Lure them at the right time

Women buy sexier clothes when they’re ovulating, researchers from the University of Minnesota found in a study.

Women buy sexier clothes when they’re ovulating, researchers from the University of Minnesota found in a study. “The desire for women at peak fertility to unconsciously choose products that enhance appearance is driven by a desire to outdo attractive rival women,” said Kristina Durante, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management and lead author of the study.

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The researchers found that ovulating women chose sexier clothing and accessories for themselves after being shown photographs of attractive local women than when they were shown photos of unattractive women from their area or women who live more than 1,000 miles away.

Women who were not ovulating did not make the same choice, the researchers found. The aim of preening during ovulation is to attract the best romantic partner, said Durante.

To do that, “a woman needs to assess the attractiveness of other women in her local environment,” Durante said.

Marketers should pay close attention to the findings of the study, which showed that ovulation has a “profound influence” on a woman’s consumer behaviour, the researchers said.

“For about five to six days every month, normally ovulating women — representing over a billion consumers —may be especially likely to purchase products and services that enhance physical appearance,” said Durante.