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What to Wear to a Business Presentation

Professional business apparel & suits for a business presentation by Jos A Bank
 

The modern workplace looks markedly different than it did 50 years ago. During the Mad Men era it was all about full suits and ties – formality was king. That notion is still preserved in some offices, but many contemporary work places are making the move towards a more laid back dress code and culture. A cultural revolution led by Silicon Valley tech startups has seen the ties loosened, the oxford shirts traded in for t-shirts, and dress pants exchanged for shorts.

However, no matter how relaxed your office may be on a day-to-day basis, there will be times when the traditional "business casual" mode won't cut it.

Whether you're in front of the higher-ups, clients, or prospective clients, you want to make sure that you look your best. No matter how striking the PowerPoint slides are or how exhaustive your analysis may be, if you don't make the effort to look the part, you're putting yourself at a disadvantage.

Make sure it fits - One of the easiest ways to look sharp is to make sure your clothing fits you properly. It's worth the investment in a nice suit or two because you will get plenty of use out of them, and the benefit to looking well put-together far outweighs saving a couple bucks. If you haven't had to dust your suit off in a while, take the time to iron it or have it dry cleaned. Make sure your shirt isn't missing any buttons and sit down and buff out the scuffs and scratches on your shoes.

Keep it simple - A business presentation is not the time to debut your pink pinstripe suit with a top hat and cane. Save that for - well, never. When dressing for a business occasion stick to a more understated color palette of black, blues, and browns. Don't wear overly loud accessories either, with neutral-colored dress shirts being your safest bet.

Overdress to impress - We're not advocating for a full tuxedo; however, being the most overdressed person in the room is better than arriving underdressed. If you're unsure about the dress code, a full suit and tie is the way to go. Once you arrive, if the environment is a little more relaxed, it's perfectly acceptable to take off your jacket and possibly roll up your sleeves.

Stay in character - Once the presentation is concluded don't immediately loosen your tie and get comfortable. Wait until you are out of sight of your audience before you start shedding clothes.

We can make sure that you look good for the duration of your presentation, now whether or not you wow them with your intellect, that's on you. Good luck!