Every actor, regardless of their level, needs to have certain wardrobe essentials. Yes, there may be a stylist or an entire wardrobe department dedicated to clothing, but there are still some staple clothing items to bring to set, just in case.

From the clothes to the shoes and accessories, everything on your wardrobe essentials list is important.

Remember, you’re going to be there a while, you want to make sure what you’re wearing is comfortable.

So what are those items? Don’t fret, I have complied a list of items that I have been asked to bring to set, sometimes as I’m walking out the door!

Trust me, you’ll be glad you have these wardrobe essentials chillin in your closet, and lets be real, they’re just good to have in general.

Why are these staple clothing items to bring to set are important if there’s an entire wardrobe department?

When you’re filming a movie, the film set costume designer is responsible for clothing all of the actors – sometimes as many as 100. In order to be prepared for just about any situation, they have an extensive wardrobe of clothes available.

Most wardrobe departments have a stock room or large storage closet that houses everything from brightly colored shirts and jeans to formal dresses and coat bags.

In the case they are in a bind, repairing items, doesn’t fit well, or whatever the case may be, the last thing you want is to be stuck in a pair of jeans that are too tight for 10+ hours. Yikes!

It’s just good to have a few wardrobe essentials on hand if asked.

1. Undergarments

This section will cover the benefits of having proper undergarments and in the right size. Think-

• Underwear
• Socks
• Tights
• Bras nude, white AND black, strapless, etc.

The perfect undergarment is one that fits well and provides comfort without sacrificing style. The right bra can make a world of difference in how your clothes look on you, how your bust looks, and how you feel when you put it on. Am I right or am I right?

Finding these essential items can be tricky though if they go unseen, and we do NOT want these to be seen.

Keep in mind, the lights on a film set are much stronger than your typical closet lighting. We want the focus of the scene to be on the eyes, the character and the story, not your panty lines 🙂

2. Outerwear

The selection of outwear depends largely on what your character is doing, where they’re at, and what time of the year it is. Pay attention to the personality of your character.

Jackets are made for different occasions, so if it is just an average daily wear then pick something that is comfortable and easy to wear.

• Jean jackets
• Flannel
• Bomber jackets
• Even corduroy would be great for this.

Let’s say your character is in a professional setting, then pick something formal like a blazer or wool coat for added style points

Maybe your scene requires you to be at a casual afternoon brunch, on a date, shopping, whatever, perhaps a casual sweater will work in this situation.

The perfect wardrobe doesn’t always come easy, but you want to be able to bring a variety of the staple clothing items to set to really help dress your character if needed.

Start paying attention to what you see on TV and you’ll start noticing some of these wardrobe trends.

3. Pants

Well, now that we have the top portion of your body covered, lets not forget about the bottom half! What kind of pants should you have to bring to a film set?

While I personally don’t go too crazy with my pants collection, I do have these staple clothing items to chose from.

• Athletic pants: Obviously the most comfortable and they provide the you with an excellent range of motion. Aim for shows like Friday Night Lights, Glow, or Cobra Kai.

• Work pants: A work pant can be seen as a more formal garment than a casual pant. A work pant will typically have no pattern and will be plain colors such as navy or black. This is your professional look that you will see on shows like CSI, The Office, Succession, etc

• Every day casual looks: Casual pants are more of your everyday relaxed pant such as denim or corduroy. They can also come in many different styles and colors such as black, white, gray, navy blue, plaid, you name it. For the sake of wardrobe essentials, I would stick to the classic styles here. Nothing jumps into my mind quicker than, Friends!

Hey, if you like shopping and are interested in fashion and modeling, make sure to check out this blog with the WORLDS FIRST PETITE SUPERMODEL on starting a modeling career.

4. Shoes

In my opinion, the most important wardrobe essential and staple clothing item you need to bring to set is comfortable shoes!

Hands down, 100%.

There are many different types of shoes for filming, but it is important to find the ones that you are going to be comfortable wearing on hard floors for long days.

• Athletic shoes: Pretty self explanatory here.
• Professional shoes: i.e. loafers, heels or ballet flats. Again personally, I’d aim for ballet slippers, but if I had to wear a professional heel, I’m going for 1/2-1inch.
• Casual: Ballet flats will work here as well, but try and stick to classic black or brown

Yes, you may get lucky and get away with wearing your slippers in a medium shot (waist up), but I wouldn’t press my luck.

5. Accessories

Usually accessories are provided, but if I’m asked to bring some wardrobe choices, I bring a necklace or 2 to set to match.

Accessories are an important part of any wardrobe. They can make or break an outfit, so it is important to have the right ones on hand.

This is a question that needs to be answered based on the lifestyle and needs of the person.

Here are some essential accessories to consider-

• Jewelry: I play girlfriends, wife, fiancé a LOT, so I always make sure to bring a fake “engagement ring”. This may also be a good idea for safety purposes.
  • Long and short necklaces. Casual or fancy dinner wear
• Glasses/sunglasses– Seeing is important. Also, if you happen to have a scene outdoors, it really stinks being stuck in between takes while setting up without your sunglasses. I wouldn’t recommend them to wear during your scene. Hey, I’m an actress, I want you to see my whole face. That means my eyes too.
• Watches for when you cant have phones on set
• Handbags/clutches

Conclusion

This pretty much sums up your wardrobe essentials and staple clothing pieces to bring to set. I do want to mention that this is more geared toward independent/non union work, but having some of these items on hand will not hurt.

Having proper undergarments will come in handy for those rare occasion formal events anyways. As for having an assortment of jacket when you live in a warm location, hit up that thrift store! Some days they even have up to 75% off!

Get your feet ready, a clutch and maybe a good book and you’re off to a great day! Ready, lights, camera, ACTION!

Let me know in the comments and if you liked this blog, make sure to subscribe to my newsletter to stay up to date on the latest and greatest tips to look, feel, and perform better in front of the camera AND in life!

Plus, by subscribing, you’ll get my free cheat sheet on how to prep for the BEST photo shoot ever!