Let's face it. Everyone, including my sweet little old grandparents, judges the attire that news men and women wear on-air, (since I am a woman, this blog is going to focus exclusively on the female appearance).
"Who let her wear that color on air?"
"That hairstyle is... interesting..."
"Could her makeup be any thicker?"
"Is she reporting the news, or going out to a club? That dress is way too tight."
Like it or not, these are all accurate representations of how people judge news reporters for their wardrobes, along with hair and makeup choices. Viewers are a judgmental bunch, and although I've never cared about whether people think I'm drop-dead-gorgeous or not, how you look can be the difference between good ratings, and terrible ratings. It can also be the difference between your audience paying attention to what you're saying, or what you're wearing.
So how does a new reporter fresh out of college avoid certain fashion faux pas on TV? What is and isn't acceptable? How do you maintain a professional look?
Although I am certainly no expert, after two summers of on-air experience with a local TV news station, and nearly four with my student-run campus TV newscast, here are a few things I've learned/read up on.
1. Solids. Solids. Solids.
There's nothing worse than a loud, confusing pattern on your dress to scare viewers away. When in doubt, always purchase the solid dress over one with even a slight pattern.
Plus, wearing a solid dress means you have more flexibility when it comes to the color, as well as what jewelry you can wear with it.
2. Put. The Cleavage. AWAY.
Though some people may believe that cleavage boosts ratings, I think it conveys an unprofessional, tacky tone - definitely not something you want people to think of you.
When someone is watching you on the evening news, or a possible future employer is looking at your resume tape, do you want them to remember your breasts? No. You don't. (If you do, you should maybe get out of the journalism industry). You want them to remember how your delivery sounded, what your footage looked like, and how you conducted yourself on-air. So keep your low-cut V-necks and "clubbing" tops at home, and go for the higher necklines. You'll thank me later.
Side note: You also shouldn't be wearing dresses with blatantly short hemlines. Gone are the days when newswomen weren't allowed to show their legs, but we still need to keep it classy. If there's even the slightest possibility of someone seeing your behind if you bend down, get rid of it.
3. Keep Your Hair Color Natural-Looking
(Full disclosure: I have red hair, but I have kept it at a tame shade for TV, much like Emma Stone up above). This should go without saying, but don't even think about dying your hair purple, blue, or green, (it's a trend these days).
4. Avoid "Loud" Jewelry
This image is a prime example of what not to wear. Viewers shouldn't be distracted by a flashing piece of "bling" hanging around your neck, or on your ears. Keep your jewelry choices simple and non-distracting.
5. Your Makeup Should Provide Full Coverage
My final tidbit of advice for TV journalists is to give the illusion that you're wearing no makeup, while still covering up skin imperfections. How do we achieve this? It's a beautiful invention called an airbrush, and every female (and male) reporter should know how to use one. These brilliant gadgets help cover up what the harsh HD cameras try to expose (red spots, scars, pimples, etc.)
USE CAUTION. Over-applying airbrush makeup can lead to your skin looking "caked" with makeup. This is bad, and should be avoided.
Glittery eye makeup, bold shades of lipstick, and excessive eyeliner should also be avoided at all costs. Remember, you don't want the viewer to be distracted by your appearance... ever.
Additional Resources:
It's a few years old, but this is a very well-written article from the Washington Post about how the look of TV newswomen has evolved over time.
Also - check out some more helpful tips on how to maintain a professional look on-air.
