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Reading: Sexy Or Sexist? Men Prefer Bikinis, Women Prefer Suits & Ties
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B&T > Marketing > Sexy Or Sexist? Men Prefer Bikinis, Women Prefer Suits & Ties
Marketing

Sexy Or Sexist? Men Prefer Bikinis, Women Prefer Suits & Ties

Staff Writers
Published on: 18th February 2021 at 10:40 AM
Staff Writers
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In news that probably won’t come as a shock to too many people, a new study has found that bikinis are a men’s favourite outfit for women while women prefer to see men in a suit.

The study was done by UK review site Watchpilot and surveyed 2,000 Brits to find out which outfits they find most attractive on men and women, depending on their sexual preferences.

It found that 40 per cent of men nominated swimwear as their most desirable outfit for women, while 46 per cent of females picked a suit and tie for blokes.

It appears that women’s bodies are still hugely objectified – something which we’d argue is a double standard when you see that the most popular outfit on men was a suit and tie. Results of the study are below:

The top outfits that people find most attractive on women:

1 – Swimwear and bikinis – 34%

2 – Jeans and a nice top – 30%

3 – Cocktail dress – 25%

The top colours we prefer on women are: 

1 – Black – 25%

2 – Red, maroon, burgundy, pink – 25%

3 – Pastels – 21%

The most favoured shoes on a woman are: 

1 – High heels – 43%

2 – Boots – 34%

3 – Sandals – 16%

The most attractive accessories on a woman are:

1 – Necklace – 39%

2 – Earrings – 36%

3 – Sunglasses – 27%

The top outfits that people find most attractive on men are:

1 – Suit and tie – 46%

2 – Smart shirt and jeans – 43%

3 – Plain tee and jeans – 38%

The top colours we prefer on men are: 

1 – Dark shades (navy, black) – 40%

2 – Blues and greens – 32%

3 – Neutrals (greys, browns) – 29%

The most favoured shoes on a man are: 

1 – Boots – 31%

2 – Brogues – 27%

3 – Low-top trainers – 24% (high-tops only got 11% of the votes – do with that information what you will)

And the most attractive accessories on a man are:

1 – Classic wristwatch – 36% (394 votes)

2 – Sunglasses – 36% (393 votes)

3 – Belt – 29%

Tim Harrison, MD at WatchPilot, commented: “Beauty is most certainly in the eye of the beholder, and you should always dress in the way that makes you feel most confident and empowered. We did this survey as we wanted to see what fashion and beauty standards were like in 2021.

“There’s a stark contrast between the votes for a sophisticated suit for men, while for women, people opt for someone who looks confident in swimwear. This perhaps shows that women’s bodies are still the focus of desires for many Brits, while the connotations of a suit – wealth, affluence and refinement – are what makes a man most appealing.”

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Staff Writers represent B&T's team of award-winning reporters. Here, you'll find articles crafted with industry experience spanning over 50 years. Our team of specialists brings together a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to delivering insightful, topical, and breaking news. With a deep understanding of advertising and media, our Staff Writers are dedicated to providing industry-leading analysis and reporting, both shaping the conversation and setting the benchmark for excellence.

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