“Good clothes open all doors.” – Thomas Fuller .

Before you open your mouth, your appearance speaks for you. How you dress affects how others perceive you and how you perceive yourself. The first appearance is crucial, so you must dress appropriately. “Appropriate dress” means appropriate not only for the occasion or the audience, but also for you.

You also should be aware of the intended and unintended messages that your clothes can send to your audience. Different groups have unspoken “musts” and “no-nos” that indicate, “this person is one of us” or “this person should be ignored or even shunned.” Do not let your appearance outdo you.

Tips to look great:

Do your audience pre-assessment to ascertain your dress code and your worries will disappear. Your host can advise you. If you are not sure about the dress code it is always safer to be over-dressed than under-dressed.

Dress at least a slightly higher authority style of dress than the audience. Dress one step above. It shows respect for the audience.

Do not mix different authority style in the same outfit. For example, do not wear running shoes with a navy blue business suit.

If you are wearing it, and you don’t need it, you can always take it off. But if you didn’t bring it, and you need it, too bad for you. It is about your coat, tie and other extras.

You can be impeccably dressed but wearing shabby and unpolished shoes, you would be considered as someone “down at the heel”, i.e. poverty-stricken, unreliable and seedy.

For both men and women empty any bulging shirt, suit or coat pockets. In this position, you appear disorganised.

Check yourself over before the presentation to be sure that you won’t have distracting flaws, which can kill your speech and embarrass you.

How oddly he is suited? I think he bought his doublet in Italy, his round house in France, his bonnet in Germany, and his behavior everywhere. Portia (describing a suitor) in “The Merchant of Venice, 1, 2”