This study’s main focus was on the following research question: Does the major of undergraduate students, fashion versus non-fashion, add pressure to the student’s appearance management? We received 147 responses from 55 fashion majors and 91 non-fashion majors. We employed a quantitative research method for the present study. The data was collected through an online survey through Qualtrics. When we examined the levels of pressure felt by the different majors, we found that the fashion students feel added pressure to maintain a certain appearance, more so than the students who are majoring in different fields. Not only do the fashion students feel pressure due to their major, but also from the other students who surround them. The results proved that this added pressure affects the amount of time and money put into managing one’s appearance. By comparing the feelings of judgment and the effort put towards personal appearance between fashion majors and non-fashion majors, this paper offers an insight into why undergraduate students of a specific major dress and present themselves a certain way.

Keywords: Fashion students, Non-fashion students, pressure, judgment, appearance management, personal appearance

Article Type: Research paper