20 Tips for a Speakers Wardrobe

How to Prepare your Wardrobe to Look Great When Presenting

I have heard and watched many speakers speak; some were very good and some were just okay. Being a speaker myself, I have often wondered why this happens.

It could be they didn’t practice enough or maybe they were new to the stage or they might not be passionate about what they are speaking about. One day it came to me: the reason speakers’ messages don’t come across quite right is that the details were overlooked.  You may ask what details? Well, a lot goes into preparing for a speech. You want it to be informative, entertaining and you want to leave your audience with a powerful message. Overcome common fears that executives face when speaking.

However, the one detail that sticks out to me is what the speaker wears. Our clothes speak without saying a word.  It sets the tone for how we are perceived. Like it or not society dictates what we should look like. When you look great and feel great, the message you are conveying will come across more authentic and real.

These 20 tips should help you take the focus off your clothing and focus on your message.

•    Know your audience. It is important to know who your audience is.  If you are speaking to a bunch of farmers and you walk in wearing a suit and all decked out, you are probably in the wrong place and your message will be ignored.

•    Grooming is a big one. Make sure you have a good haircut and it is styled well for your face. Shave in all the appropriate places. Check your teeth before your time to speak…just in case that piece of lettuce is still in-between your teeth. Make sure your make-up is done properly. If you are not in the circus, don’t have your makeup look clownish.

•    Check your breath, before and after you talk.  Make sure you don’t eat onions, garlic or anything that will linger in your mouth for a long period of time.

•    Carry breath mints wherever you go…and use them!

•    Wearing the right colors will send the right message, colors make a huge difference when presenting.  Some colors can be to overpowering; some are too subtle.  One rule of thumb I go by is to wear something that will stand out so the people in the audience can find you after the talk. So many people wear black that if you are also in black, you will get lost in the crowd. 

•    Make sure your clothing is pressed and cleaned. If you don’t care, I guarantee your audience won’t either…I mean about your message.

•    Does your clothing fit you comfortably? The worst thing is when you are on stage and fidgeting with your outfit.

•    Jewelry should be at a minimum, dangles, and jangles are distracting.

•    Are your shoes cleaned and shined?

•    Is your skirt the right length? Too short is distracting and not business professional.

•    Ladies, make sure you are wearing the proper undergarments.  Smoothing out those lumps and bumps will only make you look beautiful.

•    Think about wear something that has a belt, waistband or a lapel so you can clip a wireless microphone to it.

•    Stay away from loud fabric patterns. It is distracting.

•    Make sure the focus is on your face. Wear a neckline or accessory to draw the eye up.

•    Find out what the color of the backdrop will be so your clothing doesn’t clash with it.

•    If you are the type to walk around the room while speaking, make sure your backside is in as perfect a condition as the front.  Look in the mirror.

•    Are you going to videotape your speech? If so, make sure the colors you wear don’t bleed off the camera, such as (red). White draws the attention away from the face. Patterns, such as checks or plaids, give the illusion that the fabric is moving. There are many other examples of colors which don’t work well with video-taping. I can help you with what works best.

•    When meeting people, give them a firm (but not bone-crushing) handshake.

•    Smile! It is contagious!

•    And, most of all…Have Fun! When you are having fun, the rest is a piece of cake.

When in doubt of any of these items above, don’t hesitate to give me a call and get help. I would love to see you succeed as a professional speaker.

Executive image consulting is what I do best, email dawn@dawnstebbing.com or call 651-307-0342