When a man chooses a new shirt it’s likely that he’ll ask himself a few questions, these may include: does it match with these trousers? Is the material of a good quality? Is it suitable for the dress code? Something that men should also be asking is – what does this colour say about me?

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 then they should choose red and if they want to demonstrate their confidence they should wear black. I 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.

Powerful red-
Red is commonly associated with love and passion. 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.
Research found that women associate a man dressed in red with power and having a strong social status. It also found that wearing red can actually boost the wearers own confidence which will be a good sign during a first date for women who are looking for a man with some self-assurance. A red shirt can also indicate good health and financial stability- two more things a woman may have on their checklist when looking for a new partner.
How does red rate against other colours on the attractiveness scale? It was found to be more attractive than blue or green. This perception was a global consensus – wherever a man goes in a red shirt they should expect to get a similar reception.
However, wearing the colour red did not give off any vibes of kindness or sociability – a man must rely on the power of conversation for this!

Confident in black-
Black used to be hidden away in the wardrobe only brought out for morbid 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 colour of self-assurance – 56% of women said that it inspired confidence. Other comments included that the colour black made the wearer appear more intelligent and sexy – perfect for a first date!
Black is often the colour of choice for someone attending a formal event, 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 too.

Classic white-
White came out as a favourite for women to see their partners in, it was perceived to be the least arrogant colour 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.

What to avoid?
There are some colours to avoid when shopping with your partner or choosing them a shirt. 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 a bright orange shirt could brighten up an outfit nicely on a summer’s day I suppose!
The colour pink didn’t go down well either, only 5% of people thought that intelligent people would wear this colour!

Additional tips-
Consider the following tips when purchasing a men’s shirt:
Many men look great in a colour that matches their eyes, if you have green eyes perhaps opt for a moss green shirt- a popular colour this season.
Avoid wearing dark colours if you have a light complexion as 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 than a pastel tone.

What colours do you find most attractive on men? I can’t say I’ve ever paid all that much attention to the colours Bob chooses to wear- as long as he’s comfortable and relaxed I don’t give it a second thought!