What looks sexiest on a man?

Washington DC, June 26, 2023—New polling from the Wall Street Journal and Ipsos finds that Americans feel men look sexiest in a t-shirt and jeans over more formal or casual wear. Additionally, Americans prefer some facial hair over a clean-shaven look, with stubble being the most popular form of facial hair, though the country splits on this question. When it comes to the fit of clothing, baggy or tight-fitted clothes don’t perform well with all Americans, while neutral-colored clothing does better. Read the Wall Street Journal's story here.

Detailed findings:

Among the styles tested, the outfit that performed the best with the public is a t-shirt and jeans.

• A plurality of Americans (43%) feel that a T-shirt and jeans look sexiest on a man.
• Interestingly, those under the age of 35 (41%) feel that suits look sexiest on a man, while older Americans prefer a more casual look of T-shirt and jeans, with the 35-54 crowd enjoying that look the most (49% among those 35-54 compared to 43% among those 55+).
• Black Americans (18%) are more than twice as likely as white Americans (7%) to find athletic wear the sexiest look on men.
• Additionally, most Americans (78%) think that one to two top buttons undone look most sexy on a man wearing a shirt.
• Women (47%) are more likely than men (33%) to think that two top buttons undone look best on men wearing a shirt. Relatedly, most Americans (50%) find biceps to be the sexiest body part for a man to show.

Most Americans prefer some facial hair over a clean-shaven style, though what type of facial hair is best divides the public.

• A plurality of Americans prefers a clean-shaven look (44%), while the rest (56%) prefer some facial hair.
• Though, the type of facial hair divides Americans between stubble (26%), a beard (22%), or a mustache (8%).
• Older Americans 55 and over (55%) are more likely to prefer a clean-shaven look than those under 55 (41% under 35 and 35% 35-54).
• Black (34%) and Hispanic (30%) Americans are more likely than white Americans (18%) to feel a beard looks sexiest on a man.

Few Americans like baggy or tight-fitting clothing, while neutral-colored clothing does better.

• Few find baggy (10%) or tight-fitting clothes (18%) sexy all the time or usually on men, while more find colorful clothing (28%) and neutral-colored clothing (36%) sexy all the time or usually.
• Hispanic Americans (19%) are more likely than white Americans (7%) to say baggy clothes look sexy on a man always or usually. While Black Americans (39%) are more likely than white (22%) or Hispanic (24%) respondents to say that baggy clothes look sexy on a man sometimes.

Shoe-wear divides the public, with a plurality finding formal dress shoes on men aged 50 under at least usually attractive.

• A plurality of Americans (34%) finds formal dress shoes on men aged under 50 always or usually sexy. Fewer find sneakers on men 50 and over (22%), cowboy boots (23%), and Birkenstock open-toed sandals (8%) sexy this often.
• Older Americans are more likely than younger Americans to feel that sneakers on men over 50 sometimes looks sexy on men (42% 55+, 42% 35-54, and 29% under 35).
• Younger Americans are more likely to say that formal dress shoes on men under the age of 50 always or usually looks sexy (24% 55+ vs. 43% under 35).

About the Study

These are some of the findings of a poll Ipsos conducted between June 7-12, 2023, on behalf of The Wall Street Journal. For this survey, a sample of 2,009 U.S. adults age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii were interviewed online in English.

The sample was randomly drawn from Ipsos’ online panel, partner online panel sources, and “river” sampling and does not rely on a population frame in the traditional sense. Ipsos uses fixed sample targets, unique to each study, in drawing a sample. After a sample has been obtained from the Ipsos panel, Ipsos calibrates respondent characteristics to be representative of the U.S. Population using standard procedures such as raking-ratio adjustments. The source of these population targets is U.S. Census 2022 American Community Survey data. The sample drawn for this study reflects fixed sample targets on demographics. Post hoc weights were made to the population characteristics on gender, age, race/ethnicity, region, education and political party affiliation.

Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online non-probability polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points for all respondents. Ipsos calculates a design effect (DEFF) for each study based on the variation of the weights, following the formula of Kish (1965). This study had a credibility interval adjusted for design effect of the following (n=2,009, DEFF=1.5, adjusted Confidence Interval=+/- 4.2 percentage points).

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Chris Jackson

Senior Vice President, US

Public Affairs

+1 202 420-2025

[email protected] 

About Ipsos

Ipsos is one of the largest market research and polling companies globally, operating in 90 markets and employing over 18,000 people.

Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

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