December - Fashion and Sex #3

Clothes make the Man. Naked people have little or no influence on Society ...... Mark Twain.

With very few exceptions people look better, sexier and healthier clothed rather than naked. Clothes (and makeup) hide our many imperfections and unsightly bits (cellulite & varicose veins to name but two) while enhancing shape, curves and tone. Clothes, and thus Fashion, therefore play a prominent role in 'mate' chasing and consequent copulation ........ Sex.

Recent research shows .........

that women at peak fertility (near ovulation) are (unconsciously) attracted to different kinds of men, have an increased desire to attend social gatherings, choose products that enhance appearance - such as sexy clothing and tend to reveal more 'flesh'.

Throughout history and across cultures women have consistently allocated a large proportion of their resources that enhance physical appearance, primarily fashion apparel.  This non-conscious behaviour increases around 'estrus' (ovulation) with a corresponding rise in consumer expenditure on 'fashion'. Hence the 'Ovulatory Shift Hypothesis' which predicts that during the brief window within a cycle when conception is possible, women have an increased mating interest preferring men with genetic fitness indicators such as symmetrical, masculine faces, social dominance, deep voices and creative intelligence. They are also more motivated to cheat, be more social and appear more attractive.

Studies have confirmed this 'dress to impress' hypothesis around peak fertility. However they also found that this behaviour is enhanced or suppressed depending on the competition. When the local female rivals for male attention are attractive, the desire to appear sexier and more attractive increases but when the salience of attractive female rivals is minimal (generally unattractive women are the competition) consumer choices and expenditure on fashion were suppressed except around estrus. Their 'Fashion' consciousness (selection and purchase of 'sexy stuff') is also enhanced or suppressed depending on whether the 'local men' are generally attractive or unattractive.

Fashion, thus, is not only a means to attract a mate but also a means to outcompete rival females and the extent, somewhat, dependant on the prize.  (Precis of a 40 page report entitled 'Ovulation, Female Competition, and Product choice: Hormonal Influences on Consumer Behaviour).

So who is chasing who? Our advice: Keep the credit cards hidden around day 14 of the 28 day cycle.

If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

A teenager buys a tiny bikini and tries it on. "What do you think?" she says to her mother. "What do I think!" replies her mother, "If I had worn that when I was your age, you would be five years older".

Harry wanted a new suit so he bought a nice piece of cloth and tried to find a good tailor.  The first tailor he visited looked at the cloth, measured Harry, then told him there was not enough cloth to make the suit.

Harry found this hard to accept, so he went to the tailor next door who measured both Harry and the cloth before announcing that there was enough cloth to make a three piece suit.

A week later Harry returned to collect his suit and noticed that the tailor's son was wearing trousers made of the same cloth.                 Puzzled, Harry asked "How come you have been able to make a three-piece suit for me and trousers for your son when the chap next door could not even make a suit?"

"Simple," said the tailor. "The guy next door has two sons".

hugs and kisses

dolltime

PS: This will be the last of a regular monthly blog. It has just become too hard & time consuming to produce a new photo and research and summarise a topic each month, especially as so few have an interest. I may from time to time post a photo with some accompanying curio. We will see. In the meantime we wish you a safe and enjoyable festive season.