Previous research conducted in 2004 by researchers Hannah Frith and Kate Gleeson offered an expansion in knowledge for men, body image, and appearance management through clothing style. This present study used Frith and Gleeson’s research to discover how attitudes on body image and clothing have changed in men, specifically college students, since 2004. Clothing is a tool that can be used to assist a positive body image and can also be used to cover up negatively viewed aspects of one’s body. A review of existing research reveals appearance management, body image, practicality and cultural ideals are reoccurring themes in the literature on men’s clothing presentation (Daniel & Bridges, 2009; Frith & Gleeson, 2004; Grogan, 2007; Noh, et al. 2015; Yaskey, 2020). This study conducted during the Spring 2023 semester, surveyed men who attend Millersville University. This survey was disseminated with the hope of understanding how clothing is used to communicate body image and a desirable appearance. The respondents were asked the same three primary questions used by Frith and Gleeson in their 2004 study. These questions were based on several factors, including body image feelings and hiding or emphasizing aspects of one’s body. The data in the current study was coded using six themes, which consist of comfortability, practicality, desirable to individual/others, sizing, no theme, and affected but no theme. Using these themes, the researcher examined body image and clothing trends of Millersville men based on the information gathered from demographic questions. This study hoped to add to the limited existing knowledge on men’s body image and appearance management techniques.
