TV Stylist: Audrey Mansfield
09.6.2011 Perception is reality. Image is everything. Looks matter.
All of those are true to varying degrees of scariness in the TV business, even at the lowly local television news level. So a lot of TV stations will invest in consultants, who come in periodically to coach the talent (a term loosely used to describe the people who appear on air.) The consultants will discuss all sorts of things, from your vocal delivery to your on air presence to your hair, make up, and wardrobe. It depends on what type of consultant they fashion themselves to be.
I've met with a few over the years, but a couple weeks ago I had a mini breakthrough when the station brought in Audrey Mansfield to talk to us about our on air look. She's worked with a lot of national and local TV types and she has things down to a science.
We were instructed to bring in 6 of our favorite outfits, along with accessories, and we were to come to our session in full hair and makeup. Sidenote: Unless you work at the network level, or your salary has two commas in it, it's highly unlikely you have a hair and makeup person other than yourself. That is definitely the case in this market, as I've often been asked if we have "people who do your hair and makeup." I AM the people.
Luckily for me, I only had Marianne Favro in my session so we had a fair amount of time to go over the essentials with Audrey.
She was the first stylist who brought in "lookbooks," page after page of suits, dresses, jewelry, and haircuts ripped from magazines and catalogs that could really illustrate the points she was trying to make about what is a TV news fashion YES, and what is a HELL NO.
Problem for me was, I was yessing on some of the hell no's. Like prints. What woman doesn't love a good animal print? Or a DVF dress with splashes of color? Or a BCBG wrap dress flecked with brightness? My boss has long told me to avoid prints when I'm in studio. Even my News Fairy Godmother warned against leopard on the anchor desk. But deep in my print-loving heart of hearts, I thought they were wrong. They just didn't understand. A woman does not live by solid colors alone!
Until Audrey put it this way: "Prints make you look young. And you don't need to look any younger." She may have added a "Missy" in there too. I don't remember. I was actually taking notes on my phone because she had such a long list of do's and don'ts. Thankfully, as Janelle Wang pointed out, her accent made it easier to take the blunt criticism. "Dreadful!" "Mumsy!" "Too young!" Simon Cowell in a female TV consultant form.
Not only are prints out, but so are puffy shouldered suits. Pink too. Darker shades of pink are OK, but baby pink is a "Please don't take me seriously when I tell you there's been a terrorist attack. I'm wearing the color of your baby's onesie."
No giant accessories like big pendant necklaces, "the third eye" as they're called. Small, natural stones and delicate pieces are preferred. I can think of quite a few people who need that memo.
There was a long list of things she advised us about, and she backed them up with actual photos. Sophisticated, tailored, solid colored dresses and tops are the way to go. Pencil skirts flatter most figures. Say no to stuffy jackets and the reporter uniform of "collared shirt outside the suit jacket lapel." Some prints are OK if you throw a cardigan over them and just let a little bit peek through. No silky/satiny blouses or asymmetric necklines, gasp, two things I love.
Audrey talked about the Today Show anchors. You remember how great they look but you don't really remember their outfits. And sure enough, the day after I met her, I saw Ann Curry in a light green pencil skirt and a dark green V neck sweater. Natalie was wearing a sheath dress with a jacket over it and pumps that matched the dress. Understated, fitted, minimal jewelry, just "one point of interest," like a belt or a necklace, and off you go.
Giuliana Rancic has a wardrobe to die for, but her hardest hitting news is Kim Kardashian's last minute wedding plans. Hoda and Kathie Lee get to wear crazy jewelry and prints because they also get to drink cocktails at 10AM on TV. They, and their clothes, can be the story. In local news, we need to get out of the way of the story and look presentable without being a distraction. It sounds no-brainer, but people need HELP. And sometimes we get in a rut. What worked 10 years ago ain't still working.
It's a hard pill to swallow when you want to be an individual who loves prints and wants to have some flair, as some of us do, but Audrey's visuals sent the message well.
It's funny because some people are very resistant to this kind of advice. To that I say, HELLO?! We work in a visual medium. It'd be great if we could just write well and ask the tough questions, but people are watching us with their eyeballs. It's superficial but it's part of the gig. And if you don't want to change, there's someone in that stack of DVD's in the news director's office who will. Or who already gets it. So good luck to you and your jankity oversized trench coat.
I only wish I could've been a fly on the wall in some of the other sessions. Meow. The truth shall set you free.
Reader Comments (8)
Great post! Very interesting. I never thought prints were distracting, but Audrey Mansfield (sounds like a James Bond love interest) probably knows more.
I've always wondered if some anchors are deliberately dressing horribly so we'll tune in to see what they do next. There was someone doing weekends at a local station the other night who was wearing a chunky red rock necklace. It looked like two lobsters were attacking her head. I'll be tuning in next week to see if she wears a crown of hermit crabs.
Peter: Audrey talks like a Bond love interest too. The lobster/crab visual is hilarious. I will need to know who that was. Maybe shellfish are the secret key to boosting ratings!
Very well written, Vicky. I really enjoyed reading this kind of perspective that we, the television viewers, hardly ever receive. The info Audrey Mansfield provided is almost like the feng shuii of fashion for people who work on air. I'm very impressed by what you do, the way you present, in the news. And thank you for the great blogging :-) !
That's some really good advice, but how about for men? It's not like there's a class we can take to know what looks good or doesn't on TV. And certainly I struggle with the, "Wanna look cool, but will it work on TV?" dilemma.
Anyways, great article!
JT: She totally did the session for men too, complete with a look book. I am trying to find out what she told them, but so far I've gathered from Mike Inouye that cheap ties are out. You want to have a nice thick tie that makes a fat knot that sits up just a little so it looks nice. I will get some more tips from my male reporter friends who attended the session. A wife's gotta look out for her husband. And I will pass on the tips to you once I get them.
Thanks Steven.
PS: I thought about writing a disclaimer at the top of this post to all the men who read my blog, like, "Sorry dudes, this is a chick flick post" but so far it's only been dudes who've commented! Apparently my male readers are dialed in!! Love it! Glad you guys found it interesting.
ha. i suppose she wouldn't have much to say about naked news in toronto. those crazy canadians.
Advice for guys? C'mon. I'm a guy. I know that as a gender, we're stupid when it comes to fashion. That's why they simplified it for us. It's not an issue of what we wear, only a matter of what color.