EMPLOYED FEMALES CLOTHING PREFERENCE, SELF-IMAGE CONGRUENCE, AND CAREER ANCHORAGE

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.