How to dress for a performance in front of an audience - tips for women

By Keren Zarka, fashion designer and founder of the store chain Anna-K, and a graduate The public speaking course January 2009 cycle.

Cuts: Be sure to study your body shape so that you can adapt the best cuts for you. For the purpose of speaking in front of an audience, or other formal situations, the low cut that distorts the body and creates a cheap and unconscious look can be categorically rejected, whether it is in fashion or not. I often come across women who are sure that the low cut is the only one that suits them. Unconsciously, they look in the mirror and see themselves as thinner and taller. A bad mistake. Excess flesh will almost always stick out below the waist and the body will look disproportioned and distorted. Even a high waistcoat will not always flatter everyone and this is where the golden rule comes in: balance. If you sit down and don't need to pull your pants up - it's probably fine.

A dress, too, will usually look better if it accentuates the waist. Make a rule for yourself, when you get dressed, make sure to try on the outfit in a variety of positions - sitting, bending over, stretching your arms up and more, look through a double mirror at the back of your body as well, and that way you can be sure that your appearance conveys what you want in any situation and from any angle.

colorfulness:
For 99% from the performances in front of an audience a harmonious and solid performance will do a better job.

bottom part: pants / skirt from the woven fabric, which consists mostly of cotton fibers allowing the body to breathe, and a little polyester. Today there are fabrics that combine cotton and polyester at a very high level where the cotton prevents the accumulation of sweat and the polyester fibers allow a nice and flattering fall on the body and prevent the fabric from wrinkling easily. Hem: Skirt length does not climb two fingers above the knee.

cloth: Preference for fabrics. These are all types of woven fabrics (double and double), most of them are more rigid. They will always give off a neater and more meticulous look. In the upper part, you can combine knitted fabric - t-shirt, polo shirt for example, thin tops, cardigans. As for shirts, again, it is better to avoid tricot, since most types of t-shirts tend to cling lycra, which are usually not flattering and give off a cheap look, and those made of cotton - wear out quite quickly.. Unless the fabric is particularly high-quality, you can consider a type of sleeveless t-shirt with a fine knit and a small jacket over it. In relation to the fabric, a location parameter comes into play - if we have to give a speech outside, in hot weather - for those of us whose fear of crowds causes them to sweat excessively, or in cases of extreme humidity, we should take care of an absorbent tank top to wear under our clothing, preferably cotton 100% despite its tendency to wrinkle. It is important to note that the tank top will blend harmoniously into the clothing system and will not be identified with its role - absorbing sweat, a pit that many men tend to fall into...

shoes: Recommended for a small heel, today there are comfortable shoes that are very impressive in shape and look fashionable for everything. In any case, be sure to wear a closed shoe or a peep toe (a small opening in the front at the toes, which requires a pedicure of course). The shoe must be clean. Since our goal is to attract positive attention, it is necessary to avoid shoes with noisy heels. It is not thanks to this that we want to leave an impression.
An important thing to check before a speech is whether there is a speaker's stand (podium) that might hide us, then sometimes surveillance or even a platform is unavoidable.

A few words about comfort

This is a relative variable. You are not born accustomed to walking in a tailored pencil skirt - you get used to it. Even a jacket that fits well will not necessarily be as comfortable and fun as sweatpants. Again, getting used to it. You can look at it as an advantage. When you are too comfortable - you fall asleep and we don't want that... When it comes to performing in front of an audience, more emphasis is needed on comfort than in other cases, because for many the situation itself creates discomfort above and beyond that of the clothes.

Maybe it's just me but I have yet to come across a senior CEO wearing a tight lycra top and low cut pants. These two items, although they can be very expensive, will almost always create a cheap look. Unequivocal. Refined makeup, clean and meticulous hair, minimal jewelry and a solid look - will almost always take you much faster to aim higher and will not overshadow your skills.
 

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