This costume, I just can’t get over….  Everytime I see it I find myself thinking (in the voice of the Sassy Gay Friend), “What… What… What Are You Doing?”  Seriously….

Trout by Met Costume Shop

So in addition to being a Bravoholic, I find myself checking out more and more of Lifetime.  Channel jumping Project Runway brought me over to the station, but it could be my new guilty pleasure, Dance Moms (don’t judge me) that may get me to stay.  That being said, did any of you catch the Night at the Opera challenge on Project Runway last week?  Which of these glam looks would you wear to opening night?

Look by Sweet Pea

Look by Rami

Look by Mondo

Look by Mila

Look my Michael (You all can find another outfit! This one is MINE!)

Look by Kenley

Look by Kara

Look by Jerell

Look by Gordana

Look by Austin

Look by April

Look by Anthony

California natives, Kate and Laura Mulleavy- the creative force behind the internationally recognized fashion house Rodarte- make their operatic costume debut. Founded in Los Angeles in 2005, Rodarte is the winner of the Cooper Hewitt 2010 National Design Award for fashion and the designers and creators of the ballet costumes for the Academy Award winning film, Black Swan.

Operagasm wonders what they may have in mind….. maybe something like this?

You have taken the time to learn and perfect your arias….. coached the language and musicality…. examined the dramatic context and character’s motivation, but have you taken the time to perfect your attire to complete your presentation?  Attention ladies, this can be one element that is woefully overlooked.  Hopefully, these tips can put you on the right track for success this audition season!

1. Honey, you are not a member of the wedding party… this is an AUDITION!

So Shiny....

Do not show up in your taffeta evening gown or bedazzled cocktail dress.  Any piece that presents excessive amounts of sequins, rhinestones, and/or tulle will not dazzle the audition panel, but could end up reflecting so much excess florescent lighting that it sends them into a downward spiral that ends in a stroke.  Do you want to be responsible for that?

2. This is not your temp job!

Pastels....

You probably have a whole section in your closet designated to office and professional attire.  But beware – this is not the occasion to break out your coral colored, Hillary Clinton inspired pantsuit.  Matchy, matchy monochromatic ensembles just scream Golden Girls and often look and feel restrictive.  You will not be able to embody Carmen with three inch thick shoulder pads impeding your sexy body language and it may instead send you into a Lucia type mad scene.  Which no matter how convincing… is the wrong fach, so no job for you!

3.  You are not Carrie Bradshaw!

Perfect for Suor Angelica?

Which brings us to the topic of footwear.  In real life, I love super high heels! I have hundreds of pairs of shoes that are strappy, hip, open toed, four inches, five inches, platform, double platform and beyond.  However, an audition is not your opportunity to work the runway in your Manolo Blahniks.  Instead, channel the more modest and practical Miranda Priestly.  Wear a lower heel that allows you to move with comfort and ease, but still with style!  For those of you with lingering questions on open-toe styles, that is a whole other Oprah, see that article here!

4. I don’t think you’re ready for this jelly…

V... P... L...

Audition season alone, should not be the catalyst for you to get your undergarments in order.  But if your mother never sat you down to impart this valuable advice, please allow me to break it into subsections for you.

A.   Get your puppies up and out there!  Not in a vulgar way, but in an Anna Netrebko kind of way.  A good fitting bra is invaluable to your silhouette and makes your clothes fit and look better.  Get thee to Nordstroms or Victoria’s Secret for a proper fitting!

B.   Spanx are the key to happiness, do not resist.  These little tubes of wonder are forgiving when the scale is not, they conceal unflattering figure flaws and help us look our best.  PS – Word on the street is Pavarotti wore a man girdle or ace bandages to aid in his breathing, although it is clear this did not work miracles for his figure, in your case it will be a win- win!

C.   Pantyhose – we all hate them, despise them actually, but they present a more polished look.  I resisted over and over again, but finally couldn’t handle being marked down in juries any more for failure to wear them.  So just comply!

D.  VPL (Visible Panty Line) – This is what separates us from the women who shop for clothing at Walmart.  Well, this and the pervasive use of polyester.  Conceal your panty line by either wearing a cut (thong, g-string, what have you) that will not betray your undergarments or conceal them with the use of the aforementioned item in 4.B – yes, in addition to making you look slimmer, helping your appoggio breathing, Spanx will keep your undergarments under wraps.  Seriously, they should give me a couple free pairs for all this promotion.

More volume...

5.  Maybe it’s Maybelline….

This is not the time to try out all the makeup techniques you learned on the pageant circuit.  You don’t want to look like the Glamour Shot you did in high school, but actually like the real you!  You can probably pump up the volume a little bit, maybe make stronger make-up choices, particularly for the eyes.  You could probably do bigger hair – not Ms. Texas big, but a little volumizer couldn’t hurt.  The one hard and fast rule in this category is by any means necessary keep the hair out of your eyes.  This is not a Justin Bieber look-alike contest, so pin it up or spray it back.

6.   Your uniform

Smart... Chic... You're hired!

You should dedicate some time and money to cultivate your ‘audition uniform’.  Your uniform should be assembled using all the tips given thus far and should flatter you (break out the color wheel) and reflect your personal style.  Personally, I have three ‘audition uniforms’, each styled from the best suited undergarments to the accesories to the matching coat and scarf, should the weather demand.  Each style differs depending on the role I am auditioning for.   After all,  I wouldn’t wear the same dress to audition for both Delila and Principessa.  So be aware of the nuances of the characters of your fach and plan accordingly.  When it is time to audition, this is one less thing you have to worry about because your ‘uniforms’ will be clean and ironed in your closet, ready to go at a moment’s notice.

7.  Never underestimate the power of a good tailor…. that is all.

In summation…

There are so many things outside of our control at an audition, from the accompanist butchering your aria, to the terrible lighting, to the hour and half you spent waiting because they were behind schedule, to all the bitchy sopranos playing headgames in the waiting room.  But the way you present yourself and the impression you make is one thing that is within your control and will give you a fighting chance this audition season!  So strap on your Louboutins (the three inch and under ones anyway) and go show them what you got!
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Christie Connolley is one of the founders and directors of Operagasm.com. You can learn more about Christie under the ‘About Us’ tab on the top of the page.  Christie welcomes you to comment on her article or email her privately at christie@operagasm.com.

Anyone who knows me, knows I am serious about my Jeopardy.  And any category that involves dress up is bound to be my favorite.  A couple things are clear to me in this video (borrowed from Perez Hilton’s website):

1.  Since when does Alex Trebek not have a moustache?

2. It is clear Justin knows the names lots of operas, unfortunately…. not the right ones.

3. Trebek may have a future in opera (or at least soap opera), check out all that dramatic flair with that peep around in the opening and then the pot-a-boo-ray pivot forward in that famous cape. Werk it Trebek!

It’s opera season, and the gloves are on, at least for opening night at the opera, the symphony, and other formal events. Here is what you need to know when wearing opera gloves (also known as evening gloves) for any occasion.

• Gloves should be kept on when shaking hands (as in a reception line), dancing, or presenting your hand to be kissed, but not when dining.

• When you sit down to dinner, you should take off your gloves, fold them in half, and put them under the napkin on your lap. When dinner is over, you may put them back on at the table.

• To remove your gloves, first push down the armpiece to your hand, then remove the glove by pulling on the hand portion. To put gloves on, first work in the hand from the wrist, then gradually smooth the glove up the arm, rather than pulling from the top.

• Gloves may be worn while drinking, though it’s better to remove your gloves, or partially remove them if possible, to keep from spilling liquids on them.

• The basic rule for the length of all gloves is as follows: The shorter the sleeve, the longer the glove. Opera gloves are, therefore, properly worn with sleeveless or short-sleeved cocktails dresses or strapless, sleeveless (with straps), or short-sleeved evening gowns.

• If your opera gloves are mousquetaires…..

Check out the rest of story here!

At Monday night’s Metropolitan Opera premiere of Anna Bolena both the autumn breeze and sequins were in the air!  Operagasm declares the finalists for the following fashionable categories:

Best dressed: Crystal Renn, Judy Macklowe

Worst dressed: Paula Zahn

Who needs a man purse with pockets these deep?: Austen Scarlett

So that is where Liza Manelli’s pants went: Martha Stewart

A heartbeat away from a nip-slip: Kerry-Lynn Wilson

I hope she has some Downy Wrinkle Releaser in that purse: Katie Couric

X-rays reveal she has an aquarium womb: LeeLee Sobieski

Oh dear… someone has lost her sheep: Tyra Banks

Who do you think is best and worst dressed?

Peter Gelb and Kerry-Lynn Wilson

Paula Zahn

Maxwell

LeeLee Sobieski

Martha Stewart

Katie Couric

Judy Macklowe

Crystal Renn and Zac Posen

Christine Baranski

Breanne O'Mara and Austin Scarlett

Archie Panjabi

Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle has taken hold at the San Francisco Opera with the opening of Das Rheingold!  Richard Scheinin of Mercury News.com recently reviewed the long-awaited production.  Here is the Operagasm quick run down:

Yeah, this is Wagner, bitch: “With 94 musicians in the pit and a backstage crew of 115 workers, with 920 liters of liquid nitrogen to create fog effects, with a cast of noted Wagnerians to sing in the fog, and with huge anticipation after months — or is it years? centuries? — of buildup, finally, the “Ring” has arrived at War Memorial Opera House.”

Tim Gunn meets Anne Midgette:   “Let’s talk about baritone Mark Delavan, back as Wotan, god of gods, presented here as a 1920s tycoon in double-breasted jacket and chic eye-patch — and toting his fearsome spear. He lounges on the patio of Valhalla — the home of the heroes is depicted as a skyscraper to the heavens — and when we first hear his voice, it sounds like an awakening to power. But Delavan didn’t sustain it, not on Tuesday. His voice moved in and out of focus, cloaked and failing to crack open the full magnificence of Wotan’s malice and corruption.”

The best description of a voice ever…. seriously…. ever:  “This brings us to the unexpected star of the show: Czech tenor Stefan Margita, as Loge, demigod of fire, a trickster — and Wotan’s deal- maker. Margita was slick as his sharkskin coat, his voice dapper, precise, sailing and absolutely free — the voice of a calculator, free to charm or destroy, as he sees fit.“  Right?  Best ever!

Check out the full review here!

The singing!  The acting!  The dancing!  THE DRESSES!  Operagasm declares the following winners for the following categories:

Best dressed: Catherine Zeta Jones, Patina Miller, Lily Rabe

Worst dressed: Frances McDormand

And the runner up of Ms. New Jersey is: Christie Brinkley

Just being Whoopi: Whoopi Goldberg

Just two inch thick shoulder pads away from being on Dynasty: Tammy Blanchard

How much pressure can you put on your breasts before they finally succumb and form a uni-boob: Viola Davis

Are you high?  Frances McDormand

Who do you think is best and worst dressed?

Brooke Shields

Catherine Zeta Jones

Edie Falco

Frances McDormand

Lily Rabe

Martha Wash

Patina Miller

Sutton Foster

Tammy Blanchard

Vanessa Redgrave

Viola Davis

Whoopi Goldberg

Christie Brinkley

Join fellow fashionistas while enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and shopping from a diverse selection of alluring merchandise including donated vintage and designer clothing and accessories, and leave with prized gift bag. Past donors have included Bill Blass, Nanette Lepore, Versace, Rubin Singer, Chado Ralph Rucci, Manolo Blahnik, Zac Posen, DKNY, Luca Luca, Zandra Rhodes, Carmen Marc Valvo, Vera Wang and many more.

Tickets
DIVA – $375
Includes VIP preview shopping and a 10% discount on all purchases.
Buy Now

Single – $85
Includes admission to the general shopping hours.
Buy Now

Tuesday, May 17, 2011
5:00 – 10:00 pm
82 Mercer Street
between Spring and Broome

In addition to being a fabulous party, DIVAS Shop for Opera will support the design and creation of costumes for new productions at City Opera.