https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-to-wear-for-public-speaking-work Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:03:49 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-to-wear-for-public-speaking-work#post-1897853 Mon, 12 Mar 2018 15:23:48 +0000 Zaeobi 1897853@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you @jussie! Yes I think I'm generally just more comfortable in colour as a whole. I agree on the black dress - not just because of the colour, but because I'd have to add a belt on top for the mic pack to clip onto, &amp; I think that would just ruin the lines of the dress.</p> <p>What about layering my burgundy blazer (photo #9) over the yellow top &amp; floral midi skirt? Would that be OK or too much? And should I go for the long sleeved yellow top or the yellow t-shirt? Thanks! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-to-wear-for-public-speaking-work#post-1897427 Sat, 10 Mar 2018 12:49:22 +0000 jussie 1897427@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really like the outfit pics you added. You have such a great way with colour! I especially love the first three. I’m not such a fan of the black dress, it’s fine but brighter colours are amazing on you. For the conference I think the Zara skirt with the yellow sweater would be perfect. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-to-wear-for-public-speaking-work#post-1897402 Sat, 10 Mar 2018 06:57:08 +0000 Zaeobi 1897402@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Update: I'm thinking of wearing this floral midi skirt to the event, but I dunno if it's quite flattering enough of a length on me. Are prints like this a no no, or are they professional enough?<br /> <a href="https://m.zara.com/us/en/satin-skirt-with-belt-p08174146.html?v1=5000547" rel="nofollow">https://m.zara.com/us/en/satin.....v1=5000547</a></p> <p>I'm going to update my original post with some recent outfit photos too, so you can get an idea of my usual comfort zone &amp; way of dressing. Thanks, everyone! </p> <p> @rachylou I'll try to remember to stand up straight - I definitely slouch too much since starting a desk job! I'm actually the one writing the script for the roleplay, so I'll try to incorporate lines that allow for gestures &amp; expressions, but we'll be holding ipads in front of us (to cheat with remembering our lines, lol) so I'm not sure how well that can apply... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-to-wear-for-public-speaking-work#post-1897275 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 18:02:37 +0000 rachylou 1897275@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thought of something else: stand up straight and uses gestures and make faces (expressions). You know what’s interesting? The Classical Greek poses for delivery in rhetoric... what to do with one’s body to communicate with a larger audience... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-to-wear-for-public-speaking-work#post-1897274 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 17:47:12 +0000 Zaeobi 1897274@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you for all the feedback, ladies! The thing is, having been a teacher before, I'm not exactly new to public speaking. But my comfort zone is presentations, or presenting information, to help people in smaller &amp; more informal groups, so I appreciate the speaking tips @rachylou. My major was Linguistics &amp; Psychology, but I'm still nervous to present to 'sell', lol!</p> <p>@jussie I've been meaning to upload some more recent WIWs but still haven't got round to it yet, sorry! I've taken snaps of the off-the-shoulder sweetheart neckline tops &amp; floral midi skirt that I posted about before but still haven't uploaded the outfit photos - even though they were taken around Valentine's Day, lol! I'll get around to it eventually, but I was originally planning to wear the orange pussybow blouse that I posted in a previous WIW. Only thing is, the blouse is sheer, &amp; Hong Kong is surprisingly quite conservative about the top half of the body. I'm not sure if sheer sleeves would look right for such an event. Also, I managed to catch a bit of the sleeve whilst ironing it, so I'm not sure if it would look OK without a blazer or jacket covering it anymore I was also thinking of wearing the floral midi, but I'm not sure if it's actually flattering enough on my Petite height (I think I might wear heels, since we aren't going to be on much of an elevated stage &amp; therefore need to still be visible to the audience whilst speaking, but I don't think they'll be tall enough to balance a midi. And a skirt with tights always makes my heels slip off, lol). I'll try to post some WIWs soon, in between packing for my upcoming trip too lol! </p> <p>@KikiG I actually wore a sheath dress last time &amp; clipped my mic pack into a waist belt, but that wasn't too secure so I think trousers may be better instead. Maybe a slightly bootcut pair with heels? I like the idea of statement earrings but I've found that people here don't wear big earrings much either, so I may have to dial back on those too lol! What about a necklace that sits underneath a shirt collar instead - would that still get in the way? And what's PD &amp; 'Boutique trendy', sorry? </p> <p>@ Lisa P I think Sales would normally handle this situation for us too, rather than making the textbook publishers present their own books onstage &amp; at stalls lol, but what do you mean by dress 'interestingly', exactly? I like to dress in colour &amp; jewellery (also really like my scarves), but sometimes I do wonder if it's 'too' interesting for people here (lol I did catch some people staring at me at the last seminar, but it might just be because I look different regardless of how I dress lol!) </p> <p>@torontogirl a column could work, but I need colour near my face &amp; don't want to go too outrageous with coloured bottoms, lol! As @KikiG mentioned, I can't add colour near my face using a necklace, so what about a small scarf? Would it work? Oh &amp; what's FFBO, sorry? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-to-wear-for-public-speaking-work#post-1896508 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:41:26 +0000 Helena 1896508@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One approach could be a column of color (e.g. black or your favorite neutral), with a colorful blazer?</p> <p>I would say, especially if you don't public speak often, comfort is key - you don't want to be worrying about your outfit if you're nervous - so maybe look to one of your FFBO as a starting point? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-to-wear-for-public-speaking-work#post-1896441 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 16:19:59 +0000 Anonymous 1896441@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have done these presentations to teachers too - on behalf of textbook and trade book publishers, and I give a thumbs-up to KikiG's suggestion above. &nbsp;I have this theory - based on nothing than my own response to watching presenters- that people pay attention more to those who dress well, and interestingly. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-to-wear-for-public-speaking-work#post-1896432 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 14:59:08 +0000 KikiG 1896432@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I actually do&nbsp;speak to these groups, sometimes.&nbsp; The first thing to think about is what sort of microphone will be used in the venue.&nbsp; You don't want to wear a sheath dress, and then have the clip on mic pack have no place to go, except possibly, unzip your dress and tuck it into your undies at the back.&nbsp; I have also found that statement necklaces don't like a lapel microphone, and it makes me sad to have to remove the cute part of my outfit for the part of my day that has the most eyes on me!</p> <p>In speaking to teachers, I'm not going to wear a suit, probably, unless there are special circumstances that would make it appropriate.&nbsp; If I'm in a less authoritative situation, where I'm&nbsp;selling a concept, for&nbsp;instance, or giving them helpful information,&nbsp; I'll pitch my outfit to what the more nicely dressed teachers will be wearing to PD, which&nbsp;in my area is&nbsp;going to be what I call "boutique trendy."&nbsp;&nbsp; These tend to be groups that will notice and appreciate trendier shoes.&nbsp; A good PD presenter&nbsp;outfit for me might be black pants, untucked teal blouse with pleated back, statement earrings (instead of statement necklace) and my&nbsp;leopard pumps.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-to-wear-for-public-speaking-work#post-1896372 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 08:39:12 +0000 rachylou 1896372@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Colourful solids, like Oprah? Would you feel comfortable in that? I think she excels in approachable work outfits.</p> <p>Speaking tips... I say practice out loud standing, video yourself... get physically used to people looking at you. And deep breathing to keep the autonomic system calm. Practice not saying ‘um’ and other cultural equivalents. Talk a little slow. Really focus on your subject matter. Smile, nod, make eye contact. Look for the body language in others that shows they realise they’ve been noticed by you and you’re interested in them and their response... hehe... my college major, technical communications... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-to-wear-for-public-speaking-work#post-1896369 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 08:30:25 +0000 jussie 1896369@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ooh yes a lot to think about.... it might help if you post some pics of outfits or items you are considering? I would say try to keep your outfit tidy, but neat casual rather than anything corporate looking. Maybe dressy pants, a cute printed silk blouse and some funky earrings. High heels just to make sure you’re not coming across as too casual. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-to-wear-for-public-speaking-work#post-1896352 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 06:19:26 +0000 Zaeobi 1896352@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi everyone,</p> <p>So a little background: I currently edit secondary-level English textbooks at an educational publishing company. I used to be an English teacher, so naturally I got picked to do a roleplay presentation for our textbook launch at the end of this month (blah, lol). </p> <p>I watched last year's roleplay, &amp; the Sales team essentially played themselves talking to English teachers (played by my editorial colleagues) about the problems they face in the classroom, &amp; how to solve them (using our books of course, lol). I'm going to be doing the Sales role in the roleplay, but then I will also be talking to the teachers face-to-face afterwards, addressing their questions at the various booths &amp; stalls that we'll have up. </p> <p>My question is, how should I dress in order to fill both roles on the day? I need to look professional but also approachable, since I'll be talking to secondary school teachers directly but also doing a 'fun' scripted roleplay on stage. So I feel like the usual rules for public speaking at conferences etc don't apply here - I wore all black to last year's launch (when I was just answering questions) &amp; it seems like that was too harsh (I felt like more of a waitress given my age lol, &amp; I noticed from photos afterwards that speakers in just black were often drowned out by the backdrop glare of the presentation projector &amp; the overhead lights). I think the lights will make us sweat, but I still want to be relatively covered up because the AC will likely be on too. </p> <p>So many things to consider! Any tips would be greatly appreciated :)</p> <p>------- </p> <p>EDIT:<br /> Added some photos of things I've worn recently to give you an idea of my usual comfort zone &amp; style. The last few photos (photo #12 onwards) are a couple of items that I'm considering wearing on the day - either the trousers with heels or the floral midi skirt. Thoughts? </p>