What to wear for public speaking
You’ve been booked for a high-profile public speaking event. It’s a prestigious event and you want to deliver a great speech. Also, it might be being filmed - so what are you going to wear?
What to wear on stage or on camera is something that rattles the nerves of even the most confident among us. You have probably been working really hard on your speech, what you are actually going to say, so the final piece of the puzzle, the whole package, is your outfit for the day.
If you are being filmed as well, there are different things to consider as not everything works well on camera. Don’t worry! I’ve got you covered with these tips of what to wear (and what to avoid) when doing a high-profile talk.
There are two big reasons you want to get a great outfit for this gig, one is the confidence it will give you, how you feel and two is the impression it’s going to give the audience. Visual impressions are instant, they are made in seconds so make it a strong one, walk on stage and own it. This is about showing up in the best way possible, bringing your A-Game, and clothes can almost be a superhero cape or armor for whatever life throws at you, particularly an event like this when you need to look good.
“People will stare. Make it worth their while.”
There are a couple of quick practical things to consider when choosing what to wear.
What colour is the backdrop on stage? if it’s black, don’t wear black because you’ll disappear. Same with white. It’s fine to blend in with the background if it’s a colour - see Michelle Obama above in block blue with a blue background. That said it is probably unlikely the background will be white so a crisp white shirt for men with smart chinos or trousers will work well. Shirts should always be tucked in.
Do you tend to sweat? Then avoid silk & satin, they are completely unforgiving and polyester can be sweaty too. Men avoid polyester and opt for a natural fabric like cotton which lets the skin breathe.
Guys, always tuck in your shirt. Slim cut chinos, brogues and a plain shirt will work for most environments.
Outfit tips for speaking at a conference or any public speaking engagement
Connect with the audience
It is vital to resonate with the audience, to make them feel connected to you and really engage with them. This is where it’s incredibly important to dress for the industry you are speaking to. If it’s a room full of entrepreneurs then it’s likely they are going to be in smart casual attire rather than full-on suits. If you are talking to a bunch of corporate lawyers then maybe a suit would be more appropriate.
As I write this in 2022, dress codes have relaxed a lot since the Pandemic but the suit hasn’t entirely gone away. Check the dress code and culture at the organisation you are speaking to.
Consider your personal brand
How do you want to come across? ‘Dress for success’ still holds true today. If you want to look like an expert then you need to look pristine, well-groomed hair and nails with a crisp shirt and smart shoes. It’s always good to look slightly better than the audience. Don’t wear anything 5 years old or older - it is likely to look scruffy and dated. If you want to appear up to date and ‘with it’ then the cut of your clothing is really important as fashion is fast and old styles can make you look dated.
Make sure your clothes are comfortable
I’m talking literally and metaphorically. Make sure your shoes aren’t going to give you a blister in the literal sense for example but also make sure you feel like you and relaxed in what you are wearing.
If you are comfortable in sky-high Louboutins and a boldly patterned dress then go for it. The point I am making is if you are authentically yourself, then the audience will pick up on that inner alignment, you will radiate authenticity which in turn connects with the audience. It isn’t the time to try and be fashion forward if you’re just not. If you are though, don’t hide your light under a bushel and play it too safe. We ALL perform better when we are true to ourselves and the best version of ourselves.
4. Avoid tight patterns - they can strobe on camera
This is TV/camera/stage rule 101. Ditsy prints, wavy patterns, loud patterns can all be really distracting but importantly they can strobe on camera. The safest bet is to opt for a plain neutral top or a block colour depending on what makes you feel most comfortable.
The other thing about pattern is it can really overwhelm the wearer. You want to look so smart and stylish that people immediately trust you and want to listen but you don’t want them to be distracted and not listen to what you say.
This dress is perfect. A strong block colour, modern fit and just the right side of stylish but professional
5. This is you at your best - dress like it
To make a visual impact, it pays to wear something smart and polished. ‘Smart’ doesn’t mean you HAVE to dress in a classic safe way or wear a suit. There are many more ways to dress at work and be taken seriously. In fact, if you look overly formal in a non-formal environment it can make you appear like you’ve somehow missed the mark.
"What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language." —Miuccia Prada
Style personality at work is far more accepted than it used to be, we are dressing far more comfortably and casually since the pandemic but you should still look professional.
Cultivating your brand and your style is an important part of being the whole package. When you look good, you feel good, you increase confidence, clothes can help you to look like a leader and influence others more easily.
6. Don’t wear a cardigan or anything remotely scruffy
Clothes and our image send instant messages to others in a busy world. The second you walk on stage, an impression has been made. Cardigans are an absolute no-no as they are seen as matronly, frumpy and scruffy. Scruffy jeans look even worse on camera and much worse under harsh stage lighting so if you do wear jeans, make sure they are a very smart dark blue wash or black (not washed out) . If you want to look authoritative and own that stage, your clothes need to be neat, polished and smart.
7. Block colours work brilliantly
An easy trick that works so well on camera. As I said before, tight patterns like ditsy flower prints or gingham (this refers to men’s shirts too), can strobe on camera. If you go for a strong block colour, maybe in your brand colours, then you will have a presence on camera and stand out in the right way.
This is a great trick for when you are having your branding photos done. It’s worth mentioning here that the higher contrast colours you wear, the more authoritative you appear to the audience. It’s a really neat trick. Red would be an excellent choice and blue is universally seen as trustworthy. Green is a positive colour, pink is approachable and creative and yellow is friendly and warm which will connect with a lot of people on a human level. When choosing what colour to wear, try to make sure it suits you, some colours can drain the face, and it works with your message/environment.
This dress is so striking but not overwhelming. The colours signify hope and positivity.
If you are speaking in a very corporate environment this is good. The cut is up to date and you could jazz it up a bit with accessories and bright shoes if you wanted to.
8. Not a dress person? A current trouser cut will be great too
Back in the old days you had very clear options on what to wear for a work event. A black, grey or navy suit and a shirt, this applied to women too. We have moved on and it’s important to move on with your style and appear current. If you look dated then your ideas can be deemed to be dated so what you wear really does matter.
Paying attention to the cut of trousers for both men and women is important. Old style chinos which were quite baggy, are now much more slim cut (see photo above). If you are wearing jeans guys then I would recommend a slim straight cut like these.
For women trousers are currently quite wide legged but that doesn’t suit every body shape. If it’s not for you then some smart tailored trousers will work. I like the ‘Anna elasticated waist’ trousers by Whistles. Hobbs also do excellent trousers.
If wide leg is your thing then Me & Em are famous for their wide stylish trousers. Pair these with a ruffled shirt and you’ve got an interesting look that is polished, smart casual and comfortable.
Me&Em wide leg trousers. Wear with a block heel or ankle boot for on stage.
Whistles crepe wide leg trousers. Wear with a blouse to smarten up.
Frilled blouse - this has a bit of flair which I like.
Pink is very 2022, Me&Em have lots of good dresses. Would wear this with suede nude heels like those below
These suede nude courts go with everything. Avoid nude patent shoes which really are quite dated.
Have you got a high profile event coming up or need to update your whole wardrobe? I will find the right clothes for you and make sure you look great.
Contact Lisa today. This is a premium service designed to save you time and hassle when finding clothes. There’s no trawling the shops as everything is sourced to suit you and the occasion perfectly so you don’t waste your precious time.
Lisa Gillbe is a highly experienced and established personal stylist based in London UK working with both men and women on their wardrobe.