This study sought to discover student perceptions of academics' dress and gender and their impact on perceived instructor approachability and likeability. Three categories of dress were examined: casual, business casual and professional. The results of this study suggest students at career-arts institutions perceive female teachers as less approachable and less likeable than male teachers, and teachers in casual attire less likeable than teachers in business casual or professional attire. However, the results of the two-way ANOVA suggest there is no statistical significance in students' perceptions of the approachability of teachers based upon attire, and no statistical significance in students' perceptions of the approachability or likeability of teachers based upon attire and gender.