What science says about your closet

Posted Oct 10th 2006 at 6:23PM by Anne Metz (Subscribe to Anne Metz's posts)

Filed under: News

A new study suggests that women tend to dress to impress when they are at their most fertile. By following the dressing habits of college women, researchers found that women tended to dress more provocatively during the times that they were ovulating. Instead of putting on a pair of jeans, ovulating women were much more likely to wear a skirt or a dress. The upshot of this research is that human ovulation really isn't as mysterious as scientists once suspected. Basically, this study disproves the previously accepted truth that humans, unlike all other animals, covered their bodies during fertile periods.

As I look down at my outfit (a miniskirt and ballet flats), I suppose it's possible that I'm ovulating. But then there's the more likely explanation that I am dressed up because I'm having a drink with an ex-boyfriend later this evening. Sometimes psychology is more powerful than biology.

What do you think?

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Tags: dress, science, study

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)

Spinner 10-17-2006 @ 9:24AM

I think it's a crock.I wear whatever is clean and ironed.I'm not a skirt kind of gal and I know I ovulate.I don't dress in outfits that show my bum either though.I know women who dress in tiny skirts and low cut tops all the time and they can't be ovulating everyday of the week.That's just how they dress..

Gloriua 10-17-2006 @ 7:25AM

When it comes to dressing, I believe in two major factors: the person's
sense of style and whatever mood you're in that is happy, sad or going through a transition as to Financial or Emotional.

Greg St. Pierre 10-17-2006 @ 7:32AM

Hey, I've just invented a new word...

Flirtile!

:-)

Sara 10-17-2006 @ 7:37AM

I don't wear skirts, but I do tend to wear a lower cut blouse when I'm in my fertile stage. Funny, I never thought about that before. Usually, I wear very conservative clothes.

janine 10-17-2006 @ 7:42AM

I think it's possible for both to be occuring. I tend to dress trendy, yet professional. However, it's hard to know if I've subconsciously ever changed the way I dress due to biological factors. If I kept track I would be ultering my regular mind set and wouldn't be able to determine if I dressed different because I was more aware or donig so because of other factors. What I do think is that the possibility is fascinating for us all to consider. Especially when it comes to studying sexual aggression by individuals in business settings. How does biology (ovulation and Pheromones) and the unconscious (defined by the way we dress unconsciously) affect sexual advances if at all?

Gin 10-17-2006 @ 7:47AM

Ok so is it dress to impress or dress like a whore? I only say that because dressing to impress is NOT the same as showing skin. If you assume it's the impress then yes I can see that in a way. You usually do dress up a bit. Not meaning showing all yours assests for everyone within a 50 foot radius. But putting on those jeans that flatter you or wearing a pants suit that exudes appeal.
It kinda goes the same way during the other time of the month. Personally I dont want to get my "nice" clothes stained. lol So I wear the sweat pants, baggy shirt, etc.

jan mannion 10-21-2006 @ 10:15AM

With all due respect, I disagree with this new "study" on what women wear during their monthly ovulating experiences. I myself, am al-most 54 years of age and my choice of clothing has never changed! I still, to this day, enjoy wearing tight jeans, short skirts, tiny "outfits", and still enjoy the things the teens are wearing and have never changed my style.
Believe me, my "ovulating" days have been well over with and it hasn't changed my taste one bit! It all depends on the individual entirely.
After having 4 miscarriages, 1 still-born and 6 children, I still feel and look very sexy. It's called, "self-esteem"! "Jan"

Michele 10-17-2006 @ 7:49AM

I have to agree and I also think its a woman's overall fertility factor,not just during ovulation. A woman in her REPRODUCTIVE YEARS may dress more seductively than any other time in her life and thruout her cycles. Our hormones are what give us our looks and "competitive edge." I believe this affects men too. Its social and biological. Any thoughts?

STEPHEN P DESROSIERS 10-17-2006 @ 8:01AM

GOOD FOR ANY WOMAN WHO FEELS COMFORTABLE WEARING ANYTHING SHE WANTS. STEVE.

STEPHEN P DESROSIERS 10-17-2006 @ 8:07AM

GOOD FOR YOU GIRL . WEAR WHAT EVER YOU FEEL LIKE . A MANS POINT OF VIEW. STEVE

K 10-17-2006 @ 8:18AM

I don't know if I actually think about it, but I do know those pre-ovulatory fertile days are my "skinny days" of the month and I tend to pick out my clothes with that in mind... and the days that follow you are much more likely to find me in a jog suit!

URSULA 10-17-2006 @ 8:33AM

It sounds interesting if you're really into science like that.

Marisa 10-17-2006 @ 8:35AM

This blurb does not adequetly describe the study. It is less about dressing more provacativeley, and more about dressing a little bit nicer. You might wear the same outfit, but with an extra few pieces of jewlery or nicer shoes. The study suggests that when we're ovulating we go a drop further to put our best foot forward. I'm not aware if I do this, and right now I'm pregnant so who knows what my body does when, but I do know that it is possible that we all do a little something extra when we're ovulating. It's not all about mini skirts and low cut shirts (which I NEVER wear EVER).

Boopercat 10-17-2006 @ 8:45AM

What I want to know is who paid for this study? Why do we need to know this? Please say this isn't our TAX dollars at work.

Amber R. 10-17-2006 @ 8:50AM

I wear jeans every day. I hate dresses and skirts. The only one I still have is my wedding dress. And lord knows I ovulate. I have 2 kids.

Linda 10-17-2006 @ 8:53AM

Humans are always in heat. Human females , who dress in a sexually provocative way, are subconsciously looking as if they are in estrus, in order to attract a male for sex. Other female animals have sex only when in estrus.

women's health nurse 10-17-2006 @ 8:55AM

Just remember girls, if you are on the pill or any other hormonal method of birth control, you don't ovulate, so that shoots the whole methodology to hell in your own case... This phenomenon would only work for people who weren't on the pill-- but in my work as a women's health care provider, I've definitely seen that women are exponentially more likely to throw caution to the wind around the time of ovulation... Are people also more likely to throw caution to the wind when wearing a mini skirt? Can't say.

Donna 10-17-2006 @ 9:07AM

As for me, my man likes me to wear dresses or skirts which I already owned but never wore. He likes the femininity and so do I. I feel more feminine and sexy when I wear them. For "That time of the month", I do where dark colors and try to refrain from wearing pants, although I want to. The days I feel skinnier and feel better about myself, are the days I really want to put on a dress.

Wendy 10-17-2006 @ 9:15AM

This is just another way for them to try and tell us what to think since we can't think or should I say dress ourselves.

Go see Facing The Giants. Great family movie !

noelle 10-17-2006 @ 9:32AM

ok i think that retarded the only reason younger girls in collage dress in more skirts and dresses is because #1 they're younger and thats in stlye for the younger croud. u dont usally see a 40 year old woman in a mini skirt, #2 usally not always younger girls have better bodies and wanna show it off. so i think that this study was a wast of time and money! and it only takes someone to use commen sence!