Are you wondering how to dress for a presentation? As a former student who just recently finished business school I’ve had my fair share of presentations.
Throughout the years, I’ve been complimented on my style when it comes to presentation day as I’ve figured out some tricks to really elevate my look.
What to Wear for a Presentation for Guys
For presentations, dressing business casual is the most appropriate way to dress. This can mean anything from a nice suit to a pair of dark jeans and a collared shirt. By dressing in business casual attire you’ll look professional, but not like you’re going to attend a wedding. Finding that sweet spot where you’re not under or over dressed is really important.
In this post, I will be sharing men’s presentation outfit ideas as well some important tips on how your clothing can you feel more comfortable and confident during your presentation. You’ll also find out what to avoid so you look your best.
Men’s Presentation Outfit Ideas
Tops, Shirts and Sweaters
The basics:
When going for a business casual look, you have a couple great choices.
A polo shirt is a casual top for a presentation and it will be comfortable. I would recommend choosing a simple color like white or navy blue depending on the pants you plan on wearing. This will be a simple shirt but often simple looks the best.
A white dress shirt with a distinct pattern is a great choice when dressing business casual. If you get a nice fitting dress shirt it will make you look very sharp. Many people will stick to wearing polo shirts when presenting so wearing a dress shirt will make it look as if you put more effort into your outfit.
Elevate your look:
If you want to elevate your look you can add a sports jacket or blazer to your outfit. Wearing a blazer will make you look more formal and put together. If that’s the look you are going for, it’s the perfect item to add to your outfit. Keep it mind you may get hot during your presentation wearing a sports coat, so choose your fabric wisely.
Pants
Chinos are the perfect presentation pants. I recommend either navy blue or khaki as they will go with almost any shirt color you choose. A white dress shirt and navy blue chinos will make a great business casual outfit.
If you prefer to wear dress pants those work well too. Dress pants will give a more formal look, however do be careful not to look overdressed if you’re in a college or casual workplace setting.
If you don’t have any of the pants I mentioned, black jeans will do in a pinch. If that’s all you got, just make it work! It’s not always about having the nicest clothes but it’s how you wear them.
Shoes
Black dress shoes are perfect for presentations. If you want to dress business casual, classic black dress shoes are a wardrobe staple and must have. They always look good and are so versatile that you can wear them anywhere.
Brown dress shoes are also a great shoe to wear for presentations. I would recommend wearing these with the blue chinos as blue and brown go really well together when it comes to clothing.
If you like loafers they will give you a more stylish look. Many people will present in classic dress shoes. However, if you want to look good as well as stand out, a nice pair of loafers with the right pants will look great.
Clothing Accessories
A watch it an important accessory to wear with your presentation outfit. A smart watch or a watch with a leather strap will look great for the business casual look and it will add to your outfit. A gold or silver watch it’s perfectly fine, however don’t wear something that’s overly flashy.
Wearing a belt is a must. Make sure you the belt is the same colour as your shoes. It will make your look a lot sharper than having a different shoe colour than your belt.
What to Avoid Wearing For Presentations
Flashy Colours
When presenting it’s a good idea to avoid wearing flashy colours. Wearing bright pink, green, yellow or tie-dye should absolutely be avoided, as you don’t want to distract from your message and presentation.
Save the fun and more outlandish outfits for other occasions and look professional for presentations.
Additionally, if you tend to sweat, avoid grey and other colours that will make it obvious that you are sweating.
Baggy Clothing
Avoid baggy clothing! Clothing should fit well and never be too tight or too baggy.
Ripped Clothing
Ripped clothing looks great when you’re going to a party, but not so much for a presentation. Remember, you want to dress business casual which requires a clean and sharp outfit.
Dirty Clothes
Always avoid wearing dirty clothes. If your shirt is dirty it will be very noticeable when presenting so do your best to keep your nicer clothing clean and ready to wear in your closet.
If you happen to get a small stain on your shirt, using a stain removal stick like Tide to Go is a good temporary solution.
Flashy Jewelry
When presenting there’s nothing wrong with some wearing some nice accessories. However, you’ll want to avoid wearing super flashy jewelry. A shiny gold watch, or huge chain or diamond necklace could be distracting when you present. Wearing some simple jewelry is best for presentations.
Can I Wear Sneakers for a Presentation?
No, sneakers are way too casual for presentations. Instead, you can wear dress shoes or loafers, which are the appropriate style and look you want.
Do I Need to Wear a Tie For a Presentation?
If you’re making a presentation at work where suits are often worn, like in finance, then you may want to wear a tie. However, the current style is wearing a suit and dress shirt and leaving the top button open, without a tie.
Always make sure you know what your audience and peers expect. These days, in most settings you probably can skip a tie.
Should I Wear a Shirt Tucked or Untucked for a Presentation?
When it comes to dressing for a presentation, you can decide on tucking your shirt in based on what you are wearing and your personal style.
If you are wearing a dress shirt, tucking it in will look more professional. If you are wearing a collared t-shirt you can wear it untucked.
At the end of the day, wear your shirt the way you think you look your best and feel comfortable.
Tips:
Comfort
Being comfortable in the clothes that you are wearing is really important. If you show up to the presentation and your shirt collar is irritating you, it will bother you while presenting.
It’s important to try on your outfit in advance and make sure that you are comfortable.
When choosing shoes, make sure they are comfortable and not too tight. Often times, dress shoes or loafers can give you blisters, especially if it’s the first time that you are wearing them.
If you have to wear the shoes all day, you won’t regret investing in good quality shoes that are comfortable.
Fit
When shopping for clothes be patient and choose clothes that fit your body well. If you choose something just because it’s business casual or it looks good on the manaquin, it doesn’t mean that it will look good on you.
The fit of your clothing will go hand and hand with how confident you feel in your outfit.
Cologne
Wearing cologne is a small detail that can greatly improve your appearance. Smelling good will enhance your look and having a nice scent will make it seem as if you put more thought into your outfit.
Make sure to not over do it on the cologne. Wearing too much cologne can be a distraction from the presentation which is something you seriously want to avoid.
Confidence
Wearing an outfit that fits you nicely, is comfortable and that you know makes you look good will make you instantly more confident.
When it comes to presenting, confidence is key and it all starts with the clothes you are wearing. It’s important to be confident during your presentation as it will make your presentation go a lot smoother.
Final Thoughts
In this article we’ve gone over what clothing to wear for a presentation, as well as tips to make you look and feel confident. Good luck on your presentation!
Have questions or presentation outfit suggestions? Please let me know in the comments below.