Employed Females' Clothing Preference, Self‐Image Congruence, and Career Anchorage

Abstract

A model was developed that related the clothing preference of employed females with self‐congruity, ideal congruity, and career anchorage. It was hypothesized that (a) employed females are more likely to wear those outfits that match their actual self‐image and ideal self‐image than those that do not match their actual and ideal self‐image; (b) the more upward the career anchorage, the greater the self‐ and ideal congruity involving a business‐like outfit, and the greater the preference for wearing business‐like outfits. The sample consisted of 227 women faculty and staff members at three universities. Five garment images were used: feminine, business‐like, casual, sexy, and collegiate. The hypotheses were mostly supported.