Dressing For An Audience

Death, an IRS audit and public speaking are said to be the three things Americans fear most. While we at The Clothesline can’t offer much help with the first two situations, we can certainly ease your discomfort with the third. Following is a guideline of do’s and don’ts that should make you feel more confident if you are asked to give a presentation.

Do dress for the audience. Think about who you will be speaking to and how they normally dress and dress accordingly. For example, a group of funeral directors would likely expect you to dress more conservatively than a convention of snowboard enthusiasts.

Don’t wear a new outfit. Tags can scratch, shoulder pads don’t stay in place, threads appear from nowhere. These are just some of the things that can cause you to lose your concentration and be less effective. Wear an outfit you feel comfortable in and one that fits properly.

Do wear your most flattering colors. We all have one or two best colors. When we wear these colors we feel more confident and self-assured. That translates into a better presentation. Also, stick to solid colors or simple patterns. Bold designs tend to distract the audience and make them feel uncomfortable.

Don’t wear uncomfortable or new shoes. If your feet hurt it will show in your posture, tone of voice and body language. Make sure to select a pair that looks and feels good.

Do choose a style that works with the presentation location. We once attended a lecture where the speaker chose to wear a very tight, very short leather miniskirt. The outfit looked stunning on her and in another situation would have been an excellent choice, but the problem was the setting. She was on a platform several feet above the audience. To compound the situation, she constantly walked back and forth across the front of the stage making several of us seated in the first few rows quite uncomfortable.

If you still have doubts as to what to wear, ask for suggestions from the person who arranged for you to speak. He or she will be in a good position to provide helpful information.

The important thing to keep in mind when choosing an outfit to wear while making a presentation is that your speech should be what the audience is thinking about afterwards, not your choice in clothing.

Now, about that IRS audit …

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