Recently a visitor told me that she almost bailed on a meeting because she was stressed about what to wear. That made me think!
At Fabulous Networking we’ve never really defined a dress code but if one person is concerned others may be too.
It used to be easy. Most people wore a grey suit to networking events. Ladies might wear a smart, dark dress. If you wanted to stand out you would wear colour. These conventions no longer apply.
So, what should you wear to a networking event?
The following questions might help you…
- What would you wear to a first meeting with a potential client?
- How do you want to be perceived by your fellow networkers?
- What suits you/makes you feel comfortable?
- What time of day is the event? What will you be doing before or after?
- What kind of people will be attending?
Smart casual is the norm at a many events. However, if many of the attendees are from the Professions e.g. solicitors and accountants, attire might be a bit more formal.
You might take a steer from the venue too. An event in a smart hotel is likely to be much dressier than one in the local pub. You are also likely to find clues on the social media accounts of the host organisations. What are people wearing in the photographs of past events?
First impressions count.
It’s said that we have just a few…maybe six…seconds to make a first impression. Much of that impression comes from what we look like. Remember it’s not just new people who are being judged. Regulars will also be making an impression on the visitors.
You are attending a business networking event so you should be businesslike. It might be sweltering outside but most people will not be impressed if you attend dressed for the beach.
It goes without saying (I hope!) that your clothes should be clean and in good repair. Jeans are generally acceptable these days and can be dressed up with a smart jacket.
You might choose to wear some branded items of clothing to help reinforce your business name. For many years I always wore teal to networking events. Teal was key to my branding and people remembered me as the ‘lady in teal’ and then associated that with the Training Pack. Of course, this only works if your branding colours suit you. If your brand colours make you look tired or ill don’t wear them.
Don’t stress about what you wear when networking. Whilst your clothing will contribute to the impression that you create there are other far more important things to concentrate on. Wear something that suits you and that you are comfortable in and then concentrate on building relationships.
