Women who had read a vivid article describing growing unemployment and increasing scarcity showed a stronger desire (6.19 on a 7-point scale) to purchase lipstick, form-fitting jeans, and form-fitting black dresses, in comparison with women who had read a neutral article (4.97 on the same scale), says a team led by Sarah E. Hill of Texas Christian University. In tough economic times, women appear to increase their attractiveness as a way of finding mates with financial resources. Recession fears prompted no such desire among men to enhance their attractiveness, the researchers say.