HOW TO DRESS LIKE A WEDDING PRO
“Leggings aren’t pants!”
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again….Leggings aren’t pants!
FUN FACT: I was voted Best Dressed in HighSchool.
As a creative professional and designer, one of the most unsettling things I see in our industry is the lack of polish and professionalism when it comes to fashion. Our industry has been built on the idea of “the pretty” as we all seek to create and build beautiful things. Sadly, however, the desire to delight and inspire often dies in the bedroom closet as many people in our industry fail to dress the part.
One of my core desires as a human and as a professional is to make the world a more beautiful place. That begins with how I dress. When I look better, I feel better. When I feel better, I am inspired. When I am inspired, I am open and able to create art, get into a workflow, and build and explore ideas. In short, I am a better designer for you when I take a few extra moments to style me.
This means that I “get dressed” every day. Yes. Every. Day. Every day I am in something that I would not be embarrassed to be seen in. I style my hair and put on makeup. I always wear jewelry. Putting myself together has become second nature to me. It is as much a part of my routine as making my bed and brushing my teeth. Does it take an extra 30 minutes? Sure. Is it worth it for the mental and emotional boost I get? Absolutely.
Now, if you prefer to be in yoga pants and a messy bun on your “work from home” days, by all means, do you! However, when you step out of your home you not only represent your business, but you represent your clients. I wholeheartedly believe that I am a proxy for my clients at all times. I am never “off”. This means that I think about how I present to the world when I am going to the gym, picking up groceries, and even heading to the dentist.
(Watch the video above and listen to how I learned this lesson the hard way!)
Being in the habit of putting myself together means that I am never caught off guard. I am always presentable and confident, knowing that I can introduce someone to my business without fear, embarrassment, or imposter syndrome. It also means that I feel great if I run into a venue manager, a bridesmaid, or a past client. In fact, just last week I was leaving my local grocery store with my kids when I heard someone scream my name. It was a former bride who now runs a catering company that I often refer to. When I stopped to say hello she said, “I was actually looking at your dress and thinking how cute it was, then I noticed it was you!”
On this particular day, I wasn’t “fancy”. I was in a sundress and flat sandals. My hair was in a ponytail. It wasn’t about being buttoned up, it was about being polished and appropriate so that I could conduct myself in a way that is reflective of the businesses I have built and the work I do. After all, regardless of where I am, I am a walking and talking billboard for the art I create, who I do it for, and who I do it with.
I am always shocked when my clients comment on how nice I look when we go to meetings. It blows my mind when vendors and partners ask if I am always going to be dressed up. And it floors me when I take a client into a partner meeting and the people presenting to us are not appropriately styled.
People were shocked when I would post videos during the pandemic and I was still dressed and done. Many people have reached out to me and asked where I have gotten certain bags, shoes, or accessories. I love an extreme high-low look. Think $24 dress from BooHoo with $1,400 sandals. Sometimes I’m wearing all designer, but lots of times I’m wearing all Amazon. And it never matters where my things are from, only that they tell you something about who I am and how I move through the world.
A lovely friend that I met at a speaking engagement, Pamela Ventura, reached out and said that she was struggling when it comes to fashion. She asked me to create a guide that she and her colleagues could use when dressing for meetings, set-up days, and events. I was thrilled to create this video and hope it inspires you to look, feel, and behave your best!
What do you wear to feel your best? Do you have a uniform a la Steve Jobs or is every day a new day? Leave me your thoughts in the comments below.
Always…a
