They'll Thank You Later - How to Dress for a Television Interview
Appearing on television can be a great thrill, especially for novices. It's important for your on-screen talent to look their best when the cameras are pointed at them.
We've all seen instances of shiny faces, busy patterns on suits, and wild hairstyles. I've had instances in my career when guests have shown up wearing a bright white blouse, a herringbone sport coat, or a skirt that’s too short, and much of what they talk about is lost by the distraction of how they look. In each of these instances, I wish I had taken the time to send them some tips on how to dress for television.
I'm not that snappy a dresser myself, so I feel a little weird sending people direction on how to dress. But that's when you must remember the "They'll Thank You Later," principle. Any embarrassment that comes from being told how to dress will melt away once they see how good they look on the screen.
I have compiled this list of do's and don'ts to help your talent look great in front of the camera. Feel free to use it to protect your talent's look (and your reputation) from an embarrassing television appearance.
THE DO's
Dress Simply - Unless the talent’s clothing is part of their signature look, (such as a fashion designer or Lady Gaga) it's better to wear clothing that doesn't stand out. People need to remember what the talent says in an interview, not what they’re wearing. Most pros agree that the safest color for TV is blue, and pastel shirts work well on TV. Solid-color ties are also a good idea.
Wear a Shirt or Jacket with a Collar or a Lapel - A lot of women's clothing is devoid of pockets and collars. Men sometimes wear turtlenecks or T-shirts. Make sure that your sound person has a place to locate a lapel microphone by having your talent wear garments such as button-up shirts with collars or jackets with a lapel. Having a convenient pocket for locating the battery pack is also helpful.
Make Sure That the Talent’s Clothes Fit – Wearing clothes that are too big can make the talent look dumpy. Clothes that are too small can pull, bind, or possibly show too much skin. Make sure that participants wear clothes that are comfortable, but not too loose. Also, make sure they are modestly covered when sitting.
Avoid Wearing Jewelry that Moves or Makes Noise – Dangly jewelry could hit the microphone, and what sounds in the studio like a slight click of metal touching the mic can sound like a deafening crash in the editing bay. Also, avoid jewelry that is extra shiny, it can reflect the light and cause lens flares.
Be Wrinkle Free - Make sure that the talent's clothes are well pressed. High definition video is very unforgiving and just a little bit of wrinkled clothing can be distracting. In our studio, we keep a clothes steamer and wrinkle release spray handy.
THE DON'TS
Don’t Wear White - White glows and becomes the most noticeable thing on the TV screen. If you do wear white, consider wearing a dark jacket over it.
Don’t Wear Red - This is not as big a problem as it once was back in the days of analog video. But, shades of red can bleed on camera and cause a trail effect whenever your talent moves. That's great for a '70's disco show, but not great for a serious television interview.
Avoid Wearing Black - Black is too harsh and requires a lot of light to create contrast. It can make it look like the talent is just a floating head on screen. If you'll notice, most newscasters wear a gray or dark blue jacket. These colors provide a good outline while also allowing the texture of the fabric to be seen.
Don’t Wear Stripes, Checks, Herringbone, or Clothes with Small Intricate Designs - Sometimes, clothes with stripes or tight patterns create a shimmering effect. This happens when the pattern of the garment competes with the frame rate of the camera. Tight patterned clothing can sometimes appear to move independently from the person wearing it. The talent moves one way, and the pattern moves the other way...it's just weird. When in doubt, go with a solid color.
No visible logos of companies or brands (unless they’re paying the bill for the project!)
Regarding Make-Up...
Men often try to avoid having make-up put on them before an interview. If they are not professional on-air talent, they are probably already a little nervous, and the idea of putting on make-up just makes it worse. In situations like this, I find that explaining the technical reasons for putting on the make-up makes men more comfortable. If you must put some powder on a gentleman’s bald head, tell him that it is to eliminate excessive shine on their skin (don’t say bald head) and it’s important in order to get a good shot.
Most women already know the benefits of make-up, and they usually show up at the studio wearing what they think will look good on-camera. Just make sure that what they are wearing compliments them, and tactfully help them make adjustments if necessary.
The most important thing about looking good on television is just to relax. Making TV is fun! Keeping your talent at ease will help with all the aspects of the production. Don’t be a cliché director who yells and screams. Keep a low-key, friendly studio environment, and things will go well.
They’ll thank you for it later…