What to Wear to Your Next Networking Event
I attend a lot of networking events.
They are such a huge part of building my business. It’s important to me that I’m aligning myself with people who share my goals and values—people with whom I can build mutually beneficial partnerships.
One thing I’ve learned is that there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to dressing for networking events. Some lean toward more casual attire, while others are more upscale affairs. The key is to know your audience.
Here’s a rundown of three very different events I attended in one month, along with my look for each one.
Babes in Business
This amazing organization of women comes together every other month at a local upscale bistro on the Jersey Shore. The tickets are $25, the events last about three hours, and there are usually between 50-75 attendees—everyone from jewelry makers to fitness gurus, life coaches to shop keepers, tarot card readers to nutritionists, and many more professional women. There are always three panel speakers who discuss their experiences as female entrepreneurs and their appreciation for this organization. We also break into small groups, share stories and exchange social media handles. My FB and IG followers grow instantly. The positive energy and enthusiasm in the room is always palpable. The women in Babes In Business seem genuinely interested in my business, my success and many have become friends. I’ve made connections with makeup artists and photographers and event planners to secure work for photo shoots.
My approach to dressing for this event is to make sure I’m wearing the most up-to-date fashion trends to up my “cool” factor among this young crowd. For the most recent event, I wore a caramel-colored faux microsuede trench coat over a multicolored mock turtleneck, boyfriend jeans, amazing 3-inch white boots and a matching white handbag.
NJ Conference for Women
This 8-hour event cost $125 and included buffet breakfast and lunch, and an optional after party for an additional $25. It was held at The Westin in Princeton, NJ. There were over 750 smart and passionate women, and three inspiring speakers–Shiza Shahid, Melanie Spring and Danelle Umstead. I was among strong, career-driven women spanning all professions—from Human Resources to finance, legal to marketing, education to recruitment.
With no assigned seating, we were obliged to mingle at different tables, which helped me make connections I never even considered. For example, I spoke to the Dean of a New Jersey business school about giving presentations to students on the importance of proper dress after graduation. At the after party, I met keynote speaker, Melanie Spring, who asked me to style her for some upcoming speaking engagements. I’ll be working 1:1 with her in December. I’m super excited!
My outfit of choice for this conference was a sweater dress with OTK boots and silver jewelry. I certainly wanted to be comfortable for 7+ hours (beginning at 7:30am), but I also wanted to appear professional and approachable.
Crain’s 2019 Most Powerful Women in NY
This 2-hour seated event and luncheon (with complementary cocktails) carried a hefty ticket price of $315 and was held at Cipriani in NYC. The attendees were some of the most renowned female leaders, not only in New York, but in the world—businesswomen, politicians and more. Corporations like American Airlines and PNC Bank sponsored most of the 10-person tables. Since I came alone and early, I quickly scouted out the best chair, put my bag down and started chatting. Business cards were flying and it felt a little like speed dating since we had only 30 minutes to network before the speakers started. The four speakers included CEOs from banking and healthcare, along with a real estate tycoon and a NY state senator, all discussing the opportunities and challenges for strong women in the workplace.
For this event, I turned to designer Dara Lamb for help. Dara’s timeless bespoke women’s wear is handcrafted with only the finest fabrics. She understood the elite crowd I was mingling with, and graciously lent me an exclusive 2-piece houndstooth print suit. I looked both stylish and professional, and I felt confident connecting with such influential women. My NYC social contacts and LinkedIn network took a giant leap that day!
In closing, here are a few tips to make the most of your next networking event:
Be early and stay late.
Perfect your 30-second pitch and prepare one amazing accomplishment story to share.
Ask: “Do you or does anyone you know need my services?” then get their business card.
Follow up in the next 1-2 business days.
And, of course, dress for your audience! Think of it this way: if you were one of the speakers what would you wear?
Contact me if you need any help getting ready for your next important networking event!