Dress for the Occasion

We all know that when a speaker gives an address on stage, his/her choice of clothing is not whatever that was pulled out instantly from the wardrobe. In today’s business arena, image is everything and what a speaker wears is crucial to that image. Often times, I have been asked on what to wear when giving a presentation. To give a more accurate advice, I would need to know the purpose of the meeting, the objectives to be met and the size of the audience. However, here are some tips you may find useful when you are engaged in public speaking generally.

To begin, you must expect your audience to drift on and off from time to time while you speak. To bring them back to you, you will need to complement a strong visual image together with a variation in your speech delivery and interesting visual aids. It is therefore important to realise that different styles of clothes or dress will be required for different audiences.

The Business Presentation

If your audience is small for example, a boardroom presentation, you will have to adopt a softer and less intimidating look. A bright red suit just won’t do in such a scenario. The key is to wear something that will relax your audience. So, women should go for neutral coloured suits and introduce more colour with blouses. The accessories should be kept minimum; a gold and pearl combination looks most elegant. For men, don’t dazzle your audience with bright colours or wild patterns. Keep your suit black or navy blue and instead of wearing a burning red tie, go for calming colours like green, blue or gray. The trick is that if you concentrate the colour near your face, it will act like a spotlight focusing attention on you and what you are saying.

On the other hand, a large audience becomes ‘a theatre’ and therefore requires a ‘costume’. Thus, a navy-suited speaker will not create much of an impact at a conference of 500 people. This will call for the occasion of bringing more colours into your jacket if not the entire suit. Try brighter colours to win your audience’ attention. Remember, it is the colour of your suit and not the bold patterns of your suits.

It will be useful if you can check the lighting of the room before your presentation. If the area where you are speaking is dark, you will need to brighten up by wearing lighter or brighter shades.

When selecting the style of your suits, do take into account of how your body reacts under the stress of giving presentations. If you are the type that moves around when speaking, then be sure your clothes allow plenty of movement. Avoid tight skirts or jackets. Always keep your jackets buttoned when speaking so as to avoid any unnecessary distractions (eg. your bosom, tummy or waist).

Make sure you are well groomed. Women should wear flattering makeup that is not too heavy and have their hair done stylishly. Similarly, men should have a clean shaven look with their hair neatly trimmed and styled.


Appearing on television

The idea of appearing on television can be very daunting. If we watch news interviews or panel discussions, often times, we take particular note of how badly the interviewee can come across in terms of his/her appearance. It is very difficult to concentrate on what is said by someone who is wearing a gaudy scarf, necklace or even tie. Nonetheless, accept the fact that you will look bigger when you appear on TV. So, do not worry when you see yourself on TV; it is the camera, and not you. Read on to find out the following tips to look great for your TV debut.

Remember to wear simple outfits without any distraction from your face. This means you should wear solid colours avoiding black and white shirts or tops. Black tops cancel out your top half, and it makes you look formless. White makes you look pale and washed out. You should also avoid red which tends to ‘bleed’ on camera - the edges run and look fuzzy. Stripes or herringbone patterns can appear to be ‘dancing’ or moving around the screen. A monochromatic blend of colours is the best! Plunging necklines are no-no and again, keep your jewellery or accessories to the minimum.

Makeup is a must when appearing in TV. Most TV shows would have a makeup artist. If not, you will have to put on foundation before you appear in front of the camera. Plus, always complete your makeup with translucent powder to prevent shine.

Remember that these are just guidelines – above all it is important to feel confident and comfortable. Let your common sense guide you on what is right for you while at the same time being appropriate for the occasion.



Article contributed by June Tan, a Certified Professional Trainer (IPMA UK) and founder of Image Coach International Pte Ltd. To find out more about our Personal Branding workshop or image coaching, coach@imagecoach.com.sg or visit www.imagecoach.com.sg
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GUYS – HOW TO LOOK YOUR PROFESSIONAL BEST

Is image important for guys? You bet it is! In his book Reinventing Work: the Brand You 50, renowned author Tom Peters elaborates in great detail why it’s important to transform yourself from an “employee” into a “brand” that shouts distinction, commitment and passion. And when there is a lack of personal information about you, the first thing that people who meet you will to judge you by is your image.

The good news is: Image is the easiest part to take care of. By changing any part of your appearance such as hairstyle, grooming or clothing, you can change the total image others perceive of you. Just how professional you appear to others is determined by your overall physical condition and appearance, helped along by clothing that allows you to state who you are.

The first step to create a professional look is to plan your career wardrobe. You may need to coordinate your wardrobe to create more outfits from your existing items. Determine what you already have that is useful and looks good on you. Get rid of garments and accessories you have negative feelings about. As such, you are in the process of cleaning and straightening your closet. If you plan your wardrobe well enough, you will not need to spend a great deal of money on new clothes. Remember, your wardrobe planning is a gradual process and it is never completely finished as it changes when you change your clothing goals and ideas. For example, a starter wardrobe to meet professional dressing needs would be two suits, two jackets/blazers, three trousers and 10 shirts.

Studies have shown that certain clothes create an air of authority and professionalism to the person wearing them, and here are some suggestions for you to enhance your authority on your job:-

1. Wear quality
2. Wear a jacket, with a long-sleeve shirt, if necessary
3. Wear subtle, sophisticated colours such as navy, dark gray, black etc. If you like bright colours, wear them on tie print or a shirt stripe
4. Wear small, sophisticated prints and tweeds rather than large shapes and designs
5. Carry a fine leather briefcase, preferably in a dark colour
6. Always look and act professional ie keep a consistently high standard to your look

Another area you must look into when planning your wardrobe is your clothing colours. Colours can enhance your appearance. The colours you wear are determined by your feelings about colour, your personality, and your personal colour harmony. Find your best colours and build a coordinated wardrobe around them. When you build your wardrobe around two or three basic colours, you are maximising your choices for mixing and matching. Here are some things to remember about colour:-

1. Light and bright colours make you appear larger
2. Dark and dull colours make you appear smaller
3. Bright colours with textures make skin blemishes more obvious
4. Bright colours in large amounts makes you look tired

It is also important to pay attention to your hair, nails and fragrances besides having a professional career wardrobe. These are your important final touches which you should not neglect. However, it is better for understatement rather than overdoing it.

You should keep your hair simple, clean and well-cut. A conservative professional appearance requires hair to be cut above the ears with short side-burn. Generally, moustaches and beard are discouraged for conservative appearance and if you prefer to have either of them, make it a point to keep it neat and trimmed.

Your nails should be clean, trimmed and in good condition at all times. Use hand lotion for rough, chapped hands to avoid making a bad impression when shaking hands. Also, fragrances should be kept to a minimum because you would not want to overwhelm the people you meet!

After evaluating your clothing needs and purchases, here are some shopping tips:-

1. Shop early for the best selection for size, colour and style you want
2. Find two or three clothing manufacturers that have your type of clothing preference and stay with them
3. Find two or three stores/shops you like and stay with them
4. Don’t be an impulsive or indecisive shopper
5. Buy what you need and not what you want
6. Be satisfied with price, fit, style and colour before you make the purchase



Article contributed by June Tan, a consultant with Image Coach International. To get a FREE ebook, write to coach@imagecoach.com.sg or visit: www.imagecoach.com.sg.