Slimming shades: investigating the allure of black clothing on women's aesthetics

Abstract

Colours play a significant role in sexual selection among nonhuman animals. As trichromatic primates, humans lack the pronounced skin colouration observed in certain primates. However, they expand their colour preferences by embracing various hues and styles through clothing and fashion. The attractiveness associated with black lacks a known biological basis but appears to derive from its perceived fashionable nature. One mechanism contributing to the allure of black is its slimming effect. Black absorbs visible light, creating shadows that obscure contours and the illusion of reduced distinctiveness in shapes. This visual effect can give a slimmer appearance than wearing lighter or brighter colours, which may accentuate curves or shapes more prominently. In Study 1, conducted by means of an online questionnaire, women wearing black clothing were perceived as slimmer than those wearing yellow and green clothing. However, the slimming effect was significant when comparing black with yellow and green but not significant when comparing black with white, red, and purple. Study 2 involved tracking the colours of the clothing worn by women for 30 days. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between wearing black clothes and the participants' body mass index (BMI). Our research suggests that the perceived attractiveness of the black colour is due in part to its slimming effect and that women with higher BMI may opt for black clothing to visually mitigate their weight.