“LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD”: DAILY DRESS CHOICE AND WORK OUTCOMES

Abstract

Research and anecdotal evidence (e.g., the media) have suggested that individuals’ dress choice could lead to workplace success (e.g., Christman & Branson, 1990; Damhorst, 1990; Johnson & Roach-Higgins, 1987). Invoked in this notion is the premise that the favorable impression formed from wearing a particular dress result in positive treatment from others. While forming a positive impression is an important component of success (Reid, Lancuba, Morrow, 1997; Stuart & Fuller, 1991), workplace success could be a manifestation of the wearer’s daily dress driving changes in their own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in a workplace relevant manner. Thus, my dissertation focuses on employees’ daily dress aesthetics, dress conformity, and dress comfort to examine whether these variables affect how one feels (i.e., relaxedness) and evaluates oneself (i.e., state self-esteem), thereby further influencing important workplace behaviors (i.e., task withdrawal, goal progress, helping, interaction avoidance). This dissertation also investigates clothing interest, impression management motives, trait self-esteem, and daily dress compliments as boundary conditions that amplify or attenuate the effects of dress aesthetics and dress conformity on work behaviors through self-esteem and relaxedness.