Actual versus ideal self: An examination of the impact of fashion self congruence on consumer’s fashion consciousness and status consumption tendencies

ABSTRACT With growing awareness about the self, consumers are increasingly becoming conscious of the role of fashion clothing in enhancing and communicating their self-image. They seek to portray their self-image through an outward display of fashion style that is congruent to their concept of self. Consumer’s congruity however can be formed with both actual and ideal self. Recognizing this fact, the present study investigates the comparative impact of actual and ideal-fashion self-congruity on fashion consciousness and status consumption tendencies of millennials in India. The study also probes into the mediating role of fashion consciousness between the relationship of actual/ideal fashion self-congruity and status consumption. Using a sample of 751 millennials, the study confirms that ideal fashion self-congruity is a stronger predictor of fashion consciousness and status consumption in comparison to actual fashion self-congruity. In fact, actual fashion self-congruity did not have any significant impact on the two dependent variables. Additionally, the results of the study also point towards the mediating role of fashion consciousness between the relation of ideal fashion self-congruity and status consumption. The study points towards some notable implications for marketers of branded fashion wear by signifying the importance of the ideal-self in consumer decision-making process.