I will be auditioning at 5 different schools (undergrad) this spring and am wondering what most people wear. Which of these dresses do you feel would be more appropriate?

Dress Options (The first dress is in light gray though.)

This is totally up to you.

Personally, I think the beige-ish dress would be more suitable; I'd wear a belt or a brooch/pin with it to jazz it up. How are you "doing" your hair?

The evening gown is-- an evening gown, for an evening...

but that's my opinion.

Is that you (in the photo)?

Just look professional, but don't overdo it.

More importantly: play well.

Either would be appropriate, but I completely agree with Bluoh.

Three things to consider:

1) Length - while shorter is fine, keep in mind you'll be sitting, which means it needs to be just at the knee or longer *when sitting* (A lot of girls try skirts/dresses on standing, forgetting that the length will shorten when seated. Guys make the same mistake with sleeves, trying shirts on with arms hanging vertically, then the sleeves shorten when the arms go out to play.)

2) Movement - keep in mind you have to move around in it. It's fine if it's a close fit, but make sure the dress won't constrict your movement on stage.

3) Shoes - heels are fine, but again, keep in mind you have to pedal with them on. Also, on an audition day, you might be doing a lot of standing/walking around touring campus and whatnot. A comfortable dress shoe might be better for the occasion. (Or if you really want to wear heels, consider carrying them around with you and bring another pair of shoes to walk around in all day.)

I try to avoid heels without much surface area on the heel because they can slip one the stage when you're pedaling. Or, make sure you try them out first to make sure they will work.

Viola, are you female? That might figure in our answer.
Otherwise wear anything that is comfortable and not too outrageous.

You're not accepting a Nobel Prize in Norway here.

Since we're on the topic of college auditions, what attire would be fine for final audition video recordings in case one isn't able to travel to a music school campus?

I think you are over-thinking this.

Same.

Basically, you just want to look nice. It's not necessary to be formal, you just want to send a message that you care about your appearance. (Because if you don't care about how you present yourself, why should an audition committee care about you?)

Now, if only I could get my youngest to tuck his shirt in his pants when HE auditions ...

Viola,

Ordinarily, I would not dream of responding to a fashion question, but this case is different.

I thoroughly congratulate you on your attention to, and concern for, how you will look at your auditions! In this age of "I dress for comfort - take it or leave it, " it is refreshing to see someone your age who already realizes that EVERYTHING WE DO REVEALS ALL OF US.

I have sat on audition panels, and (trust me), it DOES make a big difference in the way the judges view your work.

Now, as others have written, make certain you back that great visual image up with some great playing!

Ed

If you have the chance to try them on (in case you don't own them) do try them on and choose the one in which you feel more comfortable (see also point #2 of Kreisler's post, as well as the other points).

In my guy experience, playing in short sleeves is an invitation to endless criticism of hand and arm position. Long sleeves and jacket solve that!

I can't imagine auditioning with "Michelle Obama" exposed arms and shoulders. But, YMMV.

Keep in mind, recital halls are often cold on stage, even in spring. Cold air + nerves, not good.

Thank you for all the responses and advice. Both dresses are comfortable/of appropriate length. I intend to wear pedaling-friendly shoes, wear my hair back, bring a jacket, play to the best of my ability, etc. My impression is that either dress is suitable. So as a follow-up question, would it make sense to dress more/less formally for different school's auditions? For example, wear a full-length gown for a competitive school's audition, and less formal dress for a laid-back audition? Or, would you say there's such a variety in how auditioners dress that it doesn't matter?(I apologize for the pettiness of this -- I am a girl. It's only natural I care so much about how I dress. :P)

Seriously, in my defense, read LoPresti's post. I don't want to stand out for the wrong reasons (overdo it/be too understated), as this could make me feel less comfortable in the audition and possibly distract from how the teacher's view me as a performer.

Thank you in advance!

As an older male still steeped in the performance conventions of the last century (!), I would be inclined to think that you wouldn't "stand out for the wrong reasons" if you dress in an understated manner. My very conservative wisdom says that you should dress modestly and comfortably but not in sportswear.

I would suggest you reserve the long, formal gown for a formal recital, not for an audition which, in effect, is a business(type) appointment. Dress conservatively in clothes that will afford you maximum comfort when playing.

Regards,

I would still go with the less formal dress for all your auditions. I can't remember seeing anyone come in for auditions with the full-length gown at the schools I've been at. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen, but they would be the exception. Those are normally reserved for recitals. And I second WhoDwaldi's comment about the no sleeves. When people get nervous, the hands are the first to get cold.

I really like the first dress. Depends on the quality of the fabric though; I really think this can make or break an outfit. It would look very nice with a simple jacket and an elegant knot in your hair. I would wear that dress myself. I mean right now, not for an audition, as I don't have an audition.

I think a simple, well cut dress is best, rather than something more showy like the other one.

Where is the dress from? I really like it

THAT is hilarious!

I vote for the first dress all the way! Add a nice, short strand of pearls, earrings, flat or low heels (nothing like a wobby heel on the floor of the pedal, ugh) and you're good to go!
Smacks of class!

Spoken like a man.

This is from the mother of a female piano student. D's piano teacher prior to college always insists that if wearing a skirt to a student recital, the length of the skirt should be below the knees. A full-lenght black skirt is a piece of very versatile wardrobe for a female piano student. D always has a full-length black skirt that she couples with different tops to create different looks. She wore it to student recitals, auditions, and competitions. She only wears full-length gown for her own recitals or when she played with an orchestra as a soloist. When she had to play in the Piano Forum in college, she wore black dress pants since the forum is in the middle of a school day. In my opinion, a full-length gown is too much for a college audition. It is winter during college auditions, you can wear pants to keep yourself warm and change to skirt in the lady's room before audition.

When you sit, the skirt/dress rides up-- a skirt just below the knee will likely ride up to the knee.

I'd still go for the biege dress.

I agree with others that the evening gown is waaayyy to dressy. Even if you are auditioning at Juilliard, don't wear it.

So from a female, I would honestly wear a below the knee dress or pants. I have noticed when I play, if I have on a skirt- it tends to get distorted more-so than a dress after sitting. Also, imagine that you walk in with a dress/skirt that hits at the knee. The committee is seated on the opposite end of the piano (not to the side, like they would be in an audience- they could just have a table set up on stage). Now when you go to sit down, you are flashing the entire audition committee... Pants are safe.

For shoes, get flats or low heels. Whatever you choose- start practicing pedaling in them prior to your audition.

I just looked at the picture, and I am only seeing two dresses. The evening gown and an above the knee black dress. I think both are cute (especially the black swingy dress!) but it might be on the short side.

Rest assured, the shorter dress slides down to my ankles when I'm playing. It looks short on a model, but it's quite a bit longer on me. I agree with all of you and I think I'll be going with that one!

Toastie: I really like it too! I got it a couple of years ago, so I'm not sure if it's still sold, but it's a Calvin Klein dress.

Thank you, everybody! Your replies have been very helpful!