I've been discovering my own fashion secrets, little by little. My main rules? Less is more...having a smaller wardrobe of nicer things beats a huge assortment of sub par options, am I right? I also always try and add a small splash of color -- whether it's a scarf or a bag or a ring -- to my outfits as I tend to wear neutrals (pastels AND neons are in this season -- I should know -- I bought a subscription to Vogue for $8 on Groupon a few months ago). I always dress for my body type, no matter how much I yearn to wear that flowy, flowery Free People dress that only looks good on waify Twiggy types. Luckily, real waistlines and retro cuts are in. Thanks, Mad Men.
I try not to take tooooo long to get ready, because, no one likes a high maintenance person, and again, back to rule number 1, "less is more." Plus, I'll let you in on a little secret -- bars and restaurants (where I'm assuming you're dressing up to go to) are more often than not dimly lit. No one's gonna notice all of your fine craftsmanship in primping yourself as much as you think they are in the mood lighting.
Hmm...what else? Comfortable and attractive are not mutually exclusive...like why are some "comfortable" clothes actually just ugly clothes? I've always pondered this uncanny phenomenon while at amusement parks. Not to be unpatriotic, but it's pretty embarrassing to be American when you see the way your fellow countrymen and women dress to feel comfortable all day at Disneyland. Somehow the Japanese tourists there always look so put together and fresh and seem to be just as comfortable as that mom wearing a Member's Only Jacket un-ironically.
Okay, last thing -- I'm pretty thrifty...I have expensive taste but I'll manage to find less expensive versions of things I like (fun fact: the Laboutin store is actually just a museum -- nothing in it is for sale, you're just supposed to look at all the beautiful art I mean shoes I mean this is what I tell myself when in the face of beautiful objects that I want but cannot afford nor ever justify affording).
Basically, I'm no Chic Little Poor Girl, as you can tell. My fashion advice is pretty primitive and doesn't sound like it came from the fingertips of a hip 23-year-old (I have been known to wear clogs and was single handedly attempting to bring both corduroy and fanny packs back last year. I still haven't given up). I justify all of this because most of the time, I'm not really dressing as "me" anyway. Let me re-phrase: I'm always myself, but dressing with some other objective in mind. I'm either in head to toe yoga apparel, as I work in a yoga apparel store (or am on my way to or from yoga at some point in the day), or am "dressing the part" for an audition. There are so many things to worry about before an audition besides, you know, the acting part -- what time should I leave? Where should I park? Will they need a headshot? Can I make it to the Valley on a quarter tank of gas? Am I hungry? I should have gone to the bathroom. And of course, WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
I'm here to tell you what (well, mainly what not) to wear! Actually, I have no authority to do that whatsoever. There are no rules in this business. If there were, I would have followed them and passed Go and collected my $200. So let me just tell you what I wear (or don't wear) to auditions (wow this post is turning into quite the vanity project, my bad!):
1. Do Not Overdress the Part
Your clothing choices should hint at the role. You probably shouldn't go all out though. Casting Directors are creative and have imaginations, don't they? You're not auditioning to be the costume designer. Plus you don't want them to be distracted -- you want them to see YOU, not the outfit. You know that first or second episode of Smash (before I lost interest/it became soapy and weird, whichever came first) when Katherine McPhee is auditioning for the role of Marilyn Monroe and she's literally the only one not dressed in the complete 7-Year-Itch white dress/iconic Marilyn garb, and casting is like, "oh that's so refreshing" or something? That's what I mean. If you would feel uncomfortable arriving at work after your audition in it, don't wear it. (caveat: all of those oddly specific commercial auditions that are like -- "we need a clown! Must own/wear full clown costume" are obviously exceptions to this rule, as are all of those anecdotes like "I booked the role because I came in full Elizabethan era costume!").
2. Wear Your Anybody Shoes
One of my favorite acting professors had a pair of shoes that she loved wearing at auditions and rehearsals because she felt like she could be "anybody" in them. It's hard to play a low brow character in high heels...almost as difficult as it is to take yourself seriously and feel grounded in flip flops. And I'm not a Casting Director but I'll venture a guess that it might be kind of gross if you walk in barefoot (in most cases). And most of all, make sure you can walk in whatever footwear you choose...I've seen so many girls walk (well, kind of Michael Jackson Thriller-dance-walk) into audition waiting rooms in giant heels in such a way that it makes me question whether these girls ever learned to walk properly in them at all at like, you know, cotillion (okay maybe that was just me who went to cotillion...well, I was the only Jewish girl there, that's for sure!).
3. Make Your Outfit Car Friendly
In Los Angeles, being an actor means driving a lot. Unless you have an attractive, Irish chauffeur/anarchist to drive you around the countryside like Lady Sybil, chances are you are going to be driving yourself to auditions. Make sure the fabric of your pants or skirt does not stick to the seat. And not to keep harping on shoes, but might I suggest bringing some flip flops to drive in if you're planning to wear heels...no matter how many times I think I've perfected driving in them, the heel of my pumps somehow always gets caught under that weird carpet thing next to the pedals to give me and Betty (my PT Cruiser) quite a fright! Oh ya, and don't text and drive (that was a public service announcement from my Dad).
4. Be Camera-Ready
For film, television, and commercials, your audition will be taped. Avoid wearing crazy patterns that don't read well on camera. Sweep your hair out of your face (unless you're auditioning to play Justin Bieber in a biopic about his life and career) and tone down the accessories (i.e. dangly earrings, hats, glasses if you don't usually wear them)...you've made all this effort to study your part and show up -- you might as well let casting have the best glimpse of you.
5. There Are No Rules!
Just be yourself! I have no clue what I'm talking about, really.
In true "fashion blogger" fashion, I've got to show some pictures now that hopefully you will find somewhat Pinteresting (ha!):
Nice BCBG heels that are treacherous to drive in:
Some anybody shoes **see rule number 2:
My "getting ready" vanity station:
What I wore (an organic cotton maxi dress by lululemon):
When I auditioned for and booked this job:
I sincerely hope these rules have been helpful, and if not, somewhat entertaining.
Adieu, and thanks to Chic Little Poor Girl for the inspiration!
Gilli
