Stage Managers have legs?!

[Car.e.kari]

I am curious to see what others think about this topic, because I shocked my LD today!

I came into work today(I am a PSM) in a skirt and cowboy boots. I was planning on working at my desk all day and didn't need to fear peeking since there were no ladder work to be done that day...he said he had never seen a SM wear a skirt. I own tons of black clothing, but I enjoy fashion and I enjoy being girly, and I LOVE my boots.

Should I as a PSM be prepared to work or can I dress cute and be in charge at the same time?! What do other people wear to work, when they are during normal hours and not on a show?

[dallas10086]

This topic has been covered to some degree in the topics "What (not?) to wear" and "Style Question":
http://smnetwork.org/forum/employment/what-(not)-to-wear/msg44997/#msg44997
http://smnetwork.org/forum/tools-of-the-trade/style-question/msg43667/#msg43667

It's a tough line to toe, you just always have to remember to be professional and be ready for whatever your job entails. As for personal style - why not wear a skirt when you know it's a slow day? Just have a change of clothes handy, just in case.

[KMC]

What struck me as a bit questionable when reading your post was actually the cowboy boots and not the skirt.  I am not sure of the setting you're in (I assume rehearsal as there is an LD involved) but a loud "clonk clonk clonk" around the studio or stage is never ideal, whether that's in rehearsal or performance.

Cute, so long as it's done professionally and not as if you're headed out to a club, is great; but function comes first.

[Car.e.kari]

My boots NEVER clunk! lol...I am from the south, I am pretty sure I was born in boots. When it comes down to it I choose function over fashion when there is work to be done. I am just curious if anyone else has thought about the "work wear" of the Stage Manager when your not in rehearsal??

[NomieRae]

I've learned to do most (if not all) of my SM duties in a dress or skirt. I much prefer to wear dresses than pants and very rarely find a situation where I can't do my job for fear of being exposed. For me it's a level of poise and professionalism that I keep up through rehearsals and calling a show, I just feel better when I'm a little more dressed up.

I've definitely had designers and crew with raised eyebrows that I manage to wear a dress to call a show 8 shows a week, but they get over it.

To each their own

[MatthewShiner]

Here's the thing to think about . . . if what you wear is causing such commotion, then perhaps that is the note to yourself it might not be appropriate . . . weather be pants, boots, skirts, low cut items, sweets, etc . . .

[DeeCap]

I agree. If I wore a dress half the people I work with would die of shock....

[smejs]

I also cause a "commotion" sometimes when I wear a skirt at the office, but it's because my fashionably conscious, and yes, gay, co-worker notices as it's a rarity. I get a compliment every time, but the commotion is because it's out of the ordinary, not distasteful. Today, however, I had to go to the warehouse. Definitely not a skirt day, and I've even taught my boss that although my matching costume for some of our school shows is a skirt, I will be changing into it AFTER we load in at the school.

Oh, that said, once I got into opera, I started stocking up on black dresses, even verging on gowns, as that was the standard attire at one company for opening night backstage.

[lsears]

As others have said, function comes first, for clothing that means being able to move quickly, quietly, safely without causing a distraction.  Some of my skirts and dresses I can do that in, others I can't.  I wear skirts frequently in the summer because I'm tall and they are more modest than most of my shorts.  But I think with most things attitude and intention count - I'm not wearing things to get noticed, I'm wearing them because being comfortable and looking decent help me to do my job better and garner more respect in the room. 

There is an older French opera director I work with frequently who was thrilled the first time I wore a skirt to rehearsal, I'll never forget it, it was actually the turning point in our working relationship.  He's gay, wasn't interested in me, but it restored some kind of odd familiarity to him in terms of cultural gender roles.