Best dressed for the anchor desk... and the story

A website called Styleite has come out with its list of “Best Dressed Newscasters of 2010.” Here’s the link: http://www.styleite.com/media/best-dressed-newscasters-photos/
What does it take to make their list? Wearing lots of black seems to be the calling card of MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, CNN’s Anderson Cooper and ABC’s Diane Sawyer. The listmakers have an odd obsession with Mika Brzezinski’s shoes, despite the fact that newscasters’ feet are rarely seen on TV.

CNN’s Fredericka Whitfield is praised for a “bold piece of statement jewelry.” Since when are newscasters supposed to be making statements with their jewelry? The people who made this list don’t seem too familiar with the number-one rule for effective on-camera appearance: Notice the person, not the outfit. While I am NOT a hair and makeup teacher, I do mention appearance issues when they interfere with delivering your message on camera. Other guidelines are:

Stick to solid, bold colors.
Avoid all white or all black.
Avoid shiny fabrics, ruffles, prints and patterns.

For women:
-an open V neckline is the most flattering.
-avoid chunky jewelry that draws attention away from your face.

Good examples from the Styleite list are CNN’s Betty Nguyen and FNC’s Megyn Kelly, although Kelly’s cleavage and bare arms would be too daring for some markets or time periods. Keep in mind that these are national news presenters who may receive help with their wardrobe in the form of a consultant, a clothing allowance or freebies from garment manufacturers.

I’d like to nominate a few people that I've already mentioned on this blog. Scroll down to read about Rochelle Ritchie, the multimedia journalist who let her chemically straightened hair go "natural" and New York anchor David Ushery, who stopped wearing a tie for his weekend newscasts. I suspect that these changes made each of these presenters seem more “casual, comfortable and connected” to their respective audiences. If I were a news director, I’d experiment with a casual Friday where newscasters could dress more like their counterparts in most other American workplaces. Find out what your audience thinks.

There’s an old saying about business attire: “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” It also applies to on-camera talent. If your goal is to be the friend who connects with viewers on multiple media platforms, you might want to embrace “business casual.” On the other hand, when I teach in developing countries where journalists are trying to establish their credibility, standard business attire is essential for both men and women. There’s also the angle of “dressing for the story.” You wouldn’t wear a t-shirt to a White House news conference or a coat and tie to a forest fire.

Who’s on YOUR best dressed list of news anchors and reporters? Send in your nominations and we’ll publish your feedback in a future post.

Note: the original version of this post first appeared in Professor Terry's Coaching Corner on http://www.the247newsroom.com/