What to Wear for a presentation

Isis

I'm giving a talk soon in a nearby city. I would like to look professional which is somehow more difficult when it is hot hot hot!

This is what I'm thinking of wearing. I like the jacket (it's Angie's Gibson linen pick) but may have to take it off if it's too hot.....even in A/C, I run warm if I'm speaking.

What do you think? Any suggestions/things to change?

Nexx blouse in hibiscus
AT Loft pants (navy cotton)
Gibson linen jacket
Leopard belt
Fidji oxfords

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13 years ago

Dressing

9 replies

Latest reply was from

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Love the pink blouse, and it combines really well with the linen jacket. I don't want to be nosy, but what kind of professional group will you be addressing? It might make a difference in how "professional" this outfit is evaluated.

When I think of professional presentation, I envision a matching skirt suit over this pretty blouse, at the very least.

However, I moderated a group discussion at an association conference a few months ago, and I wore black dress slacks, a gray knit top with a bright gray/pink/yellow print cardigan over it, with gray suede sling back low pumps. So that was a presentation of sorts, I guess. And no dressier than what you have shown!

13 years ago

Isis

Veteran

Good question, Cjh! It's a talk to an academic dept in the sciences. These can veer more casual, but this is at a medical school, so may be less casual. Hard to know as I've never been to this dept or institution! I don't have a suit, so can't really go that route.

13 years ago

Makrame

Veteran

Looks perfect to me, even without the jacket. The level of dressiness seems to be just right for a scientific presentation (I am assuming that's what it is) in the summer. Is the audience mainly scientists or clinicians or anyone else?

Oh, it looks like we cross-posted. I am at a medical school in a basic science department and this would be perfect for us. Clinicians, on the other hand, seem to wear suits even in the summer.

13 years ago

Isis

Veteran

M-I think it'll be a mixture of scientists and clinicians who do research....the clinicians are throwing me for a loop!

13 years ago

sarah

Veteran

This looks perfect to me, Isis - I love the colors (*waving* at my blouse twin) and the bookending of the jacket with the shoes.

13 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

For a conference room: Yes!

For a lecture hall: I'd go for monochromatic - makes it easier for the audience to get a fix on you.

13 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

I gave presentation to a professional group recently under similar circumstances.

My solution was to wear a sleeveless, v-neck, silk top under my linen jacket. That made the jacket much more comfortable so I could keep it on during the presentation.

I did hedge my bets, however, and tossed a light-weight, short-sleeved, silk/cotton cardigan into my briefcase. My thinking was, once I got to the venue, I could judge the temperature and substitute the sweater if I thought I'd be too warm in the jacket, or if the participants were wearing more casual attire. Since the sweater could serve as a light-weight top if I buttoned it up, I'd have a couple of options. As it turned out, the a/c was turned on high and I could have layered the sweater under the jacket and still been fine!

Another tip: After having a waiter splash salad dressing on my silk blouse during lunch, I never go to events where I'm going to be in front of an audience without having a backup top. I was lucky that time because I was able to button my jacket for the afternoon session, but it taught me a valuable lesson to always have a backup plan for my clothes as well as my presentation materials.

13 years ago

Isis

Veteran

Thanks for the advice Makrame and Sarah!

Rachylou, interesting about monochromatic....never considered the size of the room before....

And Gaylene, what great ideas! I will definitely pack an extra blouse! I also like the idea of having a lighter weight cardi as a backup....

13 years ago

Anonymous

You have some great advice. I'm wondering if you could change out the pants for a pencil skirt, making an informal "suit" with the jacket.

13 years ago

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