The Ladies Love Red

It might seem like flowers, candlelight dinners, and romantic getaways are the best ways to land a lady, but it's much easier than that. Just consider wearing a red t-shirt or tie. Female primates swoon over males in red (although I would prefer the flowers, dinners, and trips, as I bet many women would).

Researchers at the University of Rochester and University of Munich showed women photos of men clad in different colored shirts. The women answered a series of questions designed to determine their level of desire. When the ladies described the scarlet-shirted men, they claimed these men were more attractive. Women reported the same high levels of attraction and desire toward pictures of men in black and white with a red border.

"Red is typically thought of as a sexy color for women only," says Andrew Elliot, one of the authors. "Our findings suggest that the link between red and sex also applies to men."

The effect was consistent. Participants in the U.S., England, Germany, and China all found men wearing red more attractive.

The researchers continue to note that females are adept at noticing small changes, such as increased blood flow to the face, showing how sensitive women are to the color. The authors said that men who wear red might feel more powerful and suggest red will boost self-esteem. But they warn men not to wear red to the zoo unless they're interested in picking up a 300-pound admirer—red also excites female gorillas.