I have had this thought in my head for a while now… I have started wearing khaki pants more than jeans. I own just about the same number of button down shirts as I do t-shirts. I do wear a tie and blazer to work, but I don’t have to… I choose to do it. And the thing is that I feel very comfortable in these clothes. I can honestly admit, dressing this way does make me look like a conservative white guy. Rather vanilla.
How did I get here?
First of all, I do work on the business end of the arts industry, and I was raised that if you do business, then you wear a coat and tie. My father went to work in a suit every day, though I’m not really sure what he did. Something with computers and utilities. We are creatures of examples, but a suit seems to formal even for me. Hence the khakis, button down, tie, and blazer. I do still wear a pair of black low top All-Stars with the get up.
Being in theatre, and especially with all the time I spent working on costuming, do understand and respect the role clothing can make in defining a character. With this knowledge, I know that I am making an impression with these clothes, which is straight laced, predictable, non-confrontational, as well as collected, and mature. When the dress code in the arts is casual clothing and being comfortable, then a coat and tie does make you stand out.
Okay, maybe that’s it; I’m just counter programming the people around me.
Am I dressing for the job I want? Is the clothing defining the person? Can the costume begin to influence the thinking of the character?
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