I’ve been on a summer kick with my blogs recently, because the warm weather just has me excited. But I know summer is not just about lounging and traveling. June, July and August are months of hard work and new initiatives. The nice weather unlocks the creativity of businesspeople as they plan for the coming fall and winter and hold meetings, trade shows and more. The difficulty with this corporate influx is dressing for business when you need to go from frigid indoor temperatures to hot outdoor ones.
I wrote my first blog about trade show attire at The PPAI Expo, and with my second show (PROMOTIONS EAST) quickly approaching, I have convention clothing on my mind again. I imagine the ensembles will be similar to Vegas. The only major change between winter in Vegas and summer in Atlantic City is humidity, but that does not impact the trade show floor.
Necessities are obviously comfortable shoes, a sturdy bag and a sweater. A few non-apparel items I found helpful in Vegas were hand sanitizer, a water bottle and snack bars. Other than that, I just need to bring clothing that will last the day without becoming wrinkled or weathered. Knowing more about this industry is definitely helpful. For example, I am now well-schooled on wrinkle-, stain- and water-resistant clothing, which will aid me as I prepare to enter another few days of education sessions and booth bouncing.
As I said way back in January, ultimately, trade show outfits must be what the person feels most corporate and comfortable in. For me, that will probably be some sort of skirt, scarf, flats combo, but for others it could be a suit or jeans and sneakers. Conventions are a place of business and as Elle’s editor-at-large Nina Garcia put it, “We are all in the business of getting dressed.”
