Image courtesy of somegeekintn’s photostream
I have a close friend of mine who always says that you need to dress for success. For example, she is an avid believer that you should only wear tennis shoes if you are running errands or playing sports. At first, I didn’t agree with that but now, after being in a professional work place and observing others, I’m starting to see her point.
I recently attended a trade show that had a couple of hundred attendees. While most individuals were in business casual attire, some wore tennis shoes. Since the attendees were going to be doing a lot of walking, I didn’t care that people were wearing comfortable shoes. I did however notice a guy wearing worn out tennis shoes, sweatpants and a t-shirt. While most attendees were wearing jeans and a nice shirt, this guy looked like he was going to cut the front lawn! You could tell that he didn’t seem to care much about his appearance. He clearly hadn’t shaved in a few days and his hair looked like he didn’t comb it that morning. It was ridiculous how badly this individual stood out amongst the crowd.
If you are attending an event where you are acting as a representative for your company, you should dress for success. Attire can change depending on the event, but if you are doubtful of what to wear, just remember it’s always better to be over dressed than under dressed. Here is a friendly reminder of what business casual attire is:
Women
• Khaki, corduroy, twill or cotton pants or skirts, neatly pressed
• Sweaters, twinsets, cardigans, polo/knit shirts
• Solid colors work better than bright patterns
Men
• Khaki, gabardine or cotton pants, neatly pressed
• Cotton long-sleeved button-down shirts, pressed, polo shirts or knit shirts with a collar
• Sweaters
• Leather shoes and belt
• Tie optional
Regardless of the event you may be attending, always remember that appearances do matter.