Hi ,

Janelle got booked for her first big speaking gig. She was excited about it. She prepared for weeks, practicing over and over. Her content was strong and helpful.

She spent hours picking what she thought was the perfect outfit. She wanted to make a real impact on stage. She chose something bold and eye-catching. Very bold, actually.

During her talk, she started noticing something strange happening. People in the audience kept staring at her outfit instead of her face. They seemed distracted by what she was wearing. When she opened up for Q&A at the end, way fewer people asked questions than she'd expected. The whole thing felt off.

Later that day, someone came up to her and said something that stung: "Your talk was really great. I just kept getting distracted by your outfit, honestly. It was hard for me to focus on what you were actually saying."

Her outfit ended up fighting against her message rather than supporting it.

Here's the rule that successful speakers follow for choosing outfits: your outfit should make you feel confident on stage. It should make you look authoritative and professional. It should not be the thing people remember most about your talk.

The real goal is this: people leave remembering your message clearly. They think to themselves, "She really knew her stuff," and "I learned so much." They don't leave thinking about what you wore or trying to remember where you got that jacket.

Smart wardrobe choices for speaking include solid colors that picture well on stage—busy patterns usually look distracting. Get a professional fit so you don't have to adjust your clothes while you talk. Wear comfortable shoes you can actually stand in for an hour or more. Avoid anything that jingles when you move, pulls weirdly, or distracts you. Choose one nice accessory instead of five competing pieces fighting for attention.

Your message deserves to be the star of your presentation. Your outfit should be the supporting actor that makes the star look good.

For speakers and event hosts: Your content is way too important to let wardrobe choices distract from what you're trying to teach.

For pastors' wives speaking at events: Your message matters deeply to people. Don't accidentally let outfit choices overshadow what you came to share.

For coaches doing workshops: The participants should leave your workshop remembering your wisdom and practical advice, not trying to recall what you wore.

For entrepreneurs doing presentations: The people in that room should remember your solid business plan and smart strategy, not what was happening with your outfit.

Do you have any speaking gigs coming up? Virtual presentations or in-person talks? Reply and describe what you're planning to wear. Let's make sure your outfit is going to support your message instead of competing with it for attention.

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