The hour-long break between my seminar and the next one provided time for me to speak with attendees who purchased my books and asked questions about expanding their marketing opportunities.
Time went by so fast that I looked to my left and saw the next speaker setting up his laptop. I introduced myself, shook his hand and quickly packed my materials.
Something told me to look at the speaker once more, and I found myself startled by his attire.
The Izod-type shirt was fine. It was his Hawaiian shorts and flip flops that made me do a double take.
The setting was not a consumer event. This was a business show, and although wearing a three-piece suit would be considered as overdressing, I didn’t believe that beachwear was appropriate.
Weeks later, I mentioned the clothing to a friend. She said that individuals in their 20s and early 30s dress this way because of their generation. She added that the relaxed appearance also stems from how they see peers dressing in Inc., Fast Company, and Wired.
I wear separates when marketing from the stage – a jacket, shirt, and slacks – nothing fancy and nothing that’s an exact match. I don’t expect everyone to dress in similar clothing. However, beach shorts and flip flops don’t seem to be an outfit that exudes belief or trust when conducting a seminar in front of people learning about business and marketing topics.
Perhaps I’m wrong. Somebody please, tell me if I’m out of touch, old fashioned, or need to update my wardrobe or mindset before I conduct a new round of seminars next month.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
My mother always said you “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have”.
I think you can take that any way you’d like and it will still answer your question
I am not about to wear flip flops, but that is because they hurt my feet
Your mom makes an excellent point, Dana.
I’m trying to understand what makes a person believe that such footwear is okay. Perhaps it’s due to age, and maybe I’m making too much of it, but if I don’t explore this topic, I won’t find perspective outside of my own head.
Shirley, you are not out of touch or being old fashioned. As a woman in my mid 30′s, I have noticed that most individuals are too causal in settings that are suppose to be business causal. I think it is not appropriate to wear flip flops to anything that has to with business or especially promoting your business. Even when I go around passing out flyers etc. I am business causal because I want to set a certain image for myself and my business.
Rochelle, I glad to read your thoughts on this question.
Anyone who works alone can become so insulated that they start to wonder if certain trends that were not acceptable are now generally okay.
Hi Shirley,
It definitely has nothing to do with age.Like Dana said dress for the job you want…….
You can’t attend a business meeting as speaker for that matter and have flip flops on.
I think it is most unappropriate.
Except the meeting is on the beach!!!
Shirley,
I’d better not catch you in a pair of flip flops on stage. I doubt that you own any.
Dressing for business should show good taste and not distract the audience from your message. Flip flops would certainly distract me (and many other decision makers) from any message.
Hi Omu,
I agree with you about wearing the right footwear for the occasion.
There aren’t too many meetings that I know of on the beach, except exercise classes, where flip flops don’t even work there.
Hi Flora,
Nope, you won’t catch me in flip flops on stage, and you’re also right about the footwear in my closet – no flip flops there!
I guess I should be stunned, but I’m not. The truth is that speakers are there for entertainment purposes, and rarely get work from the people they speak in front of. If his presentation went well, he might sell some things at the end of it, but then he’s on his way to his “real” work and no one is going to remember anything he did.
By the way, it wouldn’t be me, and I don’t think I’m being cynical after 8 years of speaking and presenting at conferences. Just being realistic is all.
Your point is well taken, Mitch, and I don’t read any cynicism in your comment. You’re definitely “being real” about it.
Thinking back, the event that we spoke at was a place where the flip flop wearer would not be requested by anyone in the audience to speak elsewhere.
Glad to read your opinion on this, Mitch.