{"id":1738,"date":"2020-01-09T10:20:11","date_gmt":"2020-01-09T10:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/?p=1738"},"modified":"2026-02-16T17:36:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T17:36:56","slug":"dressing-for-auditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/getting-work\/dressing-for-auditions\/","title":{"rendered":"Dressing the Part for Auditions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Actress Lauren McCrostie explains how making subtle character references in your clothing choices can help you dress for a successful audition.<\/h3>\n
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By choosing an outfit well you help the casting director ‘see\u2019 you in the role<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

As actors, we all acknowledge the importance of preparing as much and as best as possible for any audition piece we\u2019re given. With the industry being\u00a0as\u00a0rumbustious as it is, it is of no surprise how far we will sometimes go with our lists of preparations and precautions to take before any given meet.<\/p>\n

After receiving sides to prepare we vigilantly learn lines, create character biographies and fastidiously research all the production and creative teams involved. We also ensure we arrive at the audition with enough time to settle our spirits. This preparation is sacred and safe to us as actors; it grants us a sense control and deeper understanding of the work.<\/p>\n

But do you ever think about dressing for the part you\u2019re up for? Considering actors are juggling other jobs, it\u2019s likely that you would have squeezed auditions into your other work schedule so you may not be dressed appropriately. Or you may be so busy studying the script that you\u2019ve run out of time to consider what you\u2019d wear for the occasion.<\/p>\n

The way you dress for a part can have considerable influence.\u00a0Here are\u00a0the reasons why you should dedicate time to contemplating what you should\u00a0wear when auditioning.<\/p>\n

The science of dressing<\/h4>\n

The psychology behind dressing is a well-documented field. As people begin to realise how powerful dressing can be in affecting a person\u2019s perception of you, the number of studies is increasing.<\/p>\n

In a published\u00a0study looking into how clothing influences impressions<\/a>\u00a0of us, a man being interviewed for an\u00a0office-based job, “after\u00a0just\u00a0a three-second exposure, people judged the man more favourably in [a]\u00a0bespoke suit\u201d. The interviewer rated him as “more confident, successful, flexible and a higher earner” because he was in a tailor-made suit.<\/p>\n

This emphasises the power of dressing. This combined with the\u00a0fact that\u00a060-80% of communication is non-verbal<\/a>,\u00a0proves\u00a0to be a\u00a0good\u00a0reason to pay attention to\u00a0your attire.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0other\u00a0industries, there is a collective understanding\u00a0of\u00a0the significance\u00a0of\u00a0dressing well for any potential job. You hope to impress and want to look as professional, reliable and suitable for the role as possible.\u00a0You want to subconsciously persuade the interviewer that you are the perfect candidate and can trust that you are able to execute the job well.<\/p>\n

You may be thinking, “how does this affect me as an actor? I can\u2019t wear a suit and tie to every audition!” Well, like any interview, in an audition you\u00a0hope to convince the interviewer or, in our case, the casting director that you’re perfect for the role. This remains the same when submitting a self-tape too. Dress well and dress for your character.<\/p>\n

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Opt for subtle, suitable references to the character you are playing instead of a full-blown costume<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Less is more<\/h4>\n

You needn\u2019t purchase a whole new outfit\u00a0for an audition.\u00a0Look into your wardrobe or borrow from friends or family to give hints to the role you\u2019re auditioning for.\u00a0Less is really more here.<\/p>\n

Opt for subtle, suitable references to the character you are playing instead of a full-blown costume.\u00a0Do not<\/strong>\u00a0enter an audition fully gowned and jewelled if auditioning for a royal icon!\u00a0Make small, simple choices that are still noticeable. Perhaps pick pastel tones and plait your hair if auditioning for a younger role or wear bold, primary coloured pieces if going up for a superhero part etc.<\/p>\n

Small yet noticeable choices in your clothing help to imply certainty about your character to anyone you\u2019re interacting with.\u00a0By choosing an outfit well you’re helping the casting director\u00a0or\u00a0director ‘see’\u00a0you in the role. You will feel more certain of, and connected\u00a0to, the role, which will only help to improve your reading and confidence. The casting director will likely pick up on your clothing hints\u00a0(remember, small nods to a character, not massive signposts!),\u00a0acknowledging the effort you\u2019ve taken and therefore respect how important the work is to you.<\/p>\n

Take some control<\/h4>\n

Actors routinely feel helpless and swamped when going up for parts – they feel lost in a sea of competition and nepotism. I hope to remind you of the control you\u00a0do<\/strong>\u00a0have.\u00a0Making small, yet precise,\u00a0character\u00a0references in your attire\u00a0will serve to extend the impact of your performances and, hopefully, help you dress for success.<\/p>\n

Lauren McCrostie\u00a0<\/a>is an actress and writer based in London. Previous acting work includes Tim Burton\u2019s ‘Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children’ and Carol Morley\u2019s ‘The Falling’. Lauren.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Actress Lauren McCrostie explains how making subtle character references in your clothing choices can help you dress for a successful audition. By choosing an outfit well you help the casting director ‘see\u2019 you in the role As actors, we all acknowledge the importance of preparing as much and as best as possible for any audition […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":2842,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[72,82,133,71],"class_list":["post-1738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-getting-work","tag-auditions","tag-first-person","tag-lauren-mccrostie","tag-self-taping"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDressing the Part for Auditions | Spotlight<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to dress for audition success by using subtle character references to help casting directors see you in the role.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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