<p>To me, the only thing to beware is the mini-skirt or baby-doll dress, no matter how much it reveals your personality. Not that you would do this, but I have seen several girls dress ‘seductively’ or with dress/skirts that are just too short. The attention should be mostly at the fact; the outfit - to my mind - should enhance the personality, but not be so distracting as to call attention away from the face. Also, no bra straps, undies or bellies sticking out, no matter how you move. As a mom, I’d recommend a good bra too. </p>
<p>But there’s a huge grey area between that and a ‘plain solid dress with a nude pump.’ My D mostly wore a solid purple dress with a V-neck; the dress went to the knee; she wore it with tights and nice boots with a two inch heel. This was certainly her personality, plus she was comfortable. She had a sweater that went with it, but took it off if it was too hot.</p>
<p>You know, I think at this time I would try to jazz it up a bit. The solid dress in a bright color, nude pumps thing is coming from coaches and was wonderful advice a few years ago. Now everyone coached our not has gotten the memo and the MT girls are becoming a sea of Barbie dolls in different color versions of the same dress. Enough already. Don’t stray to far. But find a way to show off your personality. IMHO.</p>
<p>actingmt - I have been thinking this and I’m glad you said it, as a “newbie” I assumed the sort of dress code had a reason but seems to me it would be hard to be memorable if everyone dressed relatively the same. My S wants to stick with the standard solid button down dress shirt and black pants. I think just about every male with have that on. I prefer another outfit that is slightly more casual but still very nice for him but he seems to be stuck on the “standard”. I guess its all about what you feel your best in.</p>
<p>Mine wore khakis to his first audition and then said “no more”–just didn’t feel like himself. He wore jeans (clean, in good shape, etc.) and a button-down to the rest of his auditions. Figured people better see him for who he really was. And yes, most of the other guys were wearing standard-issue black-pants-jewel-toned-shirt and looked EXACTLY alike; there were usually one or two other guys in jeans. Every time!</p>
<p>For anyone, I think the key is to be comfortable. Wear something that flatters you (color and fit), but wear something that is not distracting. I agree you don’t want anything too tight, too short, too low cut or revealing. You want them to pay attention to your audition, not your clothing. That is why so many people recommend simple colorful dresses or shirts. Your audition clothes should just be a backdrop for the amazing skills you will show at your audition. Be remembered for what you do, not what you wear.</p>
<p>My son wore black fitted jeans with a black t-shirt and a colorful v-neck sweater - it was very much his style.
My daughter, wore a neutral colored dress which had epilettes, a big metal zipper up the front, a ruched waist and a short a-line skirt which she wore with gray tights and gray heels - it was not all typical but it was her style and it worked for her.</p>
<p>This is so interesting. The last time I watched a crowd of teens lining up to audition I took mental notes as a non professional, mom observer: Girls need to rediscover slips or at least skin toned, smooth fitting undergarments. Make sure your shoes don’t give you a Frankenstein gait. Please take elastics off your wrists before you sing! Check out your posture in that dress. So many girls are out of practice wearing dresses - get used to them before auditions. I loved the guys who wore colorful ties. But remember I’m just a mom…</p>
<p>Normally my D dresses very stylishly (pretty much 100% of her salary goes to clothing, boots (they’re sort of an obsession for her), etc.) and a little on the edgier side but she is worried about offending a conservative adjudicator or being thought of as too out there (not sure how her metallics, sparkles and studded ankle boots would go over…) so she will probably stick to her cobalt blue dress and nude character shoes (yes, she’s an MT girl - you can spot her a mile away). LOL Maybe a funky belt or her knee high black boots (no heels) to set her apart, she’ll have to give this some more thought…</p>
<p>Oh, and I’m with you 100% classicbk on the posture. Don’t know how many times I remind D to put her shoulders back and stand up straight! Those 6" she grew over one summer really threw off how she stands (that and being a teenager!)</p>
<p>My D wore either her lace up boots or her cowboy boots (it’s a Texas thing) with her audition dress. I don’t think she scared anyone off and she was able to show her fashion personality.</p>
<p>S was reluctant to wear jazz pants (a no previous dance instruction kid) but started wearing them rolled up to above the knee, which was what some were doing if they got too warm.</p>
<p>D and I are boot fanatics too (we’re shoe-a-holics, in general). She loves them and is comfy in them. I’m thinking of suggesting that she wear pants. She loves dresses, but what they’re making nowadays are always too short thanks to her long legs that start in her armpits!! So, it’s been a challenge to find a dress that comes to the knees. She may have to settle for somewhere around the knees.</p>
<p>Interesting conversation. Last year at Unifieds, I noticed alot of the girls in a similar outfit like that described in many of these responses. Everyone kind of looked like a J. Crew catalog ad. Solid simple dress, sometimes a light cardigan, and often times character shoes? All with similar hair too, long or shoulder length, parted in the middle or slightly on the side, no bangs. Only difference there was hair color. I agree that it’s important to look professional and not wear a lot of distracting accessories (especially bangle bracelets that make noise), but I also think it’s important for a kid who is presenting themselves for an audition to look and feel like like herself. For my daughter that was a monochromatic printed dress and tall boots. She wore patterned tights, but you could only see a bit of them above the tall boots and below the skirt. No accessories except small stud earrings and her hair was short and simply styled. Neutral makeup. So she looked different than then most of the other attendees. But she looked like herself, and felt that way too. I am not a theater professional but it seems like that “cookie cutter” look could “lose” them in the sea of other candidates. They should wear what they like to wear when they dress up, and if their usual look is complicated, yes, they should wear a simplified version of that.</p>
<p>My D went to her first on campus audition last Friday and the outfits the girls were wearing were quite interesting. All the girls were in very short skirts or dresses, one was in flip flop sandals and lots of false eyelashes. My D was in her 50’s inspired swing dress and saddle shoes. LOL</p>
<p>Swing dress and saddle shoes sounds like a very cute and unique outfit! And since she’s a redhead, I’m sure she looked quite I Love Lucy-esque! Did you post over in the Theatre thread about her first audition experience? Like I said I’m living vicariously through those of you heading to auditions with your children before my daughter and me.</p>
So, it’s been a challenge to find a dress that comes to the knees. She may have to settle for somewhere around the knees.</p>