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MsMaven

Veteran

A few days ago I received an acceptance on a paper I proposed for a symposium that will be held in a few months.

Then I found out the presentation will be recorded and served up on YouTube!

Furthermore, at last year's symposium there was not one woman on the program.

So, anyone who can help: What does one wear to stand in front of a podium, in bad lighting, to look good later on a monitor? Also, it's a rather conservative group for a bunch of academics. Mainly academics. I'm not am academic, but I am writing a biography.

12 years ago

Dressing

9 replies

Latest reply was from MsMaven

Kristin SF

Veteran

How exciting!!

Check this out:
http://www.mediatrainingworldw.....ingch5.pdf

Also this google search.

12 years ago

L'Abeille

Veteran

Congratulations:

If you watch/have a TV, I suggest you check out what the female newsreaders are wearing. When you find someone whose style or persona echoes your own, keep track of her different looks and see what you can replicate from your own closet.

In general, conservative wear--jacket or coatdress style--with something providing interest at the top/near the face, such as colour, drape, or an interesting collar.

12 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Solid colour. A bright suit would be nice, but if the crowd is too conservative - then a normal suit and bright scarf.

12 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

Will you be speaking into a podium microphone or using a clip-on mic? Women's clothing doesn't always have a good place to clip the mic. I usually wear a button-down shirt so there's somewhere to clip it a reasonable distance from my mouth. My talks are usually in settings where a jacket would be overkill (my field is very casual), but a jacket lapel would certainly work well for a mic, also.

12 years ago

Makrame

Veteran

What Rachylou said - I was told to wear bright, solid colors for a photo shoot (apparently pattern does not look good on camera). Congratulations on the invitation to speak!

12 years ago

deb

Veteran

How exciting!

12 years ago

Diana

Veteran

In general, I wear something in a flattering color with a blazer over it when I give talks. For some reason most of the talks I've given have been in the summer so I often just wear a dress or skirt/top with a black blazer. In the winter, trousers would obviously be a good option too. If you're standing behind a podium, it kind of doesn't matter what you wear on the bottom so I would focus on the top. In my field (which is similar to Greyscale's) the jacket automatically makes me dressier than 90% of the people in the room but I'm fine with that. I do prefer the jacket lapel for the mic (rather than clipping it to my shirt) because there is no danger of the mic weighing things down and causing wardrobe malfunctions. Also remember that sometimes there is a battery pack or similar for the mic that you may have to either hold or clip somewhere. If that's the case trousers or more structured skirt may be a better bet than a dress.

12 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Congrats.

I also vote solid, and a great colour. Wear a lot more make-up too.

12 years ago

MsMaven

Veteran

Thanks for all your advice--I'm getting an idea of what I think will work for me. I will be standing at a podium with a microphone in front of me, so what I wear from the waist up is important.

Kristin, that first link had much good advice, not only what to wear, but makeup and voice and body language. It confirms what Angie says--wear a lot more make-up. My DH appears occasionally on a local TV station for interviews--every time I see him I remember too late that he does need to powder his shiny face and his balding top of head.

When I get the paper written I will do some run throughs with DH recording it--that way I can test make-up and watch gestures and body language as well as what looks good.

12 years ago

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