Women Who Wear Black are Smarter, Sexier, & More Confident, Study Shows

Want the world to see you for the intelligent, sultry and self-assured woman that you are? Ditch the colorful garb and slip into that coal-black dress! Women who wear black are perceived as smarter, sexier and more confident according to a new poll. Read on to learn the details of the study, plus find out what other colors say about you.

Women who wear black are perceived as smarter, sexier and more confident

A large UK-based t-shirt retailer recently polled 1,000 people to see what they thought of different colors, and the results were very interesting. When it comes to dressing to impress, more than half listed black as the color they felt really exuded confidence and success. Throughout the rest of the poll, black either topped the list or came in at a very close second.

For example, when asked which colors men find most attractive on women, red and black took home first and second (in that order). On the flip side, when asked which colors women find most attractive on men, black beat out second-place blue by almost 20%.

Women who wear black are confident, but not arrogant

There’s a fine line between confidence and snobbery, so researchers asked participants which colors they thought made someone looked arrogant. Interestingly, black was nowhere near the top of that list. If you’re curious, red took the prize, followed by orange, yellow, and purple. So, black not only makes you look confident, but humbly so!

Not only do others see you as more driven when you show up in your favorite coal-colored outfit, the poll shows that YOU see yourself the same way. The vast majority of survey participants claimed that they felt at their very best when they slipped into something black. It makes sense if you think about it. When you feel great, you exude confidence that others can see.

Black wins again for the color of intelligence

Want people to see you as smart and savvy rather than just confident? Don’t put that black dress away just yet. Once again, the midnight shade topped the list of colors that make people see you as intelligent. The only he only downside to the inky dark color? Survey participants felt it was among the “least generous” colors, meaning they see people who wear black as being among the least likely to give back to others.

Oh, and if you got this far thinking, “So what? A t-shirt wholesaler poll is hardly a sound scientific study,” let me just tell you, a clothing retailer is actually the perfect choice to run such a study. See, color psychology plays a massive role in marketing, so no one has a higher stake in how people see different shades than someone who sells clothes for a living.

What does all of this mean? Basically, if you want to score a new job, look great on a first date, or impress people with your wits, wearing black is a good start. Just remember that color alone can’t make up for lack of personality or preparation, so if you’re showing up to a job interview totally unprepared, don’t expect that black suit to work miracles.

What do other colors say about you?

What if black just isn’t your shade, though? Maybe you really love red, orange, yellow, or any of the other colors of the rainbow.  Don’t count yourself out just yet! While black topped the lists in most categories on this particular poll, color psychology is hardly a new field. Marketing specialists have spent years determining what different shades say about us. Keep reading to learn what image you’re projecting to the world when you choose different colors of the rainbow.

Wearing red makes you look and feel sultrier

According to the t-shirt wholesaler’s study, red is associated with both arrogance and sultriness. Psychology tends to agree with the latter. There’s a reason why red is the official color of Valentine’s Day.  Red also grabs our attention and makes us pay closer attention to detail, making it a great choice if you’re taking a test.

Blue boosts your creativity

Need to give your creative juices a bit of a boost? Throw on your favorite blue sweater! According to a University of British Columbia study, participants performed better at creative brainstorming tasks when they were surrounded by blue.

Green gives off a natural vibe

It shouldn’t come as a shock that people view green as “natural,” “eco-friendly,” and “calming.” After all, it’s one of the most prominent colors in nature throughout most of the year. Polls show that green is also a color full of optimism and luck.

Purple makes you look rich and royal

Want to feel like you belong on a throne? Pop on purple! The color has long been associated with royalty, so it’s no wonder that we continue to see it as a sign of wealth. The regal shade also invokes feelings of mystique, intrigue, and wisdom. Keep it in the middle range of the shade, though. Dark purple tends to cause sadness, while light purple is seen as a bit more frivolous.

Wear orange to cheer people up

Need to boost your best friend’s mood? Grab that orange shirt you shoved in the back of your closet after Halloween. According to color psychology, orange is among the cheeriest of all the colors in the rainbow. Another interesting study done by Plataforma SINC found that orange dishes and cups made food & beverages taste better.

Yellow grabs attention, but only in moderation

Bright and sunny yellow Is definitely an attention-grabber. Like black, it’s among the colors most frequently associated with intelligence as well. However, keep it simple and low-key. Think “pop of yellow,” not head-to-toe sunshine. Too much yellow overwhelms the mind and makes it hard to pay attention to detail. It’s also one of the hardest colors on the eyes when used as a background for text, something to keep in mind if you develop websites.

Brown is warm yet isolating

Brown is a bit confusing, as people either love it or abhor it. While associated with nature to a slightly lesser degree than green, it ranks among the top three least favorite colors among both men and women. Some see it as warm and inviting, other seeing it as isolating and sad. Out of all the colors, it’s the riskiest shade to wear to a job interview or on a first date, as there’s just no telling how others perceive it.

When it comes to being seen as exuding confidence, intelligence, and sultriness, women who wear black definitely top the polls. However, keep in mind that a color doesn’t change what’s on the inside. Whether you choose red, blue, green, purple, orange, yellow, black or brown- as long as YOU feel great, it’ll show.