Dressing formally or informally as an academic may be a trade-off when it comes to managing impressions towards students, but the extant body of literature remains limited with only mixed results. This research is first focussed investigation examine effects dress formality on ‘big two’ impression formation, perceptions warmth and competence. In series three controlled laboratory experiments (t...

wear more ‘‘class appropriate’’ attire (described as a skirt and high heeled shoes), as opposed to more comfortable ‘‘island attire’’ (120). She calls this ‘‘cross dressing across class’’ (119). Readers are also privy to her self-actualization as she chooses to draw upon the strength of other black women feminists such as Angela Davis and Audre Lorde to address her fears as a woman in patriarch...