Kim, Holtz, and Vogel link clothing design-related choices to behavior at work; it is likely that their findings can be applied more broadly. The investigators report that “the results of a 10-day field study of employees from four organizations generally supported our predictions, showing that daily clothing aesthetics and uniqueness had effects on state self-esteem and downstream behavioral consequences.” The researchers determined that when employees perceive that they are dressed well their task and social performance are better.
Joseph Kim, Brian Holtz, and Ryan Vogel. “Wearing Your Worth at Work: The Consequences of Employees’ Daily Clothing Choices.” Academy of Management Journal, in press, https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2021.1358