After some scientific research by women at a nightclub, the answer can finally be revealed – it’s 40% of your body.

That includes the legs and arms – so for the most part the most attractive look is a shortish skirt and sleeveless top.

For the maths, showing your legs counts as 15% each, 10% for the each arm and 50% for the chest and stomach, according to the study.

Tight clothing and sexy dancing

The magic figures were the result of four researchers from the University of Leeds, observing women on the dance floor at four nightclubs who kept a list of how they were dressed and counted how many times men approached them.

Women who revealed around 40% of their skin attracted twice as many men as those who dressed more modestly.

Those who exposed more than the magic 40% didn't get many offers. Experts suggest this is because men believe that women who expose more of their bodies would not be faithful.

The ladies who attracted most men combined the 40% rule with tight clothing and sexy dancing.  Apparently the 15% of women who fitted all three criteria were rewarded with approaches from 40 men, according to the scientific journal Behaviour.

Doubts of future infidelity

Lead researcher Colin Hendrie said: "Any more than 40% and the signal changes from 'allure' to one indicating general availability and future infidelity. Show some leg, show some arm, but not any more than that."

So for women who are back to dating after a long absence, showing a bit of leg is fine, but don’t go over the top with plunging necklines and bare midriffs as well, otherwise you’ll shatter the 40% rule and find your look is turning off men rather than making you look attractive.

Strangely the research did not say anything about fake suntans – but the nightclubs were probably too dark for the researches to tell!