Are you about to shoot some new commercial head shots and have no idea what to wear? Here are the 6 different wardrobe categories that commercial ad agencies and casting directors usually ask for when posting their casting notice breakdowns. I use these categories as a guideline for the looks that I am going to create for my head shots.
The different style categories that they usually ask for are as follows;
UPSCALE SOPHISTICATED
An elegant, suave, extremely stylish and successful look. Think CEO of a multi million dollar company. Expensive high end car commercials, liquor ads and designer cologne campaigns are usually looking for a slick James Bond looking guy in a sleek suits, usually without a tie accompanied out on the town with a very sheik stylish woman wearing a fashionable, classy, sleek dress with some jewelry and accessories. The trick here is NOT to be gaudy or “blingy” but sharp, sleek and sophisticated. Very well put together.
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UPSCALE CASUAL
Similar to the sophisticated look but a little more relaxed and approachable. This is what you might wear out on a first date. Guys maybe wear a sports jacket with jeans and a v-neck or a sweater with the sleeves pushed up and slacks or dark denim jeans. And ladies are looking attractive and sexy but classy and you don’t want to look like your trying too hard.
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BUSINESS
This look is completely corporate. For guys it's a basic black, blue, grey or brown business suite WITH ties. Ladies are in pantsuits or a pencil skirt and blazers. It’s very buttoned up and conservative. Think financial advisors.
BUSINESS CASUAL
This look is similar to the Upscale Casual except the Upscale Casual probably has a little more sex appeal to it where as the Business Casual look is still business yet a little more laid back and sophisticated than the strict Business look. Imagine what you might wear if you worked at a cool modern design firm. The styel is modern, simple, cool with a unique personal sense of style.
NICE CASUAL
Basically this is your relaxed weekend, hanging out around the house look. Think family outings and picnics. Avoid track pants or athletic wear. That’s a different category. Maybe it’s a light colored polo and t-shirts, relaxed fit jeans with a buttoned up shirt left untucked. Sneakers or boat shoes.
FITNESS/ OUTDOORSY
Athletic work out clothes. sweatshirts and hoodies, compression pants, shorts, tank tops and t’s, sneakers. Outdoors looks can be cargo shorts and pants, faded jeans, flannel shirts, t’s, hiking boots etc.
I will usually try and cover a high end look, i.e Upscale Sophisticated/Casual and then maybe drop it down a notch and do something Nice Casual and then maybe do some with an Out Doors feel. For guys it could be good to do this look with a thicker beard and then with each look take the beard down, so that maybe in the Nice Casual you have a little scruff but then for the Upscale Sophisticated you are clean shaven.
There is no one formula. Be aware of the different trends and looks that are being used in actual current commercials and use that as inspiration as well.
The most important thing to wear is a sparkle in your eye and a big bright genuine smile. Hope this was helpful. Enjoy and have fun.