As an event planner, one of the most important aspects to a smooth event day is to be dressed comfortably. This may seem silly because your outfit may not directly impact the success of the event, but in our experience it does; a proper outfit is a big contributor to your overall attitude and level of service.
If you are uncomfortable or unhappy with your choice of shoes, for example, you will just have one more thing to worry about while executing an event. We want to limit your worries at all costs, and after almost a decade in the industry, we have finally learned what works on event day, and what doesn’t.
Human Shield
Black is our go to color on event day- are you surprised? Probably not. It’s practical, sweat-proof, spill-proof and blends easily. Let’s face it, on the day of your event, you could be doing anything from heavy lifting to acting as a catering waitress; our list of ad hoc duties are endless! Wearing a black shirt will ensure that you look professional, no matter what.
Fake it til’ You Make It
Although we wish we could get away with wearing yoga pants, professionalism is key. We’ve found a way to cheat the system and live by these New York and Company pants. They look like business pants, but slip on and feel like yoga pants, so it’s the best of both worlds. You’ll thank us when you’re going on hour 6 of running around!
The New Sneaker
We’ve tried everything when it comes to shoes and frankly, we wish we could get away with wearing a simple Nike running shoe, but that doesn’t usually fly with the dress code. To dress up the sneaker look but still have a certain level of comfort, Keds or Toms are a great option, and our office is split half and half on which shoe is better. Recently, Event Manager Cindy has struck gold by finding these Memory Foam Sketchers that look like flats but feel like heaven.
If you’re not sure about any of your shoe options or must wear heels, bring a few options to the site. If one pair of feels like a cloud by your toes, but scrapes up the back of your heel, switch midway through the event to the other pair that isn’t the best on the ball of your foot, but is blister free! It’s all about picking (and switching) your battles.
Accessories
Because we do so much while executing an event, we like to keep track of our steps and calories burned to keep track of all the work we did on FitBits. Competitors to the core, we even have a competition in the office for who walks the most steps on event day. At our 3 day event in March we each won a different day!
If you’re not about the look of having a Fitbit on your wrist, there are solutions. Many companies like Tory Burch, make Fitbit covers, so you can still monitor your activity, but appears as a regular bracelet.
Keeping jewelry to a minimum is key to being comfortable and looking professional as an event planner. Avoid anything dangly, especially earrings and necklaces. Stick to simple studs, like pearls. An Apple watch is a great addition to keep everything you need on your wrist, and ALWAYS have extra hair ties!
What are the clothes or shoes that you can’t live without when executing your events? We’d love to see your comments below!