I watch everything- from what shoppers are carrying to displays to artist interactions with customers - you name it, I mull it over.
Now, I see artists who are in jeans, some are in dresses. Hell, there was one dude I am quite certain hadn't bathed in days (trust me, he lingered LONG after he left my booth!) - so my question is this: Does what we wear affect how our customers perceive us?
I find it very difficult to get into the girl clothes, and then load a truck full of display and art, drive for a good while, unload, set up and still look like a professional businesswoman.
An artist friend said to me: "you don't ever want to look like you need the money." Ok....fine. Don the girl clothes, get them good & dirty setting up and problems arise.
So what is the right way to go? Does what we wear, be it jeans, a t-shirt and a pair of tennies or wearin' the girl clothes, affect how we are responded to as professionals or that impression projected onto our artisitic abilities - translating into sales?
Obviously, completely disheveled smelly, sweaty guy probably repelled more prospective clients than he retained, but I saw one artist (whose work was gorgeous, btw) in her funky and very artsy albeit professional dress sit all day with nary a customer in sight.
I'm out on the town on Saturday, and I'm willing to try the girl clothes experiment. What say you?
Replies
I just simply say, "Dress Your Brand."
What would your brand wear when it's hot? When it's raining?
Customers expect artists to dress like artists and are disappointed when we're not living up to their expectations. I'm not saying one should dress like Mrs. Roper from 3's Company (unless you're comfortable with that and it fits your flamboyant designs), but any little signature piece will help you convey your creative side and it will satisfy their voyeur tendencies.
Growing up I've heard whispers, "Let's go see the artists and what they're wearing!" It's almost as though artists were 'underworld show-folk' and the thought of voyeurism only made me laugh. I enjoyed the theatrical styles of artists and have incorporated them into my own dress into adulthood.
Now I ask myself, 'Can I get away with that? Is it age-approriate? Is it too over the top?"
Sure, I make mistakes and have bought off NYC sales racks when it was too hot to think. But damn I loved the colors in that little off the shoulder number that converted my small frame into a colorful hairball in 5 seconds flat.
I agree that we sometimes make our own style. My art (jewelry) has influences of island, ocean, & Asia. Some of my favorite skirts are Thai wrap skirts with bold batik prints of elephants & Thai dancers, or skirts with big embroidered tropical flowers. My booth is breezy, tropical, with a hint of exotic. Since we moved to the midwest I can honestly say I haven't seen people who have the same clothes as my husband & I. His favorite shirts are aloha shirts or Asian shirts with dragons & pagodas on them. We totally fit in when we lived in Hawaii.
Tina
I usually wear nice jeans/capris/khaki/cordoroy pants & nice shirt/sweater for set-up & tear down days. I bring a old t-shirt or sweatshirt that I put over my nice shirt for the dirty work. For Saturday I usually wear a skirt/sundress or nicer pants. Comfortable shoes or sandals. I try to dress in layers so I can be comfortable all day. I like the combination of dressy sleeveless tops w/ a cardigan sweater. If it's cold I stick a hand warmer in my coat pocket & one of the stick-on body warmers to the inside of my coat (middle of my back). My hands get clumsy when they are cold. I keep diaper wipes, hand sanitizer, deodorant, hair spray & face powder in my booth so I can look & smell fresh all day. I will sometimes change in my booth before I unzip my sides. I'd much rather have a hot day over a cold & rainy day. Overall I try to look professional and wear clothing that my jewelry looks good with.
Tina
If its mild spring/autumn weather or indoors I wear black pants, flat black (comfy) shoes and a black top (I have a variety of them from short to long sleeved). Then I wear bright jewellery. If its a bit cool I wear my cream leather jacket and a scarf. I haven't had to contend with a show in which I needed a garbage bag (yet!) - although I have shivered through a winter show grateful for my long black wool coat, scarf and gloves!
If its summer, I wear either a navy linen top with navy pants & shoes (for same day shows) or for non-set up same day shows I wear light black cotton pants, a loose white linen top and gold sandals. Once again with colourful jewels.
As you can see I tend to go monochrome 90% of the time in a dark colour - its less distracting for the customer if you have plain colours on and doesn't compete with your work.
The dark coloured clothes hide any dirt I rub up against. The jacket is leather so it wipes down. If its hot weather the linen breathes and I make sure they have a bit of room to get some air flow going when I move :)
Comfy footwear-monochrome dark in winter, linen neutrals for summer. Although, being a very pale skinned red head, I try to add a dash of color with my tops- unless its a music fest, or beach show- these are less formal here- so shorts, t-shirt- I try NOT to do sandals- for safety reasons. Injury, and insect bites are the main ones. I love having a multi purpose wardrobe and mix and match the classics!
I hear that- i always bring a pair...just in case! But generally stick with my flats! I wear kid size shoes-a four wide and have orthopedic inserts- extremely high arches- that tend to fall- which is very painful. Finding comfortable, safe shoes can be quite a challenge! Especially if I am trying to look like a professional adult! Pink ribbons, bows, sequins and disney characters are sooo NOT my thing!! Lol!
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