No. Not the kind of presentations that involve a slide show on the screen behind you. Packing for my trip to Imaginarium was different. Every trip I’ve gone on in the last couple of decades (give or take) has involved packing for myself and others or preparing them for my absence.
It allowed me to coordinate outfits and accessories. As I packed, I gave some thought to how I would present myself. I wanted to be comfortable and put together. I gave some thought to business casual and I’m glad I didn’t go that direction. This Con, and I imagine others, would have looked at business casual as too stuffy. I settled on a t-shirt, jean shorts, necklaces, and hair accessories. I have long hair, so hair sticks, fancy barrettes and such are all well within bounds for me. I went big on the jewelry and accessories: nice chunky pieces.
I’m not going to say the implementation was perfect. I got some nice compliments which is a great ego boost. I kept the makeup simple: eyeliner, mascara, and a long-lasting lip color. And concealer, because I’m human.
Having done all of this, it was interesting to see how others dressed for the Con. Some stood out for their choices. And this is where it can go horribly wrong OR right.
Hillbilly of Three Ravens wears an olive drab tactical vest with a variety of patches ironed on. As the nickname implies, he has a down home vibe. And the olive drab gives a suggestion of military experience. I have the impression that given a barn, machine shed and a few hours and he’d be fully prepared for a zombie apocalypse.
Cajun, on the other hand, wears a brocade dress vest over a long sleeve button down shirt. the impression is that he’s a southern gentleman in the best usage of the term: A man who says ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and would tip his hat to the ladies.
How you dress affects those first impressions every day of your life. We all know this to be true. Even if you hate the thought of that, you can learn the game.
I called an audible on Saturday. I found a t-shirt with a fun graphic on it, that I loved. But the shirt was a yellow. A color I’ve long considered to be off limits for myself. However, I called over to Kortnee (who happened to be sitting nearby) and asked for a thumbs up or down. It seems, if I have a sufficient tan, yellow is a color I can wear. Yay!
It’s well worth it to learn what colors and shapes look best on you. There are a gazillion articles on this and I’m no expert. Look it up. Take a friend shopping with you to get feedback. Dressing for a con isn’t quite like dressing for an interview even though this is a place where you are trying to learn, network, and promote your writing. There is room for self-expression. You can make a statement. Just make sure that statement gels with your brand and persona.
Tuvela Two-Step 