How to dress for a performance in front of an audience

Article by Karen Zarka, fashion designer and founder of the chain of stores Anna-K,
and a graduate The public speaking course In the October 2009 cycle.

Keren earned a name in the field of informal fashion and the casual look for young women, but as you will read later, when you need to adapt the exact performance to the event and the audience - there is no expert like her!

• Audience
  What are the dress codes accepted among the audience? Is it a crowd of managers who require formality or a crowd of high school students or rather salespeople on a vacation day at sea?
• stage fright
  Is there fear and how does it affect? For example, people who sweat in front of an audience will have to wear a tank top even in the summer, and women whose legs tremble should give up heels. For those who blush, you should refer to my article on the subject Makeup for a TV appearance.
• location
  Shall we talk outside (then we have to adapt to the hot or cold weather) or inside? Will we have to perform an activity during or before the speech such as walking around the audience or operating electronic equipment? What is the character of the place in terms of respectability? Shall we talk sitting down (in which case you should invest in a shirt and maybe even a blazer) or standing up (in which case you must not neglect a high-quality, polished pair of shoes)?
• purpose
  What is the purpose of the speech and what message do we want to convey? Is it an authoritative message (then choose solid and impressive clothes) or a message of friendship and integration (then you should dress one level of respectability above the crowd, but no more) or rather a message of creativity and flight (a prominent accessory such as a tie or scarf or an unusual color combination)
• Role and status: desirable vs common
  We need to understand our status, and the one we aspire to, and compensate accordingly. For example, a young woman who needs to speak in front of a senior audience will need to be more formal than an older man to get the same amount of attention. And vice versa - an older man who wants to appear friendly or light will have to make a real effort to release his style.

These variables must be taken and weighed with our basic data - personality and body structure.

As a general rule, when we want to convey a message, whether it is one person or a large audience, we must refer to the above parameters while understanding that the message is the main thing. That is, the clothing is the packaging that will wrap the content - the message and we must make sure that it serves as a gentle filter for the content and does not steal the show. When we come to dress for work we must remember what the work environment is, what the dress code is and who the target audience is.

To these variables we will add data on body structure and personality. When there is a conflict between your data and the characteristics of the work environment - say an extroverted guy in an office work environment, as an accountant - you should try to balance the dissonance if possible and align according to the job standard. Usually the incompatibility disturbs and irritates until it is impossible to hold back and continue - for example, a conservative or old-fashioned girl who works in an advertising agency will probably find herself in less creative positions. If she is right to open up to new directions in her perception and thinking and as a result also in her appearance - she will be perceived more and more as creative, which may change the course of her career.

what not to do

Second, we must know the five Levites:

Short / exposed / transparent / tight / stained.      

In order to leave a positive impression and climb up the career ladder, this should be treated as a taboo - it should be killed and not passed. These are the five Levies that refer to 99% from the existing jobs and positions. Despite being Israelis and all that implies - hot and humid weather and a non-chalant and informal clothing culture, there is an offense against one of the aforementioned Levites from the visual hazard.

Careful: iron, iron, iron. don't be lazy It's about five more minutes in the morning of the speech that can make a day more pleasant and a look more meticulous. The same goes for cleanliness and hygiene. I can't think of a stain or tear, no matter how small, that can be ignored. It takes a lot of charisma to sway an audience into the message when the eye falls on a small spot of tahini. Many clothes require dry cleaning. Here, too, care must be taken to prevent wear and tear of the fabric. A suit as beautiful and flattering as it is will not impress anyone if its fabric fibers are frayed.

Fashionable experimentalism will generally be welcomed only if you belong to the field of fashion/design/art - the name of the packaging and the content are one. In other jobs, it is better to refine avant-garde tendencies and focus on drawing attention to the direction of the content - the work. Fashionable enough not to be perceived as old-fashioned. Still most people would prefer to see their doctor in a button-down shirt and chinos, bermuda shorts and a t-shirt would undermine his level of professionalism and credibility.

In general, clothing is something that requires investment. Often also money. Consider it a business expense (not always sold but always works). Did you invest in a business card and a good website? Clothing is just as important. Even the most exalted clients and bosses, who easily distinguish between the essential and the caring, will judge you also by the way you dress.

Follow-up article:Men's clothing tips  Third article: Dress tips for women

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