Classical, Crossover, Dresses, Jewelry, Outfits

Looking Forward to Fall with Halogen’s V-Neck Sheath Dress

Good morning!  Today’s post will be looking forward to fall, which is often one of the busiest audition seasons of the year.  It’s coming up sooner than it seems, and before we know it all those fall auditions will be here.  Being prepared well in advance will help you avoid stress and feel ready!

Fall means cooler weather and richer colors.  That’s why I chose this look featuring a sheath dress by Halogen in beautiful fall tones.

HALOGEN ® SEAMED V-NECK PONTE SHEATH DRESS green

Halogen V-Neck Ponte Sheath Dress

This sheath dress will be a lifesaver in your closet.  It’s a classic piece that you could wear to a variety of occasions (think weddings, formal events, and even performances!) and accessorize in many different ways.  It is especially good for auditions because of its simplicity, comfort, and style.  This dress will look good on everyone; the classic v-neck is universally flattering, the cap sleeves look great on most people, and the slightly above-the-knee length elongates legs.  (The dress is also available in petite for anyone on the shorter side.)  Plus, if you look carefully at the seaming of this dress, you’ll notice the lines going down the front and around the midsection.  This type of seaming is extremely flattering and will define the waist.  There is also a zipper down the back which adds interest.

Ponte fabric is especially comfortable because it it thick and sturdy but also very stretchy and comfortable.  This dress will not feel constricting or like it’s pinching.

This dress is available in four colors: green, burgundy, navy, and black.  The rich green color shown is perfect for when the weather starts to get a little cooler, but any of the colors would be a great choice.  This dress is a winner for fall!  It is currently on sale at Nordstrom for $65.90, so get it while it’s hot!

You can pair this dress with a wide variety of accessories because it is so simple and classic.  I’ve chosen a couple of things that I think would make a big impact!

LISA FREEDE BAGUETTE ALLISON NECKLACE

Lisa Freede baguette crystal Allison curb-link necklace

This necklace adds some shine and fun to our look.  It is modern and sophisticated, which goes with the look of our dress.  The length is 42″ which means you can wrap it around your neck twice, as shown, for a cool layered look.  Right now it is 20% off with code COOL.

KATE SPADE NEW YORK MULTICOLOR CRYSTAL COLLAR NECKLACE

Kate Spade New York Crystal Collar Necklace

For something with even more impact, go for Kate Spade’s Crystal Collar Necklace!  The black and tan accents are perfect for fall, and there’s just enough sparkle from the clear stones.  This necklace is fun and on-trend!  Right now it is 20% off with code COOL.

Finally, we need some shoes!

CHINESE LAUNDRY SHOES 500 DAYS OF STUNNER HEEL IN NOIR

Chinese Laundry 500 Days of Stunner Heel in Noir

I love these shoes!  These sandals are great for today’s look because they add some personality and flair.  The wavy straps and cutouts make a statement by themselves!  The ankle strap will help you feel a little more secure wearing heels if you are not used to them.  Heel height is 3″, which is the highest I would go for an audition.  Anything more than that and I personally start to feel very uncomfortable.  But it’s all about personal preference!

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Dresses, Musical Theater, Outfits

A More Casual Summer Look

Today’s look is a little bit more casual, which lends itself perfectly to a musical theater audition.  Typically for musical theater you will see a lot more variety in the types of outfits people wear, from dresses to jeans and many things in between.  The biggest thing to remember when dressing for any audition is that there are no rules.  Every casting director has different likes and dislikes and different ideas about what is appropriate.  So wear something that you love and feel comfortable in (and that makes sense for the show or character) and be confident in who you are!

With that said, let’s move on to our look!

ASTR Floral Print Wrap Dress

ASTR Floral Print Wrap Dress

What I like most about this dress is that it is easy and light.  It’s flowy so you won’t feel constricted or uncomfortable.  It is a true wrap dress, which means that you wrap it around your waist and tie it together in the back, or sometimes the front.  Wrap dresses are flattering on nearly all body types, and the best part about them is that they are completely adjustable so you can fit it perfectly to your body.  The sleeves are great for a little upper body coverage, and the length is not too short at 36.5″ long.  The neckline is a deep V which is typically flattering; however, if the neckline feels too low a cami underneath would solve that problem!

Some people may say that neutral colors are a no-go, but remember – there are no rules.  If you love it and feel great in it, then wear it.  The only exception would be for film auditions; in this case there are certain colors that the camera does not pick up well.  But for live auditions, honey, go for it!

SOLE SOCIETY 'GILLIAN' GLADIATOR SANDAL

Sole Society ‘Gillian’ Gladiator Sandal

If we really want to commit to the casual look, flats are the answer!  Any neutral flat sandal would look great with this dress, but I chose this pair by Sole Society because they’re more interesting than the typical sandal.  The criss-cross lace-up style is fun and different.

If you are looking for more of a heel, the shoes from yesterday’s look would go great with this dress!  Or you could try something like this:

 

CHARLES DAVID 'JOEY' WEDGE SANDAL

Charles David ‘Joey’ Wedge Sandal

These casual wedge sandals are sleek and simple, which will complement the floral print of the dress.  Plus they have a modern feel thanks to the white wedge.  These sandals have a 3″ heel and a 1.5″ platform, which means that even though the total height is 3″ it will only feel like you are wearing a 1.5″ heel.  This is great to get some extra height without the discomfort!  These are currently on sale at Nordstrom for $60.

Accessories for this look should be minimal.  Stud earrings and a small pendant necklace would suffice!

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Classical, Crossover, Dresses, Jewelry, Musical Theater, Outfits

A Red Hot Summer Look

It’s been a while since my last post so, lucky you, you will get two looks today!  I intended to write more posts but the summer got the best of me.  😉  Oh well, nothing to do but pick up where I left off!  This post will feature a fun red hot summer look for anyone who’s got an audition coming up in the heat.

This first look I love!  It’s bright, cheerful, and right on point.

MARC NEW YORK LATTICE INSET WOVEN FIT & FLARE DRESS

Marc New York Lattice Inset Woven Fit & Flare Dress

I love this dress for so many reasons.  The fact that it is a bright red is perfect to get noticed, and it’s done in a classy way.  The lattice cutouts on the skirt are fun and flirty.  The short sleeves are great for anyone who prefers to cover their shoulders or arms, but it won’t be too hot for the summer heat.  The length is a perfect 37″ which means that it’s not going to be too short, especially for ladies who are 5’6″ and above.

This dress is currently on sale at Nordstrom for $82.80, so act fast because it seems like it’s selling out!

The simplicity of this dress is perfect for accessorizing, which brings me to…

CALVIN KLEIN CARINI ANKLE STRAP PUMP

Calvin Klein Carini Ankle Strap Pump

These neutral sandals are great for our Marc New York dress.  They are modern and sleek and still have an element of fun with the snakeskin embossed heel.  The chunky 3″ heel is comfortable for auditioning – no feeling like you’re going to topple over!  But the best thing about these sandals is that they would go with anything.  You can pair them with other dresses, pants, or skirts.  They are also available in black, which would go great with our look as well.

ADIA KIBUR KYLIE FEATHER EARRINGS

Adia Kibur Kylie Feather Earrings

For accessories, we have these fun and playful feather earrings by Adia Kibur.  They are the perfect complement to our look because they add some personality to otherwise sleek and modern pieces.  You can’t go wrong with these gold dangle earrings and a cute red dress!

Edit: As of 8/3/2016 these earrings are on sale – 30% off!

I hope you enjoyed today’s look, and stay tuned for a second look today!

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Classical, Crossover, Dresses, Jewelry, Outfits

When you want to look polished: J. Crew’s Promotion Dress

Sometimes you need to go on an audition for something a little more refined – maybe an opera, maybe a super-classy wedding band, or maybe you just want to look particularly put-together.  Whatever the case, this is your dress!

j crew promotion dress

J Crew Promotion Dress

This dress has style, poise, and class.  It says that you’re put together, smart, and stylish.  You can never go wrong with the classic sheath silhouette because it flatters nearly every body type.  But this dress isn’t just a standard sheath – it has something special at the neckline: asymmetrical pleating and a pretty sleeve detail.  This adds interest to the dress without being overwhelming or distracting.  This dress has enough going on to not be boring, but at the same time it lets you shine instead of the dress stealing the show.

The Promotion Dress is available in four colors: white, red, olive, and black.  I think my favorite is the red – it stands out in a crowd!  It is available in petite and tall lengths as well.

Since this dress is pretty classic, you can have fun with some funky accessories.  I would pair this dress with some drop earrings, a bracelet, and some patterned pumps.  Skip a necklace because it would compete with the neckline.

 

BAKERS SIDNIE FLORAL PLATFORM PUMPS

Bakers Sidnie Platform Pumps

These shoes say, “Here I am!!!”  They are fun and full of personality, which is the perfect complement to the Promotion Dress.  I love the hibiscus pattern because it is perfect for summer and can brighten up any outfit.  These shoes are currently on sale at JC Penney!

Now for jewelry.  Something fun yet not too over the top is in order.  J. Crew comes to the rescue again with these:

j crew beaded tassel earrings

J Crew Beaded Tassel Earrings

I love these earrings because they are a little bit non-traditional, which is such a nice contrast to the dress.  All that is needed is a plain gold bangle bracelet, like the one below.

kate spade gold bangle

Kate Spade Heart of Gold Bangle

This simple gold bangle is the perfect final touch for our polished look, and it will also go with many other outfits!

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Classical, Crossover, Dresses, Jewelry, Musical Theater, Outfits

Madewell’s Sorbonne Dress

Hi ladies!

The very first dress I have for you is a classic LBD.  This dress will be a go-to piece in your audition wardrobe for years.  Why?  Because it will never go out of style.  You can accessorize it in an endless variety of ways to keep the dress looking fresh and current.  This particular dress is sleek, sophisticated, and great for most seasons of the year.  I love dresses with sleeves, especially in the fall and winter, because I get cold so easily.  I audition better when I’m feeling comfortable!

madewell sorbonne dress

Madewell Sorbonne Dress

I have shopped at Madewell quite a bit and they do a great job of making high-quality clothes.  This isn’t going to be a flimsy dress with poor stitching that will fall apart or look worn after a couple of months of use.  They use quality fabrics that you will feel comfortable in time and time again.

The best part?  It’s on sale right now plus an extra 20% off all sale styles.

This dress can be accessorized so many ways.  You can do a classic string of pearls, but if you really want to stand out, try something like these:

crystal ribbon necklaceJ Crew Crystal Ribbon Necklace

I love this ribbon necklace from J. Crew.  It’s classy but also fun, and will add a ton of sparkle to your look.  It comes in two colors.  J. Crew is currently running a 30% off sale, so now is the time to shop!

 

PINK MARQUISE RIBBON WRAPPED STATEMENT NECKLACE

Kohl’s Pink Marquise Statement Necklace

This pink statement necklace from Kohl’s is a great option if you want to make a bold choice.  You’ll definitely get noticed wearing this piece!  The bright colors help to make the dress appropriate for spring and summer.

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Hello!

Hi and welcome to Audition Dresses, the new place where fashion meets performer.  This site will be the go-to place to find stylish, comfortable, and practical attire to wear to your next audition.  Because let’s face it – our audition dresses go through a lot, from getting stuffed in a bag with a pair of shoes to doubling as dance attire from time to time.  What we choose to wear has to be tough, but it also has to make us stand out in the crowd.  That’s a tall order!  And Audition Dresses is here to help!

It’s about time I introduce myself.  Hi!  My name is Jessica and I am a fellow singer and actress living in the NYC area.  I am a classically trained soprano who also loves doing musical theatre, pop, and jazz.  I happen to also love fashion, and so I am thrilled to be able to combine the two and help my fellow musicians, actresses, and performance artists to look amazing at their auditions, performances, or industry events.

Jessica

I plan to post a selection of currently-available dresses several times per week and let you know about any sales or coupon codes that can help you save some money.  I’ll also suggest shoes and accessories that will help complete your look and make you feel like a million bucks (for a fraction of the price).  I intend to choose things that will be functional, easy to transport, comfortable, and definitely fashion-forward.

I can’t wait to start posting looks for you all to enjoy!

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