Personal Appearance

How to dress to impress for your next presentation.

What a speaker looks like should never over-shadow what he or she has to say.  A speaker’s appearance, however, can help make the message more convincing.  Keep these points in mind as you prepare for a public appearance.

  • Dress conservatively.
  • Wear a dark suit with a solid color shirt or blouse (preferably light blue).  White tends to reflect light onto the face of the person wearing it.
  • Socks for men should be knee length.  Hoisery for women should be seamless, with nude toe and heel.
  • Do not wear flashy jewelry.
  • Keep jacket or dress free of lapel buttons or pins.
  • There should be no bulky items in pocket.
  • For major appearances use powder, professionally applied.  A dusting of powder on your face will help avoid shine often caused by bright lights.  It will also mask any tendency men have toward “five o’clock shadow.”
  • Do not wear light sensitive glasses or sunglasses.
  • When seated, keep jacket buttoned but pulled straight to avoid wrinkles.
  • Make sure collar and tie are straight, shirt tucked in, blouse neat.

Where in the World is Anthony?

Worked all day near Honolulu with a Hawaii and Washington-based contractor. Crisis tip 17: Don't do news interviews directly in front of the crisis scene. The news media want to show you in front of the "trainwreck." Resist!

Spoke all day today on Maui, Hawaii. Sales Tip 19: Keep Q&A responses 30-45 seconds long. Too long of a response waters down key points. Prioritize!

Speaking in Hawaii this week. Q&A tip 68: Avoid the "deer in the headlights" look with a "throwaway" line, a 5-second, perfectly memorized, meaningless phrase that comes spewing out of your mouth to buy you some think time

Speaking in Ohio the next two days. Public Relations tip 21: Not quickly returning news media calls a top PR blunder. Don't miss the opportunity.

Worked all day today in Beverly Hills, California with an insurance captive. Q&A tip 64: Avoid trailing off at the end of sentences. Make eye contact and end strong.

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