Some days when you show up to stand in, you may find that you’ll be “lying in.” For example, your first-team actor might be in a bed or a hospital gurney for a scene. When you lie in, often you take off your shoes so as not to dirty the linens.

Or you may be standing in on a set where shoes are problematic for the set. Maybe you’re on a shiny surface and shoe prints on the surface would be murder on the set dressers.

In such cases, you will be faced with exposing what’s inside your shoes. Here are some thoughts on wearing socks when standing in.

Prepare Each Day As If Your Socks Will Be Seen

We all probably own socks we regularly wear that have a hole or two in them. Not everyone is embarrassed about such secrets, but in case you are, consider that when you’re standing in for a day, you might have to reveal to the crew and perhaps to camera that you are wearing holey socks!

Save yourself the embarrassment when standing in by wearing quality socks each day with no holes. Should you have to take off your shoes, you’ll be protected.

Prepare Each Day As If  Your Socks Will Be Smelt!

Secretly, you might also wear some socks more than once without washing them. That might be okay if you think your socks will never come out of your shoes. But if you find that you have to take off your shoes to lie in a bed, the crew may be faced with the stench of your stinky socks.

Avoid that embarrassment and the unpleasant work environment it creates. Wear clean socks each day to set when you’re standing in.

What About No Socks?

If you’re wearing open-toed shoes, flip-flops, or just no socks at all, keep in mind that your feet may be exposed when asked to lie in or to walk on a surface without shoes.

If the idea of getting dirt on your bare feet or having your feet seen is uncomfortable, make sure to wear socks rather than going sockless when you stand in.

If you insist on going sockless, it might help to bring a pair of socks to work just in case sporting socks would serve your interests.

Dress for Warmth

In cold temperatures, many people are agonized by cold feet. Once their feet get cold, they start to suffer and have a hard time getting their feet warm.

Wearing appropriate socks can help stand-ins endure working in cold temperatures. Wool and/or merino wool socks can keep feet relatively warm in the cold, especially when they are layered.

If by chance you aren’t wearing socks when working in cold temperatures, you probably won’t be able to affix toe warmers to your feet for a little extra warmth. Toe warmers need to be applied to socks rather than the skin. Wear socks when you are wearing a boot so that you can benefit from the addition of toe warmers.

A Last Word on Personality

When standing in, you may not get a lot of opportunities to show a bit of personality. You might be forced to wear ill-fitting color cover or to wear dark colors that don’t express your true self.

If a sense of humor is welcome, wear fun socks to set! Socks can give you an opportunity to express yourself when you need to take off your shoes. Revealing fun socks when you are working in socks can bring some joy to a set.

Have any other tips on wearing socks (or not) when standing in? Share your ideas below!