How Can a Man’s Shirt Affect Your Perceptions of Him?

Have you ever found a man attractive one day and then not so attractive the next? It could’ve been down to the color of his shirt. Some research has demonstrated that the colours a man chooses to wear can say a lot about them. For example, if they’re looking to come across as powerful they should choose red. If they want to demonstrate their confidence, they should wear black. We have teamed up with Charles Tyrwhitt, experts in gentlemen’s fashion and retailers of men’s formal shirts, to investigate further and find out which colours women prefer on men.

Deciphering the colours

According to research, women see men in different ways depending on what colours they are wearing. The color of a shirt can determine how confident the man comes across and even how financially stable a woman thinks he is!

Go-to white

White is often chosen by a man when they’re opting for a clean and classic look. Fortunately for them, white scored highly on the attractiveness rate. It was perceived to be the least arrogant color and instead gave off the impression that the wearer was full of optimism! A white shirt is a classic look for men when they are choosing an outfit for 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 more attractive look for a man.

Red’s got the power

Commonly associated with couples and romance, red is a signifier of love. 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.

Two things that come to a woman’s mind when they see a man dressed in red are power and high social status. Research found that wearing red can actually boost the wearer’s confidence, which will be 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 their checklists when looking for a new partner.

Of course, there are many different colours that a man can choose from when picking up a shirt. So, how did red score against other colours? It was found to be more attractive than blue or green. This perception was global — wherever a man goes in a red shirt, they should expect to get a similar reception.

A red shirt won’t do any favours for a man who’s looking to come across as kind and sociable, though!

Black — inspiring confidence

Black didn’t used to be a fashion go-to, it used to be hidden away and only brought out for gloomy occasions. But now, it’s had a new lease of life and is worn by many fashionable individuals. Similar to red, black can be perceived as the color of self-assurance — 56% of women said that it inspired confidence. Other comments included that the color black made the wearer appear more intelligent and sexy — perfect for a first date!

When thinking of attire for a formal event, black often springs to mind. Too much black can be overpowering, though. So, if you’re shopping with your other half, encourage them not to pair a black shirt with a black jacket, pants and shoes.

The disliked colours

A few colours cropped up as the ones that were least liked by women. 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.

Extra advice

When buying men’s clothing, consider the following tips:

Many men look great in a color that matches their eyes. If you have green eyes, perhaps opt for a moss green shirt — a popular color this season.
Avoid wearing dark colours if you have a light complexion, this can really draw your skin tone out and make you appear paler.
If you have dark hair, opt for bright colours as these are likely to complement you more.