You Shouldn't Wear Yellow on First Dates, Here's Why

The color yellow is gorgeous, eye-catching, and downright happy for most people. So much so that it's the main hue in the world-famous happy face—but science says it's not the best color to wear on a date.

According to an interesting 2010 study published in Evolutionary Psychology, a well-respected journal, yellow has the lowest rank for both men and women in terms of a "mean attractiveness score."

Yellow dressPhoto byYangfan GanonUnsplash

Both sexes claimed red and black ranked the highest (no surprise there). But it gets wilder.

An unrelated survey published in 2013 asked around 2,500 adults about the attractiveness of certain clothing colors, and yellow again scored very low. And then another survey found shades of yellow inspired the least confidence (along with orange and brown).

That's upsetting because orange and brown are trending heavily right now in everything from period bathing suits and jean shorts. But don't worry, there's a good chance these preferences are regional and cultural.

A later 2019 study surveyed 6,000 people across 55 countries about how they felt about yellow in general (not just as a fashion choice), finding preferences for yellow increased closer to the equator.

Photo byMike VononUnsplash

Tropical cultures love yellow, whereas northern and chilly climate lands tend to shy away from the hue.

Interesting, right?

Do you love yellow and wear it often? We'd love to hear your feedback in the comments section below!