Fashion + Beauty

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

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How Much Skin Should You Show?

Photo: WWD

Photo: WWD

According to researchers, there's a magic number—and it's 40 percent. In a slightly hilarious study, scientists from the University of Leeds found that showing 40 percent of your skin attracts the most men. Exactly how did they nail down this figure? They observed women in nightclubs, analyzing how select women dressed.

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To turn clothing into quantifiable data, they divided the body into quadrants—each arm was 10 percent; each leg,15; whole torso, 50—and took note of who covered what. The women who were approached most by men? Bare skin averaged out at around 40 percent. We'll take this one with a grain of salt, but how do you decide how much skin you show?

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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 48
  • Melissa's Avatar
    Posted by Melissa Fri Nov 20, 2009 1:21pm PST

    Either top or bottom - not both. If I am wearing something cleavage-baring, I will wear pants. If I'm wearing a shorter skirt/shorts, I'll wear a more conservative top to balance it out. Of course, when it's 95 degrees outside, those rules sorta don't apply!

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  • Julie's Avatar
    Posted by Julie Fri Nov 20, 2009 1:35pm PST

    Hmmm....that's the same numerical values to assess major burns. Is that weird, or just me? Probably me.

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  • Wifey's Avatar
    Posted by Wifey Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:40pm PST

    I typically won't show any more than what Kim is showing in the picture at the top

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  • M22's Avatar
    Posted by M22 Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:59pm PST

    Simple. Less is more. The less you give a man, the more he wants. Satisfaction is the death of desire. Simply keep it classy. Cover up, and let him wonder. Certainly wont get you taken home at a nightclub, since all those men want is to get you naked anyway...but who wants that?

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  • Jax's Avatar
    Posted by Jax Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:36pm PST

    Oh Jesus this is clearly a bored group

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  • anh's Avatar
    Posted by anh Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:38pm PST

    but even if you choose to show more skin--and it is YOUR body!!!--you are not 'obligated' to share any of it with anyone! How about freedom of expression without 'expectations'? How about telling the truth about what is YOURS?

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  • Zom-B's Avatar
    Posted by Zom-B Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:32pm PST

    Posted by M22 3 hours 30 minutes ago

    "Simple. Less is more. The less you give a man, the more he wants. Satisfaction is the death of desire."

    Oh, okay...so, the minute a woman has sex, the relationship is over. Gotcha. LOL

    "The less you give a man, the more he wants."

    Yeah, either that, or he figures you're not interested and disappears.

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  • Katie B's Avatar
    Posted by Katie B Fri Nov 20, 2009 7:13pm PST

    Eh, it really depends on the look I'm going for... But I'm more conservative anyway... I like to dress sexy without showing a lot of skin... but I believe more like Melissa does... either show the top or the bottom but not both...

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  • Jessika's Avatar
    Posted by Jessika Fri Nov 20, 2009 10:58pm PST

    i always wear jeans or swats i never shave my legs unless i go swimming

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  • Richard's Avatar
    Posted by Richard Sat Nov 21, 2009 5:59am PST

    Each former poster has a point, how ever from a man's standpoint, we would all like to see 100% skin at all times. Granted this is not legaly possible in most locales. More is better. There is an old saying in the military, "Dress for the activity you are pursuing".

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Comments 1-10 of 48

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