Tuesday, December 16, 2014

AN ACTOR'S WARDROBE - by John Essay

I recommend that actors have a separate wardrobe for auditioning.  You may think that this is a waste of money but I assure you it will save you money in the long run and will eliminate the stress that comes with “Oh my,  what am I to wear?” or “Darn, I wore that shirt to the bar last night and now it’s dirty.”  Because we know you were probably out last night - LOL.

If you have a separate wardrobe for acting, both your acting and civilian clothes will last longer and slow down the fabrics’ wear and tear. In addition, deciding what to wear for an audition is easier because you have already set aside your acting wardrobe and thus you have already made the choice what to wear when you designated the items for “acting” only.  For on-camera auditions, there are some colors and patterns that look better on camera then they do in real life. The opposite is also true, some colors and patterns look great in real life and awful on camera. This is important for you to find out which is which. That’s where taking an on camera class will not only help you with on camera technique but it will also give you the opportunity to see what clothes look best on you on camera. This goes for hair styles, makeup and facial hair too.

What should be in your acting wardrobe? Knowing your “type” is essential.

MEN:
·         Suit/Tie – if your “type” is white collar, this is important for roles like Lawyers,   CEOs, Banker, Wall Street types. This is a piece of your wardrobe that could cross over into your personal wardrobe since they tend to be expensive and you may not get a lot of use out of it.
·         Sports Jacket and dress pants – for a less upscale look.
·         Polo shirt and khakis – great for commercials and covers a large range of “types” including Dad, Weekender, Some blue collar jobs, etc.
·         Jeans and shorts – Covers many many roles. Make sure jeans are clean with no holes. Wear shorts only when it is appropriate.
·         Several sport/dress and T-shirts. You can mix/match for all the above looks.
·         A pair of non-glare glasses are a great addition.
·         Tennis shoes and dress shoes.
WOMEN
·         Sun or summer dress – casual and not too sexy.
·         Sexy dress – if this fits your type.
·         Business suit w/pants and/or skirt – great for Lawyer, CEO, power broker. A few blouses that you can change out or just wear with skirt or pants without jacket.
·         Long skirt – for period pieces.
·         Sweater set – you know the one that the shirt matches the open sweater – great for mom types.
·         Jeans, khakis with appropriate tops. Good for woman on the go, moms, working ladies.
·         Glasses are a great addition.

Here’s a link to What toWear….Dressing the Part.