What not to wear when speaking in public – even if you’re a good speaker
So, first I can tell you what I don’t know about the speaker pictured below:
- I don’t know who this speaker is; and,
- I don’t know if she is any good at speaking in public.
And now I can tell you what I do know:
- This is a horrible outfit for speaking in public
Why?
First, the jacket is too tight, so it stretches too much across the chest when she gestures.
Second, she has too much “stuff” on her; it’s distracting. Get rid of the name tag, the pin and the necklace. I know, I know, organizers always hand you (and me) a name tag when you speak at their events. Thank them and put it away until after you speak; it’s not like anyone in the audience can read it anyway.
Third, you want to wear color on the inside – your shirt – and dark on the outside – your suit jacket. This brings people’s attention to your center and your face, instead of the other way around.
And last – what is that jacket anyway? Is that a cardigan? Michelle Obama may be making cardigan’s popular in the work place (according to the Careerist), but don’t even think of wearing one when speaking in public (unless your audience is full of women doing the same).
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