Look of Success, or Look of Creative

[Chris Bové]

Darn good question, more so now than even ten years ago.

My brain wants to spew tons of responses, but I think they’ll all dance around the same thing: In the editing/animation arm of the industry, it’s all about the work vs. the environment. Look at the folks at Pixar, shuttling to meetings in shorts, iPods and on push-scooters. But, I guarantee they all have 3-4 suits and a tux in their office closets. You gotta sport top threads at award shows.

Then look at ad agencies. A suit means loot and that’s it. Maybe chinos and a golf shirt. Not too many places tolerate much else.

In fact, that’s probably the whole key to how a person looks – how much they can get away with. Me? I’m usually in jeans, and since my job description says “… 80% editing, 15% graphics creation and 5% DUTIES AS ASSIGNED.”. As long as I’m seen carrying a screwdriver once in a while, they look the other way. (And no, I don’t mean a vodka/orange juice.) But I throw on a sportcoat every now and then for those throw-off-the-boss James Bond moments.

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/-o-o-\
\`(=)`/…Pixel Monkey
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[Michael Thomson]

Hi guys

Interesting post Charlie !

I dont think its necessarily important what someone wears etc, because it all come down to that persons personality outside of the creative bit.

I’ve worked with / met editors that wear suits / shirt and tie / jeans and a worn out t-shirt etc well groomed / going for the tramp chic etc etc, in all cases the success or creativity amougst them all has been attributed to:

Environment (conformable yet practical)
Comfort (personal preferences in clothing etc)
And most of all getting peace to do their jobs !!

I think the days of stereotyping how a “creative” should look perhaps are now long in the past. One of the biggest mistruths i got told when i started out was that a tidy edit suite is NOT conductive to a creative mentality – utter nonsense !

[Person Lastly]

dress casual

[Del Holford]

amen to that.
I’m most comfortable in polo shirts and Savane slacks. Others are more comfortable in jeans or even shorts. Creativity comes out of your brain not out of your closet.
That being said, clients expect a certain level of business casual and don’t afford as much respect (merited or not) to those who prefer to dress sloppily. That’s my view from the Southeast.

[Mark]

IM really into soccer shirts, being a Brit by birth….I often wear one of my England shirts. I like to dress for comfort, and trust me, there is avery little else more comfortable than a soccer shirt.

Mark

[Charley King]

I probaly should state,I always tried to dress for comfort. Shorts, T-shirt, or some sort of knit shirt, Tennis shoes. I have always made every attempt to be neat, I do feel you should look nice albeit comfortable. As to Pixels coments, for awards shows I have usually dressed western, with my python boots, Levi dress slacks, and my Bugs Bunny Wrangler western shirt with Western Jacket. If I absolutely had to I would rent a Tux, but make every attempt to stay away from that.

I really believe that clients don’t come to a production/post production facility, because a person looks successful, or looks creative, ya just gotta be you.

Charlie

[Walter Biscardi]

I believe you dress appropriate for the situation.

My facility is designed to be laid back and casual for the client with whimsical paint schemes and room designs. The first time I meet any client in my place, I’m sure to either have a nice pair of jeans / slacks with a button down shirt and casual dress shoes. Casual professional I’d call it. Depending on how the client dresses, I will wear dress shorts and clean t-shirts for sessions.

Whenever editing out of house at agencies or client locations, I always wear the slacks / jeans with a button down shirt for first meetings. I want to dress appropriate for their facility and dress code. If the facility is very casual, I’ll dress in in shorts, t-shirts, etc….

First meetings with corporate clients generally calls for slacks and a sport jacket. Subsequent meetings and work at these locations will call for a dress code similar to what’s expected of the client’s staff. I don’t think it’s right to simply say “well I’m a creative guy so I’m not going to dress like you folks.”

Big don’ts in my book.
Never ever wear anything with holes in it. I don’t care if it’s “fashion” that doesn’t play in my book.

Never ever wear anything that can be remotely offensive or controversial, especially some t-shirts with what you might consider “funny.”

Above all always remember, first impressions are everything. Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, “would you trust that person with your project?”

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Creative Genius, Biscardi Creative Media
https://www.biscardicreative.com

Now in Production, “The Rough Cut,” https://www.theroughcutmovie.com

Now editing “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network

“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters

[Shane Ross]

As well as being an editor, I also know TONS of editors. I can tell you, if one showed up to work in what the corporate world calls “dress casual,” we’d all ask “who’d you interview with today?”

Mainy we are in jeans or shorts, t-shirts or short sleeve button ups (being LA and hot) The occasional Oxford, but over a t-shirt and sleeves rolled up. A few times I have seen ripped jeans, but not often. I know a guy with a black mohawk who dresses all in black and wears combat boots…but he is the nicesst guy, extremely creative, and clean.

The biggest this is cleanliness. There are ads out here on the radio that guarantee that a clean plumber will show up at your house…bathed and in laundered clothing (I am guessing that is a problem in plumber-land). As long as we dress neatly (an un-ironed shirt is acceptable if you work long hours and have 3 kids) and bathe regularly then we are fine. There have been a couple times that I know of where the editor was warned about his bathing habits and then fired. I mean, I know we are all introverts for wanting to sit in a dark room staring at computer monitors for 8-10 hours, but really, take SOME pride in your appearance.

But this dress code goes for pretty much everyone in the BIZ out here, minus the Producers. They are always in a suit, or dress casual.

[Person Lastly]

the day someone turns me down based on my casual (not tacky) way of clothes selection over my way of approaching the edit is when do something news worthy. suits are two to three steps away from me in the chain of command, so why the hell should i look like one of them? hmm!!

[Abehjha]

I’m so glad no one expects us to wear a suit in this industry. With the heat generated by all the equipment in the edit suite with no windows and closed doors, a suit just isn’t practical. In fact, i haven’t worn a tie to work since i was an apprentice and even then it was only for screenings. A tie just wasn’t practical because there was always the fear would get caught while running the Steenbeck or re-winding reels. As i moved up the edit chain i’ve gone more casual, slacks and sweaters in the Fall/Winter, shorts and t-shirts in the Spring/Summer. However, I still dress up for screenings.