adventure.
For the second part of the study, the researchers compared women using websites to find casual hook-ups and compared the results to women on marriage sites. Sure enough, the women looking for an adventure were much more likely to be wearing red in their pictures than those looking for marriage.
Powered by colour
So why is it that women wear red when they’re looking for casual sex? Here the scientists don’t have a clear answer.
It could be that – consciously or unconsciously – they use red as a signal to show fertility or fitness. Or they’ve just learned that men are more attracted to women wearing red and pay them more attention.
Read the signs
It’s also possible that by wearing red, women send a message to men and show other women that they're competition. Red seems to make women feel more female attractiveness and it may make them more outgoing, the researchers think.
But just because a woman is wearing red doesn't necessarily mean that she’s interested in sex. If she is, she'll show other signs, too – for example through flirting conversation, long eye contact or provocative poses!
Naturally red
Interestingly, female baboons and chimpanzees use similar colour signals when they are looking for sex, the scientists say. But clearly, they don’t have a wardrobe to turn to. Instead, parts of the animals’ bodies actually turn red – their genitals and breasts. The male apes respond by masturbating more and trying to mate with the females.
Colour seems to be important when it comes to sexual attraction, the researchers concluded. So if you are looking for an adventure, you may want to keep this in mind for your next shopping trip!
Girls... think about your wardrobe. Do you dress in red when you're in the mood for a bedroom adventure?
Guys... are girls in red more sexy and attractive?
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