How to dress for a networking event

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: LISA KELLY
From left to right are examples of business casual, business professional and business formal dressing.

“It’s not what you know but who you know.” As young professionals soon to be entering the workforce, the time to start building your professional network is now.

Networking is a powerful marketing tactic to accelerate and sustain success for any individual, and although your LinkedIn profile may be top notch, face-to-face networking is where the real impact is made.

The real question is, what do you wear?

Networking events can range from business casual to business formal and anything in between. If you do your research beforehand, it’s easy to avoid walking in either under or overdressed. What you wear should be based on the time and location of the event you are attending.

If you are attending a morning event, you will likely be networking with business professionals who are on their way to work. I in this situation your best bet is business professional.

For networking events after 5 p.m., business casual is the usually the norm unless otherwise stated. If the event is hosted somewhere a little more ritzy, you should opt for a business formal look.

In all cases, opting for a layered look is a great trick to avoid being overdressed, as you can assess the room on arrival and adjust accordingly. When in doubt, ask around and find out what other people are wearing.

Whether your event is business casual, professional or formal, putting an outfit together that showcases your personal flare is easier than you think:

Business casual

Although jeans are not acceptable to wear to an interview, they are acceptable at most business casual networking events. The key to wearing jeans is to ensure that the rest of your outfit is dressed up. Try to avoid wearing light or ripped denim, which are too casual. If you plan on wearing jeans to an event, you should follow this formula: dark denim, heels, a nice blouse, a blazer and a statement necklace. To add a pop of colour, try a coloured blazer such as a red blazer, which symbolizes power and is sure to steal the show.

Business professional

When attending business professional events, you must trade your dark denim for dress pants. Professional doesn’t have to be boring; you can update the traditional boot cut dress pant for a skinny leg dress pant with a subtle pattern. Keep in mind that when wearing a patterned pant, the rest of your outfit should be neutral. Add a pop of colour with a statement necklace. You can opt for heels or flats, but for a more polished look, heels are the way to go. Try to avoid wearing heels more than three inches tall; a networking event is not the place for stilettos.

Business formal

Depending on the nature of the event, and the season, business formal outfits can vary. For this time of year, a structured dress/blazer combo with boots and a statement necklace is a definite go to. Opting for a black dress and a patterned blazer is a great way to let your personality shine through. In the warmer months, you can ditch the blazer and boots, and opt for a structured dress with a pair of classic heels. Ensure that the hemline of your dress touches your knees and that your straps are no less than three fingers wide.

If you’re looking for a chance to show off your networking chops, check out Unlocking the Leader Within, a networking event on November 27 at 7:30 a.m. at Aroma Restaurant. Tickets are $20 for students and the first 50 people to arrive are guaranteed a free head shot.

Check out london.iabc.com for more information.