FashBlog.com

OK-I admit it; I’m a huge “American Idol” TV show fan. (For those of you not familiar with it or the UK version, it’s a national singing competition, where viewers call in to vote for favorites. Every week, the least-voted-for contestant is gone. The winner is the one left after 16 weeks of whittling down from 24 semi-finalists judges select after thousands of auditions.) I haven’t missed one episode in 4 seasons, and that says something.

Anyway, last week, the irascible (and brutally honest) judge Simon Cowell stated that one gal should have a talk with “whoever is dressing” her because she wasn’t looking like a star. It’s at times like those I wonder if there is a quota of negative comments for every show…if not over song choice, execution, movement, choice of arrangement or emotional effort, then appearance. For the most part, the contestants don’t try to look like “stars” (especially the guys) and yet very little is mentioned. Occasionally, when someone does something noticeably different with their hair, they’ll receive acknowledgement, more in the line of Simon referring to it as “crazy hair”. Perhaps three times during the entire run of the season will a male contestant receive such comments, unless he wears something rather uncommon, like an orange or white suit. Every so often, someone will wear a hat or neck scarf, but they make it through unscathed.

In season 3, Jasmine Trias from Hawaii consistently wore a flower behind her ear as homage to her ethnicity (and marital status), and I’ve vague recollections of her hearing that it was becoming too predictable. This leads me to wonder how an older teen or early 20 something can handle being critiqued by over 30 million people every week. Needing to sound perfect and unique every week must be enormously stressful, and clothes probably take a back seat. The contestants don’t have the luxury of personal assistants yet, but are expected to keep changing their image so as to not get “old” (and never, ever old-looking) while supposedly retaining “who they are.” Who the heck can do that? One can be accused of either being phony or boring…

So, I asked myself, how could these average young folks make the transition from waitresses and carpet cleaners in December to looking like stars in February? And furthermore, do they have guidance? American Idol takes them shopping every week for them to choose their clothes-but does anyone advise them on color, style, or star-quotient?

Now, I’ve skimmed style sites and fashion publications, and tried to ascertain star quality. (It’s is decidedly different from celebrity quality, which apparently has no standards). It seems to be an overall level of confidence in posture, mannerisms, and, of course, dress. Think Diana Ross or Nicole Kidman. Can you imagine them slouching around and not exuding star quality, even in sweats? I can only ascribe it to choosing striking attire, in color or line, and always flattering to their figure-with just a bit of suggestion. Shiny, glittery, luxurious materials that catch the light and flow with the gal’s movements would probably be other attributes. Add attention-getting jewelry and, in my opinion, she starts looking like she could be famous. It doesn’t seem that anything baggy or bland offers the image to which Simon may be referring. Furthermore, hair does seem to make a difference as well. Obviously, fancier clothes need fancier hair. This is the one area women seem to have it easier than men when it comes to altering their image slightly.

It’s always nice when the judges make positive statements about contestant’s appearances, but if the very first thing they say is “You look great”, it’s usually followed with something unflattering. The whole experience has to be the most daunting that these folks will ever face. Those who are quick to criticize contestants obviously can’t imagine what the pressure must be like.

Would any of us trade our humdrum lives for that chance? You bet I would-if I was 20 again and could actually sing. And, I’d try to look like a star every chance I got. Do you think there’s a monetary limit for how much contestants can spend every week on clothes?