What to Wear to My First Show?!: An Absolute Beginner's Guide

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Discussion Overview

The thread centers around what to wear for a first show as a Pampered Chef consultant. Participants share their personal experiences and preferences regarding attire, discussing the balance between professionalism and comfort based on different environments.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, suggests dressing in a business casual style, such as khakis and a polo shirt.
  • Another participant shares their experience of wearing nice jeans and a PC polo shirt, emphasizing the importance of asking the host about their usual attire.
  • Several users mention wearing capris and nice blouses, with some preferring dressy sandals or open shoes.
  • One participant notes that living in a casual environment influences their choice of attire, often opting for flip-flops and lighter clothing due to the climate.
  • Another participant emphasizes the need to look slightly dressier than the audience to maintain a professional appearance.
  • Some participants discuss the importance of keeping hair neat and pulled back during shows.
  • One participant mentions their preference for not wearing the standard PC apron, citing discomfort with the fabric of newer aprons.
  • Another participant shares their experience of wearing a dressy denim skirt and a polo shirt, indicating a desire to maintain personal style while still looking professional.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the level of formality appropriate for shows, with some participants advocating for business casual attire while others prefer a more relaxed style. No clear consensus emerges regarding the best approach to dressing for shows.

Contextual Notes

Participants' experiences vary significantly based on their geographical locations and personal comfort levels, influencing their attire choices for shows.

Who May Find This Useful

New consultants seeking insights into appropriate attire for their first shows may find the shared experiences and viewpoints helpful.

PCBritt
Messages
105
This is absolutley crazy but today is my first show!! I have no idea what to wear?!? What does everyone wear to their shows?? :p
 
Dress how you would like to represent your business - I usually wear khaki's and a polo or logo shirt. Kind of business casual.

I have seen and heard people wearing flip-flops, capris, jeans etc but I personally think that is too casual. Dressy capri's maybe but I am not a flip flop fan in the first place. I think they are akin to shower shoes.

You should dress just a notch above the audience.

Have a fabulous first show and let us know how it goes!!
 
I agree - business casual is good - even dress pants and a not-too-dressy blouse would be ok.Neat and clean and no wrinkles. Something that looks good with the apron if you're wearing it.
 
I generally wear slcaks and a blouse.
 
I wear nice jeans, cute shoes and a PC polo shirt.
Started my business wearing a dress or jumpers...
switched to dress pants then khakis and for the past 3 years have worn nice tailored jeans. I ALWAYS ask my host first though!!
 
I usually wear capris and flip-flops with a nicer shirt.

But... I live on an island, so everything here is very casual. Plus, it is HOT and HUMID all the time. In fact, I think I've only worn pants very few times since moving to Oki 18 months ago!!
 
I usually wear slacks and nice blouse. If it is a plain short sleeve shirt, I always dress it up with a chunky necklace.
I've worn capris too, but only with a nice top and always with dressy sandals.
My biggest tip? Make sure you bring something to keep your hair out of your face if you're not wearing it up!
 
I usually wear capris too, but I always wear an open shoe with a heal, a dressy blouse and I wear some sort of chunky necklace.
 
Yeah, island living is a bit more relaxed than other places. And, I've adjusted quite well. :)

If I was doing cooking shows in my homestate (Kentucky), I'd definitely dress nicer.

I totally agree about hair. I always, always, always make sure my hair is pulled back in a ponytail with no loose hairs. I went to a show once where the consultant kept having to tuck her hair behind her ears and kept pulling the rest of it back. And, that is the only thing I remember from that show!!
 
Ive done a dressy denim skirt and white polo shirt at both my shows and will keep the shirt and go to jeans once it cools down a little. I wore flip flops to my first show and these shoes
Swell - ROXY MARYANN SHOE
to the second. This will be my 'uniform' from now on. I dont do business casual very well. So I want to stick to me.
I think it depends on the area where you are too. If I were to have a show in the town where I work I may dress it up a little more. But once we move to FL I cant imagine getting too dressy.
 
I agree with Kathy- if you dress just slightly "dressier" than your audience, you look professional without over doing it!

(So, if your host is a jeans/Tshirt/tennies person, you COULD wear nice jeans, nice top, and flats or dressy sandles.)

I have always taken my que from the host. If you don't know them or have never met them, ask them on the phone! It's always better to look professional than to dress too informally and wish you hadn't!
 
amy07 said:
I usually wear slacks and nice blouse. If it is a plain short sleeve shirt, I always dress it up with a chunky necklace.
I've worn capris too, but only with a nice top and always with dressy sandals.
My biggest tip? Make sure you bring something to keep your hair out of your face if you're not wearing it up!

Speaking of hair...

Another use for the twitit clips... they hold your hair back in a ponytail!!!

I wear slacks (not jeans) and a 3/4 sleeve PC white blouse. In the winter, I have to layer up. I know a lot of consultants dress more casual, but I look at PC as a real job. Not that those who wear jeans don't. (Don't want to start a war!!) It's hard to teach an old, yet highly fashionable and young looking, old dog new tricks.

I don't wear my apron, I hate the denim one, but seeing that I am soooo close to being a Future Director, I will be getting a nifty red one soon. My Director gives those out to her FD's. I don't know if everyone does, but she does. Plus a cute little FD pin. Anyway, I will wear that! I will probably sleep in it for the first few days. Not sure what husband is going to think about that.......but oh well!!
 
my first show i wore capri's and a nice v-neck t-shirt. nothing too crazy, it was in my yard
 
  • Thread starter
  • #14
I wore a capri's and a cute green top with the denim apron!! It was so so much fun! I can't wait to do it again!! I sold $900 in products!!
 
PCBritt said:
I wore a capri's and a cute green top with the denim apron!! It was so so much fun! I can't wait to do it again!! I sold $900 in products!!
Yea Brittany! Great First Show!
 
Congrats on a great first show. You are really close to qualifying.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #17
To qualify I have to submit $1250 or 4 shows, Correct???
 
Yes, that's right!
 
Great job!!!! Keep up the good work.
 
I always try to wear a PC Logo shirt - summer is the new scoop neck shirt and winter is the button-down. In the summer I wear either capri's or a khaki skirt. In the winter I wear either khaki pants or nice jeans. I always wear cute shoes, sandals in the summer and boots or loafers in the winter.
 
Linda brings up a good point. I try to keep a cute pair of loafers or slippers in my kit in the winter so I can have on something clean in the house, and don't track snow all over the place. It's a little thing, but your hosts will appreciate it. And if someone mentions your slippers, you can say that you like to make it as easy as possible for your hosts, and that doesn't include mopping up snow tracks. :)
 
That's a GREAT idea Ann! I'm self-conscious going shoeless in someone else's home when I'm there on business... a pair of shoes worn ONLY inside is perfect. :)
 
  • Thread starter
  • #23
well, down here in Louisiana, we don't have any snow~ haha! Wish we did!! But right now we're kind of hoping that Hurricane Dean doesn't come our direction!!
 
I work full time and my office attire is business casual most days. That is what I wear. For weekend shows, I do tend to mix it up more, depending on the crowd/town, etc. If I wear jeans -- and I do on occassion -- they are very nice jeans. I always wear either a logo shirt OR my name tag (Merrill).

For 2 years now I have not worn the PC apron. My original apron was wonderful but as it needed to be replaced the fabric must has changed just a bit cause the last 2 I've purchased just were uncomfortable.

I actually comment on my not wearing an apron at the show: I say something to the effect of..."you may notice that I'm not wearing the standard PC apron...my business allows me to have a lot of flexibility and so I've chosen not to wear an apron".... (If I'm wearing pants I often tuck in the current dish towel around my waist.)
 
I usually where nice pants and a blouse... if it is summer time I wear capris too.. and a nice shirt and nice shoes. Business casual is pretty safe to do....
 
Alot depends on where you live. I live in the desert in CA and I wear jeans and a PC polo shirt. When I first started and was a few sizes smaller I would wear nice khaki shorts and a PC polo shirt when it was really hot. If you live somewhere that's more formal then you definitely want to go a bit "nicer" but where I live it's really informal.
 
PamperChefCarol said:
I don't wear my apron, I hate the denim one, but seeing that I am soooo close to being a Future Director, I will be getting a nifty red one soon. My Director gives those out to her FD's. I don't know if everyone does, but she does. Plus a cute little FD pin. Anyway, I will wear that! I will probably sleep in it for the first few days. Not sure what husband is going to think about that.......but oh well!!


Carol, if thats all you wear I'm sure your hsuband wont mind one bit LOL
 
I have a "uniform"... black or brown slacks and a white long sleeve blouse. I feel that it allows the guests to focus on what I am saying instead of what I am wearing.
 
I always wear a PC logo shirt. I have a green sleevless shirt and a black one with the sparkly pink logo for summer. For winter I have a couple 3/4 sleeve shirts. I always wear them with dressy jeans or capris and nice sandals. I have cute flip-flops for very casual events - I've done backyard deck parties and I live on the coast and it is very casual here. I usually keep one of our towels close by or thru my belt loop. I usually do not wear the apron - I get so hot! And long sleeves get dirty at the cuffs and in my way!

Congrats on a great party Britt! Did you hit $1000 yet with any outside orders?
 
Most houses here (even those on base) are run Japanese style, which means NO shoes in the house. So, just about everyone is walking around barefoot. I always make sure I have really nice pedicured toes. :)

So, no one even knows which shoes are yours, since they're all left at the door anyway.

And, of course, we never get snow. It barely even ever gets below 60 degress in Oki.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I wear to my first Pampered Chef show?

For your first Pampered Chef show, it's best to wear something comfortable yet professional. Consider business casual attire, such as a nice blouse or shirt paired with slacks or a skirt. Make sure your outfit allows you to move easily, as you may be demonstrating products.

Are there specific colors I should avoid wearing?

It's advisable to avoid overly bright or flashy colors that might distract from your presentation. Stick to solid colors or subtle patterns that convey professionalism. Neutral tones or soft pastels can be a great choice, as they are both stylish and approachable.

Can I wear jeans to my first show?

Yes, you can wear jeans, but opt for a darker wash and pair them with a nicer top to maintain a polished look. Avoid distressed or overly casual jeans, as you want to present yourself in a way that reflects the quality of the Pampered Chef brand.

Should I wear comfortable shoes?

Absolutely! Comfortable shoes are essential, especially if you will be standing or moving around during the show. Choose closed-toe shoes with good support, such as flats or low-heeled shoes, to keep your feet happy throughout the event.

Is it important to accessorize for my first show?

While accessories can enhance your outfit, keep them simple and minimal. Choose one or two pieces that complement your attire without being distracting. A nice necklace or a pair of earrings can add a touch of personality without overwhelming your overall look.

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