top of page
Writer's pictureAsma Ahmed

Dress for success ... or comfort?

I'm an online shopping kinda' gal. Especially over the past 18 months, I got way too comfortable buying things from home.


But there are some things I just can't buy online - like sunglasses for example. So a few weeks ago, I finally made the trek to a shopping centre - after almost ONE year away.


While things were pretty much as I remembered (!) here's something different that caught my eye:




I was rather amused by this shop display. Here in Canada, Harry Rosen is generally known for it's formal and classy attire. Still stylish as always, but oh how trends have changed!


Of course, it comes as no surprise. After all this time working from home, most of us have gotten quite used to elasticated waistbands and comfortable clothing.


Gotta' love "the new essentials".


A lot of people ask me what they should be wearing for their presentations, especially now that dress codes are more relaxed.  My response is really no different than it was before.

It usually comes down to two things:
  1. Your audience

  2. What makes you feel good

Whether virtual or in-person, I always recommend dressing one notch above the audience. It shows them respect - and it shows that you mean business.

At the same time, wearing a crisp shirt or a nice blouse can make you feel more confident and actually help you deliver a more powerful presentation.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. And if you're not quite sure what is acceptable, it doesn't hurt to wear a suit jacket which you can easily take off. It's better to be over-dressed rather than the other way around.


If you're behind a webcam, I might also suggest a decent pair of pants. I'll admit, I usually wear sweatpants for my meetings - especially now that it's cold out! But I always change out of those when I need to feel more powerful. And of course when I'm standing - which is how I deliver most of my presentations.


Finally, on the subject of footwear, this is an area where I've definitely had a change of heart. Once upon a time, I used to choose between heels and flats.


But after a year of working, presenting and even running workshops barefoot...I'm thinking shoes are so passé! 😉


Comentários


bottom of page