Not only does content creator Sasha Charnin Morrison have over 25 years of experience as a fashion editor, she also has acting and performing in her DNA. Both her parents worked in show business: Her mother was a Broadway actor, and her father, Martin Charnin, created, directed, and wrote the lyrics for the 1977 musical “Annie.”
Charnin Morrison tried her hand at acting herself, most notably as a backup dancer in Pat Benatar’s iconic “Love Is a Battlefield” music video. Even though she got noticed—the music video’s costume designer loved her audition look so much they visited the boutique she was working in to buy some pieces for Benatar to wear on the shoot—she decided fashion was her true passion and started her career in magazines.
We spoke to the “Secrets of Stylists” author to get her thoughts on what’s in and out when it comes to your audition wardrobe.
Do your research.
First and foremost, thoroughly read the breakdown to see if there are specific instructions on how to dress and style your hair and makeup for the audition. If specific instructions are listed, Google is your friend. “Become an expert on what is being asked,” Charnin Morrison says.
No matter if you’re dressing in a ’20s-era flapper dress or a suit and tie, she adds, “Be sure that whatever you choose to wear doesn’t overwhelm your performance. In the end, you want to look and feel comfortable. You want to be yourself and give them a little taste of the character. If you book the part, there’s going to be a costume designer who’s going to take care of the clothing; your performance is what is going to make you stand out during the audition.”
It’s not black and white.
For on-camera auditions, Charnin Morrison advises against wearing white, zig-zag patterns, and stripes as they can distort the camera—so it’s best to stick with solid colors. And even if your audition is in New York City, don’t wear black. “Black can look very stark, especially on camera,” she says, “so go with navy instead.”
Logos are also a no-go, on or off camera, “because they are distracting.” And when in doubt, wear denim: “It’s perfect. It’s universal. Everyone will be able to focus on you.”
Rinse and repeat.
If you get a callback, don’t decide to mix things up and get a makeover. “It’s really important that you wear what you wore to the first audition so they can be reminded of who you are,” says Charnin Morrison. “Don’t cut your hair; don’t do anything new with your look. Stay consistent with the message that you put out from the beginning.”
Accessories should be silent.
While it’s true that accessories like earrings and bracelets can pull together an outfit, “you don’t want anything that clings and clangs and moves around while you speak,” Charnin Morrison says. “Be very minimal with your accessories. Rehearse the night before wearing your outfit and accessories, and eliminate anything that makes noise. The casting director wants to hear you, not your bangles.”
Be yourself.
“When my father was cast as an original Jet in ‘West Side Story,’ he was hired against type—he was a complete dork in real life,” says Charnin Morrison. “He found out later that what the book writer, Arthur Laurents, and lyricist, Stephen Sondheim, loved about what he brought to the role was his clarity, his diction, and his sense of the words. Later in life, when my father was casting ‘Annie,’ he always looked for unique kids and made a career out of casting against what they thought was needed. So, in the end, it’s not usually what your outfit looks like; it’s not going to be 100% based on how you look. It’s really about what you bring to the character. And as long as you’re comfortable with that, you’ll be a step in the right direction in getting hired. To quote ‘Working Girl’: ‘You make it happen.’ ”
Stylist and author Sasha Charnin Morrison has been a fashion editor at magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, and Us Weekly, where she started the “Who Wore It Best?” column.