Life is one big whirlwind sometimes, and you never know what is going to happen. The cardigan post I keep meaning to write seems to be a work in progress forever (a bit like the work in progress report my team has been working on and off for a year, and it’s still not done. 🙂 )
Today the subject changed because of a surprise career milestone challenge I decided to accept yesterday: Deliver a keynote speech at a big Business Intelligence seminar next month. For thirty minutes I will be talking about self service BI.
Since I’m a woman, I immediately started fretting over what to wear! The audience will mostly be older than I am, and male. And of course a girl needs a new dress for something like this, eh? 😉
Cue in Pepperberry and Wallis. It’s been a long since I’ve ordered from either due to my mad shopping tours in the US earlier this year.
With the first three dresses, I would be wearing a navy jacket or a black jacket with the two lower ones. With the Wallis dress I’d wear a black jacket. Shoes would most likely be my low cut black ankle high heels.
I think my personal favorites are the Pepperberry waterfall dress and the Wallis printed jersey dress because of the comfort, but then I’m wondering whether something tailored would make a sharper impression. The Wallis dress also might be good on a big stage and the pattern is not too busy. Decisions, decisions. But how to choose!?!
I really like the colorblock dress. It looks more polished and professional in my opinion. However, it also depends on the audience. If it’s a rather conservative crowd, the waterfall dress might be too revealing. On the other hand, if you have a very active presentation style and move your arms a lot then one of the jersey/sleeveless dresses might be better.
Thanks for your input MiaRose! Nordic crowd usually isn’t all that conservative in general. I’m quite high energy, passionate and do tend to “talk with my hands”. I also will be wearing a jacket no matter what dress I choose – not comfortable with long sleeves.
My approach: order all and then keep the one I like best (or two, or three…I guess there are flaws with this idea). I’d probably opt for the colorblock in a similar situation, although I’d prefer a brighter color on top instead of the mink.
I thought about that but then looked at all the dresses, thought about how they suit my style and persona and what would make me feel comfortable on stage, like in my own skin.
The coulur block dress is very professional I’m not that ladylike and it is quite pale at the top.
Second, I would not feel comfortable in that v-neck, too deep for this purpose for me.
Thrid, lacks persona but looks nice.
Fourth, the winner. Oozes my persona and the black tights, ankle boots and jacket will make me feel powerful and help me deliver an engaging speech. It only needs to fit me now…
I came to the conclusion that an outfit for this sort of event needs to be something that is 100% you and you feel comfortable wearing it. I’m a bit rock’n’roll so too ladylike feels fake in my head even though adore how it looks.