Sex

Which Halloween Costumes are Sexy and Attractive?

Halloween costume ideas that can get you a date.

Posted October 31, 2014

It is that time of year again... Everyone wanders through the costume store, or rummages through their closets, looking for Halloween costume ideas. They try to find something cute, sexy, or attention-getting that will help them break the ice and talk to girls or guys.

Usually, this is a hit-or-miss process, without much logic. This year, however, I added a bit of thought (and science) for you. Yes...psychology has even studied costumes!

The Effect of Costumes on Physical Attractiveness

In 1990, Townsend and Levy published an article titled "Effects of Potential Partners' Costume and Physical Attractiveness on Sexuality and Partner Selection". Essentially, the authors took male and female models, who were previously rated with either high or low attractiveness, and dressed them in costumes for pictures. Some of those costumes were low status (like a fast food worker), while other costumes were high status (like a preppy blazer and tie). Townsend and Levy (1990) then asked male and female participants to rate the models' pictures and their willingness to date, have sex, and commit to the person depicted.

Not surprisingly, both male and female participants were more interested in grabbing a cup of coffee, jumping into bed, or even walking down the aisle with the highly attractive models of the opposite sex. However, costumes too had an impact. Essentially, participants were more willing to enter into various relationships, both sexual and committed, with attractive and unattractive models wearing high status costumes. Particularly, the high status costume gave unattractive men a boost in sex appeal, with women seeing them as more attractive than when they were pretending to flip burgers. In contrast, high status costumes especially influenced highly attractive women's commitment appeal, with men considering them more seriously as a date...or a wife!

Picking Costumes and Dressing Up

The above research may have a few guiding tips for your Halloween costuming and party dress-up:

For the Gals... If you are looking to find something more than a Halloween hook-up, then you might want to skip the "naughty stripper" costume (at least, until you've caught a full-time guy). A costume with more class and status might make you more appealing as a long-term relationship partner. So, if you want to find Prince Charming at that upcoming masquerade ball, then dress up like a princess for it.

For the Guys... If you do not have the face or physique to model for men's magazines, then I'd caution against the zombie hobo or he-man costumes. This is especially true if you want to impress girls and get noticed. Dressing up like a doctor, James Bond, or a vampire in a suit might make you more appealing. In fact, you will have a better chance of getting treated (instead of tricked) at the end of the night.

Conclusion

Give your costume planning some thought. You are still sending non-verbal, attraction signals about you...even on Halloween. Dressing up like someone (or something) high status and valuable might just make you more appealing as a date, lover, or relationship partner. So, if you want to get more than just a sugar high and a hangover at that upcoming Halloween party, then dress for success with a classy costume.

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Dr. Jeremy Nicholson, The Attraction Doctor

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References

Townsend, J.M., & Levy, G.D. (1990). Effects of potential partner's costume and physical attractiveness on sexuality and partner selection. The Journal of Psychology, 124, 371-389.