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You've prepared your notes and PowerPoint, so you're good to go. Just one thing left to do -- figure out your look. Can you skip pressing that suit and just wear your casual clothes? Maybe -- but it depends on what kind of presentation, and what kind of casual.
Work
If you're doing any kind of work presentation, casual clothes probably won't cut it. Even if you're presenting on Casual Friday, dressing a step above your usual attire will make you look more polished. A suit works best. If your company has a super laid-back culture and even bosses wear casual dress every day, you might not need to go all out with your best suit. But skip the jeans, and wear a blazer or sweater with nice slacks instead. In any other professional setting, like pitching your business idea to investors, dress your best with minimal, classy accessories and makeup.
School
For a class presentation, a suit is probably a little over the top, unless the culture of your school is really dressy. Ask your professor or teaching assistant if in doubt. Usually, business casual works best for class presentations, since just about anything is a step above the old just-rolled-out-of-bed sweats-and-ponytail look. Wear slacks and a sweater, blazer, long-sleeve collared blouse or cardigan set -- you get the idea. Keep it semi-formal to show you're taking the presentation seriously.
Conference
For a professional conference, wear a suit, since you want to come off as highly professional to others in your field. This is a great networking opportunity, so don't blow it! Wear your best suit; you're presenting yourself as the expert. Wear low-key accessories and makeup unless you're in fashion or design, in which case your own judgment should tell you what's acceptable. At a school conference, business casual is probably more the norm, but ask a professor.
Other Settings
If you're presenting to teens or young kids, skip the suit and go with what will help the kids identify with you most. That doesn't mean sweatpants with "Juicy" written across the butt; opt instead for jeans and a dressy blouse. If the school has a strict dress code, wear slacks or a skirt instead. If you're speaking at a parent/teacher meeting or in another context that isn't related to work -- especially with a small, intimate audience or a group you've been part of for a while -- a blouse with slacks or a skirt might work just fine. Of course, you always want to dress modestly; this goes for any setting you're speaking in.
