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Corporate events can be fun, but they can also be a source of stress.
The regularity of work gives you a good idea of what you will be doing every day, how you will act, and what you will wear. But once you take the people you work with and put them in a social setting, the unknown comes into play. You want to maintain a professional manner and appearance, but you also want to let your clothing and actions reflect the elevated occasion.
If you don’t have a strong fashion sense, finding the right outfit to wear can be particularly difficult. However, making a smart choice is one of the best practices in corporate event planning.
Well, never fear, here are some suggestions for what you should wear for your corporate events.
Types of Event Attire
If you are invited to a corporate event, there are generally three types of attire you can choose from. These include the following:
Business Casual:
Business casual can be difficult to define, but in general, men will be good if they wear slacks with a polo shirt or button front. Women can also wear trousers and blouses, or they can go with knee-length dresses or skirts and blouse ensembles.
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Business Attire:
If the event is going to be relatively casual, men will want to wear a suit with or without a tie. Women should go for an upscale business casual look opting for knee-length dresses or skirts and blouse ensembles with closed-toe shoes.
Black Tie:
If an event is going to be a black tie, it will generally be indicated on the invitation. For these events, men should wear tuxedos and women should wear formal evening gowns. Often these gowns will be longer in length, but shorter dresses are also acceptable.
Photo: Cassandra Hamer/Unsplash Think of How the Type of Event Going to Be
Before deciding what type of attire you should wear, consider what kind of event it’s going to be. Study the invitation and think about the host and the venue the event will be held to determine what type of outfit will be acceptable.
You should also consider whether or not there will be musical entertainment. If you expect that there will be a band that will get everyone out on the dance floor, you should wear an outfit that will allow you to move around a bit.
If you are attending a picnic or a casual outdoor event where you are expected to be involved in physical activities, jeans, and a t-shirt may be perfectly acceptable. To elevate the look a bit, go for business casual.
Some events are business-oriented. One example is an event that might include a motivational speaker as well as some food and entertainment. Other business-oriented events include conferences or trade shows. For events like this, it is best to step things up by wearing business attire.
Black tie events are the most formal type of event and may include certain fundraisers and awards ceremonies. In these instances, black-tie attire is recommended and often required. If you have done your research and you are still in doubt about what to wear, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask your host or the corporate event management.
And no matter what you choose to wear, make sure your attire is clean and classy. If you are worried that what you are choosing to wear might be inappropriate, it’s best to find another outfit.
Hopefully, these tips have made for stress-free corporate event planning when it comes to what you will be wearing at your next function. Just remember to consider the type of event it’s going to be and go from there to find an outfit that fits the bill. Good luck making a great impression the next time you are looking to impress your employees and co-workers outside the office.
